The Birthday Interview, Continued

I finally coaxed Ty into completing his birthday questionnaire. (If you missed the first half of his interview, you can find it here.)  I think he enjoyed answering a few questions about himself.  I could tell he was really putting some thought into it.

So here are Ty’s answers to the remaining questions:

13.  I love my mom because she makes me breakfast, loves me, bakes, and much, much more.

14.  I love my dad because he gave me life and more.

15. I like to go to Papa and Sandy’s house because they have a hot tub and much, much more.

16. I like to go to Pappaw and Grammie’s house because they are just fun and much, much more.

17. My favorite Bible story is Jonah in the big fish.

18. Something I need to work on improving about myself is how reluctant I am at school.

19. Three of my best qualities are:

a. I’m a good sport.

b. I’m a good math worker.

c. I’m good at making friends.

20. My favorite season is May(season?) because it’s my birth month.

21. My idea of the perfect day is no rain, no school, and a lot of swimming.

22. My bedtime is 9:00 and I sleep with a pillow and a blanket.

23. My favorite drink is Sprite.

24. My favorite movie is I don’t have a clue.

25. My favorite cereal is Cocoa Puffs.

26. For my birthday I would like a new phone.

27. If I had $1,000 I would buy an iPad and a car and much, much more.

Obviously I have to comment on a few of his answers.

First, to question 14… Seriously, Ty??  Sure, Dad had a little something to do with it, but a nod to Mom would have been nice. Ha ha.

To answer question 24, I would say that Ty’s favorite movie is Wall-E.

Question 25.  Yes, Ty likes Cocoa Puffs, but he probably would opt for plain-Jane Cheerios if given the choice.

Question 26.  A phone?? Ain’t happening.  Sorry, Buddy.

And according to his answer to question 27, Ty has a lot to learn about how far (or not so far) money goes.

Well, that was fun.  I hope to continue the birthday interview tradition for years to come.  It’ll be fun to see how Ty’s answers change over time.

Now I need to get to work on planning Ty’s birthday party.  We’ve been on the road so much already this summer, that I’ve had to push his party out a few weeks.  Ty finally decided he wanted a Duck Dynasty party.  I was thrilled he still requested a themed party.  I’m afraid that he’s about to outgrow big birthday parties, but at least I got one more year out of him.  It should be an easy party to plan.  We’re keeping it small, and I’m sure we already own enough camo to decorate the entire house.  Hey, all I need to make is a cake and some sweet tea, Jack!

Lindsey

Happy Birthday Ty!

This week my sweet boy celebrated his 10th birthday.

Wow!

Ten years.

A decade!

While it’s hard to believe I’ve been a mom that long, I can barely remember life before motherhood.  Becoming a mother changes so much about you.  Your thoughts, worries, fears, priorities, sleep habits… I could go on and on.

But enough about me.  Let’s talk about my buddy.

Now you know I didn’t forget the annual “exact time of birth” picture.  Ty was born at 2:11 in the afternoon.  Today Ty was swimming in our new pool with Lucy and his best friend, Luke.

I’m amazed at how much older Ty is looking these days.  I don’t know if it’s his new set of braces or what, but his looks have changed so much in the past few months.  Gone are the soft round baby cheeks.  And in their place is a more chiseled and structured appearance.  He’s turning out to be quite the handsome little man.

This year I decided to start a new birthday tradition.  I’ve seen these things called “birthday interviews” on Pinterest.  Basically, you get your kid to answer a few questions about himself each year on his birthday.  Over the years, it’s fun to go back and see how your children’s answers have changed as they’ve aged.  (Sure do wish I would have started doing this when Ty was 3 instead of 10.  Oh, well.  Better late than never.)  I could have simply chosen one of the dozens of free printable interviews available on Pinterest, but I decided to make up my own list of questions –  including some that would probe a little deeper and would, perhaps, mean a little more in the years to come.  I ended up with 30 questions in all.

At first Ty grumbled when I told him about the interview.  After all, it’s just a little too much like homework.  Once he started, however, he admitted it was fun.  I only made him complete about half of the questions so far, so I’ll share those today.  Ty’s answers are in red.  As you will see he altered a few of the questions.  I’ll post the rest of the interview when he finishes up.

Ty’s 10th Birthday Interview:

1. My favorite color^s is are red, green, and blue.
2. I love to eat fruit!!!!! for breakfast.
3. My best friend^s is are Luke, Jake, Jared, and Sam.
4. For fun I like to ski, hunt, (and) play the Wii, DS, and Nintendo.
5. When I grow up I want to be a worker at my dad’s pizza business.
6. One thing I learned this year was to learn how to go fast in a kayak race.
7. If I could change one thing that happened this past year it would be all my lies. (OK, now I’m worried!)
8. I was in the 4th grade this year.  My teacher was my mom.
9. Something I learned in school this year was how to convert (fractions, decimals, and measurements.)
10. My favorite subject^s in school is are science and history.
11. If I could go anywhere in the world I would choose China because I want to see all the toys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (He’s just figured out that’s where most of his toys are made.)
12. The best thing that happened to me this year was getting a pool!

God Made Dirt…

…and dirt wont’ hurt.

At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

We are right in the middle of a swimmng pool installation, and this week we had a couple of loads of dirt delivered.  I’m pretty sure that a pile of dirt is just as much fun for my kids as pool is.  The monkeys could spend hours digging and scratching around, using their imaginations to build roads and tunnels and forts and bridges.

Just because Lucy Lee is one of the prissiest girls you’ll ever meet, doesn’t mean she won’t get down and dirty with the best of them.  Take a look at her.  She’s actually hugging a clod of dirt!  So unlike her mother.  I could play in a dirt pile in a white shirt and shorts and not get one speck of dust on me.  Lucy?  Not so much!

Leave it to Ty to do a little aggravating.  It’s what he does best.

These shorts may never be clean again.  The little girl may not be either.

Thankfully, we have an outdoor shower.  I highly recommend one if you have kids.  The monkeys were perfectly clean before they set one foot in my house. 

I mentioned earlier that we are installing a swimming pool.  Nothing too fancy.  It’s an above ground pool, 18 feet across and only 4 feet deep.  But because our yard is on an incline, this simple project is turning out to be quite complicated task.  The rain hasn’t helped matters either.  Now that the sun is finally out, we hope to get things finished up this weekend.  Keep your fingers crossed!

Lindsey

100 Things

I’m so excited for y’all to see what I have prepared today.  It’s a little something I’ve been working on for months now.  Actually, my intent was to publish this post as a separate page, but I’m having technical issues with that, so I’ll share it with y’all like this instead.

This is my list of 100 random facts about myself.  Some are funny, some are serious, but all are true.  Hopefully this list will help you get to know me better.  It was a little challenging thinking of a hundred things, but I had fun doing it.  Hope y'all enjoy!

1. I have the same birthday as Elvis - the day, not the year - January 8. 
2. I broke all three bones in my left arm when I was 8 years old.
3. I played basketball in Jr. High.
4. I was valedictorian of my senior class - 4.0.
5. I married the Tool Man when I was 19.
6. He's 5 years older than I am.
7. I'm 3 inches taller than he is.
8. I have a degree in Psychology.
9. I graduated college summa cum laude - another 4.0!!!
10. I actually got paid to go to college.
11. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go to culinary school.
12. I taught myself how to cook by watching Food Network.
13. I've seen every episode of the Golden Girls at least 2 dozen times.
14. I have a good memory.
15. I'm a procrastinator.
16. I'm a right-wing, conservative, pro-life, pro-gun Republican.
17. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and I'm not talking Pop-Tarts.
18. I worked in a dentist office when I was in high school.
19. I'm a stay-at-home mom to two, make that three wonderful kids.
20. I have the best job in the world.
21. I homeschool my kids.
22. I have the toughest job in the world.
23. I worry too much.
24. I have a messy car.
25. I blame my kids for the state of my car.
26. I've never drunk one drop of alcohol. Ever. Not one.
27. I don't like winter.
28. Kit Kats are my favorite candy bars.
29. I have a very specific method for eating Kit Kats. (I should write a blog post about this.)
30. I've never been to an eye doctor. (Knock on wood.)
31. I'm a homebody.
32. Sugar is my favorite food group.
33. I was a cheerleader in Jr. high and high school.
34. Gone with the Wind is my favorite movie.
35. I'm incredibly shy.  Incredibly.
36. Having a one-on-one conversation with anyone terrifies me. I mean it.  If I haven't married you or given birth to you, or vice versa, I'm afraid to talk to you.
37. I'm a Christian.
38. I believe Jesus is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life.
39. I believe EVERY word of the Bible is true.
40. I'm very artistic.
41. I learned to oil paint when I was 9 years old.
42. I taught myself to sew when I was 20 years old.
43. I taught myself to crochet when I was 30 years old.
44. I don't like talking about being 30 years old in the past tense.
45. I'm a good speller.
46. The worst pain I've ever felt was when I had a kidney stone.
47. Yes, a kidney stone is definitely more painful than childbirth.
48. I don't enjoy water sports.
49. I have extremely low blood pressure. My record low is 70/40.
50. I don’t like cats.
51. I have one younger brother - one cool, sociable, popular brother - my polar opposite.
52. I was a super huge Atlanta Braves fan when I was a teenager.
53. I hate shopping.
54. Except for flea markets and antique stores - love those!
55. I don't like going to the movies - that's at least two hours of my life I'll never get back.
56. My favorite dessert is cheesecake.
57. I started drinking coffee in my late 20's.
58. I love drinking coffee.  All. Day. Long.
59. I can make the best pie crust you have ever tasted.  Guaranteed!
60. I'm an awesome cake decorator.
61. I had a successful cake decorating business.
62. I closed a successful cake decorating business when I got pregnant with my 3rd child.
63. I love planning and decorating for my kids' birthday parties.
64. I wish I had more time for scrapbooking.
65. I've had braces...twice.
66. I still have crooked teeth.
67. It's hard to think of 100 random facts about yourself.
68. I enjoy learning new words.
69. I enjoy using big words.
70. I never curse.  I think its a sign of ignorance.  Not to mention it's rude and crude.
71. Chihuahuas are my favorite dogs.
72. I've owned 3 Chihuahuas - not all at the same time.
73. I wish I had more self-confidence.
74. I've always lived in the same town.
75. I'm not a risk taker.
76. As a child I had a fear that my house was going to burn down.
77. I have a talented tongue:  I can roll it, curl it, ripple it, and flip it upside down.
78. I do NOT like talking on the phone.
79. I pretty much don't like to talk, period.
80. I don't like to sing either.  It's just fancy talking.
81. I have a strange fascination with cargo ships.
82. I don’t like to be around people who talk a lot.
83. I really don't like to fly.
84. I'm a night owl.
85. I don't like uninvited company.
86. I'm beginning to notice there are a lot of things I don't like.
87. I worry too much about what other people think.
88. I drive the speed limit.
89. I love my privacy.
90. I am self-diagnosed ADHCD - Attention Deficit Hyperactive Crafting Disorder.
91. I absolutely hate to read.
92. My mom made me get my ears pierced when I was 12 years old.
93. I never wear earrings.
94. I'm having fun making this list.
95. I was so fat healthy when I was a baby I had to be put on a diet.
96. I have big feet.
97. I have a double-jointed elbow which lends itself to some nasty looking tricks.
98. I am terribly out of shape.
99. I slept with my blankie 'til I was 12 years old.
100. I sucked my thumb about that long too.

And I’m totally bummed that the dumb computer won’t count past 99!  What a let down.

Anyway, I hope y’all enjoyed my list.  You should try making up one for yourself.  It’s not as easy as you might think.

Lindsey

Tacy Mae–7 Months

 

Lucky 7!!!

Tacy is well past the half-way point of her first year now, and this month was full of new tricks and surprises.  She is really beginning to make that transition from infant to toddler.

My chunky monkey weighed in at 17 lbs. 12 oz. this month, which means she’s quite a load to carry around.  Luckily, Tacy has learned to sit up.  Usually, I am able to sit Tacy on a pallet with a few toys (or kitchen gadgets), and she will entertain herself long enough for me to cook supper or fold clothes or blog.

Usually.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that she’d much rather be held.

By me.

All the time.

Sorry, Dad.

Let’s see.  What else is Tacy up to this month?

Well, eating for one.  In addition to nursing at least 5 times a day, Tacy’s eating baby food, rice cereal, baby rice cakes, mashed bananas and strawberries, oatmeal, and even avocado.  I am determined to get Tacy to eat better than her brother and sister.  And by “better” I mean something besides chicken and pizza and sugar.  I’m talking vegetables!  Which means I’m trying to keep the sugary foods away from her as long as possible, so she can develop a taste for the more savory things first.  I would love to have at least one kiddo who would munch on a stalk of broccoli or share a bowl of salad with me.

If she’s going to be munching on veggies, Tacy will need some teeth, right?  Her first little bottom tooth made it’s appearance on April 26.  I knew it was about time because of all the drooling and chewing she’s been doing lately.  She. Chews. Everything.  From toes to pens to iPhones, if she can reach it, she will chew it.

It will not be long until nothing is out of Tacy’s reach.  I can already see the wheels turning in her head.  She’s thinking hard about getting mobile.  She’ll stare at a toy that’s just out of reach, stretching and bending as far as she can until she topples over.  Once she’s on her tummy she pushes up on her hands, but she hasn’t quite figured out how to pull her knees under her yet.  When she does though, watch out!  It’ll be on like a chicken bone.  I may have to implement the cage play pen then.

Tacy’s turning out to be quite a talker too.  She “goo-goo’s” and “ga-ga’s” a lot. It’s so sweet the way she babbles.  I love those happy, baby noises.

Another trick Tacy learned this month:  clapping her hands.  If you sing “Pat-a-Cake” or say, “Yay, Tacy Mae,” she will clap her hands together for you.  She’s so smart!

Tacy is really beginning to pay attention to her big brother and sister now.  The first time Tacy sees them each morning, she smiles from ear to ear.  I think she loves those kids already.  They always make her laugh with their funny faces and weird noises.

There were a couple of experience this month that weren’t so great.  Tacy had her first illnesses.  When I took Tacy in for her six month check-up she had an awful, double ear infection.  I say “awful” because that’s the exact word the doctor used to describe it.  I had no idea there was anything wrong with her ears.  Tacy never did anything to indicate she was in any pain, so I was totally surprised to hear the doctor say how bad her ears were.

Only one week after her ears healed, Tacy got Coxsackie Virus.  What a weird name, right?  She developed a spotty rash on her hands, feet, face, tummy (basically everywhere), small blisters on her throat, hives, a runny nose, a cough, and was generally grumpy.  Who could blame her for being grumpy?  The virus interfered with her sleeping habits for a few days, but thankfully she was back to her routine in 3-4 days time.

One last thing worth mentioning is Tacy’s first flea market adventure.  That’s right.  I took Tacy and Lucy with me to Canton, TX, this April for a few days of shopping with the girls.  Tacy did great!  I can’t stress that enough.  Tacy was a perfect angel.  She slept the entire trip over there and back (a three hour journey, one way).  And while we were out shopping she was the sweetest thing.  Mostly she rode around in style, strapped onto me with the Moby Wrap.  It was a win-win situation.  My hands were free to shop, and she had the best seat in the house.  She was only hungry when it was time for everyone else to stop and eat, and when it was her nap time, she went to sleep strapped right on my chest.  I really couldn’t have asked for better, baby behavior.  Thanks, Tacy!

Well, I guess that about wraps it up for this month.  I wonder what surprises Tacy has in store for us next.

Lindsey

Easter Family Picture

 

Every Easter Sunday, while we’re still wearing our fancy frocks, I like to take a picture of our family all together.  It’s a pretty big deal to me, because I’m fairly certain it’s the only time each year that we all make it into the same picture.

Thankfully, the weather was gorgeous this year.  It seems as though every Easter the temperatures drop, and it threatens rain, but not this year.  Warm and sunny!

As you can see, not only did all the human members of our family make it into the picture, but the canine members made the cut as well.  This was mostly Ty’s doings.  I have never seen a kid who was more smitten with his puppies than Ty is.  He treats them better than he treats his sisters.

Looking at these pictures made me think about how the Tool Man and I have multiplied over the years.  With the addition of Tacy Mae, we are officially outnumbered.  Three amazingly beautiful, healthy, intelligent children.  How God has blessed us these past 14 years! 

After Ty ran off to play with his beloved puppies, I had a few pics made with the girls.  Aren’t these little ladies the prettiest?

Hope y’all had a great Easter too.  Now get out there and enjoy the rest of this lovely spring.  In my opinion, it’s the best time of year.

Lindsey

Tacy Mae–6 Months

Considering that Tacy will be 7 months old this week, I figured I’d better hurry and share her 6 month photos with y’all.

I can really tell that Tacy knows much more about what is going on around her now.  She is starting to interact with her environment rather than just be a passive onlooker.

You can forget about trying to do something with your hands while holding Tacy.  She’ll be reaching for whatever you’re holding faster than you can say “scat” with your mouth open.  When I open the refrigerator while holding her, she pulls out items left and right.  And there’s that bowl of salad she spilled in my lap the other day…

Tacy enjoys playing with toys too, something neither Ty nor Lucy did much as babies.  A couple of her favorites are the squeaky Sophie Giraffe and a teething necklace I wear just for her.  And let’s not forget her toes.  Tacy loves to suck on her big toes.

This little monkey is becoming quite a mover.  Although she’s nowhere near crawling, she definitely is no longer content to lie on her back in one place like an upside down turtle.  Through a combination of rolling and wiggling, Tacy manages to travel all over the living room floor.  Which means I’ve got to be on my toes keeping tiny toys and other dangers out of her reach.

Gone are the days of Tacy’s wild mohawk hairdo.  Her hair lays down quite nicely now and is actually beginning to hang down over her ears a bit.

As much as Lucy usually enjoys her monthly pictures with Tacy, this month she was just not that into it.  I finally coaxed a smile out of her though.

I do believe Tacy is going to catch Lucy in size one day soon.  Look at the two of them!  Doesn’t Tacy look just as wide as Lucy here?  Tacy sometimes wears a size 18 months, while it was only last week that I finally packed away a pair of Lucy’s shorts sized 2T.

While we’re on the subject of growth, we might was well discuss Tacy’s eating habits.  She still nurses about 5 times a day, but at 6 months, I started her on some baby food.  First we did the rice cereal then moved onto carrots and green beans.  She also likes to nibble on MumMums (baby rice cakes.) Tacy has done well with the new foods.  It didn’t take her long at all to learn what to do with them.

At least I got that taken care of before I got an entire month behind.  Hey, give me a break!  I manage to stay pretty busy around here.  And as if normal, household duties aren’t enough, the Tool Man and I have been working hard this spring trying to spruce up our landscape.  We’ve added flower beds, cut down trees, and built a new deck.  Plus, we plan on taking this place to a whole new level of redneck-ness by installing an above ground pool. (No offense to those with said pool.)  My monkeys (and their mom) are so going to love it!

Don’t forget.  Next week it will time again for another monthly update on Tacy.

Lindsey