Caitlin Singing "My Barney Song"

Turn your volume up all the way. This is precious if you can hear Caitlin singing. She loves the "I Love You" song from Barney and asks me to sing it to her all of the time. Then, she'll say "mommy want to sing on my own" and will sing it very quietly.

Conall's Garden

Here are pictures of Conall's garden that I took yesterday. He is so proud of it!

Acorn squash, yellow squash, green beans, pumpkins


Green beans and pumpkins

Cherry tomato plant

Tomato plant

More green beans to transplant, a cactus plant, and Nasturtium flowers

Video of Pop Pop Reading

I thought the kids would enjoy watching this video when they are older. It started with Pop Pop reading to Caitlin, then Conall climbed into his lap to hear the story too.
As soon as I got the camera out, Conall assumed I was taking his photo. You can see him posing for the camera. I guess he eventually gave up on me because he finally quit posing!

Reading with Pop Pop

One of Caitlin's favorite things to do is to bring you a stack of books and have you read to her. She especially loves to do this with her grandparents. We keep several board books at Pop Pop's and usually pack some recent favorites to take with us. The "old" books have become special books to read with Pop Pop and Aunt Jackie.

One of Caitlin's favorite books lately is Pinkalicious about a girl who LOVES pink. Pop Pop doesn't think Caitlin should be too girly, so he thinks it is funny to read it to her with "pink" changed to "blue." Pop Pop is really ornery that way.

At first Caitlin seemed really confused by this, but never got very upset about it. When we got home and I read it to her, she seemed confused that it was back to being about pink and kept saying "blue?" when I'd read the word "pink."

Dancing in Her Sleep With Sleeping Photos

On the way back from Fort Smith, both kids fell asleep in the car. Caitlin had been asleep for awhile when she started moving a lot. We both looked into the backseat to see if she was okay. She was moving her head (almost headbanging) and her arms like she does when she "dances" in the car.

We thought maybe Caitlin had woken up and suddenly started "dancing." Then, she cried for a few seconds, closed her eyes, and went right back to sleep. Our best guess is that she was dreaming she was dancing. It was so precious!

Sleeping in the car

Conall using "Rusty" the stuffed animal as his pillow

Quick Visit

We just got back from a quick visit in Fort Smith. We'd hoped to leave Friday afternoon, but all of the storms there and here delayed us until Saturday morning. Thus, the trip was shorter than we would have liked.

Of course, it has been too long between trips. I wanted to check on Pop Pop since he's been having so much trouble with his knees and legs and check on Aunt Jackie since her Parkinson's didn't sound like it was improving. I found them both doing much better than I had expected and in good spirits, despite the fact that the storms Friday knocked down a tree and the power lines to Aunt Jackie's house. Luckily, Jackie's power was restored Sunday morning. Since Jackie and Bill are in their 80s, we were worried about them being without power in the heat.

On the way to Fort Smith, Caitlin started sneezing in the car. She now has a full snotty nose and congestion. At first, we thought it was allergies until we noticed she was putting everything in her mouth. She's also drooling a lot, so I think it must be one of her molars. She hasn't eaten well for the last week or so, which we attributed to reflux. Now, I'm starting to think it is the teething.

Caitlin was the poor baby who got a snotty nose every time she cut a tooth. I'd almost forgotten. I don't know how I could have! I guess we block out some of the intense unpleasant things about babies being babies.

We didn't take a ton of pictures while we were in Fort Smith since it was a short trip. I have a few I'll post later.

Conall started his summer program today. We'll see how he does. Stu said Conall was a little freaked out and was crying when he left. He seemed upset that none of his classmates from school were there. Poor guy -- he doesn't do well with change. We're hoping that being around other kids and having fun will override his obsessive change-hating personality. I'll know more after I pick him up today.

Summer is Overrated

I have decided that summer is entirely overrated. I've never been a huge fan of summer to begin with -- give me a crisp fall day anytime and I'd be happy. You know the kind where you have to at least wear a jacket if you go outside and all the leaves have turned brilliant colors and are falling from the trees? Heaven. Hot sticky weather, a 5 year old and his sidekick 2 year old sister bored out of their minds and competing for mommy's attention are not my idea of fun.

Conall was supposed to start the summer program I signed him up for on Wednesday. I wrote the date on the calendar the day we got the letter from them. We've been preparing him for at least the last week, if not month, for the beginning of his "summer school". We drove by the school Tuesday night and he checked out the playgrounds and started making plans for the next day.

Conall went to Conway to play with his friend Tristan on Tuesday and by Tuesday night he was worn out. He woke up with a night terror that night, the worst one he's ever had. It took us well over 30 minutes to wake him up. He kept telling me I was a "bad mommy" because I couldn't fix his sore throat, although at the time he wouldn't let me do anything.

Wednesday morning Conall was hard to wake up and really groggy from being up late with the night terror and his fun-filled play day with Tristan. Somehow we got him out of bed, fed, and dressed for school. The school is on the way to Stu's work and Caitlin was still asleep, so daddy took him.

Conall and Stu had been gone about 10 minutes when Stu called my cell phone. He asked me how sure I was that school started on Wednesday. The school was surprisingly deserted for the first day. While I rummaged through the house for the letter, they spotted someone parking and going in.

Turns out school did not start on Wednesday, but starts this coming Monday. I think Conall's night terror and "bad mommy" comments must have been a premonition of the next day. Bad mommy! How could I have done that? I'm still not sure. I'm certain I checked the Web site the week before last and last week. I called last week to see if we needed to bring any paperwork with us and I thought I verified the date. My poor little guy was so disappointed.

And, of course, I had nothing special planned for this week for Conall, thinking he would be in school. Luckily, Jana and her kids rescued me on Wednesday and invited us down to help get Conall's mind off mommy's mistake and to give him something to do.

Today was a different story. After being gone for 2 days and after being sick last week, I had to get some laundry and other things around the house done. I also tried to do "fun" things at home with Conall. I think we lasted until lunchtime before it started to feel like a long, insufferable summer day.

I think once allergies and spring hit, my brain goes somewhere else. Maybe it is daydreaming of fall and winter. Who knows? All I know is that summer is far overrated.

Sweet Little Girl

Caitlin "What are you doing daddy?"
Stu "Using the computer. What are you doing Caitlin?"
Caitlin "Loving you daddy." (hugs her daddy)

Another Caitlinism

Pinky pink or pinky pig/Caitlin = piggy bank/real word
pumpkin car/Caitlin = Cinderella's carriage/real word

First Day of Summer Vacation

Today was Conall's first day of summer vacation. I think he's had an idea in his head that summer vacation is going to be a huge party. I've tried to dissuade him from this for the last month or so, but regardless, he woke up today ready to go!

Unfortunately for Conall, mommy and daddy have caught a virus. We both went to the doctor today so we could get something for this horrible, nagging cough that has been keeping us awake at night. We think now that Conall probably had this to begin with and that it caused his ear infection. He still has a cough some at night. Needless to say, Conall's first day of summer vacation wasn't the party he thought it would be!

Soccer Pizza Party

Conall's soccer team, the Cheetah Stars, had their end of the season pizza party last night at Razorback Pizza. They also got their medals and trophies. Conall was so excited that he wore his uniform jersey to the party. He wanted to wear his soccer cleats, but I wouldn't let him.

If you've ever been to Razorback Pizza, you know they have games for the kids to play (for money, of course). The kids went through all of the games and had a ton of fun hanging out with each other. They also all got to sit together in a large booth to eat, without the adults, which they thought was really cool.

At one point, Conall got up from his table and headed over to the waitresses's station. We saw him very matter-of-factly talking to a waitress and it appeared he was ordering something. Stu got up to see what he was doing and of course, Conall had just ordered an apple juice (we got him water) and two waitresses were working to get him one while he stood there and waited. Gee, there isn't anything shy about my boy! I guess I'm just lucky he didn't order a couple of more pizzas.

He was very excited about his medal and trophy (even though the coach spelled his name wrong). We got home from the party and he was tired. He was getting himself undressed and dressed for bed before we could even get Caitlin's bath drawn. He went to sleep almost immediately last night.

The team's table

Conall and his medal

Conall getting his trophy

Checking out the trophy -- the soccer ball actually spins

The team showing off their trophies

Last Day of Pre-K

With his teacher, Ms. Smedley-Mellor
with the new assistant, Ms. Deere, and her dog

Caitlinisms

Here are some new Caitlinisms
Caitlin "eatmeal"/ Real word "oatmeal"
Caitlin "story storybook"/ Real word "storybook or fiction"

Early Morning

Well, it is 5 a.m. and I'm awake and coughing. I finally decided to just stay up. Since I finished my book last night, here I am on the computer.

Caitlin woke up late last night puking and I'm not sure why. I guess it is just more reflux, but if it is, then it isn't under control. There is also always the possibility that she's caught something. I don't like either possibility.

Today is Conall's last day of pre-K. He is so excited about summer break and has all kinds of ideas in his head about what it means and what he is going to do. Of course, there is also the idea that once pre-K is over he "is a big grown up kid and you can't tell me what to do." That is straight from his mouth on pre-K graduation day. Luckily, he has figured out that even if he thinks this, mommy and daddy don't.

I was looking at a picture last night that the school photographer took of him last week at Wacky Water Days. He looks so tall and grown up. He has this intense look on his face and I got a small glimpse of what he'll look like when he's older -- I think he's going to be that mysterious, tall dark and handsome guy that girls fawn over. He is so intense and has been since the moment he was born.

Here's a link to the site with that photo:
Focused on Fun Photography . You have to enter "stars" as the password. Then go to pre-K wwwd, he is in photo pkwwd-4.

Hanging Out With Daddy

Playing with the Percifuls

Jana, Tristan, and Logan came down Friday for the kids to play and to give me a little break. Jana brought breakfast, lunch, and dinner with her for us and for the kids. I also got a short nap in.


The kids played outside in the morning because the weather was so nice. Caitlin and Tristan enjoyed sitting on the glider seat under the Holly tree.

Walking in Daddy's Shoes

Special Thanks

A great big thank you goes out to Alison at Template Mama for the beautiful blog header and design. Most of the templates I've used lately for our blog have come from Template Mama.

If you get a chance, check out her site. Also, if you have a blog, look for her Father's Day free blog header offer. While she has time, Alison has offered to design a free Father's Day header for your blog if you send her a horizontal picture. Isn't that wonderful?

Also, if you get a chance, leave a comment on her blog about how much you like her work.

Planting, Planting, Planting

Conall's class has been studying planting seeds, how plants grow, etc. this spring. They have since moved on to another unit, but Conall hasn't. He now thinks that he is an "expert planter" and keeps stealing my fruits and vegetables to cut open and dig the seeds out.

He destroyed an apple with a fork the other day trying to get to the seeds. I agreed to get the seeds out for him if he'd eat part of the apple, so it hasn't been all bad. However, I was getting tired of Conall destroying perfectly good fruits and vegetables, so I promised to take him shopping this weekend for seeds, pots, plants, and potting soil.

We went shopping Saturday morning for his planting supplies. I was able to steer him away from fruit trees once I got through his thick head that it takes about 3 years to get fruit on the tree -- he seemed in awe of this once I explained that Caitlin isn't even 3 years old yet.

We got tomato plants, pumpkin seeds, yellow squash seeds, acorn squash seeds, green bean seeds, Nasturtium seeds (his plant from school met an untimely end), Zinnia seeds, Basil seeds, lavender seeds, and white and purple Echinacea seeds. As you can imagine, we spent the weekend planting things.

I took the kids outside Saturday evening to start planting while Stu worked on Conall's room. You would think that I had gold every time I opened a packet of seeds! They both would scramble to grab up the seeds before the other one and to plant them before the other one. By the time it was over, we had only planted about half our seed packets and we were all tired and covered in dirt.

Yesterday morning, Conall woke up early to run to the front door and look outside at the seeds we had planted in pots. He wanted to see if they had sprouted yet! Patience, patience ...

Anyway, we should have quite the vegetable, herb, and flower supply if everything goes well. I'm sure Conall will keep everyone informed of the progress. He told me last night that he wanted me to pack lots of tomatoes in his lunch for summer school and that he'd eat them all every day.

Conall also told me that he was going to fly to Africa to feed a tomato to a hyena. He dreams big, doesn't he?

The End of an Era ...

Stu and I have spent the last few weeks moving a bigger bed into Conall's room, rearranging his room, and cleaning it. We decided that we needed a larger bed for him since he tends to sleep horizontally across his bed. It would also give us a larger bed for when family came to stay (hint, hint Pop Pop Leo).

The sad part is that Conall has decided that he is now too old for Thomas the Tank Engine. Conall became enamored with Thomas the winter before his second birthday. It seems like ever since Conall has played with everything Thomas. Conall has informed us that he still likes trains "just the real freight engine type of trains" not the ones with faces on them, and that Thomas isn't real and is for babies.

We spent this week packing up all of his wooden, plastic, and metal Thomas train toys. It is a good thing because it gives him much more room and makes it easier to organize and clean up his toys and room. But, part of me couldn't help but be sad at the end of this era of Conall. My son is now on his way to being a bigger boy.