Graduation Day

Jaxon did it! My little boy graduated and is on his way to Kindergarten! He's excited, and we're excited for him. However, I will admit that it makes me a tad bit sad to see my little guy growing up so fast. Kindergarten! That's the real deal...when tardies & absences matter! Oh, and there will be report cards. Report cards...yikes!

On Graduation Day, however, all of the excitement and worry about the future doesn't matter because we are celebrating the progress the children made throughout the school year. They worked so hard and it's time to celebrate their efforts. A's for EVERYONE!!! A's with big gold stars!!! It really was a special day for Jaxon and his preschool classmates. They understand that they will all be scattering in different directions to attend their new schools in the Fall, and they made the most of their final day together. Some kids will stick around for the summer programs, but others will not. Saying good-bye is not easy when you're five. Shoot! I still struggle with it & I'm...well...I'm not five. Let's leave it at that.

(Demonstrating exactly how useful a diploma can be.)

As we say good-bye to preschool, we turn our focus to all the wonderful opportunities in the future. Congratulations, Jaxon! We are so proud of you, but as your parents, we know this is only the beginning of what will be an extremely long list of accomplishments over the next 13+ years of your education. You make us proud, Buddy!

Jaxon's Teacher, Ms. T

What a Day

Geez! Is it a full moon? Something sure is stirring up the crazy right now. Yesterday was a complete bust. I was trapped at home for most of the day waiting on my pest control people to come out and take care of some ants that have decided the master bathroom is a lovely place to call home. Sorry, the house is full. Move along! Well, evidently, the pest control people had something better to do with their time because they never bothered to show up or respond to the THREE voicemail messages I left inquiring where they were or why they thought standing me up was acceptable customer service. I ended up rescheduling with an answering service employee that started answering the phones after 5:00p.m. for tomorrow (Thursday). Let's hope, for their sake, that they show up. Actually, maybe we should be hoping they show up for my sake because I seriously think I may hunt them down if my time is wasted again.

Then, I got a call from Anh telling me that there was a slight problem with my truck. He had borrowed it for the day while his car was in the shop for maintenance, and I had spoken to him only 15 minutes prior and everything was fine at that point. What in the world had happened? Fast forward to this...

Turns out that my 6000 lb tank is not as indestructible as the dealers would have you believe. Sure, it can do AMAZING things off-road, but apparently while in the "asphalt jungle" there are limits to what it can withstand. The truck met it's match when it went up against a gas station barrier. At first glance, Anh thought there were only some minor scratches on the trim work. Sadly, as he tried to drive off, he realized the situation was more serious. Something was making a terrible grinding noise and the truck was vibrating. I'd say those are both huge indicators of a problem.

Anh once again got out of the truck to inspect for damage and that's when he noticed the rear wheels were bent at an odd angle. Again, not a good sign. It would seem that somehow when Anh bumped the barrier, one of the rear wheels was at the perfect angle to somehow get stuck between two concrete pillars and either the wheel or the axle snapped as Anh pulled forward. Basically, Anh had a really bad "curb check" that will do doubt cost a pretty penny to repair. It's just one of those freak things that happens and forces you to ask, "Why me?!" We probably couldn't recreate the damage if we were trying. That's how random it was. Perfect timing and wheel angle/alignment...lucky us! The tow truck driver was amazed by the damage, and of course, the dealer was astounded by Anh's handiwork. They simply couldn't believe the amount of damage caused while moving at the lightspeed of 5 mph.

So, just as we had one car returned, another one is delivered on a flatbed truck. Now, we wait to hear what this is going to cost us. At least, when I write that check, I'll know that it comes with an insurance policy. I no longer have to worry about will happen should I ever have an accident in Anh's beloved truck. He won't be able to say a word. That, my friends, is priceless!

What a Week

My goodness! I thought my weekend was crazy, but this week is going to be even crazier! Some of the insanity will be filled with joy, but sadly, this week won't be all smiles. I'm one of those give me the bad news first types. So, we'll get that out of the way upfront. Over the weekend, one of friends lost her 19 year old son to a severe asthma attack. Yeah. Needless to say, that kind of put a damper on our moods. Our hearts break for their family. Life can be so cruel sometimes.

Of course, that traumatic event has stirred up all kinds of thoughts. My family knows first-hand how seriously scary and life-threatening an asthma attack can be. My little sister (Aunt Kelly) battled severe asthma when she was younger. We were luckier than our friends because she grew out of it by her teen years. Although, I may force her to start carrying an inhaler again in the wake of this terrible loss. Just humor me or Mom/Grandma (whoever gets to you first), Kelly!

Over the last few days, we've done our best to be there in any way that we can to support our friends especially Aunt Nguyen. She's been shuttling relatives from the airport while the family makes the final arrangements for the services later this week. We took dinner over last night, and it was so heartbreaking to watch the family cling to anything and everything that reminds them of their son like a voice recording they found on one of his old cell phones. They think that's the only recent recording they have of his adult voice.

On our way out the door, our friend told me to cherish the tantrums and worries that every mom experiences. She said that she was sweating the small stuff when her son passed and wishes more than anything that she had been able to realize that it's all small stuff. Our time together is all that matters. I'm going to do my best to remember that bit of wisdom. Baylor, you and your terrible-two's behavior will definitely benefit the most from this shared insight. I hope you appreciate that!

Speaking of the boys, they provide the much needed joy for the week. Jaxon will graduate from pre-school on Thursday. Yay!!! He did it. Whew! We were worried for a bit there. Just kidding! Jax is definitely excited to be moving on to Kindergarten. He remembers the funniest details about our visit to his new school on enrollment day. Like for example, he's excited about the lunch room trays. As we picked up a tray of food at the mall's food court this weekend, Jax blurted out, "I get to use these for lunch in Kindergarten!" Well, yes, you do. Clearly, it's all new and exciting even lunch room trays. Ha!

Baylor, however, gets top-billing for the week because he's turning TWO on Thursday! Geez Louise! Where did the time go? Every single day he takes a step closer to being a "big boy." The toddler days are numbered, and while I thought I'd be thrilled with the progression, I'm now searching for life's pause button. Dang it! Hasn't someone invented that yet? We probably won't have a grand celebration for Baylor this week, but we'll follow tradition and enjoy some cupcakes in his honor. That's all Baylor really cares about anyway...cupcakes!

Oh, and then throw in the fact that Anh and I are going to "prom" this weekend. The hospital is hosting a HUGE fundraising gala, and that gives us an excuse to get all dressed up and act like adults or silly teenagers whatever seems more appropriate. Let's hope it's the former as opposed to the latter. Otherwise, we'll be the talk of the hospital and that's never a good thing. So, there's the rundown for the week. The good definitely outweighs the sad. I guess that's all you can hope for in life...

Mi Casa Es Su Casa

I mean it! Pack your bags & come stay for a while! Just give us a heads up that you're on the way. If you've visited us in the past, you know that our last two houses were guest friendly, but this one takes the cake. There's plenty of room now with 5 true bedrooms, unlike the last house where we converted a would-be theatre room into a bedroom. Our new home is large, but it has a cozier feel to it. We think it's fairly inviting, but we'll let you be the judge during your next stay.Now, as you enjoy the photo tour, keep in mind that we haven't had a chance yet to add our personality to the rooms. Each night, we hang a few pictures, and I think we'll be looking for a few rugs to warm up the wood and tile flooring. I'm just thrilled that we've become such professional movers that we never dealt with the whole "living out of boxes" phase. Within 24 hours of the move, we were 90% done with the work. It's definitely a blessing, but also kind of sad that the process of moving has become that routine for us.Anh is thankful to still have an office which is basically just space that he can call his own. I guess that means the rest of the house is mine, right?What you can't see in this picture is the empty "living room" area. I'm not sure what we'll do with it because I'm hesitant to buy more furniture until we settle down somewhere. For now, we'll tell people it's the ballroom. Ballrooms don't really require furniture. Ha!I really like the kitchen. It's a part of the Great Room just like the old place, and that works really well for our lifestyle. This space is where we are 95% of the time.Well, maybe not the boys. They have been spending a lot of time in their new playroom. See, Grandfather, it's all still here. I didn't throw out the toys. No need to rush out to buy replacements!

Jax likes his new room because it's blue, his favorite color. I'm glad he's easy to please!Baylor has also settled into his new space. Soon, we'll upgrade him to the "big boy bed" that was promised months ago. For now, he alternates between the crib & rooming with Jax.Don't worry! The guest room is ready to go. I wouldn't send out the invite otherwise!Oh, and don't forget to pack your swimsuit because Florida summers are brutal, and we'll be spending a lot of time HERE.

Phone lines are open and operators are standing by...

Carnival Before Chaos

I had a little flashback moment when I turned on my camera today and saw these pictures. I was immediately whisked back to a time before the nearly out-of-the-blue move. When I say "before," I mean mere hours before the whole soap opera with the shady landlord and neighbors started to unfold. These pictures, while filled with fun and action, reflect the calm before the storm.

We all had a wonderful time on that Sunday afternoon at Jax's school carnival. As a little girl, I was freakishly obsessed with the movie Grease. I watched that movie more times than I care to admit and I can still recite pretty much every line from memory. Scary, I know! Anyway...walking down the carnival midway, I couldn't help thinking of the carnival scene from Grease. It was almost like Sandy & Danny would come prancing by at any moment. Sadly, that didn't happen. I guess Travolta and Newton-John had better things to do that day.

The boys and I made the most of the afternoon. Anh and I took turns riding the rides. I don't do ferris wheels. There's just something unsettling about the idea of riding in some rickty, swinging bucket high into the air, and don't even get me started on the ride operators! Call me judgemental, but they don't usually instill confidence. I always wonder if they truly took the time to tighten each and every bolt. That's why it's a good thing the boys have Anh to counter-balance my paranoid thoughts. He didn't think twice about climbing aboard with Jax and Baylor. Luckily for Anh, Jax and Baylor were able to ride the spinning spaceship by themselves. Spinning rides are where mommy saves the day because daddy is prone to motion sickness.Anh did take one for the team on the carousel though. I guess he's immune to the slow whirl because he's never had an issue with them.Baylor took his first spin on a roller coaster that afternoon. I'm pretty sure he liked it. Like Jax, he seems to internalize his fear as opposed to crying or making a scene. When the ride came to an end, Baylor was all smiles though. Jax, however, said he didn't like it. Maybe he's the one that should have been seated next to mom.The coaster didn't leave any lasting emotional scars for Jax. Within a few minutes, he was climbing in what I know as The Scrambler with his buddy Brennan. Although, you can see from his expression, he doesn't look entirely confident in his decision.The highlight of the carnival had to be these giant "hamster balls!" I was sooooo jealous of Jax because this attraction was only for kids. Not fair! Parents should get to have a little fun too! That's okay. Anh has promised to look into buying one of these for our new pool. I hope he wasn't kidding. Can you imagine the fun that we could have with one of our very own or even better TWO?!?!

Chatterbox

It's been a while since I updated you about Baylor's speech. Here we are, 10 days from his second birthday, and he is finally showing interest in talking to us. I guess he finally deemed us worthy of his thoughts. Like any other kid his age, there are words and phrases that only I, his mom, understand. It makes sense when you consider that I'm with him all day long. In the evening and on weekends, I now serve as his interpreter. Luckily, it's mainly a service I have to provide for his dad. Jax has always clearly understood Baylor, even when the only thing coming out of his mouth were screams. Jax always knew what he was trying to say and couldn't communicate. That's solid proof of the bond that develops between brothers. Words aren't necessary for communication.

Not all of Baylor's words are jumbled though. Some are spoken with clear precision. Like the phrase, "No, thank you." It's Baylor's polite response to pretty much everything. Hey, at least he's polite when telling me no. Like for instance when he's throwing a fit because he wants something he isn't allowed to play with, and I ask him, "Do you want to go to timeout?" His response, "No, thank you." Another prime example would be when I ask him if he has a dirty diaper, and he blurts out, "No, thank you." Maybe you have to hear him say it in person, but it's beyond funny.

Another clear response is given when you ask Baylor, "How old are you?" He holds up five fingers in an attempt to display the number two and says loud and clear, "two!" I taught him that last week thinking that it might take him a while to catch on. Nope, it took 1 try. He's a smart one that boy! This week, Baylor surprised me with his advanced knowledge of the Disney Cars' characters. He can name and point out Keen (Lightening McQueen), Doc, Mater, Igi (Luigi), Ido (Guido), Mone (Ramone), and Flo. As you see, some are pronounced clearer than others. Still, I was impressed that he even knew their names. Until this week, they were all just "car."

Yes, we've finally turned the corner it would seem. Soon enough, I'll be wondering why I was ever worried and probably wishing for a little peace and quiet around here. Although, if Baylor turns out to have as much personality as Jax and all signs currently indicate he'll be even more of a character, then I'm truly intrigued by the things that are going to come out of that little mouth. I see no shortage of material for the blog in this kid's future.

Mother's Day 2010

Woke up bright & early on Mother's Day to the giggles of two little boys that were extremely excited to be tip-toeing into my bedroom bearing gifts. Jax had worked hard on two art projects at school specifically for me, a brilliantly hued tissue paper flower with a crystal encrusted center and a painted popsicle stick picture frame complete with a picture taken of him by the school. Jax and I both have a fondness for flashy sequin or jewel encrusted things. So it was only fitting that he glued large colorful gems onto the frame for decoration. It is beautifully gaudy to say the least, but I love it! The best part was the card that he made for me. It said that he loves me because I ride bikes with him. Wow! Is that all it takes?

Baylor had a bit of help from Daddy in the gift department. His card, while store-bought, was very pretty and thoughtfully selected. As was the blue beaded necklace that he picked out for me. It will be perfect summer accessory, and it seems like Baylor will be borrowing it on occasion because he was equally fond of it when I subtly suggested it to Anh. I guess I need to practice what I preach about sharing our things. Luckily for me, on Mother's Day, Baylor was more infatuated with the bow from the package. As soon as I slid it off the wrapped package, he used it to adorn his head like a headband. The boy likes to accessorize almost as much as me!

After thanking the boys for all my lovely presents, we kicked it into overdrive to get ready for the day's outing. We were headed to the final rounds of The Players Championship at Sawgrass. While not a huge golf fan, I am trying to learn the basics of the sport, and honestly, I know when I'm outnumbered. I know technically it's "my" day, but I certainly wanted to spend the day doing something that would interest every member of the family. TPC seemed like a win-win. Jax was thrilled about the possibility of seeing Tiger Woods. Me? Well, let's just say I didn't share his enthusiasm. Like Tiger's wife Elin, I'm holding a grudge. For me, the highlight was spending the day with my boys surrounded by the beautifully manicured landscaping. Oh, and did I mention there were cocktails?

Actually, there were a lot of cocktails. This was my second major PGA championship, but I don't remember The Masters being such a boozefest. TPC reminded me of Bourbon Street in New Orleans or Duval Street in the Key West. Except, people were dressed in their best preppy attire. It was quite a sight, and I'm fairly certain this is an event worthy of making an annual tradition. I figure it's only suiting that Mother's Day should revolve around golf when you consider that Nascar's Daytona 500 has somehow managed to hijack my Valentine's Day for the last 3 years. I wonder what's in store for my birthday? Hopefully, an annual trek to a UGA football game! That's life with boys, and I wouldn't have it any other way.