Oh What a Morning.....

Disclaimer: This post is probably boring for all of you (the 2 or 3 that actually read this! ha!), but I am writing it to serve as a decent memory bank for myself. :-)

As you read in our last post, we are moving.  Chris and I have found a rent house close to UALR, and so it'll be easy for Chris to get to school.  (He'll actually be able to bike in nice weather... and considering gas prices nearly killed us this past year with him going to and from school, it'll be a nice change!)  Things have gone smoothly with the house, for the most part.

Until this morning.

This morning, Nana graciously took some paperwork to the water company so that we could get the water turned on today before the gas company comes on Monday.  As I am trying to find my keys so I can go drop Dillon off at VBS at church, she calls and says we have to prove that my husband, Chris, is not the same Chris that owes them money.  Okay, fine.  So, I find out we have to have a drivers license and a form with his social security number on it (which proved to be his tax return... oh, how glad I was that Nana also has the talent of being our accountant so that step could be made much easier!).

I dropped Dillon off at VBS (late, because for some reason I put my keys on the kitchen counter, not by my bed where I usually do), realized I was supposed to bring snacks for the morning, and then promptly decided they'd have enough snacks without my help.  (And, yes, I checked with the Childrens' Minister later -- there were plenty of snacks, so I didn't have to feel guilt.)  I went to Starbucks to find my handsome barista in the middle of morning rush, doing 3 things at once, and not understanding what I needed.  So I went to sit down and wait for him to settle...

After he had a break, we chatted, and he gave me his DL so I could copy it at Fed-Ex.  Then, we tried to fax it from Starbucks, but it was too dark.  At this point, I have been there an hour and am thinking about all the boxes that need to be packed, how we move a week from tomorrow (A WEEK FROM TOMORROW!!!), and I don't have time to be sitting at Starbucks.  So, I went back to Fed-Ex, which is (thankfully) in the same shopping center as the Starbucks.  We tried faxing it several times, still pretty dark, but it was at least readable.  Praise the Lord.

I run back to Starbucks, give Chris his ID, and drive to the church so I can watch Dillon's final VBS performance.... ONLY TO WAIT IN THE LEFT LANE TURN SIGNAL FOR TEN MINUTES!!!!  At this point, I was flustered, and I was pretty curious what I'd done to the universe to tick it off.

But, then, I made it into the gym and snagged a seat on the floor to watch my son perform songs and motions he'd learned during the week.  His great big smile when he saw me watching him made everything worth it.  I could literally feel the stress leaving my body.  Mama then sent me a text that the water company accepted our information, making the stress of the morning worth it.

After we left the church, we headed to McDonald's for lunch.  At one point, Dillon said, "Mama, I saw you watching me, and I was happy."

Dillon, I was too.  And I am looking forward to many other moments, just like today's.

Morning, you may not have started off as kind, but you ended just fine.  And, yes, it was worth everything to hear my little boy say, "...and I was happy." :-)

Random Pictures & News

 Michael loves his bouncy seat. He can make it bounce really hard and fast.

About 4-5 days worth of food. Maybe.

 Lil Bit loves his ducky in his bath.

 "We're wearing the same shirt!"

 A quick picture before swimming.

 Dillon loves swimming by himself. Don't tell him that the noodles are helping. Michael loves splashing in the water.

 Daddy got smart and found the life jacket we never used for Dillon. Michael loves it. He splashes for a while, then just lays back and chills.

 Michael turned 6 months old last Friday. He will sometimes hold his own bottle, but not for long.

Dillon loves playing with his little brother at Mimi's house... or anywhere for that matter.

And now, the news part:

We're moving back to Little Rock.

Mama got a new job at Asbury UMC as an office secretary so she can spend more time at home. Dillon gets to go back to his old daycare until he starts pre-K, and Michael gets to go, too. (To daycare, not pre-K. Yet.)

We're all happy and excited about this new stage in life.

Memorial Weekend

 Unrelated to the weekend, but Michael has started playing in his Exersaucer. He seems to like it a lot.

This weekend, Uncle Ben, Aunt Cheryl, & Elijah came down for the weekend.

Sunday, we all went to Mimi's house after church to see them. After some sandwiches for lunch, the boys took naps and the parents went to a movie.

After that, it was time for dinner.

 Michael likes his uncle.

 After supper, it was time for a bath.

 The shower door got shut and opened several times.

 After bath, it was time for a night-night story.

 Elijah decided he didn't want to share his book anymore, so Dillon got one of his own.

Michael didn't get to read stories because he fell asleep on his Mema.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Dillon has been saying some pretty funny things lately, and I don't want to forget them, and so I thought I'd do a quick post about it!

One day last week, Dillon was having an especially rough day.  For the third day in a row, he didn't take a nap, and he was written up for punching a little girl in the face.  (I seriously almost cried while signing his paper.  Instead, I waited until the car.)  His daycare teachers were sweet about it; they almost went as far to say as they didn't want to write him up because he's usually so sweet.  Anyway, Chris and I'd already planned on going to Kroger -- and since "going to town" takes a few minutes, we decided to go even though it might end in disaster.  Sure enough, Dillon started throwing a fit in the middle of the store, and a random lady came up to him and scolded him -- in front of Chris and me!  (The good Lord knew I didn't need to say anything because I had a Tanako polo shirt on... so I kept my mouth shut so the random lady didn't call the UMC complaining about their program director at church camp.)  That night, he went to bed early and couldn't watch videos.  Needless to say, we were all spent emotionally and physically!

The next day, I told Dillon he could watch movies again because it was a new day.  On the way to his daycare, I decided we needed to pray for a good day.  So, I asked Dillon to pray after me.  He did.  A few minutes later, he looked at me and said, "Mama, we need to pray you'll have a good day, too!"  At the time, I didn't much have a clue about what he was saying, but it was incredibly sweet.  A few minutes later, he said, "Mama, we need to pray for Michael since he can't talk."  And we did.  Love it.


Each night, I try and sing a night night song when I tuck Dillon into bed.  A few nights ago, his night night song choice was "Whoo Pig Sooie!"  I guess I am doing something right! ;)  (He does know all the words to Jesus Loves Me, All in All (He calls it You are my Strength When I am Weak), and Sanctuary.  I love singing those songs WITH him.)


One day, a few weeks ago, while playing with his Thomas trains, he looked at me and said, "Mama! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!  I learned that at the Little Rock Church (aka St. Paul United Methodist Church)!"  I was so impressed, and I am thankful for a church in Hot Springs (Hot Springs First United Methodist, where we attend when we're in town), and St. Paul where I know our children are growing up hearing the stories of the faith.


We tell people this all the time, but Dillon is SUPER sweet with his brother.  He gets in trouble for loving him too much.  And, Michael watches him EVERYWHERE doing EVERYTHING.  It's fun watching them.  I know they're going to be buddies when they get older, and that makes my heart happy!


That's all I can think of for now.  I'm glad kids say the darndest things (most of the time...)!

The Weekend

One of Dillon's favorite books at Mimi's house is "Sir Kevin of Devin." He had Mimi read it last Thursday when we went up for supper.

Saturday, we went to Dillon's gymnastics show. He got to bounce on the big trampoline & show us all the tricks he had learned at daycare. Daddy got video of it & will try to put something together later.

 It's hard to get a picture of a three-and-a-half-year-old doing gymnastics.

 He would put his hands and feet on the bar and swing while making monkey sounds.

 He got a medal and the "Hardest Worker" award.

Sunday, after church and nap, we went back to church for a concert.

 Michael played by himself and sang along some.

 (Aunt) Michelle played the flute. Dillon didn't look away while she was playing.

 Nana and Michelle played handbells. They did a very good job.

 After the concert, we went to see our friends Greg and Brandie and their new baby Ava. About three of her would make up one Michael.

Dillon got to hold her (with help).

When we got home, he said he wanted to go back to Greg and Brandie's house after daycare to see Ava. He said she was beautiful.

Belated Mother's Day

This was supposed to get posted two weeks ago, but things have been just busy enough.

Daddy got Mama a mother's statuette for Mother's Day.

Dillon & Michael made a plate with Dillon's handprint & Michael's footprint on it.

On the back were their ages when they made it.

Dillon & Michael gave Nana a decoration that says "A Nana's hart is a garden of love."

At Mimi's house, Michael practiced pouting. For no reason.

Mimi got a decoration that says "Family together we have it all."

Mema got a book called "Mothers and Sons" that has things that mothers help their sons with.

Michael thought Mimi was funny.

Ten Years



Michelle, Papa, and Me in my parents' backyard on Easter.

 Dear Papa,

Wow.  Saying I cannot believe it's been ten years since you died is an understatement.  I REALLY can't believe it's been ten years.  Sure, you were sick right before you died, but it was still a shock.  I don't think I actually thought you'd die in the hospital bed at Baptist.

I remember the day, vividly.  I was wearing a yellow spaghetti strapped shirt that was "illegal" to wear at Hall, and so I had a red Razorback sweatshirt over it, and jeans.  I was waiting for Mama to pick me up from school, but I knew she was late.  When I realized how late she was, I knew something was wrong.

After Daddy picked me up, we went straight to the hospital.  I headed right back to see you, but Aunt Debbie and her brother-in-law, Dave, stopped me.  I remember hearing Daddy start crying, and I just knew.  I fell into Dave, and he held me for a minute before we went to your room.

I'll admit, it took me a while to "get over" your death.  I remember telling God that night that I wouldn't accept it, and for the longest time, I didn't.  I knew you were fully healed -- your lungs now worked, you were with your wife, and your brothers and sisters and parents.  But, I wanted you here, with us.

However, in the years that have followed, I have found immense comfort that you're my guardian angel. For all the good times we had on Earth, I can't even imagine the party you're having in Heaven.  I know your golf game probably improved -- and I am sure we're all happy about that. ;-)  When Aunt Debbie died, I remember wanting you on Earth more than I had in a while.  I'm sure you were happy about seeing her again, but I knew your bear hugs would have been welcomed during those days.  (Plus, having you at my wedding the next day would have been fun!)

Since you've died, I have realized you're a part of my future more than my past.  Life has moved on.  Your daughter is now a wonderful, wonderful Nana.  I'm now married, with two children.  (And, yes, Dillon might be the family name... but he IS named after you.)  Michelle is a beautiful woman, inside and out, in pharmacy school.  I take comfort in that you can watch all this from above, and relish in the good times with us.

While I don't want it to be too soon, I am looking forward to our eternal future, Papa.  Thanks for the lessons in football, faith, and family.  I tell your great grandsons about you almost daily.  You'd love them, just as you loved Michelle and me.  Keep watching over us.

I love you,
Your granddaughter,
Diane

Peas!

 Michael has started eating peas.

They're just a bit messy. He doesn't seem to mind much.

Rainy Sunday

When we got home from church today, the power was out.

The bottom of Dillon's pants got wet, so he wanted to change pants. He just didn't want to change shirts yet.

This evening, we made pizza. Dillon helped put the cheese on his.

Needs more cheese. Lots and lots of cheese.

Eating cereal

Michael loves his cereal.

now... which one's Michael? and which one's a 4-month-old Dillon?