The Frog Princess

This evening after dinner I took the kids outside to play and get a little dirty before bedtime. I was raking some leaves out of the flower beds on one side of the house after a while and came upon a frog. I called for the kids so they could enjoy God's wonderfully fun little creation, and boy did they. Beau, much to my surprise, was scared to touch or even stand all that close. This is probably funny to anyone who has spent a fair amount of time with this child, as he is usually fearless and all boy. Abby, on the other hand, our usually prissy and pristine girl, just loved it! Daddy really loved that she loved it and went running for the camera and caught some really cute shots (I mean, really...if these don't make you smile you're just a grouch...). She held it, felt of it, pet it, watched it breathe, and caught it two or three different times after it jumped out of her hands. Who would have thought it, but a little frog brought so many smiles to all of us tonight! Praise the Lord for the small things in life, right?

Beau insisted on wearing his goggles for his bath tonight. I don't really think he can even see when he wears them...

Now HERE is a funny story. I am sure I told some of you that back in the spring I bought Beau his brown Stride Rite sandals. These shoes are pretty much his summer staple as far as shoes go. He also has a pair of "clip-clops" that he wears on occasion, but, for the most part, he wears these brown sandals almost everywhere. He had the exact pair last year, so I knew I wanted the same thing and went ahead and bought them in early spring. Well, we had them for a month (at most) and one day came that I couldn't find them anywhere. I kept asking Beau where they were, but never could get a straight answer. I kept thinking they would turn up, and I looked (I thought) everywhere for them. Finally, after a few weeks without them I broke down and bought another pair thinking he must have taken them off somewhere and we left without them unnoticed. Well, fast forward to this last Friday. I got on a cleaning spree that started with dust bunnies under my couch in my living room. I pulled out the coffee table and the couch, vacuumed, mopped, dusted, cleaned windows, etc. etc. We went out to eat Friday night with the kids, and when we came home I started cleaning some more. I was vacuuming around the living room fireplace (which we have never used) and happened to look behind the logs. Low and behold, the above picture was the sight that I saw! That crazy kid! I have walked by those shoes hundreds of times this summer and never knew they were back there!!! I guess it serves me right for not being a better cleaner? I will be regularly checking back there from now on, I can guarantee you that! (By the way, I can't believe I posted a picture of that dirty ol' fireplace, I am a little embarrassed, but I couldn't resist it with those shoes thrown back there...)

Abby enjoying a ride on our sidewalk. She is getting really good on the bike...turning and putting on the brakes...

This is Beau "reading" to me today while I worked in the kitchen. His indian style cracks me up.

Beau modeling his new school backpack. I never could get a good picture of the back of it, but it has 3 race cars on it with checkered flags, which he loves of course. Notice he is holding a car in his right hand. He really is obsessed...

My cuties painting the other day.

Another couple of stories:

I have been going to the gym a lot since Abby started back to school. I go with my friend Lenora. They have a great nursery there with a huge indoor play gym and tons of toys, story time, movie time, etc. They also have a program called Kid Fit for kids age 2-5 that is 30 minutes long. It usually happens while we are there, so Beau goes on a pretty regular basis. They take the group of kids (usually around 6 or 7 kids) from the nursery down the hall to the gymnasium. The weights, cardio machines and indoor track are all above the gymnasium and pool, so my friend and I can watch Kid Fit going on while we are working out, which is kind-of fun to watch your kids while they don't realize you're watching. Anyways, I heard the kids come into the gym so I stopped lifting (gladly) for a minute to watch my little guy run around. The trainer had all of the kids line up and run from baseline to baseline (wear em' out). Beau was running alongside another little boy his age that happened to get tripped up and fall down. Everyone else kept running but Beau. My sweet little guy stopped and turned around and ran back to him and held his little hand out to help the other little boy up. He then squatted down and put his hand on his shoulder, and although I could not hear him, I could tell Beau was asking him if he was ok. Ahhh - melted me. I could have cried. My friend and I were talking about it - how God gives you these moments sometimes to let you know you are doing a pretty decent job and that even though kids are trying sometimes, man, is it worth it.

Another story:

Abby LOVES school this year. I mean she LOVES it. Toby has been able to take her a few times, otherwise I usually take her. Well, he took her the other day and was concerned because he said Abby just pretty much ignores him and walks into the classroom without so much as even saying good-bye. He said yesterday (he was carrying her bag and walking behind her) that she pointed at her hook as if to say "you can hang that there" without even turning around to speak to him! I told him that maybe he already embarrassed her at the ripe old age of 4! Well, the tables were turned this morning. She was at the table eating breakfast and says to me, just as serious, "Mommy, can you please not wear your gym clothes when you pick me up today?" Seriously? Do I already embarrass you? And I pick her up in the car pool line - I don't even get out of the car! I gave her a hard time about it a little bit, and she finally gave in and said I could wear my gym clothes to pick her up if I "had" to. Gee, thanks for the permission!

10 days until we leave for the beach!!!

More Sewing, Kids Playing, and a Birthday

Bomber outfit for Will.

Kettle Call outfit (for Will also)

Abby putting on one of her living room concerts. I am sure she is singing either Hannah Montana or High School Musical Songs.

Princess Beau pictures as promised...

Seriously, should I be worried???

Abby, Daddy and Beau enjoying some ice cream on the porch.

I put this picture on here to show Beau's undying devotion to his Cars cars. He puts them to bed at night before he (finally) goes to sleep. If you look to the right, you can see some of the beloved members of Radiator Springs "asleep" on Beau's pillow. I would be more worried about high heels and princess clothes if he didn't do this as well!

Michael sent Toby a new grill cover in time for the new season, which Toby loves, of course.Abby after her first day of school. I meant to get a better first day picture. She is obviously worn out in this one. I think her teacher got one, though... Speaking of school, Abby just loves it. She says her favorite thing is the Smart Board, which is a computer system that they have in her classroom this year. It really is quite impressive. The computer comes up on this huge screen and the teacher can control it from her laptop or you can tap on the screen and control it that way as well. I still can't believe she is in pre-k!

My 31st birthday was Friday. Toby and I got a sitter to come watch the kids overnight and he surprised me by a stay at a B&B here in town. It was soooo nice to have a break from baths, bedtimes AND we got to sleep in and then go to a wonderful breakfast that I didn't have to cook! Friday night we went to a movie theatre that they have here downtown - it has a restaurant above it that we ate at and then there are 2 screens downstairs. Once a month they play an old film movie on the big screen, so we got to see Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. It was so much fun! To top it all off, Saturday morning after we left the B&B, Toby surprised me with a massage and pedicure at a spa here in town! Talk about a great birthday!

We have been staying quite busy here. Abby started school at the end of last week. She has a great teacher with a great classroom. We really love her school here. Beau will start MDO 2 days a week in September, so he will just have to hang out with Mommy until then! Toby is working a lot as usual, but still really likes his job. I have just been holding down the home front - cooking, cleaning, taking care of kids and trying to make it to the gym and sew when I get a chance. We are counting down the days (3 more weeks) until we go to the beach!!

Update

Beau is sleeping better!! Thanks you guys for your wonderful advice. In case you are wondering what we have done, Toby turned the door handle around where the lock is on the outside. After doing this, I realized we probably should have done that a long time ago. I am surprised he hasn't locked himself in his room already. Anyways... I was a bit hesitant to actually lock him in his room, but that is what we have done for the past few nights (along with a little liquid help from the pink bottle). I tried just leading him back to his bed without saying a word to him the first few days. I think that has been helpful as well in the case that I forget to lock the door. Yesterday for his nap I thought I had locked it, but out he marched! He gets really mad at me for not saying a word, but I am not sure that he even knows the door is locked yet! I do go and unlock the door after I know he is asleep before I go to bed, though. (I can't stand the thought of him trapped in his room that is on fire and I am snoozing in my bed across the house.) I still make sure the doors outside are chained and locked. A few weeks ago I was sitting in the office after I had put him down for a nap and watched him walk through the living room, unlock the front door (the chain wasn't on) walk outside and shut the door behind him. I followed him out and was like, "What in the world are you doing???" He proceeded to tell me (from the front yard - I am on the porch) that he is going to Serena's (my neighbor's house). Are you kidding me??? That kid is crazy!! He is sleeping better, though!
In other news, it is RAINING here !!! Yay! It has been several weeks of 100+ heat (not to mention the humidity) here, so I was in utter bliss when I awoke to the sound of rain! I am in the office right now listening to the drizzle and just loving it.
A few other random updates of interest:
Abby is signed up for dance again in the fall - ballet and jazz. She also wants to play soccer and take piano, on top of going to school every day. Where do I draw the line??
Abby starts school a week from today.
We put up wood blinds in the 6 very large windows in Toby's office while Jody was here visiting, and I am so excited. They look great and help a ton keeping it cooler in here.
The master bathroom is 99.9% done. I will post a picture later.
I will also post a picture of Beau in princess attire which he will pay me big bucks for the right to just prior to his wedding.
Speaking of weddings, I have not been to one in forever...
We are going to the beach in 4 weeks!!! We are going to Orange Beach (Gulf Shores), which none of us have ever been to. If you have been, please tell us any good places to eat, etc...
Beau no longer asks for his bb, and he has finally quit offering to take his new (bribery) toys and video back to Target. Oh - his new favorite song is "I like to move it, move it" from Madagascar. He and Abby walk around dancing and singing it. It is hilarious...
I am sewing quite a bit again. I'll try to post some pictures of that as well. So far, mostly these little pants for Beau with matching appliqued shirts. They are really fun, and the kids get so excited when I am working on something for them, which makes it even more fun...
I'll try and post some pictures next time.

How to keep a 2 year old in the bed???

HELP!!!!!!!!
Beau will not stay in his bed. We have been almost a full 2 weeks without the pacifier, and he really does not ask for it much anymore - not in the past several days anyways. Sometimes he will still ask for it indirectly - "I don't want a new video and new toy anymore, Mommy...", etc. Instead he is resisting authority in another way. He will not stay in the bed anymore when I put him down for a nap or night time. It is a NIGHTMARE. Literally, it took me almost 2 hours of fighting with him today before his nap. 2 hours!!!! Abby had taken her nap and was up about the time he finally fell asleep!! ARRRGGHHH! He gets up and plays in his toy box, drags out books, drags things out of his closet, plays peek-a-boo with the door, etc., etc. I have a good night time routine of bathing, teeth brushing and book reading prior to bed that has not changed since Abby was little. They even get a book apiece read before their naps, too. He has been in his big boy bed for about 9 months, so it is not like this is new either. It is really frustrating, and I am at my wits end. I have tried every conventional discipline method that I know of. Nothing seems to work. Any ideas???? Has anyone else out there had this problem?