SUPER HERO CAPES

Yesterday, I had the urge to be creative, so I whipped up these Super Hero Capes for the boys. Marc was getting rid of some of his undershirts, so it was perfect timing.

Go here to see how I made them.

SPIDERS AND FATHER'S DAY PRESENT

I don't know why as of late, but we have had a large number of LARGE spiders around our property. This one was on our deck yesterday. Looks like he his a nice dinner in store.

So Creepy and Scary looking. His web was constructed below the deck railing, so I was trying to lean over the top of him to take a picture of his back. He didn't like that and took off across the web. This totally freaked me out - you should have heard me scream. But I was able to get a better up close shot.

Since I was at that end of the deck, I wanted to get a shot of Marc's Father's Day present. We got him a Bat House from one of the vendors at the Farmer's Market.

Finally, this week, the gentleman who sold it to me, was kind enough to come out and hang it for us. It needed to be located 12' - 18' off the ground, on a tree that would get good morning sun.

The best part is that it is right outside the boy's bedroom window. So in the evenings, they will be able to see the bats leave to head out for their evening foraging.

AUGUST 23, 2011... WHAT A DAY!!!!

YEAH!!, The "REAL" First Day of School finally arrived. So another Picture had to be taken.

Yes, he's wearing the same outfit, but with the addition of a jacket. Amazingly, even though it is the middle of August, it was a little chilly that morning. Luckily, on the "Real" First Day of School, Marc was able to go with us this time (last week he couldn't). So off to school we went. We dropped Luke off at his classroom, but had trouble getting Grey to leave. He wanted to stay and play with a box of cars that he had found. He cried and cried and cried. I think because of this, Marc and I were distracted, so leaving Luke this year was not emotional like it was last year.

Eventually, Grey calmed down, and I was able to distract him by going to the grocery store. After that, we went home and I worked on sewing a new purse for the Market, while he played. At 11:45 we left to go pick Luke up. After school, we went up to a nearby playground so the boys could play with the Keller boys. Lucas Keller is in Luke's class and has a younger brother, Mathias. We stayed about 45 minutes and were home by 1:00.

Once home, we went about our normal daily routine. I fed the boys lunch, and then put Grey down for a nap at about 1:40.

Then, at 1:51, I had gone back to sewing, when I thought the house started to shake because a large truck must be going by, but NO... we were having an EARTHQUAKE!!! Once I realized what it actually was, I started to run for the door. But crap, I had to get Grey. When I opened the door to his room, he had already woken up because all their toys had fallen off the shelves. I grabbed him and ran out of the house. Luke was already outside, because he had been out on the deck when it started. After we were out and halfway down the deck stairs, I realized none of us had shoes on. So I had to go back inside to get them. While I was inside, I also grabbed my camera and took pics of what the Quake had done.

Knocked middle canvas off the wall, toppled floor lamp, knocked items off shelving unit to left.

Picture frame, vase, and candlesticks on the floor. Family Canvas knocked from the mantle.

Knocked over lamp.

Broken vase.

Knocked over flower arrangement. Amazingly, none of those mirrors fell off the wall.

A LOT of CD's knocked to the floor.

It's funny now, but when I look at these pictures, they really look like my house just about any day that the boys are out of control.

Compared to other pictures I saw on Facebook from our neighbors, our mess was pretty minor. I guess having a house built up on pilings had a little bit of an advantage... our house only touches the ground at 12 specific points, where other people's entire house is in contact with the ground. Therefore, their houses were affected significantly more than ours.

At the time of the quake, I thought the pilings were the worst thing possible for the situation. After that initial quake, I wouldn't go back into the house with the boys until Marc got home. I was terrified that if there were any aftershocks, our house could possibly come off the pilings and crash to the ground.

Marc finally arrived home about 2 hours later. Once he assessed the house to be sure it was sound, we then went back inside to clean up the mess.

So Tuesday, August 23, 2011 turned out to be Quite a Day...

1. "Real" First Day of School

2. Had to wear a Jacket in August

3. We had a FREAKING EARTHQUAKE - a 5.8 magnitude to be exact.

It's now three days later and we have had a number of Aftershocks, the worst being in the early hours of yesterday morning. At about 1:00am we had one that registered at 4.5. Marc and I were up and out of bed, and running for the boys before it started to settle down. I'm sure I'll be a nervous wreck for a few weeks to come.

And now, just a few days after the quake, we're gearing up to weather Hurricane Irene.

Like I posted on Facebook... What's the saying... "Hell hath no Fury like a Woman Scorned"? We must have Seriously Pissed Off Mother Nature this week.

BLOWING BUBBLES

On Monday afternoon, to keep the boys busy while Marc finished washing the cars, I brought out their bubbles, which are always a big hit.

Luke's an old pro at it now.

He's showing Grey how to blow just right.

So grey gave it a shot...

Way to Go, Grey!!

A LITTLE PROJECT

Last weekend, we decided to start working on a little project for our outdoor living space. We plan to add a covered patio and a second set of stairs on the back side of the bottom landing of the deck.

Here are some before shots. Marc had already started removing the trellising.

The stairs will be where that little slide is sitting, and then the patio will be, from that point, back into the corner and extend all the way over to under where the fern is sitting.

Since Marc was working with tools, Luke insisted he needed his plastic hammer, so he went and got it. Then a little while later he disappeared inside for a couple of minutes - I figured he was going to the bathroom. But no, he came outside sporting this...

He had made his own Tool Belt using the Western belt that Grandpa had bought him a few years ago. Definitely takes after his Mama in the Creativity department. He was also sure to put on his safety goggles.

Here are some after shots after the trellis had been removed.

We are replacing the trellis around this area with solid boards to help diminish the noise from the road.

Can't wait to continue working on this project and see it start to take shape.

MISCHIEF MAGNIFIED

Last week, I was just SO OUT OF SORTS. I mean, I thought it was the first week of school, so I had things I needed and wanted to due based on the fact that I would only have one child for three mornings of that week. But when that didn't happen, I could not get myself together. I don't know if it was because my schedule was now going to be totally out of whack, or because I could not wrap my brain around the fact that I was so wrong about school starting.

Anyway, needless to say, on Wednesday, I'm pretty sure that it was around 11:00 before I could get myself up off the couch. Because of this, Tons of Mischief was happening all around me.

Case in point...

the boys went to town, drawing on the laminate flooring with their crayons.

Their artwork stretched from the dining room table all the way to their bedroom door. Luckily my handy dandy Magic Eraser made it all go away.

After that, they took it upon themselves to dump ALL their toys on the living room floor.

In the photo above, please note: the lunch dishes still on the table (it's probably 3:00 at this point), the toy bin is upside down in the Entryway, and a couch pillow is by the dining room table. Basically, they were out of control.

And then before Marc got home, their creativity continued. The took all their magnetic letters and decorated the lamp post.

Note their clothing choices... Grey has no pants, Luke has no shirt and is STILL wearing the Woody slipper Boots that his cousin Matthew sent home for him.

I think by Friday, I was finally feeling back to normal, and I had the boys a little bit more under control.

JUNGLE GYM FUN

On Friday I was finally back to my old self, and I wanted to spend the day being productive. So I set about cleaning up the play area in the yard. It needed some serious de-treeing. I pulled up about 100 little oak and maple trees. While I was working, the boys were busy playing on their Jungle Gym. When I was done, I went and snatch up my camera to take pics of them having fun.

Luke the Cheeseball! Don't you love his watch?

Grey was determined to scale the rock wall. I believe this was his first time.

He was quite proud of himself.

He also discovered that he loves the little trapeze.

My O My how I love this boy...

THE "NOT" FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Based on paperwork I received last Spring when I registered Luke for this school year, and paperwork I received from his teacher when we met her at the school on August 5th, I thought school started on Tuesday August 16th.

So of course, we took his First Day of School pictures.

I did not pose him like this. It was his own doing.

Once the pictures were taken, we loaded up in the car, and off to school we went.

As we came around the bend in the road, I just couldn't understand why there were no cars in the parking lot. It was five minutes until the bell - there was no way, every one but me was running late.

I left the boys in the car and went inside looking for Miss Susan, the director of the school. I found her with two other teachers. I asked them... "am I crazy, doesn't school start today?". "No", she said, "it starts next week." "How did I not know this?", I asked. She said she didn't know.

Seriously, how was I the ONLY parent that got this wrong? I went home and looked at all my paperwork again, and no where did it say that the First Day of School was Tuesday, August 23rd. That evening, the school had an Open House. I showed Miss Susan my paperwork. She told me she was sorry, but the paperwork had gotten changed - but somehow, I had not received the corrected forms. At least I knew I wasn't crazy.

Poor Luke, had to wait another week.

POTTY TRAINING - TAKE TWO

So with everything I had to do before I left for my reunion, I decided... "why not add Potty Training to the list?" Was I crazy?

The answer is YES!!

On Tuesday, August 2nd, we began. I used the same "3 Day" method with Grey that I had used with Luke. Here's our Big Boy at the beginning of Day 1.

Luke did pretty much have it down within 3 days. Grey, not so much. It was more like 5 days. I cleaned up a LOT of pee the first two days, and on the third day, I was still cleaning up pee, but at least it was in the bathroom. He would go into the bathroom without telling me, stand in front of his potty chair, and pee his pants. At least he was getting that he needed to be in that room.

So cute in his little SpongeBob undies on Day 2.

While I was out of town, he did really good with Marc - hardly any accidents. Then when I got back, he seemed to have a small setback. But within a couple of days he had it down pat. Even began telling us when he had to go.

This picture was taken last week. I caught him during his "First" pee Off the Deck.

It's now been three weeks, and he's a Pro.

Of course this would be the shot with a good expression on his face. Hopefully he doesn't have a future as an Exhibitionist.

One other plus to this round of Potty Training, is that FINALLY after a year, Luke No longer poops in his pants. On Wednesday August 3rd, me and the boys were sitting on the floor in their room playing. He stood up and told me he had to go poo. I didn't think I heard him right, but sure enough that's exactly what he did. I was SOO PROUD!! That day was a major turning point, and he hasn't looked back. He hasn't had a single accident since then. Way to go Luke!!