I wonder if I should take down the picture of the boys in the tub after those kids got taken away from their family. I know I don't know the whole story, but good grief!

It's been a long, but good weekend. Libby and Cameron got here after the boys were asleep Thursday night. We got up Friday and took all of the kids to the zoo. It was a perfect day for it too. It was warm without being hot and it wasn't crowded at all. We were able to let the older two walk on their own most of the time, which is alway a plus with Corban. After Corban woke up that afternoon Johnny took him to get his stitches out. He did amazingly well. They still had to papoose him, but I don't think that he cried at all. When he got home though, he was sick. He had been working up to it for a while, but it finally hit him. That was a rough night, because both of the woke up quite a bit, but by the next morning he was feeling much better. Saturday we took everybody to JCPenny to get pictures done. We're planning to surprise John and Paulette with them this year. That was in interesting experience at best. The studio was crowded with other appointments and the kids weren't in the greatest mood. When we were trying to get just the 4 of them there wasn't a single shot where all 4 of them were looking at the camera. We finally did a whole family picture and those turned out OK then Libby and Cameron did some of just their family. After that it was lunch and back home for naps and Libby and Cameron packed up to head home.

This morning I have kept the kids home from church. I don't want to spread around whatever we've had to all of the other kids in the nursery. We also had to cancel a cookout we had planned for this afternoon. I've looked forward to doing this for a long time, so I'm bummed that we've had to cancel, especially at the last minute. I figure though that the parents would rather have plans cancelled than to let their kids get sick.

We don't have big plans for this week, but this weekend is a Celebration of the Restoration movement here in PA. Funny that the two places we've lived since we've been married are 40 minutes away from major restoration centers. So, our weekend is pretty busy with that and Johnny's parents are coming in for it too. Then he's got his minister's appreciation dinner next week and the next Friday is an Art Bush concert here at church and the next weekend I'm headed to KY!

I have been meaning to tell you what Caden did a few weeks ago. It was a Sunday, so I was in the house getting the boys and myself ready alone. I came downstairs and put Caden in his high chair - all 5 points of the harness - and went into the kitchen to fix breakfast. While Corban and I were in the kitchen, Caden was fussing the whole time... then all of a sudden I didn't hear him fussing. What I did hear was little feet pounding the floor. That's right, he got out of the straps of the high chair, got out of the seat, and somehow got down out of the high chair by himself. You should have seen him, he looked so proud of himself!

Yesterday after breakfast I was talking to the woman I babysit for and I had a show on for the boys. I kept hearing a noise in the dining room, but I thought it was the blinds clicking together. When I got off the phone I had to go in search of Caden. He was sitting up in the middle of the table surrounding by a mess - huge mess. Scary thing was, I had my sewing maching and a pair of scissors on the table. There's no telling how much damage he could have done with those.

Potty training is going really well. Corban hardly ever has an accident in the house, but we're having problems while we're out. Even though he's been in public restrooms, I don't know that he gets the idea of being able to use those whenever he needs. He's also doing really well with his eye. It looks horrible, but it doesn't seem to bother him anymore. We've got to go back to the ER on Saturday to get them out. I'm thinking they'll have to put him in the papoose again, so I'm not looking forward to that.

However, Libby and Cameron and the kids are coming up on Thursday! We're going to go to the zoo and hopefully get the kids to the photo studio to get pictures of the four of them together. I hate it that Corban's eye is going to look like it does, but this is the first time we've all been together when we've had a few spare minutes to get it done and I think it will be a great Christmas surprise for John and Paulette. Well, both boys are up now and I'm going to go make waffles and then head to the grocery store. I have a HUGE order of groceries to get b/c we're having company this weekend, plus having a cookout on Sunday, plus we're just out of everything. This should be interesting with a potty training toddler.

By the way, it is not 8 whatever, it is 11:35

Traumatized

We just got home from the ER. Corban stood up in the tub and fell and hit his face on the edge of it. He cut his eyelid pretty badly. It quit bleeding pretty quickly and he was acting fine, but we went ahead and took him to the ER. We were sure they were just going to send us home, but they decided it needed stitches. IT WAS HORRIBLE! They laid him on this stretcher thing that had straps that came around and velcroed. He looked like a burrito when they had him in it. If that wasn't bad enough, they had to put the thing over his face with a hole in it where he needed stitched, so he was in the dark, which I might add he hates. He screamed the whole time they were doing it and for probably about 45 minutes after. I'm glad we took him since he needed stitches, but man, was it rough. Now I'm all jittery and can't settle down.

Today had been a great day too. We had church, leftovers for lunch, and the boys took good naps while Johnny and I watched several episodes of 24 - Season 4. When the boys woke up, we went to play mini golf. Someone had given us a really good coupon that expires soon, so we took advantage of this beautiful day. Johnny's got Corban down to sleep. I'm gonna go talk to my husband and try to calm down.

I feel like crap. Potty training is going OK. We've got a birthday party for the afternoon/evening. I've got the bulletin done. Caden has discovered the word "No." But he also says "Daddy" and "Mama." We ate out last night, but it was miserable because we didn't get there until almost 8 and both kids were a little too antsy.

Potty training is actually going very well. So far he has pooped twice in the potty, and not at all in his pants! Both times it has been right after supper and he's just gotten down from his seat, gone into the bathroom, and taken care of business. I was riding a high for the rest of the evening last night, I was so proud of him! Today we're trying it with underwear though, so we'll see how this goes. Right after I put them on him, he peed, but since then he's gone once on the potty. I guess it's just that he's so young and learning control, but man, this boy has lots of pee in him! I think he's gone at least 5 times this morning. I need him to be more like me and only go about twice a day!

We had a rough night last night. For some reason they were both awake most of the night and Caden still doesn't feel good, so he's an especially cranky baby today. I guess I can't really call him a baby, he's officially a toddler, but he's still my baby!

Right now they're playing in the play room with me. Corban is alternating between playing with the mega blocks and making a train out of every vehicle he has. Caden is just getting into stuff and whining every few seconds. I'm going to get these boys some lunch and hopefully they'll both take great naps - and maybe I will too!

I have officially started potty training Corban. We started yesterday and so far he hasn't ever really told me that he needed to go, but we only had 3 accidents on the floor yesterday and none today! He's just going naked from his waist down and wearing a pull-up at night and at nap. Hopefully we can keep this up for a while and make some progress. I'm optimistic that we can have him mostly potty trained by the time that we come to KY in October.

We went to Williamsport for Kenan's first birthday this weekend. Doesn't seem like just a year ago that he had such a rough start to his life, but he's a healthy happy little boy now! We came home Monday, and we've basically been in since then. Caden has had a cold, so I haven't been able to go to the Y and I haven't needed to go anywhere else. We were going to have someone watch the boys while we went to group tonight, but Caden's fever has come back up, so we don't want to do that to anyone, so it looks like I'm staying home tonight.

Oh yeah, and Corban has started lying to us! I asked him this weekend if he needed a diaper change and he said, "No, Daddy just changed me." Johnny asked him another time and he said, "No, Grammy just changed me." Little stinker. Obviously we had not just changed him! I just watched Caden pick up Corban's bear and toddle over to Corban and hand it to him. Too cute! Caden is definitely getting a little personality. The other night we had our small group over here and Corban was in the play room, so Caden had us all to himself. He was running from one end of the room to the other roaring at us and then laughing hysterically.

This weekend we've got an 80th birthday party for a member of the church and then next weekend we're hoping for Libby and Cameron and the kids to come visit us. If that doesn't happen, we're headed out to an orchard for a fall festival type thing. October is filling up too, and then it will be the holiday season and Christmas shopping will sneak up on me.

Today Johnny left early this morning to go fishing. Now he's home and has both kids in the kitchen cooking supper. We've had a blah kind of day. We went to the Y this morning, played for a while in the play room and outside, had lunch and took naps. Oh yeah, did I mention that I got ridiculously angry at Corban? I am so tired of that boy grabbing things... everything... he takes things off tables, countertops, out of my purse. He just gets stuff all of the time and I'm ALWAYS telling him to stop. Today while I was fixing lunch he grabbed my half full cup of tea off of the end table and got it all over himself and the couch. UGH! After it was all over and we had made up, he said, "you scared me mommy." Now if that doesn't make me feel like crap.

We don't have plans for tomorrow, but Sunday after church we're headed to Williamsport for Kenan's 1st birthday. The party is at 5:30 Sunday evening and we'll stay the night and come home on Monday. We finally got new DVD players for the car, so I'm not dreading the traveling so much.

Caden's stats: weight 15% head 20% height 45%. He's such a little bit! He did great at the doctor's today, even though we had to wait forever. He was so exhausted when we left he was asleep before I even pulled out of my parking spot. This morning when I came downstairs with Corban, Johnny and Caden were already up. Caden wanted me to pick him up, so when I did I gave him a great big hug and he turned around, lifted his little face to me, and gave me a huge kiss on the mouth! He's such a sweetie already!

This afternoon while I was trying to cook and clean, I thought that the boys were playing really well together in the living room. A few minutes after I realized how quiet they were Corban came and got me and said, "Surprise!" No telling what that could mean with the two of them. I came into the living room and they had my purse on the floor, completely emptied out. Not a big deal, but still a reminder that I need to check on them very often.

I've got a lot to do today. I've got to make an eclair dessert and a hash brown casserole for our small group tonight. I've also got to clean the bathrooms and the microwave before everybody comes over. On top of that, I've got to take Caden for his one year check up. Yes, I realize he is quite a bit past his one year mark, but the appointment I had scheduled had to be rescheduled because it was while I was in KY, and I wasn't going to miss a trip home for a doctor's appointment. Caden has turned into a big mimic. Everything that Corban does, he does too. They make trumpet noises in the car, they are both monsters A LOT, and Corban does this weird cough/laugh that of course Caden does too. It's so funny watching them together when they actually play together and talk to each other. Sometimes Corban is great about it, other times he can't stand it if Caden touches ANYTHING. I feel like a referee most of the time. Susan, you'll have to tell me if it's any better with 4 years between them, or if that's just wishful thinking on my part.

I've been reading a few other blogs lately that make me question mine. They're all deeply introspective and informative, mine is basically just a list of what we do and what cute things the boys are doing. I guess I would feel differently if it wasn't just the few of you guys following, which brings me to another thought, how in the HECK to these people get so many followers on their blogs? Seriously? I know word of mouth, but still, it's insane that so many people continually check up on complete strangers lives. Oh well.

We've had an awesome weekend! Friday we played mini golf with Corban, Saturday I went shopping and Johnny took the boys to the zoo, Saturday we had a cookout with friends, yesterday we took the boys to the park after church, and today we took the boys to this indoor play center and we even got a few errands done. We're hoping that the boys are both so exhausted that they sleep really well, but I'm not holding my breath on that.

Kerry, the rest of this post is for you. If I had paid full price for everything at Children's Place it would have been $348, I paid $103, so I had a savings of $245. And even though I cringe at the thought of spending $100 on clothes at one time, I basically do this twice a year and then I don't buy them much the rest of the year. If I consider I spend $200 a year on the both of them, I can't complain. Also, the whole family ate Chick-fil-A sandwiches free not once, but TWICE today! The are stores were having a promotion that if you wore your atheletic apparel into the store, you would get a free sandwich today. We went to the mall this morning and wore our Steelers stuff, then we went to a different one after the play area. We bought drinks and fries, but the main part of our meal was free! Gotta go finish 24, we're on the last episode!

I just got home from the outlet mall. The only place I bought anything was Children's Place. Like I said, I generally don't love the outlet mall, but Children's Place is definitely worth the trip. They must get all of the clearance stuff from all of the regular stores in the area plus they have Outlet Only Deals. I bought a ton of clothes for the boys for next summer, plus birthday presents for lots of little boys, and some jeans and sweaters, for only about $100. I'm going to have to try to total up the original prices just to see how much I saved. Plus, for those of you not familiar with PA, we don't pay sales tax. OK, I'm done talking shop (ha ha!)

While I was shopping Johnny took the boys to the zoo. I was kind of concerned, but he said that they did great. After the boys wake up we're going to Don and Bonnie's for a Labor Day cookout. Other than that and church, we don't have any big plans for the weekend. We're trying to watch Season #3 of 24, we're about halfway through now and hoping that we can finish up before the new season of shows starts.

We just got back from the Y and the boys have both had lunch. Corban is watching a Curious George and I'm getting ready to put Caden to sleep. This boy has been so cranky lately! He really needs more than one nap a day, but it's for my benefit that he only gets one. It's either put up with the crankiness or not have then nap at the same time.

I am so proud of myself, this was my third day in a row to get to the gym AND I finally did 2 miles in 30 minutes on the elliptical! Kim, I know that's probably not impressive to you, but I was dang pleased. Then I did a lot more in the weights section than I normally do. That area cracks me up b/c it's usually a pretty even mix of old guys and youngish guys, then there's me. I've been proud of myself for not feeling self-conscience in there either.

Tomorrow I'm headed to the outlet malls! Usually I'm not too impressed with them, but Children's Place generally has awesome end of season sales, so I'm shopping for the boys for next summer - and maybe the next summer! I'm going completely by myself and king of looking forward to that. I don't shop well with other people for the most part; Sherry, Kerry, Laura, and my Mom are the only exceptions to that rule and since that doesn't work out, I'm in it alone. Well, Caden is almost begging to be put down for his nap, so I'm gonna go do my Mommy duties.

This is just a cute of Caden sitting in the toy box. I finally had to get trash cans to put in there to keep the toys separated a little bit. But he loves to climb things and then sit in things. Too bad he never sits still in my lap for more than 5 seconds. Next is Corban being silly at Don and Bonnie's. Seems like we're there a lot and I guess he just felt like getting into stuff.

Caden at his birthday party in KY. He had a chocolate beard! And there's Carter in the back - Hi Carter! The other one is Caden at his birthday party in PA. I still can't believe he's a year old!

Vacation at Niagara Falls. It's awesome and totally worth the trip. If you go though, try to do it from the Canadian side. Next is Abby, Kenan, Corban and Caden at Johnny's parent's house. Every time we get a group shot of C & C like this, looks like Corban is choking Caden.

I guess that's it for now! I don't think that our day is going to be too exciting. Johnny is helping Luke move a couch, then working. I'm hoping to head to the gym this morning. Sometime this evening I will probably head over to Diana's house. I had taken them a chicken Tuesday and I told her that I would make a potpie out of the leftovers, so I will try to have Johnny stay with the kids so that I can do that. Craig went back to work last night, so I'll try to do that after he's gone in the evening so that I can give her a hand with anything she needs. Other than that, I'm hoping to spend some time outside with the boys today. I have a feeling that our outside days are dwindling and I want to take advantage of them.

I thought that I was going to add a lot of pictures this time, but I realized I hadn't downloaded my camera after all. This one is a pic of Corban and Johnny looking at the sharks at the zoo. I have to go back as far as Caden's birthday at some point, you know, with all of my free time! I'm wondering how the person who has to be the most busy of us "bloggers" is the one who blogs the most. Hats off to you Susan!

We've had a pretty normal week so far. Sunday was church, naps, a new park that is really awesome, then Arby's to eat dinner. Yesterday we had to take the car in for inspection and found out we needed 4 new tires, or it wouldn't pass. Yeah, that was a heck of a bill. I'm hoping to get to the gym today. I've been once in the last 4 weeks. I haven't had Nina this week because we're trying to get her bus route figured out. You would be amazed how hard that is in a district of this size with this many schools. I don't see how they do it.

Corban is loving his new tee ball tee, bat, and glove. Rachel and Rebecca Lee gave him the bat and glove, so we went out and got the tee. It's all he wants to do anymore. Caden is finally pretty much off baby food (we had problems with him getting gagged and throwing up for a long time), and he's running around and getting into things like crazy. I HATE that about this age. Between the two of them, I spend my day as a referee because Corban can't stand for Caden to touch ANY toy and all Caden wants to do is play with Corban, or get into stuff that he shouldn't. Well, I had better go get breakfast ready. If I ask Corban what he wants I'm sure he'll say "waffles" and I just might make them for him!