Spring Break - Day 3

Today was another busy day. I had planned to take Ty to the Zoo, but our weather people predicted rain around lunch time. (Of course, the rain didn't get here until 8:30 this evening!)

So, our morning began with yoga (Tyson loves to do yoga!)... I've realized that I enjoy it much more when it's in the evening. I must be getting old, because I'm pretty stiff first thing in the morning. After that, we had a light breakfast, and then practiced piano. Look at that concentration:

Since we expected thunderstorms to move in, we decided to tackle the mess that was Ty's room.
I don't think it has ever been this messy before. As Riley has grown and become more crafty with circumventing our gates and blockades, we've had to remove Ty's toys from the first floor, a few at a time. It started out simple enough... just a stack of games in the corner by the bed, but things had definitely gotten out of hand.
This is embarrassing...
And we've been putting some things up on top of his dresser because he keeps forgetting to close his bedroom door, and Riley occasionally gets in there for a few moments.

Neither of us could stand it anymore, so we spent a large portion of the day sorting through toys and games, reorganizing stuff, etc.

As I was taking photos of the "after," Tyson insisted that he take a picture of his calendar. It's not new. It's been on his wall for four years. But, what the heck... he asked nicely.
We packed up a few things for Riley to play with in the future, and set aside several items for GoodWill. In the end, we felt pretty good about what we had accomplished.
We removed his old fashioned school desk, and I had intentions of finding a newer one with more workspace.
We still had a few things that needed homes, especially his art supplies. (That's what that big, black box is, next to the dresser.) I hated leaving it there, but it was full of crafty stuff & I didn't have any place else to put it all.
Tyson enjoys arranging his "sleepy friends" on his bed. This is why he doesn't mind making his bed most days... he arranges them differently every day. (Yes, the three hockey pucks are supposed to be there. He has slept with them since he was a baby. Some kids choose a teddy bear, blanket or other soft lovey as their transition object. My kid picked a Vancouver Canucks hockey puck.)
After we finished cleaning Ty's room, we took a break to eat lunch. Outside. On the deck. It. was. awesome.
After lunch, we took our load of stuff to the GoodWill store for donation. As long as we were there, I decided to look for a desk. I warned Ty that we would likely have to come back several times until we found something that would fit our requirements. We walked to the back of the store and saw, buried between two large entertainment units, a perfect desk! (Ironically, it's a slightly more modern school desk... we just traded older for newer!)
It was absolutely perfect. Ty has a small room, so we didn't want a ginormous desk. This has plenty of work space, but doesn't take up too much floor space. I didn't want to spend a lot of money, given that he will likely outgrow it in a few years. The cheapest one our Target had in stock was $89.00; I got this one for $20.00! We needed something that would hold much of Ty's art supplies. I was able to completely clean out that big black box and put everything in the storage area of the desk and the shelf next to it (which we already had). And the best part (given that it was a retired school desk): I didn't have to scrape any gum off the bottom.

On the schedule for tomorrow: a visit to the gym, some time for relaxing (finally) and haircuts for the boys. I'm excited. It'll be Riley's first haircut!

Have a great day!

Sprng Break - Day 2

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!!

Today was the second day of spring break. I had originally thought that Spring Break would be a relaxing, rejuvenating experience. Instead, so far we've been really busy, and I'm exhausted!

Of course, we all got up and put on our green this morning!

Tyson "found" a rainbow, sans pot-o-gold.

Riley got in touch with his Irish roots in a cute polo shirt.
So, the morning started with a breakfast of Lucky Charms (of course!) and bananas, followed by some play time. (For the boys. I had to clean up breakfast, start the laundry and water the houseplants).
After that we took Riley to day care and went to get Tyson's hearing checked. He had failed the screening they gave him at school, but today he passed with 100% normal hearing. This was a relief, and confirmed my suspicions that he is, in fact, choosing to ignore me when I ask him to do things like putting his shoes away or brushing his teeth. (I wasn't allowed to photograph inside the chamber, so this image will have to do.)

After the hearing test, we had a quick lunch on the deck, and then went to Lowe's to stock up on seeds and garden supplies. Matt & I have been talking about drastically expanding our garden. Today I committed us to that. Look at all the plants Tyson & I are going to grow!
Tyson helped me plant some of them, and spent the rest of the time playing with his friends.
Here are the starters. I like to use the small Dixie Cups instead of the peat pots. Those things get gross if we have frosty mornings late into spring.

When the seeds had been sown it was time for a piano lesson. (Hi Steph!!!) She's a great piano teacher... very patient and quick to cut off any shenanigans Ty has planned!
Lastly, we had a great Irish dinner: corned beef and cabbage with boiled potatoes. I cooked the potatoes and carrots with the corned beef in the crock pot all day, but cooked the cabbage separately in a skillet. I'm not crazy about the cabbage (*gags at the thought*) and didn't want my house to smell like stale cabbage tomorrow. The meal turned out wonderfully... my Irish ancestors would be proud!
This was followed by a slice of St. Patrick's Day cake...
...and a bit of clowning around at the table. Matt bought this to wear at work today.
I didn't get a chance to do any knitting today, but the day's not over yet. I'm planning to settle in with a tall glass of Ovaltine and work on T2 after I finish the dishes.

Spring Break - Day 1

Spring Break began a little later than I intended this morning. I forgot to set my alarm last night, so we all overslept. Fortunately, we didn't have any place to be, so it didn't really matter! I just rearranged a few things & we still had a great day.

The highlight of our day was meeting my dad for lunch here:

Tyson really wanted a green Blizzard (mint oreo).

After that, we ran some errands and then came home to relax. Tyson & I watched last week's Knight Rider (I know, I know... but he really likes it) while I knitted a bit. T2 is growing! I think I've still got a good three to four more rounds, but it's getting there. I really like the colors; they're very "baby." More importantly, I think the recipient will enjoy it as well.
I also did a little light housecleaning, and then Tyson & I went to pick up Riley from day care. After having a giant salad (with chicken, mandarin oranges and dried cranberries... yum) the day ended with a wagon ride for the boys. We all enjoyed it, though it was quite a workout for me. The wagon weighs about 25 pounds, the boys weigh about 65 pounds together and we live on a slight hill. Phew!
While we were on our walk, I saw this definite sign that spring is here:
~~~~~~~~
And, in other news...

I've been busily planning Riley's first birthday party. Yes, he will be 1 year old at the end of the month, and I can hardly believe it! Since he has taken on the very appropriate knickname "Wild Thing," we are having a "Where the Wild Things Are" party. I made and mailed the invitations over the weekend. Here's the front:
...and here's the inside:
Also last week, Matt had knee surgery. He's recovering super-quick. He walked out of the surgery center under his own steam, and started PT the very next day. He's feeling fine and is anxious to get back onto the tennis court and into the hockey rink.
I bought this lovely plant last week at the grocery store. The label said, "Bulb Plant," but I don't know what kind. If you can identify this plant, please let me know. The flowers grow really funny... almost upside down.
Happy knitting!

Signs, Signs, Everywhere the Signs...

I've been thinking a lot about signs lately. The obvious ones, and the not-so-obvious ones. Now, I have to admit that I do believe in signs. I think I've mentioned before that I think of my life as a journey... down a brick road. (Dorothy's was yellow... mine is purple. What else would you expect?) I believe that God has a route all planned out for me, and that I can choose to follow this route or not. I know by now that life is always easier when I just go where I'm told... although this does not always means that's the choice I make. (I am a stubborn woman and occasionally make bad choices just for the sake of rebelling...) I think God has a specific destination in mind for me, and that there are certain attractions, events, and wonders that he wants me to experience along the way.

Sometimes, when I'm not so sure about which path I should choose, I try to quiet my inner monkeys and just... listen. I look for the signs... those around me and those in my heart.

But don't let all that stuff I just wrote make you think that this is a heavy or serious post in any way. I just wanted to talk about some of the signs I've experienced lately.

Some signs are obviously placed in our path to purposely manipulate our behavior. Here's one I pass every day on my way to Riley's daycare. I usually notice it because it seems so very unnecessary. It is on a stretch of road that nobody in their right mind would attempt to park on. There is no shoulder here, and cars/trucks/buses go zinging by at speeds that not only break the law, but quite possibly the sound barrier as well.

This is a common enough sign. It tells us to stop and look for oncoming traffic or pedestrians. (Of course, if you've never driven in St. Louis, you should know that the STOP signs with the white border are considered to be optional. This sign is more of a suggestion... though I would definitely not exercise the "option" with a patrolman sitting nearby! *wink*)

This is a double... it not only tells you that you should be going painfully s l o w (for no apparent reason), but also that you are driving painfully slowly through a St. Louis County Neighborhood Watch Area. (This means that if you look closely at the windows of the homes, you could very well see an older woman dressed in her housecoat, peering out a slit in her curtains, staring at you with her Bushnell binoculars... just smile & wave.)

Sometimes we come upon signs that seem not to be put in our path purposely (although we all know that Someone has to put them there...)

Take this one, for instance. The Cobra sitting in the driveway (instead of covered up in the garage) is a sure sign that Spring is almost here! Definitely a good sign.

The fact that behavior modification materials (which I had to make) for Tyson's school currently litter my kitchen table serves as a sign that my "Little Angel" is having some difficulty in school. Not a good sign.

Here is an interesting... strike that. Here is an ALARMING sign:
This is a sign that says: (A)I'm a much worse knitter than I previously thought; (B)This yarn really sucks; or (C)I've got a bit of a pest problem and they've been feasting on my handknits!!!
That sign lead to the following action: From now on, all of my handknit socks will be kept in Ziplock bags in my closet (and also will not be allowed to fall behind the dryer, which is where the pink ones became an all-you-can-eat-buffet. Please do be more careful, Matt...).

Here was another sign I experienced last week. This was actually several small signs, all pointing to the same outcome. I didn't get a picture of the first sign. It occurred when my boots (which I originally purchased while in junior college) fell apart while I was wearing them... in the middle of my work day. I took that as a sign that I needed to look for some new boots, so I headed to the closest shoe retailer: DSW.

I saw some great boots, and noticed that they were originally out of my price range. I took the fact that this price was marked out as a good sign.
Then I saw the alternate price... and realized they were having a sale: 30% off the colored sticker price! Another good sign. Much more reasonable, but still, I have trouble spending money on myself...
Then, I noticed the brand name of these boots:
As you all know, my name is kelly... I have a sister named katie. (I actually have three sisters, all of whom I love dearly, but for the purpose of this post, katie's name was particularly important.) How many times have I heard, "Kelly&Katie," as though our names had somehow been squished into one long word? Well, here they were... squiched together into one long word. That was the final good sign. I bought them & put them on in the car. They are super cute and super comfy. (And my receipt says that I saved $109.00 off the original price.)
See what wonderful things can happen if you just follow the signs?

Life Moves Forward

I started a new sock. With two baby blankets on the needles, I needed something quick and portable. And, I wanted something that I don't really have to think about too much. This sock yarn has been chillin' in the stash for a while, and with springtime lurking right around the corner, it needed to come out of hibernation.

I don't have a lot done so far, but that's a seed stitch band there, and I don't know about other knitters, but it seems like seed stitch takes me forever!!!
Oh, and check out the foreground in that photo... my irises are starting to come up!!!

I've also been knitting away on T2 (my second trinity baby blanket). It's coming along nicely, and I am confident that, barring any injuries or really shiny distractions, I will have it done in plenty of time for the recipient's arrival.
There have been some other new & interesting developments and event in our home as well.

The first (& most important) is that Sweet Pea is almost ready to walk. He has figured out how to push his big brother's giant truck up and down the hallway. He's taken 1 or 2 steps a couple of times, but usually prefers to just throw himself at whatever he's trying to get to. Nani and Popi have started calling him "Wild Thing" And they are so. right. He has two speeds: Mach 3 and asleep.
I'm craving spring so badly right now, that I'm looking for anything to brighten up our lives. Last weekend I made purple pancakes. (I didn't get a photo because Matt & the boys ate them before I could grab the camera!)

I also changed the biggest item in the upstairs bathroom. Here's the old one:
It's okay. It's pretty. (Pretty old... we've had this shower curtain for about 7 years.) But I wanted something bright & pretty. So, much to Matt's chagrin, I bought this one!
I wanted to repaint and everything, but we're hoping to put in new flooring this summer, so I figured I'll wait on that.

I've also begun to transition into our spring/summer menus. I was cooking the other day and happened upon an anomaly of nature...
See those little green peppers? I found them inside the red pepper. There were a bunch of them. They all tasted fine... they just grew funny.

One more quick note. The oddity of motherhood never ceases to amaze me. Sometimes it's terrible, like the first time you have to take your baby's temperature... rectally. And sometimes it's awesome, like the first time your baby gives you a hug or fantastically sloppy kiss. And sometimes it's just... well... weird. Like when you go out to dinner with your family, sit at a crowded table, and are forced to put your things under the baby's highchair... and then later discover half of his meal (french fries, grilled chicken, tomatoes & cucumbers) in your purse!
Life definitely moves forward.

I'm Working On It...

The boys are still sick. We took the boys to the doctor today. Riley is better, though he has an ear infection. Tyson's fever is still hanging on, and I can tell he's feeling awful. It's 9:30pm right now, and he has been in bed since 4:00pm. He completely missed dinner. I feel bad for him. He has an unusually high tolerance for pain, and we know he's feeling bad with a capital B when he skips dinner and takes to his bed. He's staying home from school again tomorrow. Hopefully he's going to be feeling better tomorrow... and will be able to go back to school on Wed.

I'm feeling better, though not completely back to normal. I still haven't got my appetite back yet. It's frustrating, because I haven't eaten very much for the last 8 days, and yet I have only lost about a pound. Illness sucks, but in an effort to look at the bright side, I usually try to enjoy the weight loss that inevitably comes with it. This time, there's no weight loss, so there's no bright side. Just me, not feeling great, trying to get back into the swing of life...

In the mean time, I have been doing some knitting. And I made a minor improvement to our bathroom upstairs. I'll show pictures later this week when I get a chance to dump them off the camera.

For now, I'm going to bed.

I am not ignoring you.

I spent Sunday through Wednesday being held hostage by the flu. It was terrible. High fever, body aches, sore throat... I tried to spend as much of the experience in a NyQuil-induced coma as was possible.

I started to feel human again mid-morning on Wednesday. I even took a shower and went to the store. Since I hadn't been eating, I indulged in a TV dinner. I came home, microwaved it, and sat down to enjoy. I took two bites... when the phone rang.

It was Tyson's school: he has a fever of 101.3. please come and get him.

So, I left my much anticipated lunch to collect my poor boy who felt so awful that he could only huddle in the back seat of the car, whimpering pitifully. I got him home, checked his temperature (it had climbed to 102), gave him Motrin, got him in his jammies & tucked him into bed. He started to drift off to sleep, so I went to the kitchen to get him some juice... when the phone rang.

It was Riley's daycare: he has a fever of 103.4. please come and get him.

Holy crap on a stick. Seriously? Okay.

I got a very crabby Tyson out of bed, bundled him into his coat and put him into the car. Again. We drove to the daycare where Riley was "quarantined" in a swing and none-too-happy about it. I bundled him up in his jacket and got both boys home (carrying each from the car to the house) at which point I found myself being pulled in many directions at once. Having two sick kids is much more challenging than having only one sick kid.

I eventually got them both fed, watered, medicated and into bed, where they remained for the better part of the afternoon. By the time I got back to my lunch it had cooled to the point of having an odd, undescribable texture. Since TV dinners are barely acceptable when heated once, I decided to avoid risking a reheating and trashed it. I ate a bowl of cereal and four Wheat Thins, which was fine because I still don't have my appetite back.

I went back to work today while Matt stayed home with the boys.

I was just heading to lunch... when the phone rang.

It was Matt: I have a fever. Please bring soup home.

Sigh. I have begun to develop a slight eye twitch at the sound of any phone ringing.

Now all of my sweet boys are sick, and they will all probably miss Valentine's Day. Matt & I were planning to go out to dinner (sans kids). Tomorrow is Tyson's first official school Valentine's Day party. Saturday is Riley's first Valentine's Day ever. I feel so bad for them. They're going to miss all the fun.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!