Count down to Christmas

Greyson has been counting down the days until Christmas pretty much since we set foot in Michigan. Instead of counting by days we count by sleeps; it seems to be a little easier for the 4 year-old brain. And as of today there are 2 more sleeps until Christmas!!! This is the first year that Greyson has actually been excited about Christmas, the first year since he was born that he went to see Santa (his second Christmas we just moved to NC and didn't know where to find Santa, and his third and fourth Christmas happened to fall during the toddler stage of "I'm afraid of anything that is in a costume.")

Last night when Cris and Jim got home from the legion Greyson was giving them hugs before he went off to bed and while hugging Jim Greyson says "Poppy, why didn't you come see me on the 4th sleep?" [Lately Jim has been going to in lay with Greyson once he gets settle and either read him a story and have a short conversation with him.] You are probably asking yourself, "What is a 4th sleep?" Like I said earlier, this boy is very excited about Christmas and has been counting down via sleeps...so the 4th sleep would have been Wednesday night and instead of saying "Why didn't you come see me last night," Greyson said "4th sleep." I thought it was precious! He makes me smile!

I hope everyone who is reading this has a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! Stay safe!

Silent reading

Sitting on the couch reading a book, Greyson lying next to me:

Greyson: "Mom, you're not reading your book. You're just looking at it."
Me: "I'm reading inside my head."
Greyson: "How?"
Me: "I read the words with my eyes, and say it inside my head. You'll understand when you're older and can do it."
Greyson: "But I don't hear you reading."
Me: "You can't because I'm reading in my head."
Greyson: "I could if I opened your mouth and looked in your head."

:)

That boy; he's a thinker.

Conversations in transit

Driving home tonight...

Greyson: "Mom."
Me: "Yes?"
Greyson: "God is wild for us."
Me: "He is!" "Did you hear that at Sunday school?"
Greyson: "Nope. It's on grandma Carol's computer. In a song."
Me: "Do you know what it means, 'God is wild for us.?"
Greyson: No.
Me: "It means He loves us very very very much!"
Greyson: "Why?"
Me: "Because He created us."
Greyson: "Created us?"
Me: "Because God made us."
Greyson: "Oh." "And he made the sun, and the stars and the earth..."
Me: "Yup." :)

Greyson: "If we had buttons that turned into rockets we could blast off into space and look at Earth."
Me: "Yes we could!"

I'm going home...

Three days until Greyson and I move back to Michigan and I'm not ready. I don't want to leave behind Clayton, or my friends, or this weather. It is beautiful outside; sunny and 76 degrees. I don't want to leave karate, or MOPS, or my church. It seems harder to leave North Carolina for Michigan than it was leaving Michigan for North Carolina. It could be the thought of going back to a frigid state (both in temperature and economically) and the uncertainty of the next step in your life journey. I've scoped out the "help wanted" ads online; H&R Block and Meijer pharmacy are current contenders, I've thought about substitute teaching (when in fact I'd rather go back to school and work on a Master's degree or take some classes that would improve my chances of getting a teaching job), and I've thought about going into business myself, as a MyClyns wellness coach (but Clayton doesn't think it will be very lucrative, though I'm not doing it for the money but because I think it is a great product, still at the ground floor in home-based sales, and I'd be the only one in Michigan). This all sounds very bleak; like there's nothing in Michigan, but that couldn't be farther from the truth.
I am so excited to be close to family again! I can't wait to meet Miss Kenley Jo and have Greyson and Abbi play together (the boys too, but I'm not sure how much they want to play with the "little ones.") I'm excited to reconnect with all of my Michigan friends too! I'm excited for Greyson and Clayton to start school; Clayton registered for winter classes at MCC this afternoon. I'm still not sure if they will take Greyson mid-year, but we'll see soon enough. I think the best part of being back in Michigan is the fact that I can start making wedding decisions! It's hard planning a wedding when your out-of-state; I don't know how Kim and Jeff did it. All in all I can't wait to be back in Michigan.
Change is hard, but change is good.

Halloween 2011

I guess you'll just have to turn your head to the side because for some reason blogger decided to take pictures that were oriented correctly in my pictures and disorient them. My apologies.

Our Halloween festivities for this year included Trunk or Treat (our very first ever and it was great fun), A Halloween Dress-up Dinner Party and Trick or Treating. It was all a lot of fun. The only downfall of the whole weekend was that Clayton couldn't be with us; next year!

Boys are stinky!

I just went to wake Greyson from his nap, and boy was he sweaty! I made a comment to that affect and Greyson replied, " I told you, that's cuz boys are stinky and sweating. Just like daddy."
He's makes the same point when I react with a "Peeyou" (I can not for the life of me figure out how to spell this word, if you can leave it as a comment and I'll edit this post) to his stinky #2s. "Mom, I tell you plenty of times, boys are stinky!" :)

How long until Clayton and I get married?

Free day

Today Greyson and I went to see the sneak preview of "Puss in Boots" on base; boy am I glad I left when I did. I drove to the front gate and per usual they were doing ID checks. I stopped and gave the Marine my ID. He proceeded to ask me if I had a military ID, to which I answered "No, we're not married." This next part is not usual, actual them asking for military ID isn't usual. Any other time I've driven Clayton's car on base I was either waved through, or stopped briefly while my driver's license was viewed and then off I went...so I had to pull over to the area where they would typically do a car search. They continued to ask me questions, and then finally told me that I had to go to Pass and ID to get a pass in order to get on base. At this point the tears are balancing on the edge of my eyes. So I turn around and head to Pass and ID. I go in and ask them to give me an pass for the day, but unfortunately I have to have a sponsor present to verify who I am and claim responsibility for me. So I had to call Andrew to come and rescue me. At this point we are 2 minutes late for the movie, and now we have to wait for Andrew to drive to the front gate from the barracks, get me a pass and then I have to drive to the movie theater (of which is already packed, even the parking lot). It then turns out that you must have military ID to see the movie because the movie is free! I didn't realize the movie was free; that explains why it is soooo packed. It was a great thing that Sheri-Lynne and her family happened to be attending the same movie because Bill was able to get me in. The movie was funny, and I got to cuddle with my baby boy the whole time.
After the movie Greyson and I went to Little Ceaser's (which I do not particularly like, but I had a coupon for free pizza and crazy bread so that's that) for dinner. Now Little Ceaser's is just down the road from the front gate so that is the way we took. Normally when we leave our house we turn at the stoplight and drive a ways and tada there we are...but today we took a "shortcut," according to Greyson. He is always talking about shortcuts, but in all actuality none of the ways he talks about are actually shortcuts, they are just different ways of getting some place. Anyway, Greyson says to me as we are coming up to the Little Ceaser's entrance, "Mom, you took the shortcut!" "I did," I said. "Mom, you're amazing! Greyson said. My heart melted and I had a permanent smile on my face. If a shortcut (which really isn't a shortcut) makes me amazing, I'll take it every time. This is one of the perks of being a mom...the simple things we do for our children make us amazing!
I just realized I didn't spend any money on today's "festivities." Cool beans!

Thank you Disney Jr and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Tonight when Greyson and I were driving home from dinner with a friend we had to drive behind a [very slow] dump truck and we only had one lane to drive in. I'm not a fan of slow cars [and traffic in general] so I made an ugh sound. From the backseat Greyson says, " This is exasperating." I couldn't help but chuckle; it's a pretty big word for a 4-year old. Then I asked him if he knew what it meant. He said, "No, but Donald says it to Goofy."

Putting out the Fire

Last night IT was a fire hose putting out a fire. If you've read my previous posted you know what I'm talking about. Hahahaha. :)

From Pinterest, friends and a little thing called Google

 Save the Date

 Cake topper

 Decoration

 Decor

 Hors' derv es

Bacon, jalapenos and cream cheese inside croissants

 Dessert

Crispy treats on a stick, dipped in chocolate

 Dessert

Fruit tacos

(sugar cookie, fruit dip, and fruit)

 A gift for my daddy!

 Cake table or head table?

 Picture idea

 Picture idea.

 Picture idea.

 I would actually put a picture in the frame and then put the scrabble letters on the matte.

 Engagement photo

Decoration

Need to exercise

This might be a little graphic, and you might possible think TMI, but I had to share. :)

Tonight while getting ready for a quick bath/shower Greyson was pulling on his penis (should I censor this word?) and he said "My penis is stretching. It needs to exercise."

How does a child's mind operate?

Cheers!

Went to El Cerro's tonight for a going away party. It was a blast. Greyson tagged along, as did some other children. We had a room in the back as to not disturb the other patrons. On each of the table there are salt and pepper shakers made from empty Corona's (or quite possibly purchased that way). Kenzie, Sophia and Greyson were playing with the bottles; at one point they toasted their bottles with a "cheers" and a while later Greyson came up to me with two bottles and said "These are my two beer cuz I'm the papa." He cracks me up. Also tonight he ate an entire jalapeno (fresh). My kid is crazy!

Leslie, you are...

Smiley and Fashionable (I'm a Maxanista).

From Michelle.

Dedicated and Funny.

From Renee

Outgoing and Good Listener.

From Tiffany

Yankee and Teacher.

 From Jen

Positive and Welcoming.

From Alisa

Optimistic and a Boob (Crybaby).

From Carol

Genuine and Friend.

From Sheri-Lynne

Best Friend.

From Linda

I am going to miss these ladies oodles and oodles!!!

40 days until Michigan

I started packing today. Three boxes complete; full of books, DVDs, boardgames and video games. Now I just have to go to the store and purchase some packing tape so that I can close the completed boxes and turn the folded cardboard that is in my kitchen back into useful boxes. It is very difficult to determine the things we will need while in Michigan and the things that can go into storage. How many animated movies to I keep out? What boardgames should remained unpacked? What toys get packed, sold, and kept easily attainable? What books need to be kept on the shelf so that our nightly routine isn't effected? So many questions. I'm slightly overwhelmed. But it is safe to say that I am super excited to be heading back to Michigan where I can spend plenty of time with my family and friends...and I can start making concrete decisions about the wedding! I will miss my North Carolina friends immensely, but I know that they are only a phone call, facebook message, 2hr plane ride or 17hr car ride away.

Pinterst - my new fav!

So my friend Brandis sent me a link to a website; pinterst.com. So I thought I'd check it out. It's fabulous! I still don't know exactly how to "use" it, but I love the ideas I've come across just by scrolling through each topic. I want to try and use all that I've found in Clayton and my upcoming nuptials...we'll see what we can make work...

Take a look.



 

A fun center piece? I think I would want the cups to be a little fuller. You know what I mean?

 

I was thinking about this before I came across it in the website. To have wedding pictures of  family members (ie. grandparents, parents, sisters, brothers) somewhere; either as centerpieces or on the cake table or SOMEWHERE!

 

I don't know if our photographer (which I need to find) will be able to get high enough to take such a picture but I LOVE IT!!! It is the perfect [complete] family picture!

It's a Kissing cootie catcher! What a fun thing to have at each table! Since there won't be a cocktail hour this can pass the time if there is time between wedding, photos and reception. :)

 

 

Such fun!!!

Fabulous engagement picture ideas!!!

 

 

(use this one as a save the date!)

 Super cute save the date idea!!!

 

Something Blue! Sew [a professional] my wedding date into my dress with blue thread!

 

A wedding favor? I think it is fabulous [That's my new word, in case you haven't noticed]! But does it go with our theme?

 

This is awesome! [I restrained myself from saying the F-word, and not the 4-letter one]. In each frame is a map of the location where you got engaged, got married and went on your honeymoon. Not only a beautiful home decor but what a way to document and remember the best moments of your life!!!

I keep checking back at the website for new things...but unless someone posts something I'm not going to find it... I will take anything you think is awesome and I will look at it and see...so if you find something, anything send it my way.

Love you all!!!

We're Getting Married!!!

I'm sure you have all heard that Clayton proposed to me [while in Japan, at the summit of Mt. Fuji, during sunrise].

Yay!!! I'm so excited!!!

We've set a date... 8.10.2012

Yes, it is a Friday. Which really works perfectly because I want very badly to have a sunset wedding...not like waiting until the sun actually sets but during the start of the sunset when it changes the sky to beautiful shades of pink, orange and red. I am currently looking for a location that overlooks Lake Michigan...all the beauty of the water, but none of the sand. We have lots of ideas...now we just have to find a way to implement them all and within a budget (which hasn't been set yet).

I can not wait to share this special day with all our friends and family!!!

My Brutha

A couple weeks ago while at karate Greyson asked how old he would be when his brother was 4. I was like, "huh?" Followed by, "Greyson you don't have a brother." and "If you talk like people will think you're getting a brother." Of course that didn't change his mind, so he asked again. I decided to humor him. "Greyson if you had a brother right now (we're skipping the whole pregnancy and birth), then when he turned 4 you would be between the ages of 8 and 9." That satisfied him.
Then today Greyson was playing with his play-doh and he came in to show me his creation. "Mom, I made a birtday cake for my brother." Aww...so sweet!

It seems that Greyson wants a brother.
I want you to have a brother too Greyson Kenneth!
Let's double-team daddy until he comes to our side.

Starting Anew

My old blog froze and will no longer let me post anything...so I've tried this...hopefully it works.