Attack of the Hummingbirds

Yesterday, Grady and I went out to the garage, only to find some pretty stressed out hummingbirds. That in itself is enough to post. Just imagine. I wouldn't say hummingbirds are known for their laid back mentality. Here they were stuck in our garage. I finally concluded they decided our Tball stand was a giant bird feeder. They kept flying over to it, hovering about, wishing for some sweet nectar. I became acutely aware of their frustrating disappointment. During their frustration, they flew into the ceiling, garage door, walls, car...anything that got in their way. They must be blind little creatures. I'd never heard hummingbirds chirp, but they chattered away during this entire process. I'm pretty sure they were cussing. Cussing my garage, and perhaps even me as I tried to get a picture of their wacky breakdown. Quite difficult little creatures to capture on film, and another example of perhaps why I "need" one of those fancy SLR cameras. My birthday is in 4 days. I'm just sayin'. :)

We tried to coax them out the large garage door opening, but they would have nothing of it. Grady thought it was hilarious. Chrissy thought it was a challenge. She deceptively camoflauged herself amongst Todd's tools, and planned her attack. You can barely see her, right?

Those birds were there ALL DAY. We kept checking on them, sure they'd made their escape, only to find them bumping and chirping. Finally, as the evening hours approached, I guess their curfews beckoned and they problem solved their way out. Grady was disappointed, Chrissy was exhausted, and I was relieved. I'm not sure how much more hummingbird stress I could handle.

Disclaimer

It has been brought to my attention that the views I express on this here forum are in some way skewed. It seems that I tend to portray my own personal roles, duties, hobbies, blah blah blah in an extraordinary light, and yet not so much when I talk about Todd. I want to take this opportunity to apologize PROFUSELY for such a thing! I would never have told a story with the intention of casting a shadow over the wonderful husband that is my Todd.

I will now take this opportunity to brag:

Todd takes the kids to school almost everyday. Just this morning he drove away with a screaming Madison as she complained about having to wear "nice clothes" and SHOES. (I'm the meanest mom ever by the way.) He also picks the kids up on Tuesdays and Fridays; this allows me 2 days where I don't have to worry about Grady's naptime, and it is truly wonderful. He mows the grass. He waters the grass. He worries about the grass. He updates my IPOD list, and will load my IPOD when I ask him (especially Coldplay songs). He "keeps our books", and thus keeps us on track with our spending and finances. He monitors my Sonic Diet Coke runs, which probably saves us 50$ a year. He kills bugs. He cleans up all gross messes. (I won't elaborate here, except to say that we have 2 dogs, a cat, and 3 kids.) He's funny. He reads the kids bedtime stories most nights as I tutor. He thinks I'm pretty. He's a little clumsy, but is a great problem solver. (I cite all fire and trailor episodes here.) He's a great brother to Michelle, and near perfect son for his mom. He coaches Tanner's Tball team, and practices with both boys as often as he can. He's a member of the Lion's Club, and truly wants to volunteer and help his community. He was the inspiration for our "live, work, and play in the same town mentality". He accounts for the hospital, and is dern good at it. He prays all the time. He loves his family, and is an awesome dad.

I guess to make this post complete I should point out my own shortcomings, but I'll save that for later. For now-just note that Todd isn't always the absent-minded-professor.

Just most of the time. :)

Church Clothes

So, our get-ready-for-church-routine involves Todd getting the boys ready, and me getting Madison ready. Works well most of the time. In theory, since Todd is in charge of the boys, he would also be in charge of the bag of tricks that keeps Grady amused during Church. But like I said, that's a theory, and I digress.

We are usually rushing out of the house to get to church at least 5 minutes late. Why we can't get to church one day a week at 10:30, but we manage to get to school everyday at 8 is beyond me, but that's how it is...I usually grab the said bag of tricks (stuffing as I go), usher kids out the door, and slap some lipgloss on as I guzzle a diet coke.

Today after we parked, I open the door to unstrap Grady, and he doesn't have on shoes. His little socked feet are just dangling from the car seat. Feet with socks. For Church. I looked at Todd and asked where Grady's shoes were. Blank Stare. I repeat-Todd, honey, where are the shoes that Grady will wear today? Second Blank Stare. Final Answer: UUmmm....OH! on the desk at home, when I....

I left it at that. We went into Church 7 minutes late, stuffed bag-of-tricks in hand, smeared lip gloss from Grady's most recent "love", Tanner running for the restroom, Todd lecturing on "appropriate Church behavior", Grady without shoes...

and the cherry on the Sunday of my day-we passed my parents on the way in. We didn't even casually slip in-totally busted for crazy tardiness.

We are so dysfunctional.

First Day Woes...

So, like I said, Grady started MDO on Thursday. Here we are all smiles, and pumped for "Grady's School." He really was so excited; he opened his lunchbox on the drive and was amazed at "Grady's lunch."

"Wow Mama-look at Grady's lunch!"

We walked in, found his class, put his backpack by his name, and he started playing. His teacher said he was doing really well. She even asked me if I always dropped him somewhere! I explained a few necessities, such as the infamous "night night" ever so important in Grady's world, his nap palet, and that was it. I left. My eyes were a little swollen with excess moisture, but we were good. He was good. Relief.

I went to Wal-Mart. ALL BY MYSELF!! It was luxurious. I can't even explain the silent wonderment of the shopping experience. I was able to use my list and coupons without reaching for and opening an alcoholic beverage of choice. Not that I usually do-I just usually REALLY WANT TO by the time it's all said and done. After that I spent the afternoon with friends having lunch and *a-hem* "discussing" our book for book club that night. :-) It felt a little self indulgent, and I had to talk myself into enjoying the "time off", but no bon bons-not yet anyway.

Pick up time was at 2. I tentatively made my way to Grady's class, and when I saw the teacher I knew. "Grady had a really hard day." O God. My fears were coming true. He was the worst kid in the history of MDO. She said he really missed "his mommy", and that at one point she told him "it's ok to cry, but you really have to stop screaming." She said he did, and there were moments of happiness out on the playground and at lunch, but overall-lots and lots of crying. I felt terrible. I felt terrible that he had such a sad day, and that the teachers had such a trying day with him! I felt terrible that he missed me. :(

I want him to go and have fun-he needs to learn it's ok to just be Grady. He needs to learn that I'm not quite as wonderful as he thinks!! (Just ask ANYONE!) He needs to learn that OTHER people can (gasp) make sippy cups, run on the playground, take him potty, share toys, put him to nap, make him lunch...blah blah blah. He needs to learn all this, and I need to learn how to teach him. Madison and Tanner knew this from Day 1; somehow Grady didn't get the memo.

Next Thursday we go again. Hopefully in the meantime he will get the memo. I'll mark it urgent.

where is...

So Todd's parents have been "fulltiming it" in New Mexico the last month, and we've been taking care of their yard, filling the bird feeders, etc.-just tending to their house. It's been a little confusing for Grady; he just doesn't get why Gran and Papa aren't there. "It's Papa's house, right?" he tells me. We keep telling him they are on vacation, but I guess when you're 2 everyday is a little like vacation. Here's a little snippet of a conversation I just had with him:

"Where is Madison?"

"school."

"Where is Tanner?"

"school." (He seems to understand the schedule now, but still misses them.)

"Where is Daddy?"

"work."

"Where is Aunt Patti?"

"the city." (!!-I was a little surprised he made that connection.)

"Where is Gran?"

**crickets**

"Where is Gran?"

"Gran's gone."

Tomorrow I will eat Bon Bons...

or so Todd thinks.

Actually, tomorrow Grady starts Mother's Day Out-MDO for those in the "know" . I'm so nervous for him!! I'm so nervous for me too. We've been talking up going to "school", and he sees Tanner and Madison go everyday. He's armed with a brand new "Ka-Chow" backpack and lunchbox, which are both packed with yummies and lovies.

I'm a little worried he'll get kicked out. I'm sure he won't mind, probably won't potty where or when he's supposed to, definitely won't nap, and most likely won't share. I'm worried he'll cry when I drop him off-I know he will. We've been joined at the hip since the infamous hospital stay last summer. I know he needs this time away from me, to learn independence from me and our little safe haven of a family. Otherwise-Lord help us in kindergarten.

I guess I'm a little sad too. He's getting so big so fast-he's not so much a baby anymore, although the fits he throws would prove otherwise! He's on his way to being 3 years old-on his way to being a kid. I guess sometimes I just want to wrap my arms around him and not let go.

I mean, who would want to let go of this?

Down in Fragglerock....

Labor Day weekend is usually our official goodbye to summer. Goodbye to swimming, boating, popsicles, camping, and that hot summer sun. Hello to Fall!! Welcome back pumpkins, school, football, and wonderfully cooler weather.

This particular Long Weekend we spent on the lake with our friends Shelly and Jared. Basically, we met up, took the boats out to a secluded spot, and let the kids jump off the boats for hours and hours. It took intense planning on the part of all the Adults involved to achieve this intricate set of weekend plans. Promise. You can observe the wind blown kids below-"fragglerocking" as we call it 'round these parts. OH! AND these friends, this Shelly and Jared, they have Rock Band. This house is pretty dern jealous.