Sunday, March 27, 2011

Strangers?

Hello? Is anyone out there? Several of you tell me you read my blog... but you would never know because I very rarely get comments. Drop a line every once in a while, we love to hear from you!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

He's FIVE!!!!

After 12 full months of excitement and planning, Booker is finally 5! We had the best friends and family over for a party and he was spoiled to death. We decided to get him a DS. He has wanted one ever since June when the school age kids introduced it to him. Needless to say, he loves it. The day following his birthday, he went and got his Kindergarten shots and is all squared away for August. Tear.




Along with the new DS, comes new rules. Booker is the kid that could watch TV for hours. He is also the kid who would play video games all day if you let him. There's gonna be lots of regulating. Poor kid has already been grounded from it for 2 days. Five year olds have to learn the hard way that throwing fits for no reason gets you nowhere. :)

Bodey?

Looks just like him, but this is my dad when he was little. Cute!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Branson Get-Away

This family was in desperate need of a family vacation. Granted, it wasn't a week long, we didn't have to fly there, there was no beach or hot weather, but it was just what the doctor ordered. Branson, Missouri - only 4 hours away. We started our trip by stopping at Lambert's Cafe in Springfield. It is the home of the throwed rolls. And family size portions. It sucks to be Dusty, because he was still getting over the flu and had zero appetite, so only the kids and I got to enjoy it!




The first two nights we stayed at Falls Lodge at Big Cedar. We went on this trip because a year ago they sold it to us for dirt cheap so that we would go to their timeshare presentation. It was definitely worth it. The accommodations were fantastic! And, yes, even after us practicing to say NO to the timeshare salesmen, I almost fell for it. Enough on that though!
Here was our lovely room. It had a HUGE jacuzzi tub, a large walk in shower and a balcony. These were very sound proof rooms and had very comfy beds. Both of these very important to me!

Night #1 was a mother's worst nightmare. We put Bodey in his own bed, because he is all over the place when he sleeps. I slept with the never-moving once he falls asleep, Booker, and Dusty slept on the camping pad on the floor. I couldn't sleep. I was just laying there picturing Bodey falling out of that bed onto that HARD floor. Then I was trying to figure out what we would do when he cracked his head open. Could an ambulance find us? Oh nevermind, I remember seeing where the hospital was in town. We'd just drive him. See why a comfy bed and sound proof room are important to me? Because I have so many other issues with sleeping. I worry. Well, about 1am, BAM! And Bodey's on the floor screaming. He was fine though. Then, it hit the fan. About 4am I hear crying. But it was a distant crying. But it sounded like Bodey crying. But it couldn't be, he couldn't be that far away. Unless, he was in the hallway. But how would he be in the hallway? No, surely it's just some kid in another room. But this room is sound proof, remember? I got up and the freaking door was OPEN! Bodey was way down at the other end of the hall, bawling. A man was standing with him by the elevators. I was standing in the hallway, in my underwear, screaming for him. I was so freaked out! He had no idea what was going on! The man directed him towards me and I ran and grabbed him. I have NEVER been that scared in my life. All the what-if flowed through my head. What if that guy was a creep? What if we were on the first floor and instead of elevators were the doors to outside? What if he went out on to our balcony? AHHHHHHHH! Needless to say, I didn't sleep anymore. I knew I deadbolted the doors though, and that puzzled me. How did he even get out? Well, there wasn't the normal chain lock that most hotels have, and, the deadbolt is only effective from the outside. From the inside, all you have to do is open the door, and the deadbolt unlocks. So, night #2, we barricaded the door. And Bodey slept on the camping pad. Sheesh.

Saturday morning we went to the kids fishing tournament. There weren't very many fish biting though.


But Bodey ended up catching one!!!


And it was big enough for this trophy. I have never seen him so excited and so pumped up about something. It was priceless.


We rode go-carts... a lot. The boys loved riding with us on the super fast ones. But that just wasn't enough for Booker. This kid has a need for speed. Anything with an adrenaline rush, and he's game. He raced around the kiddie track and drove like a pro.
Cautious Bodey didn't want to drive by himself, but he liked the ferris wheel.

And then, night #3 we spent at Castle Rock Resort and Indoor Waterpark. Booker went down both of those giant slides by himself. Several times. The tube slide was pitch dark too. It scared me, but not him! We also enjoyed the lazy river and kiddie pool.
Bodey was so nervous and tense swimming the first two days at Big Cedar. But, finally he loosened up at Castle Rock. And then he became pretty fearless!

This slide was more Bodey's style. Short, sweet, and to the point. No adrenaline rushes needed for him.

Finally, off to bed in their own little nook. I think all hotels should have one of these. A separate little room with bunk beds and a flat screen TV. It was heavenly... and the boys thought they were pretty hot stuff! Of course, Bodey DID NOT sleep on the top bunk. :)

Overall, it was a great trip. The boys loved Branson and all the "special" things you get to do and eat on vacation. I would like to make this an annual spring break trip, but we'll see how that goes. Might have been easier if only we had that stupid timeshare...

Monday, March 7, 2011

Playing Catch Up

Sports registrations are starting, we are leaving for a mini-vacation on Thursday, I was the sickest I've ever been last week, Bodey had it too and now Dusty does, Booker is going to be 5 in two weeks, Kindergarten round up is next month, work is busier than ever, I'm training for a 1/2 marathon and an olympic triathlon, and winter is still kicking on. Does life ever slow down? Traci, the answer is no. :(

On the way home from church yesterday Booker said when he's a dad he wants two boys like I have, and one girl. He would name the girl Jessie and the boys Jay and Trevor. I don't know where he came up with this, but it was pretty cute. Booker is still loving every second of school. He can count to 100 and color like the best of them. He doesn't "scribble-scrabble like Bodey does." I can't believe in two weeks he is going to be FIVE years old. He is so ready and thinks he'll be pretty hot stuff when he's 5. He has big plans of learning how to skateboard and ride a bike with no training wheels this summer.

Bodey is crazy as ever. He doesn't settle down. He has really started to pronounce words very clearly... not starting so many words with "D" and "T". So, as my mom pointed out, she is no longer Damn-a Jenean, she has upgraded to Grandma Jenean. Bodey is a Dusty Jr. You say black, he says white. You say up, he says down. No matter what, Bodey chooses the opposite of everyone and everything else and is SUPER independent. Based on Dusty's childhood, I think we are in for it! :)

I will be sure to post pics of our mini-vacation to Branson. We are staying two nights at Big Cedar Lodge and one night at Castle Rock Resort & Waterpark. I think the boys will have a blast. Now I just have to do some laundry so we have some clean clothes to pack!