Fun-Filled Fall

The boys wearing their sweaters inside out for inside out shirt day at school.

There is a lot going on in our house--these two little guys keep us pretty busy.  Yesterday Logan's class went to Chitwood Park (known as the Rocket Park around here).  Logan ran around with his friends playing Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Bros.  Logan had a blast!

Friday they get to dress as rock stars for school.  This is challenging because we have to follow the school dress code--it gives Jacob and me a chance to be creative.  Ha. Yes, there will be pictures!  Friday evening is the fall carnival at the school.  We haven't decided if we are going to go to the carnival or take the boys to Story Book Forest.  It will be the only evening we can take them and they keep asking us when we're going.  It just isn't Halloween around here without going to Story Book Forest!  Saturday evening the boys are going to a costume party for their friend, Tristin. They are excited about that!  Sunday, my parents are coming up to bring the boys' Halloween goodies and then Monday evening we plan to order the Jack-O-Lantern pizza for dinner and Jacob is going to take the boys trick-or-treating with a little help from my cousin, Matt.  We are so thankful that he offered to take off work and go with Jacob to help with the boys--I just didn't know how much walking and trick-or-treating I would be able to do. We have parent/teacher conferences coming up, another baby shower next week, and then Nov. 14th is the day we will get to meet miss Kaitlyn.  The boys are excited about her--for now.  I don't know if this will change once we get her here and she is screaming and giving us dirty diapers.  Ha. The boys have been helpful--they help me with laundry and setting the table.  They help clean up and help make their beds--they even clean floors for me!  They can be rowdy and loud and there are days when I want to pull my hair out, but overall, I know I have been blessed with good boys.
I think they are two of the most amazing people I have ever known and I'm so glad that I get to be their mother.  I can't imagine life without either of them. Here's to many more years of fun and craziness with two awesome little guys!

Saving Humpty Dumpty

Last week Alex's class received a letter telling the students that Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall and even the King's men couldn't figure out how to put the pieces of Humpty back together again. Each first grader was asked to build a container or contraption that would hold Humpty and keep him from breaking if he fell again.

Here is Alex (it was pajama day at school) holding the beginnings of his container for Humpty.

We did some research online before deciding what kind of container to make.  Most of the information we found stated that people who had made a container out of a tennis ball container or Prinkles container kept the egg from breaking.  We decided to try it. We kept two of the tennis balls in the container to add a little bit of weight to the bottom of the container.

It was a family project so we all helped. Logan held the container while Alex filled it with shaving cream.  It was a huge mess and the boys had a blast doing it!  LOL  Alex put as much shaving cream in the container as it would hold.  Then, he placed the egg (hard boiled) into the shaving cream padding and put on the lid.

Alex then held it over his head and dropped it--this was our first test.  The egg didn't crack so we tried it again with Alex standing on a chair.  It still didn't break.  We figured it was good to go so I asked Alex if he wanted to paint or decorate the container.

Jacob helping decorate the container.

Logan helped Alex paint the container--they had a lot of fun with this.

I didn't get a picture of the finished product, but it was ready for Alex to take to school on Friday.  He said they used a ladder and dropped the containers from the top of the ladder.  I asked how it went and he said, "Not good.  Mine broke."  I said, "I bet a lot of others broke too?"  He said, "Yeah, a lot of them broke.  It was fun, though."

We had a lot of fun making the container with Alex for his class. We didn't save Humpty Dumpty but Alex learned something and had a lot of fun in the process!

Never A Dull Moment!

Alex and Logan with their paintings for baby Arthur's room.

Things have been crazy here in the Astley house.  I wanted to share some pictures and share all the exciting stuff we have going on.  Before all the fun started the boys made some paintings as a gift.  A friend of mine had a baby a couple of months ago and instead of getting a baby gift she asked if Alex and Logan could paint something for Arthur's room.  I bought paints in the colors of his room and the boys made their own creations for him. it was a fun gift to make and it was nice to involve them--they really enjoyed it.

Then, the craziness started.  First the A/C messed up.  Our landlord came over and thought he had fixed it, but . . . nope.  He came back over and fixed it again . . . and it messed up again.  He finally figured out the problem and said it was a BIG job and gave us some window units.  He put one in our room and one in the baby's room (because the boys' room window is blocked by their arcade game).  So, the boys stayed in the baby's room.  We have a futon in there and a TV so they grabbed a few toys and moved to the baby's room for a few days.  Let me just say that they loved this.  It was like a mini adventure for them.

The boys playing in the baby's room.  We had to move stuff around to get the window units in so the room was kind of a mess, but they didn't mind.  They had a lot of fun and were very comfortable at night.

Playing a game on our bed the first day we got the window units--it was fairly warm in the rest of the house so we gathered on our king sized bed and enjoyed the cool air (and each other).

Jacob's car wouldn't start around the same time all of this started happening.  Our internet started acting up as well.  At first we were frustrated but after a while we just got used to it, I guess.  We were happy to have the window units.  They kept the house pretty comfortable and at night we all got to sleep in nice cool rooms with loud humming sounds.  I will actually miss the window units when they are gone.  Our landlord and his helper have been in our garage all day working on the A/C.  There has been drilling and banging so even thought I don't know what they're doing, I know they're doing something.  Ha. If they don't have it fixed today they should have it fixed tomorrow.  Now, we just wait.

Until our next adventure . . .

We Survived The First Week of School!

This week was the first full week of school.  It was Logan's first full week of being at school all day long, it was our first week of Alex's new therapies schedule, and we also had back-to-school night last night.  So, it was a rather busy week. We are all tired, Logan has been emotional this week, and the boys even brought home their first fundraiser booklets of the year.  I couldn't believe it when I pulled it out of their back packs--we've been in school six days and already have a fund raiser.  I was looking through the booklets and Alex said, "Mom, just put it in the trash."  I said, "What?" He said, "I remember it from last year.  I had to sell things, we had to pick up the stuff when it came in . . . " he rolled his eyes and said, "Its so boring."  I said, "But it gives money to your school."  He said, "Then why not just give them some money.  Why do we have to do this?"  (and he pointed to the booklet.)  Their reactions were so funny.  Logan even said, "I don't want to do it either.  You never get a big prize anyway."   We will try to sell a few things, but their attitudes about it really tickled me.

It has been so hot outside that they don't get to play on the playground every day.  The highlight of their days seems to be getting to play on the playground, which has only happened a couple of times.  Logan got to go to the school library today and that was a big deal to him. They both enjoy music class and P.E. and have told me they like doing art in their classroom more than any of the other work.

The boys both enjoy taking their lunch to school.  We have tried to encourage them to eat in the cafeteria from time to time, but they just aren't interested.  I remember taking my lunch every day when I was little so I can't say that I blame them.  They get to pick out one or two Lunchables a week to take in lunches once or twice a week.  We make little pigs in a blanket for them to take, Mac & cheese, sandwiches, wraps, Vienna Sausages with cheese sticks, pickles for Logan, fruit--lunches are fun because we can be creative and I KNOW they are going to eat lunch if I send something they like.  There are no guarantees that they will eat the cafeteria food and I would rather them eat and not be starving by the time I pick them up from school.

We haven't started homework yet--that will start next week.  Alex gets to have spelling tests every Friday so I know that will occupy a lot of our time. There is math homework, reading charts for both boys, and weekly homework as well.  Toss this in with Alex's therapies, doctor's appointments, oh, yeah, and throwing a baby into the mix in about 11 weeks and we will be one busy family.  Because of Alex's schedule the boys never want to try any extracurricular activities.We stay so busy at Sensational Kids and OU Childrens these days that the boys seem to cherish any down time they get to just play together or relax in front of the TV watching a show.

I think this is going to be a good school year.  I know it will be one we will not forget.

Another School Year

Today was the first day of school for the boys. Last night Logan was bouncing around the house excited about starting Kindergarten.  He would say, "I'm going to be in Kindergarten, mom."  Alex would sadly say, "I don't want to go to school."  Bedtime was interesting last night because Alex kept getting out of bed just to tell me he loved me and get one more hug. This is something Logan does, but not Alex. We could tell he was nervous and not looking forward to today.

This morning Alex woke up around 6:40.  He was quiet and requested his usual waffle (which he asks for every morning).  I  turned on the TV so he could watch cartoons for a bit and went into the kitchen to make his waffle. He went through his morning routine in a quiet, nearly depressed state.

At 7:15 I had to wake up Logan. He immediately jumped out of bed and said, ""I'm hungry!  I want cereal."  We have a lot of different types of cereal so I told him to pick one.  I opened the pantry door and he stood there and looked.  "Lucky Charms--no. Apple Jacks--no.  Fruity Pebbles--no.  Cocoa Puffs--no."  (How much kid cereal do we have?  LOL)  Finally I heard him say, "Trix!  YES!"  He brought it to me and I poured a bowl of cereal for him.  I heard him say, "I get to go to kindergarten today, big brother," to Alex.  Alex responded with a sigh and, "I know."

They finished breakfast and we got ready to go to school.  Logan kept trying to talk to Alex and Alex obviously didn't want to talk.  So, I told Logan to talk to me and let Alex look out the window.  We got to school and it was a madhouse.  Cars everywhere.  We ended up parking a couple of blocks from the school and walking.

As we walked Logan started saying, "My legs are getting tired."  I said, "Mine, too, buddy."  He said, "But my legs are shorter than yours."  I was carrying a paper sack full of Logan's school supplies--it wasn't the lightest thing in the world.  I said, "Well, at least you're not carrying school supplies," and Logan said, "And I'm not pregnant, right mom."  Alex laughed and I said, "yes, I'm VERY glad you're not pregnant, Logan."

We kept walking and eventually made it to the school. We took Alex first because I couldn't find the folders Logan was supposed to have and I had hoped that I had packed them in Alex's school supplies.  They weren't there so I guess I'll be making a trip to the store before Monday. We found Alex's desk and I told him goodbye, loved on him, and then said, "You will be great.  If you're nice, you listen, you follow the rules, and you try your best you are going to do just fine."  His voice was shaky and his eyes were full of tears.  He said, "Yes, mom."  My eyes started burning too and it was so hard to leave him.  I received a text later saying he was doing great.

I walked Logan to his classroom where he walked right in, started saying, "I have a spider-man back pack and lunch bag," and "look at my shoes, they light up."  He was more than fine. I asked to take his picture by his cubby and he said, "sure, mom, but I may not smile."  He didn't--instead he gave me the cutest, annoyed expression I have ever seen from this child.  He went and picked a book and Mrs. Cook said, "Logan, lets take a picture for mom."  (Logan has the same teacher Alex has had for the past two years so Logan knows her and Mrs. Cook knows Logan).  Logan sighed and rolled his eyes, set his book down, and refused to smile.  After I took the picture he said, "Are we done? I am a little busy."  I laughed--it was just so funny . . . and so Logan.  I kissed his head, hugged him, and told him I loved him and then I left.

I'm sure I will hear all kinds of stories when I pick them up in a bit.  I know it will be a good year!

Out-of-Our-Control Situations (Always Work Out in the End)

                              My little Thor and Captain America!

Our lives continue to be far from boring!  I honestly think this has made us appreciate all we have, though. Last week was stressful because of vehicle issues. I have learned we take our vehicles for granted. When one breaks to the point that its not worth fixing and you are stuck without a car while working on getting another vehicle--its not fun.  LOL   It all worked out, though--just like it always does.  We are now the proud owners of a mini van.  The boys love it.  I love it too.  There is so much room, you sit up higher than other vehicles, and it is just super nice.  We are all really happy with it. We were given an unbelievable deal on it and we feel its nicer than the vehicle we had.  We are also excited to have something with more space since baby #3 will arrive in a few months.

We called a company to come haul our old, dead car away.  We took Alex to a doctor's appointment yesterday and came home to find the car gone. A friend of mine was watching Logan and when we got home after picking him up Logan noticed the car was gone.  He said, "Carly is gone!" and started crying. He said, "I will miss Carly."  He cried for about 20 seconds and then moved on to something else.  LOL  It was a bit sad to come home and find the car gone.  We have this cool, spacious mini van now though--so it all worked out.

While at Alex's appointment yesterday we learned that he will need two surgeries within the next year.  One on his left shoulder and one on his right forearm. Jacob and I knew this news would come some day, but we thought Alex would be older.  We expected to go in yesterday and be told, once again, "we'll see you in 6 months." We trust the doctor and know he is doing what is in Alex's best interest to help with his growth, etc. We go back in three weeks and will schedule surgery at that time.

The drive home was a quiet one.  We all sat looking out the window--no one saying anything.  Finally, Jacob said, "It could be worse, I guess.  At least its not life threatening."  He is right. Surgeries are not something you want your children--especially small children--to go through, but Alex isn't sick--he is a healthy, happy 6-year-old boy.  For that, we are VERY thankful. Alex never complains--he is such an awesome kid.  We have always referred to him as "our trooper" because that is what he is.

Life is full of crazy things--things that are out of our control.  The Astleys are learning to find the positive in all of these "out-of-our-control" situations. And you know what . . . things always work out in the end!

Lovey Boys

Last night Jacob and I were watching TV in the living room before bed.  We heard pitter-patter down the hall and Logan appeared holding a Magnadoodle.  He smiled and said, "I drew an elephant eating peanuts for you guys."  He showed it to Jacob and then to me.  He set the Magnadoodle down beside me and said, "I'm going to leave it right here by you, mom, so you guys can look at it."  We hugged him and told him how good his elehpant was, thanked him for drawing it, and then sent him back to bed. 

A little while later Alex came out.  He said nothing. He just walked over to where I was on the couch, leaned down, and hugged me.  He stayed there for a long time.  When he pulled away from me I said, "Did you need something?"  He said, "No, I just wanted to hug you.  I love you, mom."  He told us good night and went back to bed.

The boys are getting so big--Alex especially.  They aren't as lovey as they were when they were little and that makes these little moments so much more special when they want to love on me.  I have two happy, healthy little boys who make me feel special and brighten my day--each and every day.