Little Things That Mean So Much

This is starting to become a tradition...Saturday morning runs ("my time"), breakfast with my two favorite guys, feeding the ducks, and playing at the park! So far so good, especially with the weather temperatures like today! Incredible!!!!!

Barrett and I have also started another sweet little tradition. At night before he goes to sleep, he runs into our bedroom, crawls up on my bed, and says, "Need read me book...need read me book". You don't know how much I love this!

So we snuggle, read a few books, and then I take him to his room to fall asleep. I'm just waiting for him to fall asleep in my bed while I'm reading. I'm sure it will happen sooner or later.

Couple of cute stories I want to remember:

***I picked Barrett up from his school this week and told him we needed to run to the grocery store. Automatically, he knows that means he will get a "sample" cookie from the bakery!

Barrett: "Mmmmmm, I get a cookie."

Me: "Sure you do. What kind do you want? Do you want chocolate chip or a sugar cookie".

Barrett: "No, I want a brown cookie"

***I just love listening to Barrett repeat some of the words we say.

Barrett: "Daddy, where we going?"

Matt: "I don't know Barrett. Wherever your mom wants to go."
Barrett: "Mommy, where we going?"

Me: "To a restaurant to eat".
Barrett: "We go rester-romp?"

Me: "Yes Barrett. We're going to a rester-romp"

***Barrett has a big mat that looks like a city. It has lots of roads / streets on it and he loves it. All you have to do is give him a few Hot Wheels (and he has plenty)...and he will play for hours!

Around the streets are buildings, such as a hospital, an airport, police station, school, etc. Barrett and I (because I like to play) drive the cars to particular destinations, chase cars with one another, and sometimes even CRASH our cars into one another! (Yes, I know it's reckless, but it's a "boy thang").

Anyway, I had his airplane and he kept bossing me around one day. He kept telling me, "Mommy, you gotta put that airpane in the airpane port".

Notice, he didn't say airport...but air pane port! It's a 3 syllable word for him!

Troll Bridge

Is the Grumpy ole Troll under here?????

Who has seen an episode of Dora where the Grumpy 'ole Troll appears? I know we have!......which leads me to tell you a story about Barrett this morning.

I actually woke Barrett up this morning anxious to get over to Breckinridge Park early, before the hot temperatures hit. We were headed to feed the ducks (and hopefully see the two that we left at the pond months ago in April).

My big guy doesn't need a stroller anymore, so he was on foot with his bread bag in hand. There is just something about little boys. He is always running ahead of me or exploring the rocks, dirt, holes, or bugs behind me! Lately, it's all about the hills (I know I'm off topic). Every time he spots a somewhat "tall hill" he hikes up it, then blasts down it at high speeds! Oh my!!! I think his running down hill... as fast as he does, is some sort of "thrill" (like guys have when they drive a car fast, or jump a bike off of a steep ramp)!

Okay, back on the subject.

As we were crossing over the bridge that leads to the pond, Barrett was looking closely off the edges. He even made a quick glance back and said, "Come on Mom, follow me". Once over the bridge, he announced, "We did it! That grumpy ole troll not get us. He not come out".

Of course I decided to play along with him, and a soon as I started talking about going back and looking under the bridge to see if we could find him, Barrett held up his arms and said, "Mommy, hold me!"
Obviously, at this point, I decided it was time for a lesson about "make-believe", pretending, and using our imagination.

We're thinking this is one of our old ducks that we raised at our house. Seirously...it would not leave us alone and stayed super close to use the whole time (even after all the food was gone).

Please excuse the way I look. I had just gone for a long run before taking B to the park.

What a beautiful morning! Barrett and I sat on the grass for a while after feeding the ducks and ate muffins and milk. It was special time spent with my precious little boy! I love him so much.

Singing in the Tub

We're not quiet ready to try out for America's Got Talent...but I did manage to capture Barrett singing in the tub tonight. He has been singing all sorts of different songs this summer: R-E-D Red (color song), Twinkle Twinkle Littler Star, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Rain-Rain-Go-Away, and a little bit of Jesus Loves Me. Oh, and don't forget all the of the NickJr. songs. We know those by heart.
I've literally chased Barrett around the house trying to get him to perform, but as little boys like to do (plus I think it is his ornery personality)...he runs away saying, "No mommy!".
Tonight was a little different, so I recorded what I could (while he was cooperating).
*Give it a little time...and he'll really crank it up! At first, he tries to whisper...but eventually you'll be able to hear him.

And yes, he likes to make his "own" bubbles, so please excuse that...(and the shaking of the camera as I'm laughing).

Keeping COOL

With temperatures this high (above 100 degrees)...I suggest if you're going to be outside...to be around W-A-T-E-R!
Every morning and afternoon, I go outside to water my plants and trees. Barrett loves helping me. He begs to hold the water hose, which in return leads to a 2 year old WET from head to toe!



This picture was taken at 9:00 in the morning! Granted, it was hot already! I don't blame him for wanting to swim.

Meme and Papa Barrett came into town for a short visit this weekend. We're always so happy to see them. Barrett is seriously obsessed with my dad's truck. He couldn't wait to see Papa's big, black truck pull into the driveway.
We went out for dinner Friday night, then my mom and I did a little shopping out at Allen's Water Creek shopping center (love that place)!
Saturday morning, we headed downtown to the Dallas Aquarium. We thought it would be the perfect, "cool" place to visit. Barrett hasn't been there since he was about 8 months old.
He enjoyed every minute of it, and so did my parents (who had never been there before).

Isn't he getting so big?

This was probably the highlight of the entire tour! Barrett kept screaming out, "Yook everybody, a sku-bba-driver"!!! Kids were looking at him like he was crazy, but he was sooooo excited about seeing a real scuba diver!!!! When she looked up and saw all the kids starring at her, she waved...and that fired up Barrett even more!

Summer nights are a favorite too. I don't feel like I have to prepare for anything the next day, can stay up watching tv, reading, blogging, or whatever. We've even gotten out of a routine of putting Barrett to bed at a certain time. I know that's bad for those of you believing in a very structured bedtime.

Unfortunately, my summer break is about to end, and that means Barrett's break is almost over too.

Sick at the Circus

Last week: Matt bought tickets to the Circus. Great seats (3 rows from the floor). Totally excited. MY first time to the circus, and Barrett's too!!!!

Tuesday: Normal day... (breakfast, ran errands in town, shorter nap than usual, our friends Donny and Braelyn over to play, afternoon snack). I totally had Barrett pumped up about going to the circus. He kept telling me, "Mommy, we go circus? We see tigers and eh-phants?" Then he would act out elephant mannerisms (arm as his trunk).

Tuesday afternoon: Left house and drove North tollway to meet up with Matt so that we could ride to circus together. Barrett fell asleep in his car seat shortly after we left the house. I assumed it was his short nap that he had during nap time.

7:00 - We roll into the American Airlines parking lot, unsnapped Barrett's seat belt, and WHAM...he threw up!!!! Bless his little heart.
Well, what's a parent to do? Ditch the circus or test the waters to see if maybe he begins to feel better???

We cleaned up Barrett (and ourselves) in hopes that once inside, things would improve.

As soon as the circus started, Barrett began doing the motions of getting sick again (you know what motions I'm talking about). I held him close to me because I didn't want him to get sick on the people in the seats around us.

I immediately headed for the exit ramp and Matt tried to follow (totally loaded down with my purse, diaper bag, and drinks he had just gotten at the concession stand).

WE...(the three of us)... looked like a three-ring circus trying to get out of there!!!! hahaha

Although you would think we would leave after that episode, we hung around in the back (found a back row of empty seats) and tried to watch some of the circus. Barrett seemed to be feeling a little better...but then he fell asleep. You know when your little boy (hat absolutely adores animals) falls asleep in the middle of a circus...that he is definitely sick!!!!

Isn't this pitiful. You can tell he doesn't feel well at all. Me on the other hand...I'm trying to make it fun!!!

Decided to call it quits. I just needed to take him home and love on him.

On a good note: B's health improved by the time we got home that night, and today he was back to his normal self.

**I also had the JOY of seeing one of my former students from Groves Elementary. He will be a Sophomore this year in Wylie ISD (wow...how time flies). He came up to me and asked if I remembered him. Of course!!!!! He was all "grown up" and I couldn't believe how nice, respectful, and handsome he had become!!! Great kiddo!!! Seeing him reminded me of the impact I have on children and how important my profession is!!!!! I was so happy he recognized me after all these years!!!!