The Second Most Dreaded Question

About 10 minutes ago, I was beside Tyler in bed telling stories when he interrupted me with a series of unprovoked questions (that started off innocent enough). Replay of our conversation:

Tyler: The baby in your belly is having fun?
Me: Yes. She is growing and having a lot of fun.
Tyler: Is she kicking and dancing and playing?
Me: Yes. A lot of kicking and dancing especially- she is going to be very strong.
Tyler: How is she going to get out?
Me: Silent and still...Huh?
Tyler: How is she going to get out of your belly?
Me: (Trying to be as evasive as possible and just wanting to get back to telling my story about the monkey that wanted to visit the moon) She will just come out of my body.
Tyler: But from where? A hole?
Me: Yes- a hole...so the monkey really wanted to go into space...
Tyler: Where is the hole?
Me: Tyler, it is getting late- let's talk about this tomorrow.


HELP!!!! I know Tyler and he will be in my room at 7:15am sharp wanting to continue this conversation. Give me an age appropriate answer that does not involve the word stork or vagina.

20 1/2 Weeks

Books In Bloom

Tyler and I had the best morning today while Tommy worked and Carson napped. We started off my going to an event sponsored by the UT Gardens called Books In Bloom. The event is held in the UT Gardens and starts with about 20 minutes of getting books read about a particular subject. Today was "earth worms". After learning all about worms, the kids got to take part in making a worm compost. Tyler especially loved this part where he got to squeeze out the moist rice paper and add the worms to the bin. The morning ended with all the kids playing in the sprinklers. After the event, Tyler and I went to pick up G-Ma for lunch and ate at Soho Asian Bistro. Tyler has officially decided he loves won ton soup and sweet and sour chicken!

Tyler watching the demonstrator prepare the materials for the compost.

Squeezing out all of the excess water from the paper to add to the bin.

Studying one of the worms to add to the compost.

Tyler and his friend Emma from preschool enjoying the sprinklers.

Ice Cream Man

Slip-N-Slide

A find at WalMart in the $5 clearance isle (which has to go back because of the hole...they just do not make $5 toys like they use to). Tyler loved half sliding, half crawling down and getting soaked. Carson- who was observing fully clothed- also got in on the action.

First slide down. I think it would have worked better if we had put in down hill...

Tyler showing off his muscles. On a side note, Tommy pointed out to Tyler that he had two freckles on his back- to which Tyler replied "I have those freckles because I am almost a man." Interesting correlation.

Carson joining in on the water fun.

Homemade Popsicles

Tommy went to the store this morning and bought white grape juice and frozen mixed berries and popsicle molds. Tyler has asked "Are they ready yet...let's check..." for the last 4 hours, but it was all worth it. Naturally, Carson loved his popsicle too!

North Carolina Hospitality

Tommy and I just got in from North Carolina- with Carson in tow. Tyler has spent the weekend at G-Ma's going to Dollywood with her and his Aunt Becky and cousins...lucky dog. While he rode his happy self through the foothills on Dolly's train eating kettle corn, Tommy and I spent the weekend unpacking boxes, lining shelves and staining our porch. We went to bed sore and woke up sore- that is how you know you really worked during the day.

Just when we were at the pinnacle of exhaustion and starvation last night, we saw new neighbors that we had only met the night before stroll up our driveway with hands full. Turns out, our new neighbors run The Jarret House- a historic beautiful B&B in downtown Dillsboro. Also turns out The Jarret House is famous for their food! Yes- we were brought homemade fried chicken, biscuits, ham, slaw, chicken and dumplings and green beans. My eyes teared up when when I opened each container overflowing with hot, yummy, unexpected goodness. I had to hold back from throwing my arms around their necks and kissing them all over their faces (I did not want to freak them out and make them so uncomfortable as to never want to bring us food again).

Then, just as we were pulling out about to head back to Tennessee today...more neighbors appeared with warm sugar cookies. Lord, thank you for putting my family in a neighborhood where we are surrounded by such generous and welcoming people. Also Lord, thank you for helping those neighbors to be such good cooks.

Last Day Of School

Today was Tyler's last day at Mead Montessori School and celebrated with an end of the school year ice cream party. Everyone brought different toppings and the kids spent all morning hand churning the homemade ice cream. It was awesome! All the parents showed up at 10:30am to share in the event and get some good pictures of the last day. Tyler is going to be participating in "June Bug Camp" next month, but we are still sad to see the year come to an end. The school has done wonders for this social and verbal development and we could not imagine him having better teachers than Miss Ella or Miss Jamie.

The event has begun! All 6 kids gather around to start topping their ice cream- every bowl looked like sprinkle soup after they were finished.

Naturally, Carson was not going to be left out of the event.

Tyler enjoying his concoction with friends Emma and Elijah.

The Mead Montessori class of 2009 : (from left)Miss Ella holding Abe; Eva;Emma; Tyler; Max; Elijah

Bath Party

I think Tyler's favorite part of the trip besides playing croquet and petting the horses was the bath party- his words, not mine. He stayed in the bubble bath jacuzzi tub for a good 30 minutes yelling, "I am having a bath party, who wants to come in?"

Whitestone Inn...The Action

In between meetings...

Whitestone Inn...The Setting

Tommy and I were told that we would be going on a work retreat this past Tuesday and Wednesday at the Whitestone Inn in Kingston Tennessee. Other than a few hours in meetings, we knew we would have time to enjoy the resort so we took the kids and G-Ma with us. The dining was incredible, the loft suite we all stayed in was bigger than most homes and the surroundings looked like a painting. We had the best time!

This is the view taken from the several porches where we had our gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinners. Tyler actually took the shot above. Everywhere you looked was a backdrop of mountains, lakes, and grassy hillsides framing horses grazing in meadows. It really was breathtaking.

One of my personal favorite things to view were the geese and their goslings marching up the hill and swimming in the catfish pond. Tommy made the comment, "The animals here are living better than most people!"

Water Prints

Why did no one tell ever us that to entertain two boys all you needed was a cup of water and concrete? Tyler and Carson played outside forever on the sidewalk making hand prints, foot prints, ear prints...you name it. Then Carson was the first to discover that you could stick your entire face in the water and blow. How I wish everyone could be this easily entertained.

Take Four

I feel like every time we get Tyler, Carson, Dawson and Sophia together and a camera is available-someone is trying to get a good picture. Last night it was my turn. I am not going to say they were uncooperative, they are just four kids under the age of 6. I am posting the outtakes...mainly because there were no good "intakes". These were the only shots with at least 50% looking at the camera and smiling in the general direction of the picture taker. I am just realizing how much fun it is going to be trying to get a good Christmas picture this year with a 4 year old, a 20 month old and an 8 week old. Get ready for some comedy on a greeting card!

3D...Not For Me

My sister and I took the kids to see Monsters and Aliens in 3D today. While Tyler, Dawson, and Sophia seemed to really enjoy it, I sit here typing with a headache four hours later. They were really funny though- they kept grabbing at the air in front of them. While I personally thought the movie a little graphic for a kids movie, I still continue to be amazed at how far the technology of animation has come along. The special effects in this movie versus The Fox and The Hound are night and day. Good rainy day to spend with cousins dodging crashing asteroids!

A Day At Wonderworks

Make A List.

Tommy just walked into my office with cardboard boxes and tape and asked, "Which area do you want to be responsible for?" To which I replied..."I will take on the task of checking my friends blogs, looking at fox news and maybe browsing facebook. Boxes. Packing tape. Task charts. Blaaa. These key words that are swirling around in my head leave me already feeling overwhelmed with the task of moving. In fact, as I sit here typing to share my thoughts with friends and family(not typing with the notion at all of procrastinating from helping pack)- I can hear Tommy loading up his office. We close on our house this Friday. Tommy has rented some massive U-Haul trailer to take up on closing with the idea of packing up breakables, out of season clothes, and basically everything we can cram into it that we can unload prior to the "official" move. I am not sure of our game plan- but I think we are going to unload as much as possible and then see how much is left in storage to reassess if we need professional movers. This should be interesting.

We are about to embark on our fifth move in five years. We are tired of moving. I hate the packing and the decluttering and trying to figure out which room needs to be ready first. I am sure having a baby on the way is not helping my state of mind in prioritizing which needs to come first...getting furniture ordered so the boys have something to sleep on or finding a good dentist in case we chip a tooth one day after the move?

I am sure a sane person does not get this bent out of sort over something they have known about for months and is inevitable. My mom always told me growing up to make a list when overwhelmed. I think I am going to do that right now. Number one one the list is going to read "Go eat lunch at Silver Spoon Cafe at 11:45", but I am sure dentist will make the top five.

Mother's Day 2009

Here I stand at 18 weeks modeling my Mother's Day present from Tommy (neither of us are too good at keeping suprises and always end up giving gifts early). A sterling sliver charm bracelet with heart charms with each child's name engraved with their birth date on the back. Tommy also had a separate charm put on with our names. I love it! The new bracelet along with handmade lavender soap from Tyler and a baby girl on the way might just be the best Mother's Day yet. Happy Mother's Day to all mothers around the world!

Greenest Hike Ever

Since it has rained all week and the sun was shining bright tonight, we headed to Ijams for a hike by the water. We were all amazed at how green and gorgeous everything was. The air smelled so clean and the foliage had grown so much since we had hiked last week. The main reason for the excursion was to try out Carson's new ride. Ed and Marsha, remember giving us a gift certificate to Bass Pro Shop for Christmas 07? Well, we finally purchased a hiking backpack for Carson...and eventually the next baby. We have been wanting one for a while, since Carson is too big for the Bjorn and obviously cannot walk on trails yet. We love it! So for anyone looking for a great model- we would highly recommend the Kelty Kids FC2 model- lime green of course.

One cool feature of the backpack is that a section unzips and you can wear it as a separate backpack to carry water and snacks (we take no hike without plenty of water and cheez-its). Tommy snapped a picture of Tyler and I leading the pack- with me sporting the backpack. Remember, camera adds 30 lbs- that is why I appear 6 months along instead of 17 weeks.

Tyler taking a snack break- 10 minutes into the trail. And I had to get a picture of the trees. This has been the best night! And not just because I have not been out of the house in two days and got to eat a Rally's chicken sandwich and chocolate shake for dinner after the hike. Truly great evening with my family.

Sick Days

This has been a long week and it is just Monday. Last Thursday Tyler started running a fever and would have it for 24 hours and then it would break... only to start again. We called the doctor over the weekend and were told if it came back today, then bring him in. Well, mid morning the fever was back. Tommy took Tyler in for blood work and a strep test this afternoon and was told it was just a fluke virus that was taking a longer time to get over. Beside the mild fever- is was diagnosed as being healthy as a horse.. not to mention according to the pysicain "a really BIG kid for his age". Tonight he has been jumping around and has been fever free for the majority of the day. Since he missed school Friday and today, combined with all this rain- we have been indoor cats for a while. I told Tommy tonight that I have not stepped outside in two days and I am getting a fever too- cabin fever. Tomorrow I will go on a long walk and maybe even shopping with Carson if Tyler returns to school. I posted a few pictures of how Tyler has been occupying his time. Besides camping out on the couch and watching the rain, also include playing Candy Land, building forts, baking snicker doodle cookies and apple cake, playing Shoots and Ladders and last but not least- working the US States puzzle about 50 times. I apologize for this lame post, again I have not seen sunlight for two days. By the way, the hideous blue care bear sitting on the couch back is the one I won in the claw machine at Mr. Gatti's last week for Tyler!