Little Boy Blue Come Blow Your Horn....

Grant has always seemed to have a love for all things musical. He is constantly singing and humming while playing with his toys. He also makes up songs daily (usually to the tune of Jingle Bells : ) Lately, I have been trying to widen his exposure to different kinds of music. Stephen and I are (or were) musicians and I hope to pass along our love and appreciation for music along to our children.

The other night I was playing the piano for Grant and Erin and I decided to lift the lid to our baby grand so that Grant could watch the hammer hit the strings as i played. I have fond memories of my mother playing the piano for us when I was little. I would dance around the living room, sit next to her, or sometimes simply lie under the piano and listen to the soothing sounds while she played. While, I am not near the accomplished pianist that she is, I can play a little. As I was playing, Grant said with delight, "Mommy, the piano's dancing!!!"

Yesterday, I was playing a variety of music for the kids and I was pointing out each instrument to Grant. That's when I told him that his daddy played the trumpet. He asked to see it. So when Stephen got home, he brought his trumpet out and played a little for Grant. Then, we let Grant have a turn. He couldn't have been more pleased!

I think we have a future brass player in the house!!! Now the question is: will Erin play the clarinet?

Trunk or Treat 2009

Wednesday night we had Trunk-or-treat at our church. I love it because it's fun and a very safe way to let our kids trick-or-treat. It's also great to get together with all of our friends and their children for Halloween. There were some mighty cute costumes this year!

Grant and Erin getting candy from their first stop Mimi and Papa's car

Erin checking out her loot

Grant, as Woody, and Kate, as Little Bo Peep! Oh how I tried to get a picture of the two of them all night, but this is the best I could get.
(In the movie, Toy Story, Woody's girlfriend is Little Bo Peep)

Erin picking out her candy from Jon and Amy's car

Grant took off on his own this year

Check out this cute little chicken. Erin couldn't keep her eyes off of Baby Brody the chicken.

We are going to dress up tonight and go over to see Old Papa, Granny Peggy and Aunt Vicki for some more trick or treating fun!!

Conner's A-Maize-Ing Acres 2009

Saturday evening we took our annual trip to Conner's A-Maize-Ing Acres. We had such a good time, as always, and enjoyed some fellowship with bunches of friends. My mom and dad came with us this you too! We did take a group picture, but it's on Jon and Amy's camera. Maybe they will post it on their blog soon. (hint, hint : )

Our little pumpkin
Erin in the corn maize

This is how Grant entertained himself the majority of the time. As soon as he saw the big pile of dirt it was all over. I didn't even get a picture of him by a pumpkin!

This is as close as he got to the pumpkin patch

Erin was all smiles

Grant checking out how to pump water

He was really trying to get the water flowing!

Mommy and daughter... no family picture this year! I should have taken one of us in the pile of dirt! Ha!

Grant navigating the "mountain"

The famous cow train!

Grant with our friends' baby. He LOVES babies right now. Sorry it's a little blurry. We were on the hayride.

Sweet girl

Again....dirt!

We had a great time and can't wait until next year!

Dress Up

Right now I am holding a sleeping baby, but she didn't go down with out a fight! I finally gave up trying to put Erin to sleep this afternoon. I finished sewing up some pants I made for her and realized she was being very quiet. This is what I found:


She had gotten into the clothes that I am trying to store away because she has outgrown them! She had 6 shirts on! She was very proud of herself and I had to get a picture!She fell asleep shortly after this without any hesitation!

Our Trip to "The Cousins"

The cousins...that's what Grant collectively calls any and all of his cousins. This time he is referring to James, Anna and Luke. We took a quick trip to Montgomery last weekend to visit Brian and Liz. While I was there, Liz and I shopped at one of the local consignment sales. We had a great time visiting and I came home with a good start to the kids' fall/winter clothing. (You have got to love consignment!)

Saturday morning we went to James' and Anna's soccer games. (Luke was unable to play last week due to a large cut he had on his chin. : ( ) James takes after his daddy and is such a natural athlete! His team won, and he scored one of the two goals for his team! Brian is one of the coaches for his team.

I didn't get any good pictures of Anna's team playing. It was their first game and the coach showed up 45 minutes late and told the parents that she wasn't going to be the coach. Luckily, some of the dad's decided that they would step and coach this year.

Erin watching the game.

Stephen and Grant

After the soccer games, we spent the rest of the day watching football and grilling out. We had some delicious food and our teams won!!!

I love this picture! James, Anna and Luke are such good cousins!

This is my attempt to get Grant in the family picture. He wouldn't stop playing with the Razor scooter!

Grant's 3rd Birthday Party

I can't believe my little boy will be three years old tomorrow. This time three years ago I was anxiously awaiting his arrival while watching college football from my hospital bed. I had no idea how much my life was going to change! I love being a mommy, and while it's the hardest job I will ever have, it's also the most rewarding.

Grant is becoming such a big boy! He loves his sister and hugs and kisses all over her. (He also chases her down and smacks her when she takes his toys...don't worry we have our fair share of fighting!) His imagination is very active! I love to watch him play. He's becoming very independent and doesn't want our help. I think we will see many changes this year!

Saturday, we had Grant's party. He wanted it to be Cars themed so I made him a Lightning McQueen cake. He loved it!

Grant and Erin eating dinner with their cousin Lindsay.

Make a wish!

He has been singing the Happy Birthday song all week. At the end of the song Grant would say, "..and many more" and I would say, "on channel four." He would always look at me and say, "Not four!!! I'm three!!!"

Sissy likes cake too! Saturday morning I had left the cake on the kitchen counter to come to room temperature before I decorated it. I heard Erin in the kitchen saying, "Yum...yum...yum..." I knew immediately what she was up to. I found her standing on a stool. She had pulled the cake board to the edge of the counter and she had taken several bites out of Lightning McQueen. I had to laugh! I ended baking a second cake. At least she didn't massacre the finished cake!

In Our House Right Now

I know---two posts in one day! I am really on a roll here. Just thought this was too cute not to share.

We bought these pj's for Grant at BJ's. Aren't they cute? They came with a Buzz Light Year pair as well. (I am sure he will wear those tomorrow night.)

Can you guess what he's watching on TV?

Sissy---prefers no clothes right now.....a problem that we are working on : ( I can't seem to keep her dressed half the time. This might account for the lack of photos lately. I haven't taken many this month.

Just a Quick Post

Sorry for the limited blogging I have been doing lately. I really have a good excuse. I have been busy----sewing mostly in my "spare" time. Hopefully, I will do better here in the future.

I just wanted to share something written by a blogger whose site I frequent. It struck home with me the instant I read it. While I do work outside the home on a part time basis, my "real job," the one I treasure the most, is the job of wife and mommy. It is the most rewarding, while also the most difficult job I have had by far. My days at the office are a breeze compared to the job I have at home. I have been fortunate to have a job where I can work just a few hours a week and I am thankful that my boss was so willing to work with me when I told him I was cutting back my hours.

For all the stay at home moms out there please take a moment to read this post, "On Luck."

From the Potty Training Trenches

We are making progress with potty training Grant. I was trying not to push it too much, but he woke me up in the middle of the night twice this week to go potty. At first, I thought he was trying to trick me into letting him stay up, but when I sat him on the potty he went. Then he went right back to sleep! So, I have decided to really try to make this happen. Erin has been using the potty too, so we went and bought her a pink potty yesterday. (They were fighting over the potty) My original plan was to fore go the potty chair all together, but Grant is still terrified of the big potty, so we are taking baby steps. This chart has been on the fridge for the past two months. Grant now has 16 stars! Most of which he has earned the past 3 days. He has been allowed to put the star in the box that's why they are scattered all over his chart. We told him we'd buy him a big boy bicycle when he learns to use the potty.

I went ahead and made Erin a chart of her own yesterday since she is using the potty too! I thought it might spark some healthy competition between the two of them. She ended up with 5 stars yesterday.

It's been a long weekend already. Constantly using the potty (x2) but it will be worth it when we don't have to buy anymore diapers!

A Conversation With Grant

Tonight, as Grant was getting ready for bed:

Me: (while hugging Grant goodnight) "Grant, you are growing up so fast! You are so cute right now, will you stay like this forever?"

Grant: "Noooo! I not cute! I grow big to the sky like Daddy!"

Well, I guess I can't stop the inevitable, but it would be nice to make time slow down for a change. They grow up too fast!

Finally....the Rest of the Vacation!

I have been a very bad blogger!!! I apologize for neglecting the blog for so long, but I just haven't been in the mood to blog. I will give a quick recap of our family vacation. We swam. We ate (a lot!). We swam some more! No really, we had a wonderful, relaxing week at the beach. Stephen and I enjoyed spending time with the entire family creating memories. Here are just a few pictures from the rest of the week.

This is usually what I am up to. (Brian took this picture of me.)

Erin is absolutely fearless. The little girl LOVES the water and was actually trying her best to jump out of our arms into the ocean every chance she could get. She'd ride on the boogie board too (with some assistance). She had a blast at the beach this year!

Grant is the opposite of his little sister. He is terrified of the ocean. Always overly cautious with all that he does. I bought the truck at Publix for $15!!! It was a hefty price tag for a plastic dump truck, but it ended up being worth every penny. He wouldn't even come down to the beach before I bought it. After I gave him the truck, he'd spend the whole day playing in the sand.

We are in TROUBLE in a few years!

Sand....

Sand...

and more sand!

This year everybody went home on Friday instead of Saturday morning. Brian and Liz had a wedding and a speaking engagment in Jacksonville, and mom and dad went on home with them. Stephen and I decided to stay one more night because we were on vacation. We took the kids and went to dinner that evening and stopped by the outlet mall one more time where the kids had fun playing on the playground.

A gentleman passing by noticed that we were trying to take a picture of ourselves and graciously offered to take one for us.

The kids playing on the playground at the outlet mall.

It was a great week. Can't wait to do it again next year!

Vacation Day 3

Vacation Days 1 and 2

We've been enjoying our time here at Blue Mountain Beach. The Internet connection isn't the greatest so this is the first time I have been able to upload pictures to the blog.

Mimi's been catching some waves on the boogie board. After Mimi had a few rides on the boogie board Anna told Mimi, "Grandparents don't boogie board!" Mom replied, "This Mimi does!"

James

The cousins watching Harry Potter

James, Anna, Luke

The family (minus Chris...we missed you this year!)

We're So Excited!

We are leaving for our week at the beach this morning! Erin's been up since 5 am. This was the scene at our breakfast table this morning! Poor baby all tuckered out already!

Erin's New Bed and More

This picture is out of order, but blogger is not cooperating so it must stay here. This is Erin's new bedding for her big girl bed. See below for more details.

These first few photos have nothing to do with the title of today's post, but I just wanted to share them with you. Grant has really begun to use his imagination lately. I can here him in his room "reading" his books and talking to his toys. Yesterday, he was pretending to be a race car, but then he "broke" a wheel so he ran around with a limp! He cracks me up sometimes.

Here the kids are brushing there teeth. Nothing too exciting here, I just love how they stand up there together and do it. These two have to do everything the other is doing.

Erin is really into her baby dolls now. She's so sweet and rocks and kisses them. She's going to be such a good mommy one day!

She also is into accessorizing these days. This is something that I rarely do. It's usually just my wedding rings and a pair of earrings for me. Maybe she can teach me a thing or two about fashion. I did her hair like this for the first time today. The smile on her face was priceless when she saw herself in the mirror. I think she approved of the new do!

Erin also has a new big girl bed! She sleeps much better in this than her crib. It has a trundle too! I found the bedding at Marshall's and it looks great with the lime green walls! I still need to make new curtains, but that will need to wait until after vacation.

Trains have taken over our house! My boss was kind enough to give us his son's train table and all of his trains. Grant is in heaven! He can play for hours in there. I am not sure that we are going to keep both train tables out, but for now I am going to let him have his fun.

Last but not leas,t here is what I quickly came up with this weekend for Erin to wear in our family pictures at the beach. I kind of forgot about it, so this was last minute. I used what I had in my stash, except for lace which was a purchase from Joann's. It's not Strasburg, but I like what I came up with. I still need to make her a matching bow! Now, I just need to find outfits for the rest of us. A shopping trip is in order!

Our 4th of July Weekend

We had a nice relaxing 4th of July this year. I brought the kids over to my parents' house for the day so that Stephen could work on his school work without constant interruption. It's the only way to get peace and quiet around here! Stephen and the rest of the family came over for dinner and we grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. Mom made her homemade cherry ice cream and we went for a swim. It's was a nice day. We did fore go the fireworks this year. Grant is terrified of loud noises and I am sure that Grant and fireworks do not mix! Here's what happens when Grant is trying to be sweet and put his arm around Erin for mommy.

Erin is not too keen of the idea.

There that's better.

Cheese!

My wonderful husband who apparently has not learned that you are supposed to wear red, white and blue on the 4th of July. (I didn't lay his clothes out for him before I left.) Had someone taken a picture of me you would have seen that I followed protocol. I love you anyway Stephen. At least you picked a great color combination!

This is the life!

I snapped this picture tonight before church. I hope everybody had a great weekend!

10 More Days

Our annual family vacation to Blue Mountain beach is coming! (and boy to I need a vacation!) I can't wait to feel the sand between my toes and smell to salt in the air. There's no better place than a beach! Grant is excited too.

Today while riding in the car. "Mommy. Go to beach. Wake up. See Mimi, Papa, Wuke (Luke), Anna, Stames (James), Bandon (Brandon), and....and Muuuuuu (Matt)." Sorry Matt, I think he forgot your name. It was so cute.

Keeping Cool

As the temperatures sore into the triple digits here in Florida, we tried to stay cool! We went over to mom and dad's house this afternoon for some time in the pool. We celebrated Father's Day by cooking out with my mom and dad. I snapped a few pictures while we were in the pool.

Erin loves to jump...

...and jump

I would like to wish all you dad's out there a happy Father's Day!

Hope it's a great one!

VBS 2009

It has been one busy week! We had Vacation Bible School at our church this week. I must say, that it was a success. I co-taught Grant and Erin's class. We averaged 15 little ones every night! Talk about having our hands full! We were lucky enough to have several teenagers to volunteer to help out with the group. We are now exhausted from some very late nights (I don't think we got home before 10 pm each night), but it was worth it to see and hear Grant's excitement throughout the week about VBS. He has learned some new songs and hopefully something new about Jesus.

Each night the lesson were centered around teaching the kids about Jesus. The first night the kids learned that he was human just like us! As we were getting the kids out of the car when we got home Sunday night Grant saw Erin's baby doll. (the same baby dolls they have in the classroom at church) He picked it up and said "Baby Jesus!" I think he got it!

Grant leading "Pat the Bible"

Erin "patting" the Bible

Each night the "Sesame Street" puppets came down to do a puppet show just for us!

Erin LOVED the puppets! She'd yell out "Oscar! Oscar! Elmo!" It was so cute! She is really getting into the Sesame Street characters. Grant has never been into them, but she loves them.

Craft time

An attempt at a group shot! Erin was screaming in the background!

Grant: Future Missionary

Over the past few months Grant has become a little chatterbox. I recall questioning his doctor when he was Erin's age because the boy hardly spoke at all. I was concerned that he had a speech delay. She looked at me and just smiled (probably because she hears parents overly worried about things such as this all day) and said, "He's a boy. Don't worry. He will be talking up a storm soon enough." She was right!

Grant has a routine before we leave the house. (He has a routine for everything...but that is a while other post.) The last thing we do before we leave is sit on the island in the kitchen and I put on the kids' shoes, wipe faces and comb their hair. After everyone is presentable we (meaning Grant AND Erin) must give Hunter a treat. Grant will throw him a bone and then he says. "See you later Hunter. Be a good boy. See you at church tomorrow!" Every time! He invites the dog to church! I just laugh to myself .

Now he's expanding his outreach. The other night the FedEx man brought a package to the door. As he was leaving Grant cheerfully said, "Bye! See you at church!"

Then the other day at Target he saw another little boy about his age in the cart in front of us in the check out line. They were saying their hello's back and forth as we went about paying for our goods. The family was parked next to us in the parking lot. Grant looks over at the little boy and says, "Bye! I'll see you at church!"

Boy, wouldn't life be wonderful if everyone did go to church with us! The world would be such a better place! Or, maybe I need to take a lesson from my little boy and invite some people to church!

Catch Up

I must admit that I have not been a very good blogger recently. We have been very busy around our house. Stephen bought me a new sewing/embroidery machine and a serger for my birthday! I have spent much of my free time working on several new projects. I will share them with you soon. I love my new machines!!!!

Even though this is a picture of Erin, Grant has made some progress in the potty training department. I have pictures of him and his new potty chart, but they are on the other computer. Anyway, we have told him that we will buy him a bicycle when he doesn't wear diapers anymore. Every time he uses his potty he gets a star on his chart. This has motivated him somewhat. I will take what I can get...he wouldn't even go near the potty a month ago.

Stephen is going back to school. Poor guy was trying to do his school work this past Saturday, but he had a few helpers. We were stuck inside because of the rain. Over the past few weeks we have received around 32 inches of rain!!! (These are my estimations using our rain gauge) This has left the property swamped! In the nine years we have been out here we have never seen standing water like this on the property. Not even in 2004 when four tropical storms and hurricanes criss -crossed the state!

So what so you do when you little guy just can't stand staying inside any longer....

....you lather them up in bug repellent and let them go! Grant actually met Stephen on the porch in nothing but his diaper and his rain boots. He will probably not like me when he is older for these pictures, but he had a blast!

Erin wants her own boots. In fact, we had a wrestling match between the two of them tonight over the shoes. (The girl loves shoes, and clothes, and jewelry!)

I hope I can back into the habit of posting more often!

Treaty Oak

Our first stop Monday morning was Treaty Oak in downtown Jacksonville. Stephen and the kids had never seen it before. It's quite large! I wish I could have taken more photos of the kids, but they were ready to go see dinosaurs and the big tree just wasn't that interesting to them.

A rare photo of the sissy and brother together!

The photo does not do it justice!


I have two other posts from the day so please read on!

Friendship Fountain

What ALWAYS happens when I try to get a picture with my children!

MOSH

Monday morning we took the kids to MOSH. They recently opened their new dinosaur exhibit and we thought Grant might enjoy it. The first exhibit, in the museum, is one on the human body and you must enter in through the big open mouth. Grant wasn't so sure this was a good idea. He reluctantly let Stephen carry him through the set of giant teeth. Stephen said he was shaking the whole time!

The second exhibit we went to had several aquariums of fish. Grant and Erin both enjoyed this one!

Then came the dinosaur exhibit!!! The whole reason we came to MOSH. Of course, Grant was terrified! He's scared-y cat! Erin seemed to like it and even tried touching some the dinosaurs.
Grant preferred to peek over Stephen's shoulder.

After touring the museum, we had a picnic lunch down by the river. We enjoyed watching the boats go by, but Grant enjoyed the pigeons most of all!

He really wanted to hold a pigeon! Wonder what he would have done if he'd actually caught one?