Fun on the Farm plus some

Last weekend we made a last-minute-quick-trip to Martin.

We had three missions to complete while there, which I will mention at the end, but the fun we had was worth our fast trip.

The weather was warm and beautiful.  While at Mrs. Jane and Mr. Richard's we played outside and Lawson enjoyed his first fishing experience.  I am glad I had my camera and took close to 100 pictures... here are a few faves from the afternoon.

Emmitt is big enough for the swing and Lawson is big enough to push him.

Emmitt loved it!

And Lawson loved fishing with his Dad and Uncle Jim.

Emmitt hung out with Grandmother and Granddad while I took a few pictures.

He caught one!

My favorite fisherman... followed by Lawson, and Emmitt to come in the near future, I am sure.  :)

Lawson learned about worms and fishing.  Here he is asking Dad if he needed another worm?

Parker was loving every minute and the boys... not so much... his excitement was not helpful for fishing.

Dad helping him reel it in.

Fisherman Lawson

Fishing with Uncle Jim

Moved to the dock for more fishing...

He was really good at catching fish!

I like this one. :)

Brothers fishing with Parker

And then the "plus some"...

One of our reasons for going to Martin was for me to borrow Granny's sewing machine.  Our new house faces the West in the evenings meaning WARM during late afternoon.  Our windows are tall and the blinds aren't cutting it.  Window treatments are a MUST.  I have not found anything pre-made that I like nor anything that will work given the size of the windows.  I did, however, find fabric that I like.  I had decided to have them made.  Unfortunately, the only lady that I thought I could afford, I couldn't.  And not to mention the fact that she only uses her fabric and lives 40 minutes from Columbia and requires you to come out so that she can "consult" you on her thoughts of what you need.  She is in her 70's and has been sewing for years.  I am sure she is GOOD, but not what I had in mind.  After talking with her for 20 minutes I decided it wasn't right. 

I then called a lady from my hometown and she told me that she wasn't comfortable making them without coming to our house to measure.  Six hours from Martin wasn't going to happen either. :)  She did, however, convince me that I could make them myself.  I hope she is right.

So, I am going to make them.  We will save about $800 (for labor only; not including fabric) if I make them and I am convinced that I can do it.  Will start on the downstairs shower curtain this week.  I decided to begin with a curtain that people rarely see.  I am excited about using Gran's machine and about the (hopefully) satisfaction that goes with completing something all by yourself.  I will keep you posted.

Granny is 95 years old and she helped me learn to use her machine.

(overlook my Saturday appearance - Erin thanks for capturing my sewing lesson from Granny)

I like this picture. :)

Our other missions accomplished were a picture for above our couch from Kirkland's Antiques and new shrubs and trees from Zimm's. 

Russ will be redoing our front landscaping over the upcoming weekend.  Lots of DIY projects going on at our house.  We are excited! Will post pics as it goes.

Thanks for reading!

Freddie & Sport

Two weeks ago tomorrow, Lawson proposed to us that we go and get a fish from the pet store.  And guess what?  His daddy, with such a soft heart, said, "sure!"... I was not so "soft" and wasn't very excited.  I honestly hoped we would go LOOK and not buy.

You see, there is a pet store next door to our dry cleaners and EVERY time we go Lawson asks to go to the pet store because he, "really, really wants a pet, please, oh, please".  And every time we tell him that he's not old enough for a pet.  The last time we were there he saw a fish tank in the window and Russ told him that a fish would be a great pet for him.  Did I mention he has the memory of an elephant?  Seriously, he does.  He hadn't forgotten dad's comment regarding a fish.

So... we went to the dry cleaners AND the pet store which smelled really bad.  Their fish were beautiful, but weren't the kind of fish fit for a toddler... $50 and higher was not what we needed.

We were off to Wal-Mart.  How pitiful was their fish department... only one aquarium with fish and they were very small and sad looking.  Now what?  His daddy told him he could get one tonight.  :)

Our last try was Petco.  Petco was perfect!  The sweet girl who obviously loved her job was extremely helpful and very knowledgeable about fish.  Russ was very upfront with her and told her that we needed a hardy, low-maintenance fish that required little attention.  She immediately fixed us up with a pretty Betta fish... along with an aquarium, rocks, a plant, food, and water treatment solution.  We were set... $60 later.  Oh, my.

Anyway, Freddie joined our household and Lawson was soooo happy!!  His excitement was priceless - I had forgotten about the $60 once we were at home.  

Here are the pictures from the big night of welcoming Freddie!

 Lawson helping Dad wash the rocks for Freddie's aquarium.

Introducing FREDDIE!!!

Isn't he a pretty fish?  Lawson said his "feathers" (fins) are very pretty.

Here are Dad and Lawson admiring Freddie...  His tank was placed in Lawson's room on his desk.  It truly is a perfect spot!

And sadly enough, Freddie's story ends about 24 hours from the time this picture was taken.  : (  Poor Freddie... he got his beautiful "feathers" (fin) stuck in the filter and he went to sleep. 

I wasn't quite sure how to handle this situation... and Russ was out of town.  I finally got Freddie disconnected from the filter and then realized what was going to happen.  I then explained that Freddie got hurt and that he was going to take a nap on the rocks and that he would feel better soon.  Lawson then asked if he was going to the doctor for a shot.  I said, "Yes!"  Great idea... I called the "fish doctor" at Petco and asked him what to do about Freddie.  I had two options... (by the way, Freddie cost $3.99) Option #1: come to the store and purchase a medicine to rejuvenate him that would cost more than twice what he did.  Option #2: place him back in his container, bring him in, and pick out a new "chubbier" fish. 

I am sure you can guess what we did.  Option #2. 

My next thought... how are we going to "return" Freddie???

I explained what the "fish doctor" said about Freddie and told him that we could take him to the store and the fish doctor would look at him to see if he needs some medicine.  He was satisfied with that plan and life went on.

The next morning on the way to swim lessons, Lawson says this to me... out of the blue with no prompting... "Hey mom, I want a new fish because Freddie is sick.  I want to take him to the fish doctor so he can get better and then another boy and girl can take him home.  I want a new fish.  A new red fish named Sport."

It was a done deal.  I placed some water in Freddie's bowl from Petco and dropped him in as Lawson told him he would be ok because we were going to take him to the doctor.  Placed his bowl in a brown paper lunch sack and we were on our way.

We got to Petco with Freddie and I introduced myself to the manager whom I had spoken with on the phone, and I then went on to tell him how happy we were that he was going to take good care of Freddie.  Lawson then instructed him to give him to another boy or girl because he was getting a new red fish named Sport.  The manager, whom I'm pretty sure thought I was crazy, went along with it and we got a new red fish named Sport.

$10.00 later we introduce...

SPORT!!!

A chubbier red male Betta fish...

Lawson is very happy with Sport and so are we.

I must say that I like him and that I think it's cool that our boys have a fish.  And I will also admit that I have been surprised by the enjoyment that he has brought them.

Lawson talks to him all the time and watches him do his "cool tricks" as he goes to sleep.  He even stood up in the chair to show him his new shoes before leaving for school one morning.  He also tells him not to worry that his mom will take care of him.  Isn't that sweet?

Emmitt also likes Sport.  He screams and makes funny noises while shaking his arms if the aquarium is in his sight.  The closer we get to Sport the wilder he gets and begins "saying hi" to him by waving frantically.  It really is cute.

I am hopeful that Sport will be with us for a long time and will continue to make our boys happy.  :)

Rest in peace, Freddie... You will always be our first pet. 

Two new words

Over the past two days Lawson has correctly used two new words...

mistake & apologize

As Lawson has gotten older and more developed with his vocabulary, and socially, too, it has become apparent that he is our little mirror image and our echo, too.  He does and says what we do and say.  As I recognized his correct use of these two words, I thought to myself... "Wow, if we can be sure that he understands that he will make mistakes throughout life and that there is a need to apologize at necessary moments, then I will feel good about those two lessons."  

Raising children was never said to be easy.  Russ and I can only pray that we do and say things that please God, number one, and number two that our words and actions are helping to raise our children to be positive contributors to society.  Acknowledging mistakes and knowing how to apologize is a start and are two big words that will be beneficial to their vocabulary in that positive contribution.

A little bit of a wind in our sails... enough to encourage us to keep on keepin' on in this world of raising children.  : )

We love you, Lawson and Emmit.

Wordless Wednesday

Tuckered Out {Emmitt}

He just couldn't go any more... he tuckered out.  And I couldn't resist capturing a few pictures of this sweet-almost-one-year-old-sleeping-baby.

Where has the time gone?

We love you, Emmers!

A Polliwog

Lawson started taking swimming lessons and here are a few pics of his frist day...

He's a Polliwog which is the first level.

Here he is before the lessons began... he was nervously excited!

Waiting on the steps for Mrs. Meghan, his teacher.  I believe he is pretty nervous here.

His first time with the kick board.  He was very brave and appeared fearless.

Big Kicks!

His favorite part... according to him.

He lined his little toes up and so bravely, without hesitation, JUMPED!

I couldn't believe it.

So proudly swimming back to the steps!

Lawson... a little Polliwog! : )

This was new territory and I must admit that it brought tears to my eyes as he used the kick board for the first time; I was shocked by this emotion...  He seems to be such a big boy these days!

Looking forward to swimming with this little Polliwog this summer!