Down but not Out

So, Tuesday night, I woke up with the flu, in the middle of the night. I had a stomach ache when I went to bed and hoped it would be better in the morning. No such luck.

I felt awful all day. I think Sage watched about 8 hours of tv. Both boys were generally good and for that I was grateful. Sage kept saying "Me no want you be sick anymore." And then his true confession for why: "Me want to go outside."

Today, we are expending some of Sage's energy. It is really humid and he is sweating a lot but he wants to play outside. He has sweat running down his cheek and the tip of his nose!

Too cute and funny not to post

Students in an advanced Biology class were taking their mid-term exam. The last question was, "Name seven advantages of Mothers Milk," worth 70 points or none at all.

One student who had also partied the night before, was hard put to think of seven advantages.

He wrote:
1.) It is perfect formula for the child.
2.) It provides immunity against several diseases.
3.) It is always the right temperature.
4.) It is inexpensive.
5.) It bonds the child to mother, and vice versa.
6.) It is always available as needed.

And then, the student was stuck. Finally, in desperation, just before the bell indicating the end of the test rang, he wrote...

7.) It comes in such cute containers.

He got an A!

A Birthday Party in Pictures

Sammy blows bubbles while Sage pops them.

Sage and Sammy were the only two to run through the sprinkler. Sage insisted his shirt should be off and Sammy managed to get hers soaked.


Squirt guns were a big hit. Sammy and I are ganging up on the injured Britta (she fell off her horse, for the full story go here)

Sage is totally breaking the rules by squirting someone on the deck, my guess is his dad, which makes it a little okay!

Table full of gifts.

His favorite present from Nana and Papa, a drum set. I know his face shows no expression, but I kid you not, this is how his face looked after opening every. single. present. Maybe it is good, he won't have to fake a great reaction when he gets something he hates!

Blowing really hard! Tate, Britta and Chase making sure he does it right! The wind ended up blowing out the candle for us. He tried this one time and then told Drew he wanted him to do it. Drew refused and he just kept looking at us like, come on, already blow out the candle for me! Then, the right wind came.

Birthday Boy.

Krista and Kolby

Chase enjoying his cupcake.

He woke up, came into our room and said, "Now, me play mine drums!" The mean parents we are, we made him wait until the next day to play his favorite gift. In our defense, it was 9:30 by the time the last guests left!

He even shared with his brother!

My Sister Started a Blog

And with 4 kids, she has some good stories and quotes! Go check it out!

Tomorrow is Sage's third birthday. We're throwing a party for our family. It is our first official birthday party for Sage. I feel old saying that I have a three year old.

Then on Sunday, we are getting a family picture taken, by Drew's cousin, Molly. I am thinking white shirts and khaki shorts for the boys and a white dress for me. And I just remembered today that the pictures are Sunday, so I pray I can find something today! I am just waiting for Kolby to wake up so we can get shopping!

My Child is Branded

I don't know how it happened. Well, maybe I do. I might have let him watch tv and play with toys. I will even admit to encouraging Thomas! And here is my reasoning. It's a train. He likes trains. And he likes Thomas but guess what, he doesn't love it. He doesn't seem to love anything in particular. He will watch Cars over and over and we are throwing him a Cars themed party, but he doesn't see stuff and have to have it. He recognizes it. Like McDonalds and Starbucks. He calls McD's, cheeseburger, because that is his favorite thing to eat there. He also recognizes Target. Someone once told me that it is a form of reading.

While driving, he talks constantly. He tells me he needs things like a truck, a race car and his newest obsession, convertibles and RV's. I point out all the Jeep Wranglers and the Jeep Unlimiteds. Because someday, I will have one. Someday. My hair might be gray or gray under the blonde highlights and my underwear might be called granny, but I will have one. Way off track here.

But, I do have lines that I won't cross. I will not ever buy him or my other children character clothes. I hate, despise them. Then, the other day, I was at Target and saw some Car sandals, and thought about how much joy he would get when wearing them. I totally almost bought them for him. And then I remembered it would be cute for a day and then I would be annoyed. And, he has worn some character pajamas, they were hand me downs and he didn't have a clue who Buzz Lihtyear was, at the time.

I like that Sage is constant in liking cars and anything musical. He plays air guitar and drums all. the. time. He plays with matchbox cars endlessly. I don't think that branding my child could be avoided because of the world we live. But, I do want to teach him the importance of contentment and the difference between need and want. But really the importance of contentment. It is a lesson that I can learn and relearn every single day.

Car Accidents and Chiropractors

On July 4th, at the fireworks celebration, there was a tent set up with a sign that said "Free Massage". It turned out to be a chiropractor's office and they were doing free evaluations. I have been having low back pain for a while so I sat down and he could feel that my lower back was definitely out. He gave me a coupon for my first visit free, including x-rays. Yesterday, I went and did the first exam and got x-rays and scheduled my follow up for today. Today, when I went, I had to take the boys, which he said would be totally fine. (They were great.) He showed me the x-rays and showed me that my spine isn't straight but totally leans to the left. Then he showed me the x-ray of my neck. A normal neck is supposed to have a 35 to 40 degree curve. Mine is at negative 13. Not good. And, totally explains all the headaches that I have been having. So, there is some serious work to be done to straighten out my spine and get my neck to curve the right way again. I will be going three times a week for six weeks. That is a long time! He also popped my lower and upper back in to place and started my neck. I can't say that I feel better today. I have a really bad headache and just feel achy. But, there are other things to blame these things on, so I don't know what is caused by what.

He also said that my neck could only have gotten so out of what from a car accident and whiplash. We were in what I thought was a minor accident which I can't even remember when it was. I know we were wearing jackets. And it was cold and we were on our way home from having lunch at a friends house after church and there was a baptism at church that morning. And I am thinking that if I have whiplash, maybe the boys do too? And what about Drew? We were all in the car. And then my next thought is this. The boys were in the car, in their car seats, which we didn't replace. If I could get whiplash and not know it, can the car seats be damaged and we can't tell? Should we replace them? Is there someone, somewhere that can check them?

And I am afraid to ask him about the sling. My spine pulls to the left, the side that I wear Kolby. And it has become a necessity in my life.

And he says he can help with Kolby's consistent ear infections. So many decisions!

Does she only give things away?

Steph is at it again, giving away another baby carrier. And I am at it again by entering. Go here and check out the site that created and donated this new baby carrier. It is called a Podonbutai, it combines three Asian style carriers. I can't even begin to describe it, except to say, WOW!

I just wonder how all these contests of hers work. I mean, somehow she has to get people to give her stuff to review and then also give one to give away?! And, who pays to ship all this stuff she keeps giving away?! Too many logistics. And running to the post office with three small boys?! I guess that is why one is always attached to her!

Do you ever have one of those days where you start to type and everything sounds dumb? It just doesn't sound exciting or even entertaining. That is today.

I wanted to write about a new review site and I wanted to direct you to the cool new link on my sidebar, but I can't get it to show up and then when I decided, I will just write about it, everything sounded dumb. But, it isn't about me. Well, actually, this blog is kind of about me, because it is mine. Anyway, getting off subject.

Mama Speaks is a cool new review site. A site geared towards moms, written by moms, with reviews of things your kids or babies might need. I just entered an easy contest just be sending an email!

Also, since I have been entering so many contests and doing so little real blogging, I apologize. But! Guess what! I got my sling! It is this one. And it is so beautiful. The cherry color seems to be a muted cherry color which for me is just perfect. I don't like my reds to be too red, know what I'm sayin? So, now I can stop entering contests for slings, except maybe a pool sling... And, I love to use it! I have already used it so many times and it is so easy. I just put Kolby in the hip carry and off we go.

Today, we went to have lunch with Drew and of course it was the perfect opportunity to use my sling and after a little bit, my shoulder started to hurt. And I thought, oh man. I am not sayin a word to Drew about this! But then I realized that it was the shoulder that I had the diaper bag slung across, not the sling! Amazing! It is so great because a lot of his weight is sitting on my hip. I can't believe I have never had one of these. I almost want to have another baby sooner just so I can sling em around! And last night, for the fireworks, Kolby totally fell asleep in it. So sweet. I am trying to get a cute picture of us, I already have one of Drew and Kolby!

Entering Another Contest

I know, I just keep entering. It's kind of like playing the lottery. I keep entering and I keep thinking that the more I enter, the better my chances are! At least I am not wasting a $1 per ticket!

So, go here to enter. Do I need to mention that it is Steph from Adventures in Babywearing again? And then check out SuperMomz. I already see stuff that I want. I have always wanted one of those video monitors? Haven't you? I would love to watch how Bo puts himself to sleep! And next time, I am pregnant, I will definitely be buying a belly band! (To clarify, this is not an announcement, I will make it very clear when it is!)

Oh, and I am entering to win a Moby Wrap!