Finally

I think we've turned the corner at preschool. B. only cried 1/2 the time today. Then, he started to play and actually participated in the class. Hooray! I hope that he does as well next time, since it will be a week between classes.

Blog Challenge 6/29

I know we all try to cut costs and save where we can, but what is the one main thing that you don't mind splurging on. Meaning that money isn't an issue when it comes to purchasing this. On the other hand, what are some things that you don't mind skimping on?

I have a hard time 'spluring' on things. My husband, on the other hand, thinks its better just to buy quality things the first time, so you don't have to replace them. I'm coming around to his point of view. So, we try not to skimp on things for the house. Furniture or landscaping. He also likes to eat out once a week or so, so we end up spending money on that sort of thing too.

I will skimp on clothes for me and B. I shop mostly at outlets or Target. I just can't bring myself to pay a lot of money for clothes. Especially for me since I'm not working, and certainly not for a 3 y/o. I also buy generic drugs, and depending on what it is, some groceries. DH tends to buy name brand foods more than me.

This better get easier

Day 5 of preschool. It hasn't gotten any better. Actually, it was probably worse today. He cried all morning before we even left the house. He won't participate, and just cries the whole time he's there. Its so sad to watch.
I really didn't think it would be like this.
I bought him a new Nemo coloring book and crayons, and told him the first time he has a good day at preschool, he can have them. Pretty pathetic that I have to bribe him. He really wants to have a good day. He's just not there yet. I hope it gets better soon, because this is hard on all of us.

Blog challenge 6/26

What Makes You Happy

Listening to B. sing songs about everything.
Watching him dance and march around
Watch Grandpa and B. swing and swing and swing
Spending time with DH and B.
Spending time with extended family
Hearing from friends
Tending my garden
Eating peas off the vine
Watching B. look for bugs
Iced tea with fresh mint
brownies
Having B. crawl into bed and snuggle in the middle of the night
picnics
Uncontrollable giggles
walking through a quilt store looking at material

Great Visit

My parents were visiting for a few days. We had a great visit. The weather was pretty much unbearable 100+ the whole time they were here. But, we were still able to enjoy our backyard, and the new play area and deck. My dad was very impressed, which was nice. He also spent hours pushing B. on the swing and playing with him on the slide. I think he really wore Grandpa out!

We went and watched the local fireworks show. It was alot of fun, even if it was 10 days early! B. was very brave sitting on grandpa's lap in the car! :)

Its been over a year since they've been up here, so it was nice to visit here, instead of at their house. My dad is starting to slow down some. He just turned 74, and is having some problems with his knees and back, but still doing pretty well. My mom is still doing well. I hope they are around for many more years because B. loves his grandparents!

We had planned to go to Jamestown and ride an old steam train, but the weather ruled that out, so instead we went to the California State Train Museum. It was a lot of fun, I think my parents were impressed with it. Of course B. wanted to by a train, so grandpa bought him Spencer. He hasn't stopped playing with it since we got home.

We'll be visiting them in July, when my sister is out from Nashville. Then he will have his cousins to play with for a couple of days.

Blog Challenge

Life's full of tough decisions. Even when we were younger, we had to make decisions of some kind...of course they seem to get tougher as we get older. What is a tough decision that you have made in your life? Did you make it all on your own or did you have help? Did you realize the consequences of your decision were beneficial and the right one to make or just the opposite. Please share and elaborate as much or as little as you want.


I think the toughest decision I (we) have made, was to only have one child. Never, growing up did I think I would only have one child. Of course I never thought I would be 36 when I got married either. We were both older, and weren't sure what would happen with having children. We both said we wanted one. I'm not sure either of us really believed that.
My husband and I knew going in that we would be lucky if we got pregnant quickly and have a healthy pregnancy at my age. It took 5 months to get pregnant. I had a text book pregnancy, or so I thought. When I delivered, I found out that I had a bad umbilical cord, and a bad placenta. Placenta Membrancia or something like that. Anyway, my placenta was very thin. The said right after my son was born, that most of 'these babies are born dead.' Nice, huh. She declared at that point that I shouldn't have any more babies.

So, 3 1/2 years later, we have had numerous conversations about whether our decision to have only one child will be good or bad for W. My husband worries that he will resent not having siblings someday. He might. We won't know for a while.

It wasn't an easy decision, but health-wise, age-wise, financially, space, it all made sense to only have one child. Was it the right decision? We may never know. Do I regret it? Sometimes, but other times I am very happy only having one, and I'm not sure how I would have handled having any more.

I was a nervous wreck

I did much worse the second day than the first! I think it was because I knew he was having a hard time, and the first day I assumed he would do okay.
I think I actually had an anxiety attack at one point.

He did a little bit better. Still cried some, but the teacher said he talked to her more, and he did make a Father's Day card, which he was very proud of. Unfortunately, he peed in his pants twice, and they had to put him in borrowed clothes. I'm not sure what that is all about. Probably just nerves. I know he can go for 5 hrs without going potty, so it kind of surprised me. He's been going a lot at home more too. Maybe its a mastery thing, or maybe its nerves. I'll be watching for a UTI just in case.

Hopefully, a couple more days and he'll be fine. (me too!)
He was singing his version of 'Oh What a Beautiful Morning' when he got home, so he wasn't too traumatized by it. :)

Hoping for a better day

Second day of preschool. We had to do a lot of talking about it. He never actually refused to go back, but he wasn't nearly as excited about going as the first day. I stayed for a little while, and talked to his teacher about a couple of concerns. He seemed okay when I left, I hope he does better. I don't want him to dread going.

Today's blog challenge

In honor of Father's Day that's coming up this Sunday, tell about a favorite memory (either in childhood or recent years) you have with your own father. Also, tell us about your husband...what are some of the big things, as well as the little things that make him a great father.

One memory I have of my dad is when I was really little. Before I started school, so probably 3 or 4 years old. I was the youngest, so I was the only one at home during school for a few years. My dad would always come home for lunch. I would tag around with him in the back yard, or where ever he went. We looked at the garden, we walked around the yard, we sat at the table and ate lunch. It didn't matter, I just wanted to be close to him. And he always let me. I was such a Daddy's Girl.

My husband is a fantastic dad. I think being an older dad, he has a lot more patience than some younger dads. He loves spending time with his son. He is always excited to see him at night when he gets home. He sits on the floors and plays trains, even when he really doesn't get to play. :) He reads to him, he will push him on the swing for as long as Billy wants. He plays with him in the bath, and tells him 'Sneaky Pete' stories at bedtime. They have Billy/Daddy day once a month, where he takes him where ever Billy wants to go. (That should be interesting once he gets older!)
He worries about him constantly, worse than any mother! He wants so much for him to be happy. Billy couldn't ask for a better Daddy!

It could have gone better

He was crying when I got there. They said he did okay until around lunchtime. I think he was very tired and hungry. He refused to eat snacks or lunch.
He said some of the kids were rude, because they didn't listen to the teacher, and that he was a good helper today. I think he will do okay. He's just not used to being left. I hope he does okay when we go back on Thursday.

A few years late

Well, I probably should have started this about 3 1/2 years ago, but I guess 'better late than never.'

Billy started his first day of Preschool today. He was so excited. He sang and danced all over the house this morning. I was lucky to get a hug goodbye when I left him this morning. He is going to love it.

The house sure is quiet, though. I wonder how I will spend my free time. For the first couple of weeks, I'll catch up on chores. After that, who knows. Maybe I'll read a book for a change.