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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Ten on Tuesday

1. Does it feel like a Monday to anyone but me? No? I guess because I spent most of my Monday in a quiet dark room fighting a migraine it feels that way. Stupid migraines. Seriously hoping that my new prescription makes them go away.

2. Jarron got the flu last week, he had a fever from Wednesday until yesterday. (Not to mention the aches, pains, and general misery.) He seemed pretty excited to be heading back today.


3. Jackson went to his first "friend" birthday party for a little girl from school. It was at the giant inflatable place, Bananas. It was so great to see him interacting with the other kids. I'm so used to seeing him hang out with family that it was so cool to see him hanging out with kids that the twins didn't even know. He has his own identity there and that's pretty awesome.


4. Speaking of awesome, Bryce got a part in the school play. Only 25 kids in the whole school made the play, and he got a speaking part! He is Banzai, the lead hyena in Lion King. The play isn't until March, but the script is 62 pages! (I know!!!)
(Insert a picture of Bryce here. Oh wait, he refuses to have his picture taken because he is 8 and a boy. Never mind.)

5. This little Moose is a sneaky one. He is into everyting these days. (Especially our kitchen cabinets!)
What am I doing? Ummm....nothing just standing on this container of dog food...


Okay...you caught me...I'm busting through the baby proofing and getting into the cabinet...again. :)

6. I am completely addicted to the new seasons of Amazing Race, Top Chef, and The Office. Also on my list of must watch TV is Storm Chasers. Love that show. I am completely fascinated with tornados but have a healthy fear of them. So, while I will avidly watch Reed and his team chase the twisters, you would find me cowering in the basement holding onto a heavy object if the sirens go off.

7. I caught Chuck out in the garage last night admiring his bike again. Totally cracks me up to see him out there just looking at it.

8. Chuck asked Jarron last night if he wished that he had tried out for the play that Bryce is in. Jarron said, "No way, that's just extra homework." And that is the difference between Bryce and Jarron in a nutshell.

9. On a sad note, we had to have our dog, Tubby, put to sleep last night. He'd been losing his sight for awhile, but he went completely blind in the last couple of weeks. His kidneys were shutting down and he was having trouble walking. It was a horribly tough decision but it was the right thing to do. He was an awesome little dog and we will miss him so much.

Tubby Smith Lakes, 1993-2009

10. Halloween is just 4 days away, we have the candy and costumes but no pumpkins. Guess what the Lakes will be doing tonight? (Did you guess carving pumpkins? Because that is what I meant...) Check back next week for pictures of the boys in costumes, we have a bit of a Sci-Fi theme going this year...

Monday, October 19, 2009

While I Was Out...

(thanks to Aunt Robin for the title inspiration!)

Chuck redid our master bedroom! While I was at work on Friday, he completely repainted and made over our room. He researched and bought all new bedding, and did everything in one day! Now, to be clear, this was no small feat-our bedroom is big-18 x 19-that's a lot of painting! Not only did he re-do the bedroom but on the walls were new pictures of the boys! A month or so ago, while I was at scrapbook night, he took the boys to the park for a secret photo shoot with Aunt Bobbi. (He also picked out and bought them all new outfits!) I can not believe the boys kept the secret for that long...especially since I found the "photo shoot" outfits in the back of Brody's closet a couple of weeks ago. I thought for sure I was going crazy because I definitely did not remember buying them but everyone convinced me that I must have forgotten about them!
(To see the pictures from the photo shoot, visit Aunt Bobbi's blog HERE).
I have no "before" pictures of the bedroom, but trust me when I say that it was super boring, nothing on the walls but a weird purplish-beige paint and an odd hand-painted black border. We talked a lot about making changes to the room but we just hadn't got around to it.


Isn't this bedding beautiful-I couldn't have picked anything better-PERFECT!


I love the new room, LOVE IT! I keep randomly walking in there and sitting on the bed, just taking it all in.
Seriously? Best. Husband. Ever! I love you, Chuck, I can't begin to tell you how much it means to me that you did all of this for me.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Seriously? Could He Be Any Cuter????

Nope, I don't think so. A little sneak peek from tonight's one year photo shoot with Aunt Bobbi...take a look then go right on over HERE to her website and book yourself a shoot for your Christmas cards! :)


Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Ten on Tuesday

1. Moosey's birthday party was Friday night and he had so much fun. He got to eat pizza and cake (which he loves) and got lots of great presents. Uncle James and Aunt Bobbi got him the coolest little moose rocker! He loves that thing.

Ready to party!


The birthday boy!


Look at that chubby little cake filled hand!


Moose on a moose-so funny!

2. It seems like Moose's vocabulary is really expanding lately. When he wants something, he points to it and says "ME" (as in give it to me!), he also says "Oh boy!". So funny to hear him say it, I've tried capturing it on film but he just won't do it. (Of course as soon as I turn the camera off, all I hear is "oh boy" over and over again!)

I think he might exceed the weight limit for my washer.

3. Feeling good about Halloween planning right now, I've got all 4 boys costumes purchased and ready to go. And we got our treat buckets personalized and ready for decorating. Every year, the boys and I get pails or bags and decorate them to use for trick or treating. It's a lot of fun for all of us. We haven't gone to the pumpkin patch yet, but hopefully we can cross that off our list in the next week or so.

4. Bryce was up to his tricks again this week at football, this week he ran through the tunnel blowing kisses at the crowd. Such a showman!

5. Jarron has been such a huge helper to Chuck and I lately. He is always helping take care of Moose and this weekend he helped Chuck with all of the yardwork. He even got to mow for the first time. He is so proud-and I'm sure Chuck can't wait until the twins are able to take over that chore all together!


6. How is it that I have never tried Nutella before? I found a recipe on a blog for Nutella Croissants and I made them this weekend-they are delicious. (Not so yummy cold but very yummy warm.) How did I not know about this product?


7. My 6 month quest for the perfect stroller has ended in success! I have been stalking eBay and Craig's List for a gently used Maclaren Techno XT stroller and yesterday I found it! At my sister in law's store (visit her website HERE) of all places! You have no idea how happy I am to have this fine piece of European machinery join our house. After 4 kids and 7 strollers, I knew exactly what I wanted from a stroller-lightweight but sturdy, adjustable handles (Chuck's nearly a foot taller than me-so my perfect handle height and his are very different!), storage basket, and a nice rain shield. This stroller has ALL of that! Woo-hoo!


8. Said by Jarron last night as we were running errands and passed a Waffle House with some sketchy looking patrons milling about outside, "Hey mom, let's stop there, those people look friendly, plus it's a house of waffles, what's better than that?"

9. Our Cincinnati Bengals are now 4-1! Whaaaatttt? I know! So exciting but these last minute wins are giving me heart attacks-I'd love to see them have a really decisive win.

10. We have a busy weekend ahead-football games, museum center, Halloween party and (maybe) family pictures-I'm tired just thinking about it! :)

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

They Are Going to Name a Wing After Us...

I made yet another visit to Children's Hospital this week. This time for Jackson. Who bit a hole through his tongue! {I know!} Apparently, he was playing on our playset when he fell off the ladder, his knee came up and hit his chin, and he bit his tongue. Nana (my mom) said there was a lot of bleeding and she called me immediately at work. Having just been to Children's with Moose, I was better prepared this time. I packed up Jackson (who was very calm and not crying in the least bit),the Nintendo DS for him and a book for me. After a five hour wait (the DS lost it's luster after hour 3), we were told that tongue lacerations, however deep(and his was DEEP), do not require stitches and were sent on our way.

And that was how I spent my Monday night. I think by the time we raise these boys to adulthood, Children's will be able to build a new wing with all of the co-pays for ER visits we'll have contributed.

In other news, Bryce decided his nickname for football should be Ochocinco. Which is appropriate, since he's sort of known for his outgoing nature at Upward basketball games. (He makes an "entrance"-sometimes he enters the player tunnel backwards, other times spinning into a half split and giving the crowd the "call me" sign. I have no idea were he gets it.)

Bryce scored a touchdown this week and did a little celebrating in the end zone a la "Ochocinco". He did an elaborate fist pump and then used his hands for guns (much like a Dallas Cowboy would). He then proceeded to chest bump all of his teammates. A dad near me said (in a shocked but amused tone) "that kid is awesome". I guess he didn't expect to see that at a 3rd grade Upward game. Love that kid. (Although when I saw him studying the real Ochocinco's attempted dive into the Dawg pound during the Bengals game, I made it clear we would NOT catch him if he tried that at Upward!)

Football means cooler temperatures-I love sweater weather! I dressed all the boys in sweaters for church this past Sunday-they looked pretty stinking cute, not that I am biased or anything.


Unless someone else gets sick or injured (I seriously hope not-I'm way too familiar with the hospital right now!), Moose's 1st birthday party will be this Friday. Check back for that recap!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

It's FRIDAY!!!!!!! :)

It's been a loooong couple of weeks. We celebrated Moose's birthday at home on his actual birthday, his basketball hoop was a big hit!

Can you tell he is Chuck's son? Already addicted to basketball!

His party was scheduled for Saturday but when I came home from work Friday, he was pretty sick. He was burning up and his little cheeks were completely red. I took him to Children's. The waiting room was packed. We went to the Fairfield location, which is usually less crowded, but not that night. In fact, they shut it down about 30 minutes after we got there, they just had too many patients.

The nurse asked me to have Brody wear a protective mask, since he had a fever and cough. He wanted nothing to do with that mask; and after two attempts (he literally tore it off), I gave up. We settled into a corner of the waiting room that was somewhat empty. He just laid in my arms the whole time, completely miserable and breathing really hard. It was scary to see him so sick. (And pretty surreal to be in a waiting room full of kids with the masks on! Apparently, they are no taking no chances with this swine flu thing!)

We finally got called back and they took his temp-103.7! Yikes. Now I was completely freaked out and said so. The nurse said, "we're actually more worried about his breathing at this point." Double yikes! It turned out that in addition to his severe ear infection (which caused the fever), he also had croup. Croup causes your airways to swell up and makes it very difficult to breathe. Fortunately, they were able to give Moose steroids to open his airway and he started breathing better within 15 minutes. Whew.

Feeling better!

He was still a pretty sick Moose, so we had to cancel his birthday party and he and I spent the weekend hanging out at home. Meanwhile, our big boys still had football and church. So, Chuck had to do a lot of running around! Poor guy.

Before Moosey's birthday and unfortunately timed illness, we had a few fun outings that I haven't mentioned. We got to go to the Cincinnati Zoo when it was closed to the public. The company Chuck works for arranged for the zoo to be open to their employees after hours. It was neat to see the animals at night and it nice not having to fight the crowds. The weather was perfect and the boys had a blast.


Loved the elephants!


The boys at Gibbon's Island


Cutest monkey in the zoo!

Bryce, Jarron and Jackson had their first official football games. They seem to be really enjoying it and they are actually pretty good for it being their first year!

Fierce!


Jackson learning a play...


Jarron snapping the ball...

And my samples for my candle business all arrived! Yay! So excited, I've been doing a lot of preparations behind the scenes, getting my website all set up, labeling my flyers, and all that fun stuff. I plan on handing out samples and flyers to all the moms that bring their kids by for trick or treating. Hopefully, that gets me a few more clients!


Looking forward to this weekend-the boys have pictures for football and I have to get things ready for Brody's rescheduled birthday party! Have a great weekend!