The Flu

Well, it's here. G came home from work early on Thursday and minus the trip to the doctor to confirm our suspicions he has been in bed (literally) ever since. I've never seen him in bed for one day more less three. As timing would have it the kids were out of shcool on Thursday and Friday for parent teacher conferences. So, I've spent the better part of the past 72 hours trying to keep them happy, quiet and away from their daddy. Not sure which of those is trickier! We've spent much time out doors and in the sunshine (somewhere deep inside I tend to believe that fresh air can cure what ills you). Nonetheless Carver woke up with a fever this morning and we were the first in the door at Urgent Care. He has it too. So far he's doing really well, resting, but not achy and not a high fever. I am praying we caught it quickly enough to lessen the severity. He thinks its neat that he can now hang out with Daddy. He's also fascinated at what the flu virsus looks like. He pulled out his Human Body book and closely examined the close ups of viruses. He determined that the wart virus was uglier! I'd trade.

As I was driving to the pharmacy this morning (thinking in my head that this was just not the way I planned for my week to unfold) I passed the children's hospital. A couple walked by with their little girl-clearly a patient-bundled up in a wagon. How they would love to switch their situation for a house full of the flu. Our lot is such a temporary nuisance in the not so big scheme of things. So that's what I am trying to remember today. This time next week it'll be just that-a flash in the pan of life. Until then, I'd appreciate prayers that Springer and I stay healthy(shouldn't moms be exempt?!).

Deja Vous

For all who knew G during his high school years, this will be a blast from the past.

Carver asked to go through one of our time capsules and he came across all

of G's wrestling gear. He gave me his best tough guy face...

Sweet Girls

Mae and Jack came for a visit yesterday-and much fun was had!

The boys never slowed down long enough for me to snap a picture, but they greatly enjoyed

dressing up (as a Jedi and Superman) and "fighting". Boys!

The girls on the other hand wanted their picture taken-with their dolls. Springer's doll comes with a paci-which she quickly inserted into her own mouth. I love Mae's expression!

Dreadfully Behind!

Oh, my word! What a crazy past few weeks we've had...it began about 3 weeks ago when my car suddenly broke down and quickly ended a months long discussion on whether or not to get a new car-we did (and it's great!), but it created a busy few days. Then, a couple of events at our home...then my oven croaked. Suddenly-in the middle of making 36 muffins for the preschool open house! I ended up baking them in a tiny muffin pan in my toaster oven. I felt like I had returned to the days of the Easy Bake oven! That little problem obviously led to a new oven (which I love!) and a minor construction project in the kitchen. That coupled with 4 more events here in the next three weeks has just left little time to sit down and upload photos more less to actually post them. But here we are; it's February, so I'm hopping back on the wagon. Here's a little run down of some fun times over the past few weeks.

We shared the MLK day break with our sweet friends, the McClatchey's. Carver, Abigail, Sarah Curtis and Springer loved their time together and we had great 'grown up' time as well.
None of us quite understood how the oranges made it to the picture, but they all insisted!

We're getting ready to recover our family room sofas so I've given the kids free reign on them lately. They've created a new game of "Mousekateers" which for some reason or another involves stacking all of the cushions and climbing on top. They can play for an hour or more and laugh histerically. I don't know what we'll do once the sofas return from the upholsterer!

My birthday cake-it requires explanantion. We easily play a dozen games of Uno every day and one day after Carver had been excited about getting a +4 card, I pretended to be excited over my 'big' card, a yellow 0. Well, he thought I was so silly that it became our joke together-whoever drew the yellow 0 would make a big show of it. Well as my birthday drew near he came up with the idea (completely on his own) that my cake should be a yellow 0 card. Our oven was broken and the new one wasn't installed, so he and G bought the cake and worked hard to recreate my beloved yellow 0. I was overwhelmed at how thoughtful it was and that it was completely his doing. It will be a cake I treasure forever!

This is how I found Carver the other night. These stuffed animals, or friends, as we call them typically reside in a basket beside his bed. When I went up to check on him this is what I saw. I quickly took a picture and then moved them back to their home so that he could stretch out. The next morning he was very relieved to know that I had taken the picture before moving them. When I asked him about them he said he wanted a picture so that "I can show my son all of my stuffed animals one day." Oh, that boy just melts my heart.

Five Year Old Semantics

The other night after dinner as I loaded the dishwasher I noticed a few extra dishes still sitting on the table. Here's how the conversation between Carver and me unfolded....

Me: Carver, would you bring those other dishes to the kitchen?

Carver: No (in a very nice tone)

Me: Carver? (not so nice tone, more like 'have you lost your mind?')

Carver: (correcting himself) No Ma'am.

Me: (No words, only an expression that I am sure got across my thoughts)

Carver: Mom, you said WOULD you take the dishes off the table. WOULD is a yes or no answer and I said 'No'. (again, all very politely explained)

By this time it was all I could do not to laugh and applaud his thinking skills; nonetheless the dishes were still on the table and I rephrased my request with a not quite as nice "Carver, bring the dishes to the kitchen." He quickly responded completely unaware of how funny I would find this whole interaction. Gotta like how the boy thinks!

New Years with the Thompsons

We've spent many New Year's with our precious friends the Thompsons so we were thrilled when able to ring in 2008 with them. They spent three terrific days with us...including our New Year's Eve party at the Gutierrez's home. The kids played so well together; basically non-stop from the moment they woke up until they crashed at bedtime. Carver and Caroline did especially well and sweet Margaret handled the two big kids like a champ. Springer was very content following baby Ann around, hugging on her and giving her (and taking from her) toys. It was a delightful way to end 07 and begin the New Year!

Carver and Caroline enjoy a morning at the park.

Every one got in on the picnic table dancing!

Margaret

Springer adores sweet Annie Mac
Carver and Caroline loved cuddling up on the sofa to

watch a morning cartoon.

Georgia

Last weekend we made a very quick down and back trip to GA to celebrate Christmas with Uncle Micah, Aunt Tricia and Sara James. Pops, Nana and Granny came up as well. While our third Christmas of the season was full of great treats the biggest, most wonderful news of our time together is that there is a new baby niece/nephew/cousin on the way! Although Trish isn't feeling too swell right now they are super excited and we're all anxious for the baby's arrival in August. If you know them please stop in and wish them a big congratulations!

Springer hesitates a bit before giving a hug....

Carver...not so much.
Uncle Micah and Sara James take a spin on Springer's new trike.

New Skates

Carver's been quite a trooper with his new skates. He's certainly taken his share of tumbles, but he keeps on going. He so badly wants to go fast. I am sure that day is not too far away. Roller skating was my favorite activity as a child and it's really sweet for me to watch him share in that enjoyment. Here's to keeping all his bones intact in 08!

Christmas Morning 2007

Christmas morning... Here are a few of our favorite shots from the day. Springer loves her shiny new tricycle. It's been pretty cold and rainy here, but it hasn't slowed her down a bit. She does every thing on her new 'bike'-eating, watching her new Peter Pan video, reading....
I had to make Carver take off his new Panther's jersey so that it would be clean for the weekend. He LOVES it. Same goes for the roller skates (which are not off his feet often), the air hockey table and the Disney edition of the game Sorry. Numerous games have already been played....and I am sure tomorrow brings many more.

Springer received doll house furniture to go in her new doll house from Kane and Tutu. She's so cute playing in it and arranging things just so (wonder where that came from?). She's not too keen on any one moving things, though, even when the advice comes from her

interior designer mother!

Carver's big gift-his air hockey/ping-pong/pool table. G put ping-pong balls and air hockey pucks in his stocking (which he opened last). Of course they made no sense to him until G sent him off to look in the family room. You can imagine his delight!

A dry spell-time to take the new wheels for a spin.

G's family will certainly recognize this face! He does the same thing when concentrating.

She is certainly her daddy's girl.

Merry Christmas to all!

Ring Bells... a-ring-a-ling-a-ling

Carver is part of the Cherub Choir at their preschool. He took part in singing for the children's morning Christmas Eve service. Excuse the quick ending-my battery ran out a few notes to short. It was a precious service and a wonderful way to begin the celebration of Jesus' birth.

Christmas Eve

For the past several years we've celebrated Christmas Eve with our dear friends the Sellners. The Speakmans were also able to join the celebration again this year and with 6 kids under 5 the excitement in the air was palpable. We enjoyed a delicious dinner, the kids played dress up and every other game they could come up with and we all headed home with full bellies and hearts full of anticipation. G said he woke up every hour on Christmas Eve-he couldn't wait to get the big day started! They each were allowed to open one present before heading over to the Sellner's. Carver chose to open their gifts from Uncle Terry and Aunt Pam. Carver loved his lego set and Springer has already served many cups of tea from her beautiful tin tea set.

Funny girls-full of one too many cookies!
Carver (AKA Superman), Mary Gray and Jack (AKA Panther's player).

Sweet Samuel-you could eat him with a spoon!

The kids were in the process of recreating the nativity.

I believe Mary Gray was the director; she had her work cut out!

while vision of sugar plums danced in their heads....

Twas the weekend before Christmas...

The first part of our weekend was spent baking spice cakes. Springer loves to help cook (& taste -each licked was deemed 'de-wi-cious'!) and as soon as I fired up the oven she was there to help. As an aside our baking festivities kicked off before 8:00 AM-hence the pajama

wear (or her 'fluffy' pajamas as she prefers to call them).

On Sunday we came home from church to drizzly rain and lots of puddles. Carver received a new pair of rain boots from Kane and Tutu and was just itching to try them out. Springer loves her pink rain boots (thanks to Aunt Lizzie) and is never far behind in doing what Carver does anyway. Despite the cold, we bundled up and took a few jumps in the driveway.

A very fun way to celebrate Christmas Eve eve!

Mele Kalikimaka

We recently spent a wonderful few days with Kane and Tutu (G's dad and his dad's wife, Lola) here visiting from Hawaii. This was the first time our kids have spent the Christmas season with their grandparents and to say they (and we) had a ball is a vast understatement. It was truly a perfect way to spend the season. Kane and Tutu win the award for most children's games played-despite their jet lag they were such troopers. Tutu easily played dozens of hands of Uno with Carver and Kane spent many a (very long) game of Chutes and Ladders as well. Not one to be left out Springer even enticed him to an impromptu game of 'stack the stamps'. Marshmallow roasting (Springer's first), a visit to a nearby town completely decked out in lights, basketball playing, football watching, shopping, carol singing, present opening...and a nap or two worked in for good measure. We were all thoroughly spoiled and loved on...each of us continues to talk about it almost a week later. We love y'all and miss you dearly!

Putting together Springer's big gift-her first doll house.

Boy, has it been a hit!

Carver is all ready for the big game on January 1.

I think I'll be cheering my 'Dawgs' on all alone!

Carver's Class Field Trip

Today I joined Carver's class on a field trip to a museum uptown and then to our second viewing of The Singing Bears. At the museum the children created their own wrapping paper-stamps made of potatoes, apples, string, corks...and then lots of stickers and coloring as well. The paper turned out so well that Carver decided to use it as art instead of the intended wrapping paper.

Carver & Dylan