Flashback Friday

Corbin dying eggs last Easter…

Corbin dying eggs this Easter…

What’s changed?  He’s getting bigger.

What hasn’t?  I still like to dress Corbin in blue AND my hand is always near:)

PreEaster Fun

Our church hosted a family fun Easter event this weekend.  Who would have thought that the weather would bring snow…a good amount of snow…3-5 inches! 

So instead of hunting eggs outside, they improvised with pillows, fake plants, and portable walls.  It worked:) 

They also had face painting. Corbin decided he wanted an orange cat.

He checked himself out and really liked it…for about 2 seconds.  Then he asked if he could get it off.  Umm, nope, you’re stuck with that until bathtime.   

We  played games, decorated cookies, and created a foam egg.  Corbin had a blast!

We also got to dye eggs this weekend with Grandpa and Grandma Tammy.  This has become a yearly tradition that Corbin LOVES to do!

Here is our family represented egg style.  (I put Chris in glasses…he’s the orange one far right…because I thought it would distinguish him from Corbin.  He didn’t think the glasses were as cute as I did;)

Corbin created alphabet eggs.  The letters had to be in order, of course!  And he took great time in putting them all on. 

It was a great way to start the Easter week!

Do the Turtle

In our house Corbin doesn’t plead for a horse ride.  He doesn’t beg to gallop.  Nope, he requests a turtle ride.

When Corbin was old enough to get on my back he would be so unsteady that I would crawl super slow with him.  I would like to point out that this was for his safety not because I was incapable of going faster.

My slow pace is a huge source of enjoyment and laughs for Chris.  He was the one to name my rides for Corbin “the turtle rides.”  And it stuck.  That’s what Corbin continues to asks for still today.

But really, I’m thrilled.  I’ve set the bar low for myself!  He doesn’t expect me to speed around the house on my hands and knees.  He doesn’t expect a crazy ride from me.  Nope, he’s content with the slow turtle ride that creeps along the ground at a pace that’s pleasing to me…and my “old” knees and arms (see an age theme with my posts this week;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You should all be thanking me.  If Corbin asks YOU for a ride, just tell him you can do “the turtle” and he’ll be thrilled…..I’ve set the bar low…you can all reach the turtle level;)

Found It…Wish I Could Lose It

I found my first gray hair today.

Specifically a gleaming silver hair.

At 8:42 this morning, Thursday March 21st.

Sadness.

Well Corbin I pray that you are really athletic, very musically gifted, or off the charts smart because you are going to need some nice large scholarships.

This momma is going to have to start dying her hair soon and that means less money into your college fund.  I’m giving you a heads up.  You have all of your school career to make something happen.  You can do it!  Sorry, this momma has priorities…and covering the gray is at the top;)

My aging continues.  Who knew it would progress at such a rapid rate since my last post!

Bracketology 101

Every year there is a Williams Family NCAA bracket challenge.  I lose every year.

This year I was going to really sit down, read up on the teams, and educate myself.  Maybe then I would have a fighting chance to dominate the competition and claim a bracket victory.

That was my goal this morning: basketball research.  Yeah, after about 5 minutes of hard research I was done.  Blah, blah, blah was about all I got out of the articles.  I just didn’t care…it was really tedious reading and my whole enthusiasm to research died.  Unfortunately, my desire to win is still alive but I’m just going to have live with that:)

So instead of a well researched bracket I went back to my old tried and true method of looking at the little numbers that supposedly mean their rankings and also choosing what names I like.  Really, I can’t think of a better way to choose…numbers and names!

This is Corbin’s first year to fill out a bracket.  That was an interesting experience.  To start with I just gave him the names of the two teams playing each other and he picked one he liked.  But he tired of that after the first round.  So then we went to first letters that he liked for the next round.  The sweet 16 was all about the numbers.  He chose the ranking number he enjoyed the most.  The rest of the choices he pointed to the team names.  We’ll see how he does…it will be entertaining to follow his bracket:)

How’s your bracket shaping up?

When Did It Happen?

I got old.  How did it happen?

I have found myself lately in situations where  apparently my age has shown through.

At Wal-Mart I was buying some alcohol.  Apparently it’s been a while since I’ve done this because I’ve ALWAYS been carded…ALWAYS.  Without even thinking as he was checking out my beer I just handed over my license.  I got a look from my young checker guy that was so perplexed and confused that I had to address it.  I told him this is my license to check that I’m of a legal age.  He said “Oh, I know.  You look way old enough.  I don’t need to check.”  What!?!  Seriously, I look way old enough?  Perhaps that was a bit of an overstatement. 

So, I related the story of outrage and horror to my husband who lovingly replies, “well you do look old enough and you have a few wrinkles around the eyes.”  (Chris denies ever saying this.) What?!?!  Again this was not the comforting statements of encouragement I needed.

Then I relate this story to a group of my girlfriends. They all agreed that I did not look WAY old enough and that the checker was out of line.  Thank you girlfriends…that’s what I needed to hear…even if it’s not quite the truth.  A little white lie like that one never hurt anyone…keep them coming girlfriends;)

I felt old.

Well, apparently not only do I look “old”, but I’m acting old as well.  In my neighborhood some boys had been dropped off by the bus and were standing on the street corner horsing around.  As I was driving by I felt that the horsing around looked a little too dangerous.  So I backed my car up, rolled down my window and told those “hooligans” to head home.

I got the eye rolls, the sighs, and “whatevers” thrown my way.  Some were reluctant to leave so I said I would escort them.  And I did.  I drove down the street following them all the way home.  Seriously, I did. 

I related this story to Chris and all I got was a look of pure mortification.  He couldn’t even comment on my actions because he was so embarrassed.

I thought it needed to be done, but apparently my actions were that of an old person.

Finally, my internal skeleton, where they eye cannot see, is aging as well.  I never understood older people who talked about their aches and pains.  Now, I’m beginning to understand.

In the morning the snap, crackle, and pop isn’t from my breakfast cereal it’s from my body getting out of bed.  What!?!? 

Sitting too long in one place creates muscle soreness that lasts for days.  What?!?!

And don’t even get me started on late night snacking, eating spicy food, or caffeine past 6:00 pm.  TUMS and Tylenol PM are my new best friends if any of those situations arise.

I’m getting older and that’s ok.  It’s interesting to see how I’m relating more and more to the “old” folks and less and less to the “young”. 

The Senior Citizen Homes really do hold appeal.  It might not be too much longer until that becomes my place to socialize;)

Wordless Wednesday

There are no words for this picture so it obviously belonged in the wordless Wednesday post:)

 

Pinterest Told Me to Tell Her

No secret here, I love pursuing Pinterest!  There are so many interesting, creative, and wonderful ideas, recipes, tips, and projects to be found.

I’m a pinning fool!  If I like it, I pin it.  If it appeals to me, I pin it.  If I enjoy it, I pin.  Notice none of my items get pinned because I actually DO them.  No, no.  My following on Pinterest is purely for entertainment value;)  There’s little to no follow up with what I’ve pinned.

One day I was clicking along Pinterest and found this adorable crocheted sock monkey hat pattern.  But, I don’t crochet.  I have no interest in even picking up the needles and yarn to attempt such said project.

However, my mom does crochet.  So, I pinned this site with a note at the bottom that asked “Mom can you do this?”

See there was no pressure there.  I just presented a little challenge and wondered what would happen.  I never mentioned the pin.  I didn’t know if she had even seen it.

But then yesterday, she and my dad had Corbin for the weekend and they brought him back…wearing an adorable crocheted sock monkey hat!!

It’s SO cute!

Pinterest told me to tell her.  It’s a new way to use Pinterest…pinning projects for other people to do for you…I’m on to something;0  I knew I liked you, Pinterest.

Thanks Mom, Corbin wears his monkey well.

**Here’s the website for the free pattern if you or someone you know is interested:  http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/11/crochet-sock-monkey-hat-pattern.html

“Reading”

Corbin LOVES books which makes this teacher/librarian momma super happy.

One tiresome side effect to this love of books is the repeated readings.  And by repeated I mean we read them at least 20 times a day!  But that’s a good thing for him. 

Young readers like to have books read and read because they are taking in new details at every reading.  Part of the process of learning to read is to be able to retell stories and often they will memorize the books and then “read” them.

Corbin has entered into the retelling/memorizing stage of reading and it’s so fun to hear!

Now, I’ve been trying to record him reading for awhile, but it’s not been happening.  As soon as I try to record him he stops, freezes, and looks at me like he has no idea how to do anything I ask of him!?!?

I’m sure I’m not the only parent to deal with what I’ve termed the “recording freeze”.  As soon as I put away the camera to record he returns to normal and does the amazing, cute, wonderful thing I wanted to record….SO ANNOYING!

So, to capture this recording of him “reading” I tried out a technique I think photographers in the wild use.  Seriously, not kidding.  I treated my son like a wild animal in his natural habitat;)

I took out the camera and recorded knowing I would get junk, which I did.  But I didn’t say anything.  I let him watch said junk because he likes to do that.  Then I proceeded to just sit there with my camera poised as if I was going to record.  I sat there minutes upon minutes until he lost interest in me and returned to a semi normal state.

Really, it’s ridiculous what I went through, but here’s my rare and ok recording of Corbin “reading” Tip Tip Dig Dig by Emma Garcia:

I’m That Mom

I continually approach new situations or look ahead to new opportunities and think I’m not going to be “that mom”.  But then I get into those situations and I am!

Corbin started swimming lessons this week.  It’s the first time that he had lessons without me.  We took child + parent classes last year a couple of times and they went well, but I knew he needed to start learning on his own.

We signed up for lessons with a local swim club.  These lessons are made for learning how to swim. No games, no songs, no “playtime”; it’s down to the business of learning to swim.  I appreciate that because he’s had enough time in the water.  We frequently go to the lake in the summer, and he loves the water so now he needs to become a proficient swimmer.

One of the criteria for these beginner classes are for the parents to stay out of view so your child can not see you.  By being there the parent is causing a distraction.

I’m totally on board with this.  I understand the reasoning why.  I am a teacher.  I get how it’s best to have each student’s undivided attention and keep them focused.  I just didn’t realize how hard it would be for me as a mom.

So our first day we show up and are waiting.  Right on time the instructors line up in front of the room and call out names of their students.  Then the little kids go running up, the instructor goes out the door, the little ones follow (hopefully!) and off they go to the pool.  That was it!  No explanation, no introductions, just off to swim.

I was left sitting in my seat, looking around, starting to become “that mom”.  That mom, who is teary because her baby just left with some stranger to jump in the water without her.  I was that mom who wanted SO badly to peek into the pool and see how he was doing.  I was that mom who paced the room like a caged animal just waiting for the ending time to arrive.  I was that mom --- how did this happen!?! 

I never thought I would be.  I didn’t understand how people could act like that.  They are next door, with capable people, really I should let it go and enjoy this time to read a book.  But, nope, I was that mom who wondered, paced, and watched the clock thinking about Corbin the whole time.

Well, the time came to pick him up.  I went to the pool door with his little towel and he said he had a great time.  His instructor said he was a little nervous, but did great.  We just need to work on blowing bubbles.  (He’s never been able to do that.  He always sticks out his tongue!).  The sweet instructor said it was cute, but really there was an underlining message – get to work in the bathtub and get that kid blowing bubbles.  We’re on it!

Anyway, it was an interesting experience.  Another step in the growing-up process which I’m totally excited to see happening.  I really loved that he skipped off with his teacher and willingly went to the pool with her.  I’m SO happy that he had a great time and wants to go again.  I am very grateful he’s growing up and having new experiences on his own.  I just didn’t realize what that would mean for me.  That I would have to deal with some different emotions and that I would have to do some growing myself.

Ahhh, parenting. Who knew!