Last Friday, we had fajitas for dinner. Andrew grilled the meat while I sautéed the peppers and onions. It was a family effort kind of dinner.
We were sitting around the kitchen table enjoying dinner when Cullen decided to make a mess. He unwrapped his tortilla and pulled everything out of it. He was smearing sour cream and guacamole all over his plate while simultaneously dipping the fajita meat in it to eat. It was mess, but he was eating and containing it to his plate. It wasn't too worried.
Amongst the mess, Cullen picked up his tortilla and bit a hole in the center of it. He held it up to his face to see through. Andrew leans over and whispers, "I bet he makes another hole for his other eye." Sure enough, he did.
Next thing I know, Cullen's bitten three holes in his tortilla to make a perfect mask to fit his face. He's holding it up to face growling and smiling through it.
Andrew and I are doing are best not to laugh. I didn't want to encourage him to play with his food because we've been trying to curb playing at dinner. Especially with food, but I had to admit it was really funny. I had to turn my face away and cover my mouth because I was not doing a good job not laughing. Andrew finally composed himself enough to say, "Cullen eat your dinner. Don't play with it."
Cullen was so proud of himself for figuring out he could make a tortilla mask out of dinner. I'm glad the kid has imagination. I'm just over the whole playing with his food phase.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Eye Surgery and Teeth
Summer is keeping me a lot busier than usual. Jackson and Cullen are going to summer preschool, and I have Sawyer home with me. It just seems a lot more hectic than my normal chaotic life lately. Probably has to do with all the doctor's appointments, surgery, and the heat.
Sawyer went back to the eye doctor last week. After discussing his glasses and the progress of his eyes, he needs surgery. The doctor and I talked about the surgery and what it entails, plus the risks. It is important Sawyer has the surgery sooner rather than later, so his vision will develop as normally as possible. Without it, he could have permanent vision problems the rest of his life.
Surgery is set for August 13 on both eyes. It will be an outpatient procedure. We are having it at the same center Jackson and Cullen had their surgeries. I wonder if they have a special, buy 2 surgeries get the 3rd free! That would be awesome, but I somehow feel the medical feel would not comply with my idea.
The doctor will be realigning the muscles attached to his eyes in different spots as to correct his cross eyes. I'm ready for it to be done, so we can move on with the process. I know this is only one step in a series of many long steps, but at least we are now taking another step forward.
On another note, Sawyer has finally cut his two bottom teeth. He's been drooling and chewing on things for what seems like forever. His teeth cut through a day ago. My littlest man is growing up!
Sawyer went back to the eye doctor last week. After discussing his glasses and the progress of his eyes, he needs surgery. The doctor and I talked about the surgery and what it entails, plus the risks. It is important Sawyer has the surgery sooner rather than later, so his vision will develop as normally as possible. Without it, he could have permanent vision problems the rest of his life.
Surgery is set for August 13 on both eyes. It will be an outpatient procedure. We are having it at the same center Jackson and Cullen had their surgeries. I wonder if they have a special, buy 2 surgeries get the 3rd free! That would be awesome, but I somehow feel the medical feel would not comply with my idea.
The doctor will be realigning the muscles attached to his eyes in different spots as to correct his cross eyes. I'm ready for it to be done, so we can move on with the process. I know this is only one step in a series of many long steps, but at least we are now taking another step forward.
On another note, Sawyer has finally cut his two bottom teeth. He's been drooling and chewing on things for what seems like forever. His teeth cut through a day ago. My littlest man is growing up!
Friday, June 21, 2013
A Crawler and a Frog
Sawyer is a full-fledged crawler now. I took this yesterday with the 'help' of Jackson and Cullen. Enjoy!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Living in Grammar Hell
Have people forgotten the fundamentals of the English language? Have we forgotten how to use basic grammar and spelling in our every day lives? Are we raising a generation so dependent on spell and grammar check they are unable to write correctly without it? Why, all of the sudden, do I feel like I am living in grammar hell?!
When I went to school, we learned spelling, vocabulary, phonics, and grammar the old fashion way. A pencil, a piece of paper, and a red pen. There was no spell check. I learned early on to use the correct versions of there, their, and they're or your and you're. It was made clear, in very blunt terms, the correct use of the English language was the only way to write in school. If you did not use proper grammar and correct spelling, my paper was marked red, and my grade was reduced. It was expected.
I learned, the hard way, to read and re-read my papers on my own in order to check for grammar and spelling. The hard way was having my mom and dad read my paper, then marking so much of it with red it looked like my poor paper was bleeding to death. I was then told by my father, "Fix this piece of garbage paper, then bring it back to me." As harsh as it was, I learned a few very important lessons. 1) Do not write a half ass paper and expect it to be good enough for a high grade. 2) Double and triple check grammar and spelling. And 3) Never, under any circumstances, ask my parents to proof read another paper again.
My English teacher freshman year of high school, Mr. O, was determined to teach all the kids in class how to write a proper paragraph and essay. How did he accomplish this? He had each student write a paragraph. The day we turned it in, he stood at the front of the classroom, shuffled all the papers up, then started reading each paper anonymously and grading it in front of the whole class. I remember praying he would not get to my paper the first day. He would criticize and teach us what the person did wrong, then say something along the lines of, "This paper is poorly written. This student earned a F." You could hear a pin drop in the room. After the teaching lesson and another assignment, I made sure I followed all of his advice. The next day, my paper was the first one randomly chosen. After reading it, he said, "I can tell this person used the thesaurus, if not a bit too much. Not bad, I give it a B." I was ecstatic! It might be considered by some to be a harsh teaching method, but every single person in that class was able to write by the end of the year.
Where did this get me? It allowed me to write proper English and get high grades on papers that weren't half ass. I never had to have my parents or anyone else proof read a paper for me again. I learned to finish my writing early, set it aside for a day or two, then come back to proof read it. It's amazing how many mistakes you will find after you come back and read your own paper. And this method worked for all three of my college degrees.
After all this hard work of learning to correctly write, why do I feel like I am living in grammar hell? Let me explain.
I saw two incidents on the Internet and social media within less than a week of each other. The first one I saw was an author answering a question of a reader about the proper use of there, their, and they're. I was flabbergasted someone (an adult, mind you) did not know the difference. There is for a place. Their is possessive. They're is for they are. It's not rocket science people! The second incident was a post on Facebook a friend wrote about stupid people, but incidentally used there instead of they're. I find this hilariously sad. If your are going to make a general insult to stupid people on social media, do not look dumb yourself. Use the correct word because you just made yourself look like an ass (and I'm saying that as nicely as I can).
It seems with texting, social media, and email, many people having forgotten or choose not to use correct grammar. Yes, it is okay to use short cuts and abbreviations in circumstances. That should be a given. Unfortunately, this doesn't always seem to be the case. I've seen news articles extremely poorly written on main domains. How are these people getting published when it is obvious they cannot even write? It boggles my mind!
Use our language correctly, especially the written word. Employers do not want to see typos and incorrect grammar on a resume, cover letter or email. No one wants to read a book or article with so many typos it takes away from the story or news. At least for me, once my brain registers a typo or bad grammar it takes away from what I'm reading.
Parents, teach your children how to speak and write correctly. I will be damned if my kids cannot write a paper. Let's stop living in grammar hell and start taking back the simple right of writing correctly.
And yes, I wrote this, put it down, and came back to edit it two days later. Yes, I did find typos, but I corrected them. See, my method still works!
When I went to school, we learned spelling, vocabulary, phonics, and grammar the old fashion way. A pencil, a piece of paper, and a red pen. There was no spell check. I learned early on to use the correct versions of there, their, and they're or your and you're. It was made clear, in very blunt terms, the correct use of the English language was the only way to write in school. If you did not use proper grammar and correct spelling, my paper was marked red, and my grade was reduced. It was expected.
I learned, the hard way, to read and re-read my papers on my own in order to check for grammar and spelling. The hard way was having my mom and dad read my paper, then marking so much of it with red it looked like my poor paper was bleeding to death. I was then told by my father, "Fix this piece of garbage paper, then bring it back to me." As harsh as it was, I learned a few very important lessons. 1) Do not write a half ass paper and expect it to be good enough for a high grade. 2) Double and triple check grammar and spelling. And 3) Never, under any circumstances, ask my parents to proof read another paper again.
My English teacher freshman year of high school, Mr. O, was determined to teach all the kids in class how to write a proper paragraph and essay. How did he accomplish this? He had each student write a paragraph. The day we turned it in, he stood at the front of the classroom, shuffled all the papers up, then started reading each paper anonymously and grading it in front of the whole class. I remember praying he would not get to my paper the first day. He would criticize and teach us what the person did wrong, then say something along the lines of, "This paper is poorly written. This student earned a F." You could hear a pin drop in the room. After the teaching lesson and another assignment, I made sure I followed all of his advice. The next day, my paper was the first one randomly chosen. After reading it, he said, "I can tell this person used the thesaurus, if not a bit too much. Not bad, I give it a B." I was ecstatic! It might be considered by some to be a harsh teaching method, but every single person in that class was able to write by the end of the year.
Where did this get me? It allowed me to write proper English and get high grades on papers that weren't half ass. I never had to have my parents or anyone else proof read a paper for me again. I learned to finish my writing early, set it aside for a day or two, then come back to proof read it. It's amazing how many mistakes you will find after you come back and read your own paper. And this method worked for all three of my college degrees.
After all this hard work of learning to correctly write, why do I feel like I am living in grammar hell? Let me explain.
I saw two incidents on the Internet and social media within less than a week of each other. The first one I saw was an author answering a question of a reader about the proper use of there, their, and they're. I was flabbergasted someone (an adult, mind you) did not know the difference. There is for a place. Their is possessive. They're is for they are. It's not rocket science people! The second incident was a post on Facebook a friend wrote about stupid people, but incidentally used there instead of they're. I find this hilariously sad. If your are going to make a general insult to stupid people on social media, do not look dumb yourself. Use the correct word because you just made yourself look like an ass (and I'm saying that as nicely as I can).
It seems with texting, social media, and email, many people having forgotten or choose not to use correct grammar. Yes, it is okay to use short cuts and abbreviations in circumstances. That should be a given. Unfortunately, this doesn't always seem to be the case. I've seen news articles extremely poorly written on main domains. How are these people getting published when it is obvious they cannot even write? It boggles my mind!
Use our language correctly, especially the written word. Employers do not want to see typos and incorrect grammar on a resume, cover letter or email. No one wants to read a book or article with so many typos it takes away from the story or news. At least for me, once my brain registers a typo or bad grammar it takes away from what I'm reading.
Parents, teach your children how to speak and write correctly. I will be damned if my kids cannot write a paper. Let's stop living in grammar hell and start taking back the simple right of writing correctly.
And yes, I wrote this, put it down, and came back to edit it two days later. Yes, I did find typos, but I corrected them. See, my method still works!
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
T-shirt Quilt
A couple of months ago I was cleaning out my drawers for my annual cleaning. After going through my second t-shirt drawer (yes, I have 2), I noticed how many college t-shirts I still had. Unwilling to get rid of them for the memories they hold, but not really wearing them anymore, I remembered hearing about a t-shirt quilt company.
After looking in the back of my Rachel Ray magazine, I found the company I was looking for, Campus Quilts. I went to the Internet site trying to find out the specifics. I got very excited about this idea, and Andrew and I decided to pool all of our old college t-shirts.
Here is the end result. I'm amazed how well this turned out. I almost wish I never would have gotten rid of the dozens of other shirts I had collected over the years working for various Campus Recreation departments. I probably could have made a king size if I would have kept them all, but alas I didn't. Regardless, this is a 6x6 square quilt, each square being around 19 inches.
Isn't it pretty awesome?! I have a gorgeous quilt with a ton of memories and clean drawers!
After looking in the back of my Rachel Ray magazine, I found the company I was looking for, Campus Quilts. I went to the Internet site trying to find out the specifics. I got very excited about this idea, and Andrew and I decided to pool all of our old college t-shirts.
Here is the end result. I'm amazed how well this turned out. I almost wish I never would have gotten rid of the dozens of other shirts I had collected over the years working for various Campus Recreation departments. I probably could have made a king size if I would have kept them all, but alas I didn't. Regardless, this is a 6x6 square quilt, each square being around 19 inches.
Isn't it pretty awesome?! I have a gorgeous quilt with a ton of memories and clean drawers!
Friday, June 14, 2013
Sprinkler time!
My family knows it is officially summer time when we break out the sprinkler in the backyard. Of course once Jackson is allowed to go swimming again, we'll be going to the pool. Until then, sprinkler time!
Sawyer was sitting under a tree in the shade with me.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Father's Day present for my Dad
Father's Day is this Sunday. Matt, my brother, and I were racking our brains trying to think of something to get our dad instead of the usual gift. My mom told us he wanted some pictures from the past year.
Instead of sending him pictures from the past year, we decided to put a photo book together of pictures from when we were kids through the present. Matt and I pulled out all of our old pictures we had stored in boxes after moving umpteen times. After finding suitable pictures and scanning them into the computer, we made a pretty good photo book.
Dad got it yesterday, hence the reason I'm sharing it today. Happy Father's Day, Dad!
Instead of sending him pictures from the past year, we decided to put a photo book together of pictures from when we were kids through the present. Matt and I pulled out all of our old pictures we had stored in boxes after moving umpteen times. After finding suitable pictures and scanning them into the computer, we made a pretty good photo book.
Dad got it yesterday, hence the reason I'm sharing it today. Happy Father's Day, Dad!
Monday, June 10, 2013
Wedding Anniversary!
Today, Andrew and I are celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary. I can't believe we have been married for 7 years already. It seems as though we were just at LSU and living in Baton Rouge.
Andrew is my best friend, confidant, an amazing husband, and an awesome dad to our three boys. Every year, I thank my old supervisor, Jacqui, for sticking her nose into my business and setting Andrew and I up. Thanks Jacqui!
Happy Anniversary Andrew! To a lifetime more of happy moments together!
Andrew is my best friend, confidant, an amazing husband, and an awesome dad to our three boys. Every year, I thank my old supervisor, Jacqui, for sticking her nose into my business and setting Andrew and I up. Thanks Jacqui!
Happy Anniversary Andrew! To a lifetime more of happy moments together!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Surgery and Recovery
I am glad today is a new day.
Jackson had surgery yesterday to remove a cyst from inside his scrotum. I took him down to the surgical center while Andrew took Cullen to preschool and watched over Sawyer. On the way down, I hit a hell of a traffic jam on the interstate. It was past rush hour, but our city has the nation's 5th worst traffic according to some recent study. Lets just say, I avoid the interstate like I avoid the plague, normally.
After arriving exactly on time (I left early just in case), we were whisked away to pre-op. The only thing Jackson wanted to do was play Angry Birds on my phone. I usually don't let the kids play games on my phone, but it kept him occupied and calm during the wait. Meanwhile, I filled out paperwork, signed my life and his away, and answered the same questions at least 3 times to 3 different people. I was told all the risks, up to and including death. Love the thoroughness. The nurses and doctors were all great. Eventually, he was whisked away on the rolling bed (which he loved) to the operating room, and I was walked into to post-op to wait.
An hour later, Jackson's doctor came in to tell me about the surgery . It was a success! She said the cyst came out completely in tact, and there was no need to have a second incision. Jackson was wheeled into his post-op room about 20-30 minutes later. He eventually woke up completely from the anesthesia about 1 1/2 hours later.
His first question, "Mommy, can I play Angry Birds?"
I laughed and knew everything would be just fine.
Since the anesthesiologist gave him a low epidural (called something special which starts with a C), he couldn't walk or feel his legs adequately to stand. It was pretty funny. I was getting him dressed, and his lower half was flopping around like a rag doll. He is also quite talkative when on pain medicine. I got an earful on how big he is and other things. I almost wish I had an extra pair of hands around to video tape it.
We arrived home a little before 1pm. He inhaled a vast amount of food because he was starving.
All in all, it was a long day.
Andrew and I are glad it's over. I'm quite thankful for the technology of our phones. I was able to keep Andrew up-to-date almost instantly. It's the next best thing to having him there with me.
Thank you all for your prayers before, during and after surgery. He's already back to his normal self.
Jackson had surgery yesterday to remove a cyst from inside his scrotum. I took him down to the surgical center while Andrew took Cullen to preschool and watched over Sawyer. On the way down, I hit a hell of a traffic jam on the interstate. It was past rush hour, but our city has the nation's 5th worst traffic according to some recent study. Lets just say, I avoid the interstate like I avoid the plague, normally.
After arriving exactly on time (I left early just in case), we were whisked away to pre-op. The only thing Jackson wanted to do was play Angry Birds on my phone. I usually don't let the kids play games on my phone, but it kept him occupied and calm during the wait. Meanwhile, I filled out paperwork, signed my life and his away, and answered the same questions at least 3 times to 3 different people. I was told all the risks, up to and including death. Love the thoroughness. The nurses and doctors were all great. Eventually, he was whisked away on the rolling bed (which he loved) to the operating room, and I was walked into to post-op to wait.
An hour later, Jackson's doctor came in to tell me about the surgery . It was a success! She said the cyst came out completely in tact, and there was no need to have a second incision. Jackson was wheeled into his post-op room about 20-30 minutes later. He eventually woke up completely from the anesthesia about 1 1/2 hours later.
His first question, "Mommy, can I play Angry Birds?"
I laughed and knew everything would be just fine.
Since the anesthesiologist gave him a low epidural (called something special which starts with a C), he couldn't walk or feel his legs adequately to stand. It was pretty funny. I was getting him dressed, and his lower half was flopping around like a rag doll. He is also quite talkative when on pain medicine. I got an earful on how big he is and other things. I almost wish I had an extra pair of hands around to video tape it.
We arrived home a little before 1pm. He inhaled a vast amount of food because he was starving.
All in all, it was a long day.
Andrew and I are glad it's over. I'm quite thankful for the technology of our phones. I was able to keep Andrew up-to-date almost instantly. It's the next best thing to having him there with me.
Thank you all for your prayers before, during and after surgery. He's already back to his normal self.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
The glasses have arrived!
Sawyer's glasses have finally arrived, lenses and all. He looks really cute in them, in my opinion.
We go back into see the ophthalmologist in two weeks. Hopefully, we'll know more about how the eye correction is going then.
Until then, please enjoy my handsome little boy.
We go back into see the ophthalmologist in two weeks. Hopefully, we'll know more about how the eye correction is going then.
Until then, please enjoy my handsome little boy.
Drinking Quotes
My kids crack me up sometimes. In our household, drinking alcohol is not a big deal. Andrew and I have decided it will be completely normal for our kids to see us drink. That's how it was in my house and around all of my family growing up. It was never a taboo thing and never thought of as anything but normal. And I turned out just fine!
Because of this, our little kiddos have even come to appreciate Mom and Dad's adult drinks. Hence, the following quotes...
"This is my little beer," Jackson said while holding up his glass of ice tea after trying, unsuccessfully, to talk us into giving him his own beer.
"I need to drink some of that," Cullen said while following Andrew after he pulled out the bottle of tequila.
"My drink," Cullen said when the waiter at Ninfa's put my margarita down at the table. He went as far as sticking his fingers in my rita before I could pull it away and licking his fingers saying, "Mmm."
It will be interesting to see what else they come up with in years to come.
Because of this, our little kiddos have even come to appreciate Mom and Dad's adult drinks. Hence, the following quotes...
"This is my little beer," Jackson said while holding up his glass of ice tea after trying, unsuccessfully, to talk us into giving him his own beer.
"I need to drink some of that," Cullen said while following Andrew after he pulled out the bottle of tequila.
"My drink," Cullen said when the waiter at Ninfa's put my margarita down at the table. He went as far as sticking his fingers in my rita before I could pull it away and licking his fingers saying, "Mmm."
It will be interesting to see what else they come up with in years to come.
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