Why I Have So Much Laundry

Bobby wanted to go outside first thing yesterday.  The sun was shining but it was chilly, so I dressed him in pants and a long sleeve shirt and he obviously took his shoes off as soon as he got out.  He loves the independence that he gets in the small fenced in part of our yard.  Mommy and Daddy aren't hovering over him...in person anyway, we are standing in the window watching him play (and I usually have my camera).

When he finally decided to come inside, he had to take off his clothes because they were way too dirty for inside.  After lunch we wanted to go back outside and while I was washing dishes he dressed himself.

He didn't care that it was 75 degrees outside, he kept his coat on and his hood up.  Daddy had mowed the yard while Bobby was in having lunch so now Bobby was gathering grass clipping in his hand and throwing them up in the air over his head.  So when it was time to come inside, he had to take his clothes off...too dirty for inside.

You guessed it...a little later, after snack, Bobby wanted to go back outside and play.  So this time I went and got him some clothes to wear.  Yes we are on outfit 3 for the day...

But when I watch him laying under the pretty tree looking up at the sky....oh, if we could all relax and enjoy nature like this boy does!!

After dinner was over, we all went outside to play.  Bobby had enough of the fenced yard and was ready to play somewhere else.  Daddy got out Bobby's new ball that the Easter Bunny brought in Bobby's Easter basket...

This ball is so cool.  It switches while in the air and turns itself inside out.  So Bobby has some visual stimulation to look at while the ball is in the air.  Daddy, Bobby and Mommy stood in a triangular formation in our back yard and played catch.  Yes, Bobby played catch with us...for 10 minutes!!!  Yes, I said 10 minutes!!!  That is more that all the time he has played catch combined in the almost 9 years of his life.  Daddy was super happy...and so was I!

The ball is softball size and just super cool!!  After the game was over, we got out the firepit and made a small fire because Mommy was getting cold.

Zoi thought that the sticks were for her to chew, not to burn in the firepit.

Bobby was too busy gathering mulch and dirt to care about the fire.  In fact he decided that he would rather go jump in the trampoline...

When it got dark, we went in for the day and Bobby got a long bath to wash off hours of Bobby style fun...playing in dirt, grass, dirt, mulch, dirt...

I was so tempted to take a picture of the bathtub after I let the water out so you could see just how dirty Bobby gets during the day.  Plus, Mommy gets to wash that much dirt off of three changes of clothing for one day!!  That's my boy...I love him, dirt and all!

A week of Celebrating My Mom

What a week for Grandma Carolyn.  Wow, I don't know about her, but I'm worn out!  Honestly for me it has more to do with all of the painting and staining that I have been doing more than anything else.  I did take a couple of breaks this week from the redecorating to celebrate my mom.

I was so happy for her with the way that her retirement party turned out.  Her work daughter Amber did such a great job of throwing her party.  From the smile that was plastered on her face all through the party, I could tell that she thought that it was a great party too.

Since I knew that Grandma Carolyn would want "her Bobby" at her party, I decided that yes I would bring him along.  Knowing in my head that we may only be there for 5 minutes, at least Bobby would make an appearance to show Grandma just how much he loves her.  Bobby and I stopped and picked up Mimi on our way to the party.  The closer we got to Grandma's place of work, the more excited that Bobby got in the car.  He has been to her workplace before, but on "off" times when there were only 2 workers in the building and he could run up and down the hallways.  The party was in the conference room of her workplace during business hours with a full staff.  I always have anxiety bringing him into situations like this.  However, Mr. Bobby rose to the occasion!!!

He came right into the room and sat down (with verbal prompting of course).   We pulled up a couple of chairs beside him and he sat there very well.  We gave Grandma a special present that we brought with us from Ashley and Kaitlin that had been delivered to my house earlier....

She was truly surprised and extremely happy to get flowers from her girls...the tears started flowing.

Bobby had to check them out to make sure that they were real.  The flowers pass the official Bobby inspection...good job Ashley and Kaitlin!  Since I didn't get any pictures of the memory book that Amber had made for Mom...if you look in the background of this picture, the woman in yellow is looking at the memory book.  Amber did such a great job on the book!  Speaking of Amber, I had to get a picture of Mom with her work daughter...

Now it's time for Mom to go open her presents!!!  Fun Fun!!

I couldn't get up and take better pictures of her opening her presents because I had to stay by Bobby's side.  He was getting a little bored and not interested in watching someone open presents.  So while Mimi was up getting a plate of food, I had her get Bobby a cup of tea.  I also noticed some of Bobby Smith's favorite things in the world...

I took him over to one of these super cute Dum-Dum trees that were also on the buffet and he scored a couple of blue Dum-Dums.  Meanwhile, Mom was still opening gifts...

Amber made the banner too...isn't it cute!!??  Meanwhile, Bobby is having so much fun....

Bobby is playing mixologist.  Hope that Grandma doesn't miss her drink when she comes back to the table.  Oh, I think that she is having too much fun to care...

Nope, Mommy doesn't care one bit that Bobby is pouring tea from cup to cup all while alternating three blue suckers and then stirring the drinks with the suckers.  All I care about is that he is sitting in his seat and I get to watch Mom open her gifts!!

Mimi gets to sit and watch too since Bobby is doing so well...

Grandma's done opening her present and from the look on her face I think she liked them.  She came and sat beside Bobby so I got up and took a couple of pictures of the decorations.

I was super proud of Bobby, he sat in his seat at the party like a champ and we stayed at the party for almost an hour.  Whoo hoo!!!!  When we got home he was ready for a snack, so he pulled up a chair outside.

The reason that my mom retired....she turned 65!  Her birthday was yesterday so it was time to celebrate some more!!!  Yes, more presents!!  Bobby, who generally leaves wrapped presents alone until we make him open them, couldn't take it any longer and started opening her presents.  So the present portion of the birthday party occurred much sooner than expected.

Grandma Carolyn brought Bobby some presents leftover from her retirement party...more blue suckers.

Bobby is such a great helper.  He'll just take this present over to the kitchen table to open.  After all, Grandma is 65 now and opening presents may be a little to difficult now!!  LOL!!!

Yes Bobby, make sure not too put down either of the suckers in your mouth!

Hey, don't open presents with your mouth!!!!  At least he finally put the suckers down!

BORING!!  Man, I thought that there were bubbles in there, who wants shampoo??!!!

We finally got to sit down and have a birthday dinner, sorry no pictures of the food.  I know, I am kind of shocked too.  Bobby had his beloved french fries while the rest of us (the Birthday girl, Mimi, Dianna, Bob and me) had salad, lasagna, garlic bread, ice cream and of course, birthday cake.  Just in case you don't know, Bobby loves birthday cake.  He doesn't eat it, but loves it because he gets to "blow the candles out, blow."  This is one of Bobby's favorite quotes and one of his favorite activities.

As soon as the cake appears, so does Bobby...

Bobby had wiped his fingers through the frosting which he nicely rubbed on Grandma's face.

Let's put this thing on fire!!!!

In this house, we have to blow out candles multiple times.  Grandma's holding him back because he starts blowing them out before they are all lit...

Look at the love....

What a great week.  Happy Retirement and Happy Birthday Grandma Carolyn.

Happy Retirement Mom

I had a great childhood.  I grew up in a happy home and I give all the credit to my Mom.  Our house, especially our backyard, was full of kids everyday.  My mom made big homemade meals daily and we generally had a crowd at the table to eat with us.

My parents separated when I was little but I don't recall my mom talking bad about my dad to me, instead she focused on taking care of her kids.  My mom babysat 5 kids to supplement her child support when we were younger.  As the children all became school aged, my mom went to work at a convenience store to make sure that all of our needs were met.  Even though we could not afford it, my brother and I went to private school until the 8th grade.  She also made sure that I had braces to fix my horrible teeth, and for that I am extremely grateful.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

My Mom with her favorite, and only, grandson of all time, Bobby

When I got to high school the child support payments stopped coming because my dad was laid off from the mines and hadn't found a steady job, so my mom did what she needed to do to take care of her family.  She started cleaning houses for people.  Meanwhile, our house was in dire need of repairs.  My mom was out searching for a better job.  I remember sitting in a parking lot outside in our car while my mom was inside interviewing for a job.  I hoped and hoped that she would get it, but now as an adult I realize just how vital getting a good job was and I should have been on my knees praying to God that she got the job!!  However, she didn't get that job.  

Thankfully, one day someone that she went to high school with came into the store where she was working and told her that the gas company was hiring.  My mom put in her application.  Praise God, my mom got the job, she now worked for Hope Gas.  However, she wasn't going to be doing a secretarial type job....she was going out into the field and working along side the men who were doing the manual labor jobs.  My mom was going out and digging ditches to take care of her family.  How many almost 40 year old women do you know that would say yes to this??  My mom did!!!!  Who knew how valuable a lesson that this would be me in my life with Bobby.  You do what you have to do to take care of your family!!!!  Thanks Mom for being such a great teacher.

I'm not sure how many years she worked in the field, but she read meters, dug ditches, laid pipe, drove machinery and many other unfathomable jobs.  I was so excited for her when she finally got a new position with the gas company as a dispatcher.  The major pro of the job was that it would be much, much, much less physical, the major con...shift work.  One week day shift, one week afternoon shift, one week day shift, one week afternoon shift and finally, the worst, one week midnight shift.  She has lived this life for many years and our holiday life has revolved around these crazy shifts.

As thankful as I am that she landed this life saving job for our family, over the past few years I really have hated the thought of her driving to work at such odd times, especially in the winter.  She had to keep her trunk packed with clothes and necessities just in case she got stuck at work.  I also hate the thought of her being alone at night working midnight shift.

Well today it all ends.  Twenty-six years in the making.  My mom will be retired from Dominion Hope Gas Company after her shift ends today.  CONGRATULATIONS MOM!!!!!  You are an awesome role model.  Thanks for being such a great Mom, friend, and Grandma.  We love you and can't wait to come and celebrate with you today!!!

Today

Bobby decided that he would help me paint the part of the wall in the kitchen that I couldn't reach without a ladder....

Oh what kitchen fun...

I finally finished painting the kitchen today!!  Yay!  As soon as Daddy gets the mammoth tv off of the wall in the living room, I'll be finished there too.  Daddy's been working hard on the stairs...

Bobby got tired off all of this indoor work and went outside.  Boy is he trying hard to get into the pool.  After all it made it to the 80's today.

You can probably tell by the pool cover, but it was super windy today.  Poor Zoi was trying hard not to blow away...

Bobby had a great idea.  Well, it was a great idea in his head...ride his EZYRoller down the hill...

 Daddy had to go get him and bring him, and the riding toy, back to the garage...

Now it's bedtime snack and iPad time.  Tonight's treat...banana yogurt....yummm.

We had a little miracle here last night in Bobby's World.  After Bobby got a bath and his hair washed, I decided that I had to trim his bangs.  The most amazing thing then happened...he stood there in the bathroom and let me cut his bangs.  Not one negative behavior.  Knock me over with a feather.  I then decided to push my luck and cut the hair over his ears.  Guess what, he let me cut it.  The angels were singing.  Bobby Smith let me cut his hair.  Period.  No crying, whining, tantrums, french fries, suckers, bribery of any kind.  I just took a couple of minutes and cut some of his hair.  Oh happy day!!!