HHI or Bust!

Finally. It is time for our vacation. I am looking foward to being e-mail, blog and Facebook-free for a week. But, I also look forward to sharing our fun times and photos when we return. This is our first vacation since 2000, so hopefully we don't go too crazy! Adios Greenville, hello Hilton Head Island!

From the Front Porch...

Our front porch - or stoop - is small, but a lot of fun things happen there! We enjoyed several days of 80 degree weather and since our backyard still needs a bit of work and playground equipment installed, we decided to play on the front porch. The boys had a great time coloring with sidewalk chalk, playing with the bubble machine and simply exploring the front and side yards.

Yesterday I heard what sounded like construction equipment and when I looked outside I saw two fire engines! They were working on our neighborhood fire hydrants and just happened to park in front of our house (lucky me as most of you know my love of firefighters!). Dane was napping, but I took Blake outside to see the trucks and watch the firefighters work. He took it upon himself to wave and say hello to them. He just sat and watched them from the front step.

Hopefully this cooler weather will exit soon and we can welcome warmer weather again and more fun times on the front porch!

Spring Has Sprung!

Well, it actually felt more like summer! It was 80 degrees here yesterday, so we enjoyed an afternoon at the park in shorts and T-shirts!

Tubes: Round Two

Blake had an appointment today with both the audiologist and ENT. All news was good! Hearing is within normal limits. Yeah! However, the ENT said Blake needs his ear tubes replaced to eliminate excess fluid in hopes to continue to improve speech. I agree since right now Blake is showing us a lot of speech and it seems like the perfect window of opportunity to continue on that road and hopefully increase his sounds and words. Especially in conjunction with his new classroom and their focus on speech and language. The ENT also said Blake has a pretty bad sinus infection. Oops. I am the mommy who sits around and waits when my children have "colds." I have learned my lesson from pediatricians - and my husband - that most colds are viruses. But, when he said today "wow, he has quite an infection" I felt like a bad mommy. He has had symptoms for 3 weeks! How am I supposed to know if it is a virus or infection with no fever! Anyway, Blake will have new ear tubes placed on Friday, April 3rd...AFTER the much-anticipated vacation to Hilton Head!

The New Kid at School!

Blake's first day of school (finally!) happened today! After two snow days and a late start today, he began his day at 10:00am. He sure looked handsome, confident and excited to go to his new school. Upon arrival a sweet 5th grade girl approached us - even before we reached the front door - and said "Is this Blake?" She was ready to walk him to class as she is his teacher's helper and will walk him to class each day. She knew who he was only after seeing his picture once. After telling her I would walk him in his first day she was eager to inform me she would greet him tomorrow in the carpool line and walk him in. Amazing girl, and school for having such a program. After making our way through the very busy hallways Blake entered the classroom on his own, put his bag and coat in his cubby with a little guidance, and off he went to greet peers and play. No goodbye for mommy without a little force :(

Blake's day ended at 2:00pm. I picked up him with his teacher along side who reported "he didn't miss a beat!" She said that when children start they put them in cube chairs to contain them during circle time and they gradually move to sitting on their space on the floor. Blake didn't need the cube chair and was able to sit on his space the whole time! He played, ate in the cafeteria and had rest time. He was TIRED and somewhat zoned when I picked him up. He seems exhausted and it wasn't even a full day. So, tomorrow I will drop him off at an early 7:45am. Gosh, I miss him and it seemed like Dane did, too. I'm sure he will head to bed early tonight. I am one proud mommy!

It Snows in South Carolina!

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Amazing! Almost 6 inches of snow fell at our address! It was a very heavy, wet snow (think October snows in Kansas City) that break tree limbs. I have been through countless snow storms and several ice storms and have never lost power. Until now! We lost electricity Sunday evening at 6:00pm and did not come back on until last night at 5:00pm. It was a chilly night bundled up, but who knew we would find a way to activate our gas fireplace (that has an electric starter) with 2 D batteries! 65 degrees was balmy compared to what it could have been.

We had a great time yesterday playing "old school" without electricity. We built forts, read tons of books, colored, played with play-doh, and more! It is amazing the fun things you forget to do when television and internet are at your fingertips! The boys had a great time playing in the snow and mommy had fun watching the neighbors trying to shovel snow with their rakes, yes rakes! I let them use our shovels and thanked them for a good laugh in the midst of no power.

School was obviously cancelled yesterday, but it is also cancelled today because many schools are still without power and we had a lot of black ice last night due to refreezing. So...Blake will finally have his first day at the big school tomorrow! Today, we just hope to get out of this house for a bit when it warms into the 40's this afternoon. We enjoyed the rare snow event in South Carolina even though it was MARCH! We look forward to our spring-like weekend coming up when temperatures will be in the 70's. I can handle one snow per year instead of the months of cold and snow back in Kansas City!

Worth Sharing

As much Starbuck's as I consume (you are welcome, Cathe!) I have never had the interest or taken the time to read the "The Way I See It" statements on the cup. For some reason something compelled me to read the one on my cup today...#217 by Kevin Streit an attorney from Richmond, VA. I was glad I did and thought I would share...

"The day my son was born, I simultaneously died and was reborn. Every day before that day, my life had been about me and what I wanted the world to give me. Every day since, my life necessarily has been about what I can give to someone else. And that, I think, is why the world needs more children - and more parents."