Parenting Mistake

Yesterday was one of the MOST frustrating mornings I have ever dealt with. And it was over absolutely nothing.  I just picked a battle I probably shouldn't have, then felt like I shouldn't back down because I already started going down that road. What I wanted was a picture of both boys together before church because they looked so cute. The downfall was that on the way Walker noticed the bubble lawn mower that we just got on Saturday. The novelty hasn't worn off and he wanted to play with it rather than take a pic. He's not quite to the point where I can explain that if he just takes a quick pic, then he can go play. After several talking to's, some threats, and some cajoling, this is what I got.

Why on earth did I think pushing the issue was all of a sudden going to get a smile? Tom came out and did a little song/dance and managed this:

So by the time we got to church I was sweating profusely from wrestling with Walker for 30 min and totally frazzled.  Over absolutely nothing. Soooo, another reminder to PICK MY BATTLES. I was completely put out with Walker, but really the whole thing was my doing. Lesson learned. After church we had a little picnic outside and I was still secretly hoping for a photo op.

At least no one's crying in this one.

Walker was pretty dramatic all afternoon though. I don't know if he was still recovering from our showdown in the morning or just having an off day. The power went out mid-nap and our alarm started beeping, which woke him up early. That DEFINITELY didn't help. I gave up and went and napped myself and when I woke up, saw the most awesome note ever.

It says, "I'm out wearing down Walker." HA! I could never have known when Tom and I got married that selfless acts like this would be so important and he would do them without asking. He took Walker out (Harris and I were still sleeping) and let him run around at the park, then ran a couple of errands. By the time they got back, Walker was a little sleepy and in a much better mood. And so was I.

And, this is funny today but wasn't yesterday. Our neighbor was outside watering his lawn while the picture fiasco was going down. At one point, he just put the hose down and turned to watch the show. Hahahahahahaha. He was probably thinking, "Lady, give it up."

Anyway, in all the pics there are none of Harris' shoes. It was neighborhood garage sale day in our edition on Saturday, so we stopped at our neighbor's house who has 3 boys. I got Harris a pair of lace up brown shoes, kind of like this, but without the velcro.

He said, "These are the ones I've been waiting for!!" They must look like big-kid shoes to him. He adores them but his feet are so wide it takes unlacing them all the way, stretching the opening as wide as it can go, and shoving that foot down in there. Can't be comfortable. And the shoes are stride rite, extra wides!I got them actually thinking Walker would grow into them, because his feet aren't quite so chubby. But, if Harris wants to squeeze into them, that's his business. We also got a high chair for #3. We have one, but it has been used and abused to the point that it was really time for a replacement. Our kitchen table only seats 4, so the longer #3 stays in a high chair the longer we have to find a table. I have looked but nothing exciting so far. It never occurred to me when we got the table that in four short years, we'd have 3 kids.

Anyway, that was our weekend. It seemed like Saturday was action packed but we really didn't get that much accomplished. It was more just running here and there. This morning the boys got a treat and we went to Chik-fil-a for breakfast. We had the place to ourselves and they loved running around the playground. Walker charmed the lady that worked there, so she kept bringing him balloons (he kept losing his) and wanted to give them ice cream. I had to say no because it wasn't even 9:00, but the thought was nice. It's fun to see other people enjoy your kids. Harris' balloon got lost in the parking lot and he talked for a good hour about if it was just in outer space or all the way to heaven. He's still undecided. The only downside about Chik-fil-a is that Walker is big enough to get all the way up in the playscape now. He knows once he's up there, there's nothing I can do to get him. Thankfully I haven't had to climb up in there with my pregnant belly. Yet.

 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

We Made It!

That pic was taken AT OUR CAMPSITE! Woo hoo! We made it! Finally! The weather was perfect and we had a good time. We saw some raccoons and a ton of armadillos. The raccoons were ridiculous. If we had let them, they would have just walked right up to us, I think. And there were several. At least 4 came up to Tom and I while we were outside after the boys went to bed. All the toddler mayhem must have kept them away but two people sitting down quietly didn't bother them. They give me the creeps. My dad caught one when I was growing up, because it wouldn't stop eating his vegetable garden, and that thing was savage. I know it was angry about being in a cage, but I think it would have ripped my face off. He told me he drove it out to the country where it would have a better life, which I believed at the time. I have my doubts about that now, Dad. Anyway, I was able to get a pic of one of the armadillos. I kept asking Tom to chase the savage raccoons away before they got close enough for a pic in the dark.

I guess armadillos are a Texas thing. I don't remember seeing them when we've camped before. They kept running through the vegetation behind us and the boys would try to chase them. Whatever keeps them occupied. Flashlights and glow sticks were also a big hit.

Surprisingly, they both slept pretty well. Walker woke up about 5 in the morning saying. "Hi!! Hey Mommy!" but we just ignored him and gave it up and went back to bed. He woke up about 7 in a fabulous mood, thankfully.  They both took 4 hr naps that afternoon (at home) so they must have been pretty exhausted. Tom and I were too. The great outdoors is fun but it's just tiring! But this weather is so great I cannot bear to be inside. We've spent every available minute playing in the backyard or taking a walk.

Doesn't Walker look like a big boy in this pic? I will never dress those sweet boys in smocked outfits or sailor suits, but seeing this kind of makes me get why people do. Kind of. A little.

The highlight of our weekend was celebrating a SOONER WIN! Woo hooooooooooooo! The boys were ridiculously well behaved and let us watch the entire first half. The second half was naptime so that was perfect. Awesome, awesome, awesome. We cheered and screamed for four straight hours. When we'd start clapping about something, Walker would come running from wherever he was to cheer with us. Love it! Start 'em young! I posted these pics on facebook but I'm posting them again. Because a win like that over TX deserves excessive celebration.

It was as sweet to watch it with my family as any time in the stadium ever was. Fans get really into it all weekend and you see some unusual things. By far the weirdest/grossest thing I ever saw was an obese TX fan with his shirt off. He had so much back hair he had shaved UT in his back hair!!! Yes, IN HIS BACK HAIR!! This was when I was in college so cell phones didn't have cameras, or at least mine didn't. I would love to have evidence of that. Or maybe its better that I don't.

"I will cut off the horns of all the wicked." Psalm 75:10 

All Packed Up and Nowhere to Go

Oh my goodness, our weekend was one big mess. And I mean ONE BIG MESS. We decided in the middle of last week to go camping Friday night. We've been wanting to go forever and just hadn't been able to work it out. So......Tom takes off work early Friday, we get the car packed up, Harris is in a tizzy because we're going to "get the trailer and throw rocks." Let me just say, we did NOT pack lightly. I don't know what's in the trailer already and what we need to bring, so I packed literally everything I could think of that we might need. We've been to the grocery store for supplies and all bases are covered.

So we think.

We go to leave and can't get the car started. The battery is dead beyond repair and Tom rushed out to get a new one. At this point, we're in danger of not being able to get up before dark and that's a hassle we didn't want to encounter. So Tom gets the battery, gets it installed, and we're on the road. On the way, we realize we haven't made a reservation. So THANKFULLY we called before we got too far into the trip. No campsites left with electricity!!!! Are you serious?!?!? Rookie mistake. So we turn the car around and hit the park instead, trying to pacify Harris the best we could. That was one sad little boy but he handled it pretty well. Sooooo, we unpacked it all. The ice chest, all the bags, pack and play, glow sticks, laptop, endless snacks, sunscreeen, bug spray, blankies, sound machines, on and on and on. The amount of stuff involved in being away for less than 24 hours is a little ridiculous. The ENTIRE back of the SUV was totally loaded down. So, out it all came, back into the house to be put away.

We felt bad for little Harris so we took a day trip on Saturday. This was the one and only successful part of the weekend.

Sweet little boys. This looks a like a scene from A River Runs Through It. Or, A River That Has Been Through a Severe Drought Runs Through It.  

I love this pic of Walker. There were so many rocks to throw he was just overcome with emotion.

Since it had just rained I knew the water would be pretty chilly and didn't think they would plunge in it. Obviously, they didn't care and needed bathing suits. Whoops. We stayed a couple of hours and Walker came out of the water and said, "Home." I thought, surely he isn't saying he's ready to leave.......so I asked him if he wanted to go home. He said. "YES!" grabbed his water bottle and headed back to the car. I think he was tired and a little hungry, so we called it a day.

But it was such pretty weather and they both liked it so much, we decided to try it again and go camping Sunday night. So we went through the whole routine again. Loaded up the car, packed the ice chest, told Harris AGAIN that we were going, and headed out. The storage place where we keep the trailer has a gate with an access code, so we should be able to get in anytime. We get there, and the code doesn't work and the place is closed. ARE YOU KIDDING?!??!?! Shockingly, the owner answered when we called. Apparently they had changed the code so she was monitoring the phones all the time to make sure people had access. Awesome. So, we drive in and are about to hook up the trailer, when we realized we didn't have the keys!!! NOOoooooooooo!!!!! At this point, it's after 6. If we go home, get the keys, come all the way back, then have to drive to the campground, there's no way we'll make it before dark. Once again, we had to cancel the trip. Poor Harris could see the trailer and we had to tell him we couldn't go. He kept saying, "But I just want to throw rocks!!" Bless his little heart. We went to a park with nature trails but it just wasn't the same.

Here he is, trying to salvage his evening.

I'm so glad Walker had no idea where we were originally headed. He was just happy to be outside. We're planning a trip one night this week and I can't even imagine what's going to happen this time. Tom was laughing, wondering what the neighbors think. They have to wonder why we keep packing up our car, then come back two hours later! If something happens to keep us from going this week, I give up. I cannot even believe we had such a mess of a time, two times in a row. Hopefully we worked out most of the kinks and the next trip will go more smoothly. We all had so much fun on Saturday just being outside together and enjoying God's creation. It was gorgeous!! Look at that.

So, I'll keep you posted on the next trip. I'm hoping it's an actual trip and not just an hour drive with a loaded car.

I was looking through these river pictures and came across a funny one. Tom told me, in an urgent voice, to grab my camera and get a pic of Walker. I couldn't see what he was doing, but I hurried off to get it and snuck around the corner. This is what was so unusual it needed to be documented.

Ha! He sat down all by himself and was playing quietly at the table. It is a rare sight, for sure.  And I realize he is in all orange. Laundry needed to be done and this was just what I threw on him. My Oklahoma friends should not be concerned. These boys will know all about the crimson and cream and I'll get some pics of them in their OU gear while we're watching them beat Texas this weekend. Boomer!

How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all.

Psalm 104:24