UPdate

Sorry...it was a long week followed by our Harry Potter readathon. All the way back on Thursday, William performed his first flight attempt by launching himself off of our bed and landing on the floor. On his head. The verdict: He is okay, but he cannot fly. Later Thursday, we met up with another teacher from WMS and her son who is a week younger than William. We were joined by another friend and her baby who was born between the two other boys. All the boys were born within a week of each other. I didn't get any pictures of the three of them (Hey Sundi, did you get one?), but I did get this cute one of two of the three.

William sucks (bites) Tate's fingers. Calvin (sp?) is eating behind them on the couch.


Tate still hasn't found those teeth...or he has a high pain tolerance!

Friday was drywall delivery day. As this was not my week (speeding tickets, son cannot fly episode, clogged ductwork, etc), the drywall delivery did not go according to plan either. When purchased, the building materials representivie asked us if we would like the drywall delivered in the morning of afternoon. We selected "afternoon". So, it was a big surprise when the delivery people called at 6:40 AM to tell me they were on their way. After lots of blurry, half asleep phone calls, I was able to argue enough to turn the truck around until 10:30 AM. Still not afternoon, but better.

Our current NO car garage.

Saturday was full of waiting for our last Harry Potter book. We wandered around and John worked on the basement a little bit. It was all a lame attempt to appear busy until the book was delivered. Then we read the book following our old rules: No one gets to read the book unless we are both there reading. We even had the willpower and desire to attend Winefest 2007 at another teacher's house Saturday night and take a hike on Sunday morning with some friends. And we finished reading it late, late last night.

Hiking on Sunday! William and John are on the far left.


Wild animal footprints along the trail...could it be duck?


William helps Daddy break in his new backpack

Snoozing and hiking

William has been making a lot of progress lately. The cereal and vegetable feedings have been going better and better. Even the peas are better. I still don't think he loves them, but he no longer cries through them. We have two vegetables left before we can start the fruits. He also is doing a lot more of pulling up onto his hands and knees. Once he gets there, he doesn't seem to know what to do with himself and usually goes back down to his belly to crawl off somewhere else to make his trouble. Standing is another favorite. Bouncing or not bouncing, it doesn't make any difference - he likes to be upright.

Naptime isn't just for sleeping! William must have been practicing pulling himself to his knees in his crib.


Standing up with the help of the gate. Don't look too closely or you will see the sweet potatoes up his nose!

Standing and "kissing" daddy through the gate

Practicing standing by holding the gate and looking at daddy!

Mommy and William behind the gate...I thought I was making the same kind of face as his. Turns out not.

Done!

Okay, I won't tell you what happened, but I'm done. It was good...better than good. Although the word is escaping me as I'm tired from being up later than usual to finish it. Not bad to finish an 800+ book in less than 2 days! I think I might need to go back and read it again - there was a lot there...first I'll do an update post though.

I won't be back until I'm done...

It arrived yesterday. It was beautiful. Must get back to reading. More later.

I'm so funny

You all out there may not know this about me: I am super funny. Maybe one of the funniest people I know. Every year, I tell my students this on the first day of school. I tell them how lucky they are to have me as a teacher because I am the funniest person ever. Ever. Every year at least one of my students challenges this statement within a week of making it. "You know, you really aren't that funny. At all."

Several others softly chime "Yeah, you aren't really". I don't care because I know they are just jealous. It isn't possible that I'm not funny. It never has mattered what they thought. I think I am funny. Therefore I am. And I do crack myself up with my atmosphere and outer space jokes (have you heard the one about Uranus? No? Well, let me tell you...)
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Earlier this week I was at the Y when I ran into a few students of mine from last year. I was hot and sweaty and holding William. William threw his body at one of the girls. With a squeal that could only be made by a 14 year old girl, she opened her arms and took him. I silently said a prayer and tried to look relaxed while interrogating my other former students about their summer reading lists, high school class registrations (did you get the Advanced courses? Good. What about taking two foreign languages? No? Why not?), and other enrichment activities. I also like to get the dish about the other kids in my classes, although I try to look disinterested in this - like I would rather be at home wearing my lab coat and goggles. During this time, William was occupying himself by trying to pull the hair of my other student and pat her overly made up eyes. There came a lull in the conversation and William looked down at his hand pulling her hair and giggled with glee. One of the students laughed at him and said "He thinks he is pretty funny."

The other student replied "He must take after his mother..."

Everyone laughs, the girls elbow each other at their joke at my expense. I can't help but think William is the luckiest kid ever. Do you want to know why? I'm the funniest person ever - and my students remembered that almost a year later (Please God, let them have remembered something else also...)

I'm going to miss having all my kids next year. I already miss them.
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The big news of the day (excluding the termite inspection finding no termites) is that I think we may have found a peas solution (HAH! Peace solution). Whirled peas (say it out loud people) with sweet potatoes. This kid loves sweet potatoes. He ate ALL of his peas tonight without any crying. I didn't have to sing about Old McDonald planting his corn or soy beans. I am amazed and happy. He might be able to eat vegetables like his daddy after all.

And I let it get to me!

Tonight we watched a movie called Freed0m Writers. I was kind of excited because I am all about movies that show teachers making a difference. I was all ready to sit back on the couch and shout my support for the fellow teacher at the TV. I am shocked by my reaction. Besides the to work/not to work conflict surrounding teaching, I totally disagreed with this teacher. Very little positive shouting was heard. The "bad guy" in the movie was totally right in my opinion. The "hero" had it ALL wrong. Wrong and wronger I tell you. I'm not to liking the bad guy and strongly disliking the hero. But, she was SO wrong! And I'm letting it get to me. I'm hoping I can get it down here and then move on to sleeping tonight. I've already tried spouting off at John (he took it well) and it doesn't seem to have been enough...

Sweet Potato Pie

I think we have established that I hate peas. Although it is on the early side to add another vegetable, I am tired of the swively head and trying to sneak the peas in there one way or another with crying in between. So, today we started a vegetable I KNEW he would probably like (P.S. I was right. Not that you doubted me). Sweet potatoes were a hit. He probably would have ate the entire container if I would have kept feeding him. I am relieved because I was beginning to wonder if we were pushing the solids to early. If he had turned down the sweet potatoes this afternoon or squash tomorrow, we would have had to slow down or stop entirely. I am completely okay with blaming the peas entirely. Have I mentioned I hate peas? I do. No worries though, he gobbled them up with a smile on his face.

Sweet Potatoes

The scooting on William's belly is getting quicker all the time we're noticing. He's also doing this thing when he sits up. He kind of gets going bouncing up and down until it looks like he might launch himself forward onto his face. The face plant has only happened once that I know of...I think this is all going towards that funny little butt scoot thing some kids do. We'll have to wait and see.


The other highlight of the day was our trip to the vet. I know, our first kitties are often neglected in the blog. But, their day is nowhere near as exciting as William's. Napping, eating, napping, napping in different spot, sniffing the carpet, drinking water, staring out the window, visiting the cat box, and napping don't add up to a whole lot of excitement. Even with the occasional hair ball, it doesn't add up to much. Just to reassure you, they are still our first kitties and we still love them lots. Even if they don't get much time up on the blog. The cats both had their physicals and shots - we're good for another year. both cats were very well behaved without any attitude (hissing, growling, scratching, etc.) The fatty spots on Mudd appear to have gone away or shrunk and both cats have lost weight. The vet was very pleased and my only complaint is that she didn't compliment us on how pretty their eyes are. This is the first year in history the vet has not gushed over the beautifulness of our cats' eyes. The only saving fact is she thought William was cute. We probably won't be switching vets after all. Although if another visit goes by without the eyes being noticed, I may reconsider.

Mmmmm...sweet potatoes. I think he may like the sweet potatoes more than the cereal or squash.


Opps! I don't think we quite have the hang of it yet.


The end: Mess

The end Mess Part II

Old McDonald should have had corn

Why all the animals Old McDonald? I just don't get it. Is that something like having a diverse portfolio for your retirement? Because I'm getting tired of singing about your animals...ALL your animals to William while I am trying to feed him stinky peas. May I make a suggestion? Keep the cows OR the sheep. The mooing and baaaaaing here and there and EVERYwhere usually makes him smile. But, get rid of everything else. Plant some corn. Or wheat. Do something different.