home again...

We went to Iowa City on Monday to pick up Jack, and turned around on Tuesday and came home. Good thing it's only a 90 minute drive! Jack had too much fun at Grammy's for the weekend, and it was time to get him back on a routine. He slept a lot the first couple days back!

So basically Henry, Jack and I have been hanging out since. The weather has been pretty rainy, but we did manage to venture to the pool a couple times. The one thing I've had a hard time with is trying to get the lawn mowed. Everytime both boys are sleeping it starts to rain (the past 2 days) and you know what rain does to the grass, makes it grow like crazy! Oh well!

Here is a day in the life of "1 mom and 2 boys" as Jack would say:

Wednesday night:

12:00am--- Thunderstorm starts...dog freaks out and tries to get under the bed. I'm awake. 2:00-3:30 --- dog keeps freaking out and claws out and back under the bed over and over. Thankfully the boys slept through it!

So that was the start to my long day, here is part of the rest:
- Henry pees on me when I change him (he hasn't done this forever)...all over the blanket, clean diaper, my pj's, etc. Not 2 seconds after I get that all cleaned up he spits up all over everything!

- Jack is having a bad day with potty training...somehow proceeds to pee (through his pants) on a couch pillow that thankfully is on the floor. That was one of many accidents through the day.

- Henry is laying on the floor and Jack thinks he needs to use his head as a step to get on the couch! I was so mad at him.

Along with my patience quickly running out...there have been a couple things that make me smile and remind me of why 2 little ones really bring me a lot of joy!

- Jack uses Henry's jumperoo as a microphone, which makes Henry jump all over, or dance as Jack calls it

- A conversation like this after lunch: (while Jack playing his guitar) "Mom, do you know this song...Beat It, Just beat it)". Mom: "yes, I've heard that song before. Jack: "It's Michael Jackson". Mom: "Where did you hear that song?" Jack: "Grammy". And he goes on and sings it for me. He is something else. Just like one day in the car he asked me if the song on the radio was Toby Mac?

- Henry sleeping from 7:30 to 7:00 in the morning! Yes!

Yes, sometimes they kind of entertain each other.

Henry is getting so huge! He has a really long torso. If it buttons like a onesie he is wearing 12 month clothes! Otherwise it's pretty much 9 month size. No matter what he wears he could fit 2 of himself in the outfit because they are so wide! It of course depends on the brand. So I'm washing Jack's summer clothes from when he was 10 months old for Henry (who is only 5 months old)! Crazy!

PS- Come home Steve, we miss you! I can't believe we still have until next Thursday. Good thing Linda is coming back next Monday or I think I would lose my mind.

Week at school...

Grammy came last Monday to stay for the week while I headed back to teach school for 3 days and have a teacher work day on Friday. I typed up a schedule and a list of phone numbers for her to have.

It was SO weird to be headed back to school...walking down the halls, opening my classroom door...just like an old routine. I re-introduced myself to my 6th graders, which they all thought was funny so that broke the ice. They were so quiet when I first got there, it was kind of nice. But that didn't last too long as they all had something to fill me in on (since I was their teacher for 1 1/2 school years before Henry came). Tuesday and Wednesday were days with the students, very long days that is! I was trying to pack up all their junk from over the past 2 years and pack up my stuff too. So it looked like a disaster, but it all came together in the end. On Thursday we took the kids bowling, on a picnic, and to the Aquatic Center. By the time we got back and had 30 minutes or so left in the day they were all sitting in their seats tired! Mission accomplished!

Friday was a teacher work day. The teachers in my neighborhood put on a wonderful shower for Henry, Jamison (another new baby this year) and a bride. So there were three of us getting attention, which was nice because I hate all the attention in situations like that. Henry of course was smiling and cooing for all to see and hear. Henry got a lot of new clothes, and money and giftcards towards a Jumperoo.


Jack left with Linda Friday night and so it's been just Henry and I home! It's been a really nice break. I've been relaxing, getting house stuff done, and all at the same time missing Jack! The house is so quiet without him here.

Africa

This is Baindu and Steve...we support Baindu and I am so thankful (and jealous) that Steve gets to see her again! Since I have never met her.

Steve left yesterday morning for Sierra Leone, Africa. He will be gone for 19 days, so my goal is to post every few days just in case Steve would get to check the blog from there or most likely, for him to read when he gets back. Jack just says the funniest things that I want to remember to pass them along for Steve. He also gets to spend a few weeks with my dear friend, Christie who is over there!

Jack was fine yesterday when Steve left, but this morning he came into our room and was upset to see that Steve wasn't there. He told me, "Dad's done in Africa"...well, not exactly since he hasn't even made it there yet.

Grammy Linda came this afternoon since I have to go back to school for 4 days then I will be finished. It will be nice to have all my school stuff moved out of my classroom and all that stuff taken care of. Then the pool will open and summer can really begin!

A month of catch up...

Yikes! I can't believe it's been a month since I've posted. I'm going to catch up with some pictures since they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words"!

Enjoy...
Henry's first trip to Minnesota! The boys and I (and my dad...who so kindly drove to Iowa to pick us up, and yes, he was more than thankful to bring us back!)

Throwing rocks in the water at the bridge! A childhood favorite of ours, especially Nels! Here is Jack and Christie and Henry is in the stroller.

Henry and Trisha! I love this picture! Too bad Henry has drool falling from his face.

Jack and Steve washing the van after our first trip to the pool! Well, Jack is washing his shoes I guess!
Last, but not least...Henry eating rice cereal for the first time. He loved it! He had it all down his back and even in his belly button! Gross!