Home Page

My dad and Logan made the home page of the Birmingham Zoo's website. This is an old picture...before I had Evan.

http://www.birminghamzoo.com/index.asp

What a Flop

So, today was picture day at school. No big deal right? Wear cute clothes, say cheese, done in a flash right. That's what I told Logan this morning...

I pick my kiddos up this afternoon and as I'm signing them out a MDO worker comes up to me and says 'You're Logan and Evan's mommy right?' Yikes! We've been here 3 weeks and they already know me.

She continues...'Just wanted to let you know that we tried to get Evan and Logan's picture made together but Evan wasn't his most cooperative self today' No surprises there :)
She went on to say that they did get them made separately but Evan's might not turn out so good. I told her that was fine and not to worry about it.

I walk down the hall and drop our Oct payment in the money box at the front desk. The director looks at me and says 'You're Logan and Evan's mom right?' Geez! How bad was it?

I pick Logan up in his room and he comes running out.
Momma, I got to tell you something. That picture man made Evan MAD, I mean MAD mom. That picture man said Say Cheese Evan! and Evan said No way Jose!.
Really? He said that?
Well not for real, but him was thinkin it. And so I said It's okay Ev....but him was still screamin.
So was the picture man really that bad? No mom, he was nice, he gave me a sticka, see?

On to pick Evan up....He had tears just streaming down his little face and was so happy to see me - like he had been just tortured by a camera. His teachers said he had quite a 'teary' day after pictures that just seemed to tick him off.

All in all, picture day seemed to be a flop. No big deal, they'll be others.

**new post below

Today is Papa's Birthday. Happy Birthday Papa!

Sara and Cooper met us at I Jump! on 280 for some playtime. Then we went to Nana/Papa's for hamburgers, hot dogs, and CAKE :)

This is the 1st time Evan has gotten the courage to go down the huge slide. It was hilarious to watch! He was so cautious, yet LOVED it!

Cooper and Evan playing in the toddler area.

Hey! Isle 10 - did you hear THAT!?!?

Logan: Look, these are my toys for poopin in da potty.
Walmart cashier: For going to the potty?

***Logan's voice now so high pitched and loud that dogs are in agony...

Logan: NOOOOOOOOOOO! BECAUSE I POOPED IN DA POTTY. I ALREADY KNOW'D HOW TO PEE IN DA POTTY.
Walmart cashier: (now a light shade of red and speaking in a whisper) Oh, that's good.
Logan: SEE MY MOM? THAT'S WHY SHE'S SMILING......SHE'S SOOOOOOOOO PROUD OF ME!!

Success is Sweet!!

I believe I officially have a potty trained 3 year old - I know, I know, about time - right? After having 3 poop accidents at school and my child coming home with mismatched extra clothes on, I decided to pull out the big guns. Chris and I told Logan he could go to Toys R Us and pick out ANY toy he wanted every time he pooped on the potty this weekend. Now we have a new bucket of army men, a set of walkie talkies, and a slinky dog (from Toy Story). I figure I'm spending the same amount on these delights that I am on replacing big boy underwear. Logan has finally got the concept - he even came and told Chris and I last night that he had to go poop (which I owe him a visit to the toy store for and he has been reminding me every 10 sec. since 8:00 this morning)....SUCCESS! I think I'm going to carry this out until tomorrow and make sure we are accident free at school and then I'll have to scale back on the reward system (maybe M&Ms??).

I'm so proud of him. I'm smiling ear to ear.

**We also had a great weekend celebrating Chris' 35th birthday this weekend!!

Salsa

I thought I would share this recipe I found for salsa - it is so delicious (me being a salsa expert and all) and super easy!

You will need:
2 large cans of peeled whole tomatoes
1 large onion chopped
diced jalapenos
chopped cilantro
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp salt
2 tsp cumin

Blend the 2 cans of tomatoes and pour in a bowl (I used a pitcher so you can just pour the salsa out as you need it). Stir in the rest of the ingredients and voila - awesome salsa!
**I put about 4 big spoon fulls of jalapenos in mine - keep in mind, it will get hotter the longer it sits.
**I put about 1/2 of the bundle of cilantro in, but I LOVE cilantro. Add/take away as needed.

Enjoy!!

**new posts below

Feeling Better...

Evan is on the way to a full recovery! Today he played and ate alot more and is gradually getting all his energy back.
We had a fun filled Labor Day. Nana and Papa came and hung out with us this afternoon and Daddy grilled some yummy food.
Can I get a big cheer for a 4 day work-week?!?!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Labor Day Weekend

This weekend was supposed to be a mini-vacation for our family. However - of course - things never go as planned. We woke up Friday morning (while Chris is at an early morning meeting) and begin to pack so we can leave as soon as Chris gets home. Our plan was to head to Atlanta for the weekend - see the aquarium, Stone Mountain, Cooper's 2nd Birthday party, and a family reunion.
While packing, Evan throws up and I notice he has a fever. Immediately, I think - SWINE FLU. I load the kids in the car and we head off to the Urgent Care Center down the street. The dr tests him for swine flu and strep, both came back negative, thankfully. The dr said more than likely it's just a virus and his fever should subside soon.
So, we pack up the car anyway and head to ATL. As the day progresses, Evan throws up 3 more times and I'm keeping his fever under control with Motrin and Tylenol. We finally make it to the Aquarium (see pics below) and he is so excited, so I'm thinking we're on the downhill slope and he'll feel tons better Saturday.
Saturday was no better, all he wanted to do was sleep. I took Logan to Cooper's bday party for a little while, while Chris stayed at the room (and watched football) with Evan. We packed up and headed home early after that.
Our weekend was cut short, but we don't mind. I just want Evan to start feeling better. He still has a fever this morning and has been sleeping like a champ on and off.
Here are some snapshots of the kids at the aquarium:

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Labor Day weekend and ROLL TIDE!

Such a Lover....

...with a mischievous face!

Meanwhile....

Paisley is loving life with no interruptions...

**new post below

Big Boy School Here We Come!

There have been lots of smiles around my house this morning - that is except for teary eyed ME! Logan and Evan started MDO/Preschool this morning. Last night was Open House and I knew they would love it, they didn't want to leave!

This morning, Logan crawled in my bed this morning to wake me up :

Logan: Mommy, it's okay to miss me while I'm at big boy school today. Evan too. We'll be right back.
Me: I know buddy, you're going to have so much fun. Mommy will be fine.

Then, after a powdered donut, raisins, and banana breakfast -

We hurried to get ready for school. These are 2 excited little boys (especially Evan - he's happy to finally get to carry his lunchbox.)



Of course there are funny stories to tell about when I dropped them off....

I get them out of the car and we start walking toward the preschool -
Evan: PAPA!! PAPA!!
Logan: Evan! Papa is not here! He's too big for big boy school, I already told you!!
Evan: Slide! Slide! (you have to walk past the playground to get into the building)
Logan: Evan! We can't slide yet, you have to wait for your teachers to tell you. Right mom?
Me: Yep. Evan will learn Logan, this is his 1st time at big boy school.
Logan: Evan, you will learn like me. It's okay.

Walking down the hall -
Me: Logan, mommy will be right back to pick you up after you eat lunch with your friends.
Logan: No mom. I think we play on the playground after lunch. Pick me up after we play on the playground.
Me: Okay.
Logan: Say it.
Me: Okay, I will pick you up after you play on the playground, after lunch.
Logan: Okay.

I take Logan to his class first, because if one of them is going to have a meltdown, my bet is on Evan.
We walk in and Ms. Tonya (Logan's teacher) shows Logan where his cubby is and Logan takes off his backpack and puts it in there with his lunchbox. Then Evan proceeds to shove his lunchbox and backpack in Logan's cubby too. Logan heads off to the playdough table with Evan not even 2 steps behind him. I grab Evan's stuff and scoop him up. He becomes stiff as a pencil and begins a screaming fit because he wants to stay in Logan's class and play playdough. In all this craziness, I kiss Logan bye and tell him to have fun and that I'll be right back to pick him up (after playground time, of course).

So, Evan continues screaming to his class (next door - you should have seen those teachers faces!) He calms down a bit, and hands his lunchbox and bag to the teachers (Ms. Lisa and Ms. Jennifer). **I am sure to tell them where his pacifiers are!!** Evan sees another little boy playing with a truck, so I find Evan a truck and a ball and he is a happy camper. Or so he was when I kissed him bye-bye.

So what am I going to so with myself? Go running. Maybe I'll be skinnier next time you see me? I may even go to the grocery store and get my shopping done in record time without my 2 little sets of helping hands. The possibilities are endless. I miss them already, but I'll adjust just like they will.

This is good for them.
This is good for them.
This is good for them.

That's what I keep telling myself.