Pocket Caterpillars, etc.

You know that feeling that you sometimes get when everything you say or write or do is absolutely hilarious? You are constantly busting out comic gold and everyone that comes into contact with you is left in a laughing frenzy? Well, I am feeling the opposite of that. Hence, my delay in posting something on this blog. I feel I cannot give you my best, so I will give you nothing at all. But, it has gone on too long and my kids' summer needs to be chronicled. I do owe both of my kids some good, meaty letters, but for now, we are just going to go with some highlights and photos.  If only for posterity's sake. (Also, I donated some blood today and am feeling a wee bit loopy. Just FYI.)

Pretty bird, pretty bird

Sam really likes to put things in his pockets. I am really happy he has found use for his pockets, but I am also concerned that he has developed a little bit of a klepto problem. I have found a red lego, a green domino, and a block with the letter "T." Then one day he had this conversation with Jake:

"Daddy! I have a caterpillar in my pocket!"
"You do!?! A real one?"
"Yes! See."

He did indeed have a caterpillar. But then it became a "killed caterpillar" because surprisingly it did not survive all day in Sam's pocket. We have since told him to keep all living things out of his pocket. It's going well.

Also, a fun new development in the potty training arena -- Sam LOVES to pee outside. Imagine that. He loves it so much that he even chooses to go the extra steps outside when he is INSIDE on the couch. One night after taking a bath and being settled in with his milk on the couch, he gets up and starts to wonder outside. I asked him what the heck he was doing, while he proceeded to pull down his pants and pee right on the patio. I mean, why even have a bathroom, right? So, one of the summer goals is to make sure he knows the boundaries of peeing outside. I will keep you posted, as I am sure you are all on pins and needles.

Me and the boys recently returned from a trip to Youngstown to visit all of our extended family. It was a whirlwind adventure, and while it was rich with love and memories, it lacked in the sleep arena with my kids. And, dude, my kids need lots of sleep. They managed to keep their stuff together pretty well (except for a few meltdowns from Abe and some high pitched screaming at a restaurant at breakfast and peeing in the yard at Aunt Judy's and a Kohls trip from hell where Abe was crying the entire time and saying that his "heart hurt" prompting everyone to look at me like I was an abusive parent and then the ride home that involved a lot of whining). So, you know, normal stuff.

The boys did get to meet their second cousins -- Sam and Leo. Abe got to mentor little Sam in the ways of the Wiggles, and Sam(son) didn't know what to do with all of the love from Sam(uel). He was a very affectionate little guy. My favorite kind.

Abe, Sam, Sam, and Avengers Blanket

There are a lot of other things upcoming -- concerts, Region visits, vacation -- but happening so unexpectedly soon is a surgery for Sammy Beans. After having months with ginormous, touching tonsils, enlarged adenoids, and fluid in his ears, he is going to have surgery to get that stuff removed. (Not removing his ears, tubes in his ears). His surgery is next Thursday, and while I am glad to get it all taken care of so fast, I am also a little nervous. But, I am sure he will be fine and the hardest part will be to make him relax and not let him jump off of things. Me and my family really have some bum necks.

Until then, I will leave you with this nice photo of me and my mom taken by my Aunt Joyce. It would be absolutely perfect if I did not look like an Amazon next to my mother.

Jillsy and Me