Gotcha.

Two years ago today, I was threatening to hop on a goat and head off down the undeveloped roads of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia if someone didn't take me to my boys fast.  We were just minutes away from them and couldn't get our driver to see the urgency of the situation.  I may have been in a slightly irrational state, but I just couldn't bear waiting another 3 hours, when I had already waited 18 months.  I mean, we were finally were on the same side of the world as them...

Stole Daddy's hat...

We were sitting outside because he was having the beginnings of what I can only assume was an asthma attack.  They had just started roasting coffee beans inside, which we learned very fast, threw him into a wheezing, coughing fit.  Fortunately I don't roast my own coffee beans, so it's no longer a problem.

Loved stickers...which we placed at random, all over our bodies.

Hanging out at the Guest House later that week!

Picking flowers for Mommy!

On our way to go get some dinner!!

More later on our 2nd year as a family of four...

Is anyone listening to me??

I would really like to know what exactly my kids hear when I open my mouth.  Sometimes, by the way they respond, I'm assuming their little ears must hear the nonsense from the Charlie Brown cartoon when the adults are talking.  "Mwa, mwa mwa, mwa mwa mwa mwa!"

Tonight on our way home from church, where the boys had to be torn away from ice cream and bouncies, we had a conversation about why it was necessary to go to bed.  And since "Because I'm your mom and I said so!" wasn't cutting it, I went into deep explanation about how it was a school night and we had to go home, take showers and get to bed because if you don't get enough sleep you will be cranky and ill and you might get sick because your body would be too tired to fight off germs.  Great explanation, huh?  Although, the whole "I'm your mom, hear me roar!" thing should have been enough.

Yet, immediately after all that came from my mouth, Charlie said...

"Why do we have to go to bed?"
"I just told you."
"I forgot."
"You forgot?  Or you weren't listening?"
"I don't know."

Long pause because I was tired of talking.  To myself.  And being ignored. 

So Sam piped in...

"Mommy?  I don't hear you talking anymore!"
"I'm done talking.  No one is listening."
"What did you say, Mommy?"

Seriously.

Growing up = Too fast

I officially have a 2nd grader.  Again.

We did this last year, but after a week, decided 1st grade was a better fit.  And he's feeling pretty smug that he's already done the first week of 2nd grade.  Like that will give him some kind of upper hand among his peers.  The only upper hand he has is that he is at least 10 feet taller than everyone else in his class.  Well, maybe not that tall, but give him another year and he will have passed me.  I know I'm not that tall, but I'm also not 8 years old.

Charlie is secretely excited about school starting.  He slipped up the other day and accidentally told me he was excited.  But quickly changed his mind when he realized that I might use that against him.  He's a smart kid.  Because I have reminded him of his hidden excitement several times.  Once in front of his new teacher.  I'm pretty sure he rolled his eyes at me.

Yesterday was the first day of school.  Handsome?  Yes.  Still secretely excited?  Yes.  Loving 2nd grade?  Yes!!

You wanna know who wasn't excited?  Sam.  Felt a little abandoned by big brother who went off to play with all his big friends.  Some big crocodile tears was all it took for Mommy to declare it a special treat day and off we went for a Happy Meal!  While we were at the park later, another Mom asked me why he wasn't in school........Yes, he is also ginormously tall.  But he's still my 4-year-old baby.

Anyone want to see a side-by-side comparison of 1st grade Charlie and 2nd grade Charlie?  I do. 

Tissue anyone?  How do I make them stop growing up???

Excuse my cell phone pics and their horrendous quality.

The loss of summer.

I’m not gonna lie.

I’m in a minor state of mourning.

I can’t believe that in less than a week, summer break as we know it will be over. Not summer.  Just summer break.  (See HERE if you are confused.) 

As much as I crave a schedule and routine, I'm not one of those moms who can't wait for their kids to go back to school.  I'd much rather have lazy days around the house, than the rush that the school year seems to bring with it.  Honestly, I really just don't like to get out of the bed before the sun does.  And the snuggling from a wiggly 4-year-old can't happen if I'm out of the bed before he is.  I do have my priorities.

My 8-year-old will be starting 2nd grade in a couple of days and I’ll again have a private pity party over the years that I never had with him.  Have I mentioned he's almost as tall as me??  And my 4-year-old, with Mommy in tow, will return to his Mother’s Day Out Program in just a few short weeks.  He's not as tall as me, but thinks he is.

Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s Mother’s Day Out for other mommies. I sacrifice and stay with the children to ensure their safety, emotional and educational well being.  And it’s my job, so I really don’t have a choice.

The only plus...  It has almost felt like fall here in Kentucky this week.  Eighty degrees and no humidity.  Almost made me want to build a campfire and roast some s'mores.  Almost.

As you mourn summer's passing with me, enjoy a couple pics from our lake trip with Kenny's family...

The boys and Aunt Stephanie

Everybody.  Well, almost.  Missing Kenny...

Sam with Uncle Mitch trying to grin his way into driving the boat.  Unfortunately, Uncle Mitch is dumber than I thought and Sam soon had a (well-supervised) turn behind the wheel.

Refused to get in the water without his ring, even though I assured him his life jacket would do the job.  Really wanted to try.  Never quite made it...

Mommy and Charlie scaring Gran and Aunt Denise by standing up on the tube.

Apparently, he doesn't need my help to scare them...

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Not that anyone but me would notice, but I'm still without my laptop, which means I can't edit pictures.  So, here they are in all their unedited glory.  Drives me a little nuts.