I can't tweet

Why is twitter so popular? If I tweeted it would be nothing but negative thoughts about things that irked me that day or the complete opposite with tons of sweet things my kids have said to me. Surely that is not interesting to people? What does one tweet that makes it interesting? I have no idea. I've been reading some lately (Governor Perry, State senator Florence Shapiro and some colleagues)... mostly super boring. Maybe they are doing it wrong? Maybe they have nothing interesting to say and I should follow more intriguing people? Maybe i just don't want to take the time to learn yet another tool that i can access on my phone or on my computer?? Jack already gets grumpy about my incessant email checking and fb updating. And speaking of facebook it allows me the opportunity to 'follow' people already... just enough info from a variety of friends. I like this the best. Twitter, imho, is for those with serious obsessions... the followers are, at least. ;)

Bragging on the Boys

Ahh I love reading these updates! I don't keep baby books so this blog functions like a book. I hope they appreciate a printout of this some day. :) So many funny things they say and do... i Just love it. Really love it. :)

Jack Jr

• We told him Scott needs to learn his letters, etc. So Jack has decided to help Scott with this. He is always saying the sound and then the letter in the hopes that will help Scott. Today Jack pointed to a V (on his homework page) and asked Scott 'What letter is this? It comes before W.' Yep, sweetie. that's a good way to teach Scott. :)
• In another sweet moment of Jack trying to help Scott Jack said we should save his (Jack's homework) until Scott is 4 then he can use it too.
• He is reading a lot now. Always looking at signs, magazine covers, the TV trying to make out words. For his brirthday he received a lot of books and has enjoyed trying to read them. Poor buddy gets frustrated with longer words. Its like he thinks he should know it already. On the flip side its so enjoyable to see the excitement in their eyes when they get a word right like when he sounded out 'bowl' and got it right. Big sheepish grin from him.
• He loves making sentences. Each day he writes new words on his posterboard ceiling and tries to make funny sentences with them. 'The zebra and he lion ran to the pool.' 'The bird is driving the truck.' His spelling is really coming along too. I think the reading is easier since he can still sound out the word but he is trying!
• Jack went to soccer camp for several months this fall. Bobby Moffatt camp in Richardson where he learned skills like dribbling, throw-ins and other crazy look skills. Jack, unfortunately, is so competitive that he will push the other kids down to score. not exactly what we were hoping for... maybe he should try football too. He (and Scott) have a little aggression they need to work out. ;)
• He had his first golf lesson and learned how to hold the club correctly! He tried putting and chipping too. Apparently if you get these down you'll be a killer golfer.
• For fun Jack does math workbooks. I don't exacrtly know why except that Mimi had a whole bunch of them and decided to give them to Jack. :) He just sits down and goes through them 1x1. Just addition and subtraction.
• His chinese is slowly, very slowly coming along. I have no idea how to help him. I hope I can find time to install some chinese software and find time to listen to his teacher's lessons on video so we can practice. the homework comes home in chinese characters!! Hello. and then they translate it to western alphabet but i still don't know what the words mean. ;)
• And of course, he is just as sweet as ever. He told me yesterday morning that he just wanted to snuggle with me. Each morning (since I'm up) he lets me hold him in my arms for a while.

Scott

• He is Mommy's protector. If Daddy is picking on me I can say 'Daddy, stop getting me' in my damsel in distress voice and Scotty bug comes a-running! He says 'don't get my mama' and then proceeds to pull on Daddy to get him to stop. Its soo funny.
• He is also my little secret caring kiddo. he seems so tough but if i cry Scott is the first to ask if I'm ok. He always wants to know why something might be upsetting. If they are happy tears he feels better. Today we got some upsetting news about a friend and I cried. Scott tried to wipe the tears from my face to see if that would help make me happy. He then runs around trying to induce laughter. He always does.
• He is a great sharer. If you take something from him... not so good. but if he has something he will share. Candy? Everyone gets a piece if Scott's around. Flowers? we all get one. Bouncy balls (these are the berries on the holly shrubs)? everyone again. So caring.
• Last night I had on a dress that I guess was very cool (got many compliments from all ages) and Scott said 'i love your dress'. then i bent down to hug him up for such a sweet compliment and he said 'i love it just a little'. :) then 2 minutes later he announces he loves girls. He is gonna be a ladies man.
• Not too sure about school still. We're really working hard on the hitting and fighting. We just don't know why he gets so worked up but he does. Thn it releases in physical form - usually a punch. Lots of love going around, punishment, rewards... talking with the school. Maybe its because he is the youngest in the class or youngest at home? Not sure.
• He doesn't seem to know his letters very well. I think Jack knew his so early because all of his toys were letter games. :) Scott has a lot more cars than Jack did at this age. But then again, he just doesn't 'see' letters yet. He finally can recognize all the letters in his name. He does know his numbers though. Maybe we have little math wizards at home?
• Scott is still learning pronunciation. We know what he is talking about ... usually. :) At school there is a little boy he mainly argues with. The boys name according to Scott is 'Sha-an'. We had no idea if that was his name but Scott says it clear as day. From another mother we recently learned that the kids name is Cheyenne. Its absolutely hysterial to hear Scott talk about Sha-an now. :)

That about wraps up my bragging for now. ;)

Happy Veteran's Day a reminder and celebration

Proclamation 3071

Whereas it has long been our customs to commemorate November 11, the anniversary of the ending of World War I, by paying tribute to the heroes of that tragic struggle and by rededicating ourselves to the cause of peace; and Whereas in the intervening years, the United States has been involved in two other great military conflicts, which have added millions of veterans living and dead to the honor rolls of this Nation; andWhereas the Congress passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926 (44 Stat. 1982), calling for the observance of November 11 with appropriate ceremonies, and later provided in an act approved May 13, 1938 (52 Stat. 351) , that the eleventh of November should be a legal holiday and should be known as Armistice Day; andWhereas, in order to expand the significance of that commemoration and in order that a grateful Nation might pay appropriate homage to the veterans of all its wars who have contributed so much to the preservation of this Nation, the Congress, by an act approved June 1, 1954 (68 Stat. 168), changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day:Now, Therefore, I, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America , do hereby call upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954 , as Veterans Day. On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.I also direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag of the United States on all public buildings on Veterans Day.

We celebrated in McKinney this past weekend at the future site of the McKinney Veterans Memorial in Craig Ranch. This year we got to hear several Collin County speakers, a talented singer, the McKinney choir and see a Missing Man formation fly by. What a great day it was!

Caption: Everyone standing as the McKinney Fire Dept Color Guard posts the colors.

Caption: Jack with his hand over heart. The funny thing is he later recited the Full Pledge of Allegiance. I had no idea he even knew it! Apparently they say it at his school every day.

Caption: Scotty Bug being patriotic waving flags for the fly by

Jack turns 5 - How can this be?

Jack Jr is 5! How did time go by so quickly? It seems like just yesterday that our sweet Jack was born. Last year I wrote about the day he was born, November 3 2004. See my favorite pics here. (My all-time favorite pic is on that page. :))

Yesterday morning we headed out to McDonalds for a special breakfast. At last that is what Jack wanted us to do!

Caption: Jack got some Bakugans and a camo stop watch.

Caption: so cute to me. :)

Caption: Jack makes this face lately when he asks for something. its hysterical.

Jack's school allows you to come up during snack time to talk about your child. So off Daddy Jack and I went to Daffodils. I didn't think i would be nervous in front of kids but i couldn't think of things that would interest them about Jack. They laughed hysterically when i told them he had super big cheeks when he was born. :) Basically, you show pictures and talk about your kiddo and things he has done over the years. Very fun. The kids were adorable. It was so nice to meet all of Jack's friends!

Caption: At Daffodils in the watermelon room.

In the evening Jack wanted to have dinner at Hibachi Rock! I think most kids love this place because they have fire! Just a moment to brag a bit... i think the people sitting next to us were impressed that the boys ate edamame and their hibachi dinner, all of it. :) Here the chef made an onion birthday cake (instead of the usual volcano) for Jack as we sang Happy Birthday!

Caption: Jack received a lego watch too. Daddy Jack attempts to assemble it while dropping all the black lego pieces on the black floor. :) Finally it works later at home.

Caption: Celebrating at home with dessert. Ice cream cake! Scott is actually trying to catch the smoke from the candles.

Caption: Sweet smile from my sweet Jack. Happy Birthday, Jack. I love you so much.

Happy Halloween 2009

Even though Halloween is the same date every year and I bought the costumes in advance (yay me!) I still felt a bit like it snuck up on me. Maybe its because we didn't have many dress-up parties to attend this year. Sad. But it was also good as I'm pretty sure we might not have made it.

On Friday, October 30, we went to the boys' school to watch the Halloween parade. All the kids wear their costumes to march around in front of the parents. The wearter had just stopped raining, literally, after the 2nd class started parading. Since the rain stopped we were able to move the parade outside. thank goodness! Because I learned that other parents just don't care about others. Some people wanted the best view for themself rather than making sure everyone could see the kids. Oh well. the kids looked adorable. :) And our kids were the ones who got out of line and ran over to us for hugs. Yes!! The boys were ninja turtles, red and blue. We don't know the names.

After school and lots of calendar received at school we went to the club for dinner. it was a Halloween themed dinner, of course. I was all dressed up and about to walk up there when daddy Jack called to tell me to change. No adults were dressed up. :( I really wanted to cuz I had a great costume. We get there and the kids ran to the kids room (all kids were dressed up). they got more candy, more treats, decorated pumpkins and had cool balloon creatures made. Meanwhile, our good friend came dressed to the 9s. she looked beautiful as the good witch, Glenda. but her husband was late for dinner. and she was the only one dressed up. We felt bad for her but she looked absolutely gorgeous. Her husband later joined us for an unexpectedly good time of visiting!

On Saturday we went to our good friends' the Donatos house. This year we didn't even bother trick or treating in our neighborhood because we don't know anyone anyway. :) We got to meet lots of their neighbors; watch tons of kids run around like crazy. I handed out candy while Jack took the boys to the houses with D and the rest of the kiddos.

The boys are getting prepared by showing us their sword-fighting techniques. (Scott, Jackson, Jack Jr)

Jack and Jack making funny faces

All the kids ready at dusk... Hayden, Ryan, Scott, Jack Jr, Jackson

All the kids got pretty tired after a full day of play time, trick or treating, candy eating, running around and wrestling. Movie time...

Repairing the crack

Working hard on it, many of you know. Now I've added sleeping like normal people (for 8 hours a night), epsom salt baths, no caffeine (one week down!) and running added in to my walking workout. Not bad except the crack is only slightly better. I think more things will kick in this week and we'll see some progress. :)

Scott being Scott

Enuf said.

Jack's foot

Doesn't look like much, does it? Well, this is Jack's foot on the day he could not walk. Last Wednesday he woke up unable to put pressure on his left foot. I thought it was asleep so we tried to massage it out. Nope. He could not walk at all after being awake an hour. he was not in a lot of pain unless he had to walk so he just crawled or drug (correct english?) himself across the floor. it was incredibly sad to watch this. For no known reason was this happening. he had not injured it playing. nothing dropped on it. he wasn't sick. nothing. Off we went to the pediatrician in the pooring rain. I got my work out in carrying my 43 lb kiddo through the dr offices. The doc was a bit stumped too. After a strep culture (negative) and blood tests (all good) he had an xray which didn't show much except some fluid around the cuboid bone. He sent us off to the orthopedist. (I'm proud to say that Jack is about as good a patient as I am. He cried through the whole xray. Yes, the xray. I don't know why.)

After seeing the orthopedist the next day we learn that Jack has a high arch and had irritated the ligaments/joints around the cuboid bone by doing who knows what. Maybe jumping off the monkey bars? Maybe playing soccer? Cuboid Synrdome (the official diagnosis) caused swelling and the inability to walk. but with rest, elevation and ice... he is all better. To prevent this from happening again Jack gets to wear othotics, lucky kid. And must wear hard soled shoes. no more crocs, sandals or going around barefoot. Yay! Fun! Jack is so happy about this. :) The good news? He is fine. its manageable and nothing serious. no infection. no surgery. I must say that serious worry started to overtake my head when we could not think about what caused it.