A new week

Well I am on the countdown to Spring Break. We have no actual plans to go anywhere but honestly that is ok with me. There is an AWESOME children's discovery center in Gulfport that I plan on visiting one day with the kids.

On the forefront of this week's adventures:
1. The road between my house and Ansley's school is completely washed away in one place. I mean - the road is gone - caved in probably 15 feet. And why? Yes, it did rain heavily last week but the main reason is that the redneck genius who lives right down from her school - maybe 1/2 a mile, made himself a nice big mudhole - I mean 'pond' that caused the road to cave in.
And what does this do to my morning??? I now have to take Ansley south of my house into Irvington to catch a ride with my friend Michele who drives north up through Grand Bay to take her Colin and my Ansley to school. In the afternoons I get to drive off road on the dirt "road" that runs parallel to I-10 to try to pick her up. If it rains? I am not driving the dirt road which means I have to go back south of I-10 to Hwy 90 and then back up and around. This. Makes. Me. Angry!! I hope they make that man pay for his big mud hole!!!
OK - I realize this is not a life altering situation - but still!

2. Stephen is now in his new room at school. The room that has potties! I bought pullups this weekend and sent them to school with Stephen. I had high hopes for at least one successful potty usage today. Sadly, no potty action at school today. But I got a little boy running across the room and jumping into my arms after school today with kisses and a tight squeeze. I'll take that any day.

3. Ansley can read!!! I don't think she is quite ready for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (oh, but that will be soon!!!) but she is doing really well. I am very proud of her. She is a blending machine!!!

Here are some pictures of our afternoon today. We are going to attempt a tomato plant, some squash and some peppers. I am thinking positively, but we shall see how the Duke family garden pans out.






Oh - and here is out latest purchase. A new gazebo for the back patio. We are enjoying sitting outside! The kids call it "our little house." Jamey played a board game with the kids there this afternoon while waiting for the grill to be ready.

Pictures from the Park

Cottage Hill Park last Saturday.












I think this last picture shows that they really do look like siblings! Most people say they don't look related - but look at their faces in this picture!

Stephen is moving into the big boy room at daycare next week. This room has potties! Hooray! Guess who is tried of changing diapers??? Me! Me!

I think it is starting...

I am afraid it has started and I think I knew it was coming, but the arrival is nonetheless a little nerve wracking.....My children are fighting with each other. They are tattling on each other. They are arguing over who gets what.

My mom laughed at me today...told me I had it coming. Surely Luke and I NEVER fought?!?! Right???

Stephen has really become his own little person in the past few months. He knows what he likes and is not so easily bossed around by his older sister. Not long ago he would happily comply with her requests for him to "be the baby" or "the student in school" or "the boy who checks you out at the grocery store" ( a dream job for Ansley). But no more.

We are also seeing the following situation over and over:
Ansley picks up a book. (1 of maybe 300 on our shelves)
Stephen wants THAT book and no other will suffice.
Ansley gives Stephen that book.
Ansley picks up her tea set.
Stephen wants the tea set and must have it NOW.
Ansley frowns but hands Stephen the tea set as he throws down the book he so desperately "needed" one minute earlier.
Ansley picks up her crayons.....well, you get the idea. She does pretty well for a little while but then she loses her patience and I don't blame her. I try not to expect her to be a little adult...she is 5 and should not have to share everything as soon as Stephen screams for it. So we all 4 learn as we go. Teaching Ansley how to balance kindness with fairness. Teaching Stephen that screaming will not always get you what you want (although sometimes it might). Knowing when to let them figure it out on their own and when to step in....I will let you know when Jamey and I figure it all out.

a weekend with the Duke family

We had a really great weekend and more and more I am so appreciating what I have - both in my family, my job and in other things as well.

Friday night was a wonderful dinner with Jamey at a newer restaurant downtown (the bull - I highly recommend it) and then off to window shop at Best Buy. Come to think of it, I think everyone was window shopping in Best Buy Friday night. I have a serious craving for an Ipod NANO, but I am waiting for tax refund fairy to show up before making that purchase anyway.

Saturday, Jamey and I took the kids to the American Cancer Society Chili Cookoff. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, but it was too crowded! They need to move it out of Beinville Square to somewhere bigger for next year. Here are a few pictures of the day - Ansley in the middle with friends Jordan and Anna Faith on either side of her.
Here are a few of Stephen


That night I went to the Mobile Ballet production of Dracula - who knew I had such a thing for vampires??? It was spectacular. We also ate at Cafe 615 downtown and it was good but our waitor was sarcastic and rude! That can really ruin a good dinner.

Sunday - well, Sunday we skipped all other responsible choices like church and laundry and closet cleaning (ok - that sounds like I am comparing church to chores, and I promise I am not! ) and went to the beach with the kids. It made me happy. It made my kids happy. This is important to me. The water was Freezing to say the least - Ansley was the only one brave enough to splash around at the edge. She kept trying to coax Stephen into putting his toes in and he kept shaking his head no. "too cold sissy - too cold"
He is such a sweet little man. "I want hold you" is what he says when he wants me to hold him or pick him up. Melts my heard every single time. Ugh. I am glad Jamey is there to do the discipline sometimes b/c I am just so in love with both the kids!!

pictures from Mardi Gras

Jeremy, Will, Jamey and Luke hanging out in the hotel room the day of the MOT parade. (Mystics of Time for you non-mardi-grasing people)

A somewhat decent picture of us. I am pretty picky about the pictures I like with me in them! Haha!
Luke and Sara on the porch of the Malaga Inn in downtown Mobile.


Ansley hanging out with Anna Faith and Jordan.



Ansley and Stephen waiting for a parade last Saturday.