Summer Fun

We have been having lots of just good old fashioned summer time fun lately.
Avery thinks Anderson is the coolest. We were so excited that his sister, Maggie, had to go to the doctor so he got to come over and play. Anderson and Avery were troopers and rode for 5 miles Anderson mamma's super cool jogging stroller. Then we finally got to do something fun and swim!!!

The boys played and played and had the best time.
Also, we had a brief break from the million degree heat. We actually ate dinner on our porch a few nights. It was really fun family time to sit and eat together. Michael hates our kitchen table, and really I love how it looks, but it is so not functional, so I really don't like it either. So we were not on our TV trays pretending to be having a family dinner.

See Avery thinks it is so cool to hang out with his daddy even if he has a mouth full of food.
Yes, I now know that you can't leave your citronella candles on the wrought iron table because the million degree heat will melt them.

Seriously??

So, if yesterday wasn't enough again today I have poop to deal with. Avery and I did our 3 mile training walk today after he woke up. The walk went well, Avery ate his breakfast and then smeared the left overs all over his legs. I was obviously disgusting after 6 miles in 87% humidity, literally I looked it up, so we both needed a bath. I put him in my tub where I could see him and jumped in the shower. He did really well but for about the last 2 minutes he would NOT sit down. I kept asking and asking and he wouldn't. Well, I jumped out of the shower put on my robe and found the reason. He was pooping.... in MY bathtub...GROSS!
I thought I was being smart, yanked him and all his toys out and let the water drain. Well, the poop went in the drain... Not down the drain just in it. Let's just say I didn't plan on spending a significant portion of my day figuring out how to get the poop out of and then cleaning the drain.. Good grief, I am ready for work tomorrow!


And, I can't BELIEVE Jillian chose Ed, he is creepy.

Not Me Monday

I was so sad to see that Stellan, McMamma's youngest son, is very ill again so she is obviously far to busy to host her Not Me Monday blog. Please say a prayer for her and their family. You can read more about them here.
However, today has been a Not Me Monday, so I am going for it all on my own. Here's my inspiration.

It was not me in bed sleeping until 9:45 on a Monday morning because my child sleeps in, I would never do that I get up go running and make everyone a healthy homemade breakfast.
It was definitely not me who gave Avery a bowl filled mostly with a very runny smoothie and a little cereal to eat make a big fat mess with because I didn't want to fight him over who got to hold the cup anymore. I would never do that, I firmly but gently stand my ground and show him I am the parent.
It was certainly not me who then decided to just throw Avery in the bath tub because it was easier than wondering if the neighbors think I beat him when he screams like a banshee when I wipe his hands, face, hair, legs, etc. See above for my great parenting techniques.
It was certainly not me who then marched into the bathroom with Avery facing out but holding him so I wouldn't be wearing smoothie, yanked off his PJ pants and diaper and then realized there was poop all over his bottom. No, not me I am a nurse it is my job to be observant.
It was absolutely not me who then screamed like a tweeny bop girl when Avery bucked like a bronco putting poop all over my PJ's, even though I am sure I was in running clothes since I got up first thing.
And it was absolutely without a doubt most definitely not me who put Avery in the bath tub stripped down and streaked across the house even though I had opened all the blinds to show Avery the rain for clean clothes while leaving my toddler unattended in the bath tub. Nope, not me... Must have been my evil twin Babbe.

Happy Monday!

At least by the time I got to the laundry I could laugh at the perfect butt print on my pajamas. I almost took it's picture, but figured that might be a bit much.

SUCCESS!!!

S-U-C-C-E-S-S That's they way we spell success!

I finally found post card stamps!!!! I have just added the post office to my errands anytime I am out and been disappointed many times since I started looking for postcard stamps, but I can be stubborn determined and decided I would not settle for regular stamps when all I needed was postcard. I think the lady at the post office probably thinks I am nuts because I all but jumped over the counter and kissed her when she actually said yes and gave me postcard stamps. I can finally get my 3 day Thank You notes in the mail. Would you like to get to see my super cute Thank You notes that Maddie made for me? Then donate!

In another success I went to Target got the 2 things on my list and my one impulse purchase was a $1.07 pack of gum. I left the store for UNDER $30, can you believe it??? Me neither, so the little prince and I celebrated our success with Bueno!



As you can see he is a big fan. He thinks their black beans are the greatest. My friend Amie and I have decided that they must crunch up the tiniest bit of crack into Bueno, it is so good and I can't get out of my mind until I have tasted the greatness. I have to say Bueno is standing between me and 5 vanity pounds I thought I would have already lost training for the 3 day, oh well it tastes too good to pass up. At least if I walk 5 miles and then eat it I won't gain any weight, right?

Marvelous Mondays

This summer Mondays are Marvelous. My BFF from high school, Abby, that lived with us last summer is here this summer, too. UNFORTUNATELY, I can' convince her to live with us again, but she will come over on Mondays. I love it!! We have so much fun! We eat dinner, hang out, and then watch The Bachelorette! It is so so so much fun. Thanks for coming to play with us Abby. We have your room all ready, come stay with us again!!

S-P-O-I-L-E-D

This summer the little prince is loving life. He is spoiled loved to death.
A few weeks ago my Aunt Susan Jo, Uncle Mark and cousin JD came to Texas. Avery got to spend 3 whole days with them at the lake. I am pretty sure he got to do whatever he wanted. Even though Avery says very few words, he quickly learned cuz, because he thinks JD is the greatest.

Aunt Susan Jo let Avery lead her on a merry chase all over the lake house, and more importantly outside at the lake house. They did all kinds of fun things like play in puddles and mud and climb up and down the stairs millions of times.


Remember when I said Avery thought J was the coolest? One day I couldn't get Avery to eat anything for lunch. JD sat down started making all the coolest airplane, helicopter and who knows what else noises and Avery was scarfing down lunch and begging for more!
For the record, Mom, Dad and Linde spoiled loved on Avery, too. They just didn't get their usual fair share of time because the Banks were hogging him. :)

This weekend Michael and I are hanging at the lake kidless with some of our best friends from church who have been with us since the good old days when there were NO young marrieds.... (we will miss 2 because they have a precious baby girl to play with, we will let them off the hook this year, but miss them a ton!)

So, Avery will be chilling in town with Michael's family. Which means he will be entertained 24 hours a day, literally, even in his sleep they want to, by the following cast of characters....

POP, clearly he thinks Avery is the greatest, he drove all the way here on the 4th just to go to the parade for an hour with his #1 son and #1 grandson

HONEY, sorry blogger keeps flipping her on her side. She thinks she is the favorite because she helps with Avery when I work at least twice a month, I am not going to argue with her :)

Uncle Blake and Almost Aunt Courtney, the men in Michael's family love babies. This was a huge thing I loved about Michael when we were dating. Blake falls in that same category Avery has had him wrapped around his little finger from day one, and Courtney wasn't far behind him.

Grandma and Grandad, well of course Avery loves his namesake and Grandma does too.
Yikes... Monday may be rough when it is back to the good old days of just plain old Mamma and Daddy.

3 days in 4 months

4 months from now, November 8, will hopefully be a huge day for me! I will be finishing the Breast Cancer 3 day walk. I told you all about why I am walking here. Please read it and find out why this cause is important to me. I am reminding you about this for 2 reasons...

1-I NEED donations. A few friends have told me I should make it clear that my goal of raising $2300 isn't optional. It is a requirement to walk. I gave my credit card information when I paid my registration fee and they will charge that bad boy for the amount I don't raise.... In November, Avery doesn't want the 3 day for Christmas. If you can help please click on the button on the right and help me out. Thanks!

2-To say THANKS to all of you who have already donated. My friend Maddie, who just redid my fabulous header, also created the cutest thank you notes for me. If I can ever find a post office that has postcard stamps, seriously I have been to 3 now, I will mail your thank you notes. But please know I am so so thankful.


This is a picture from one of my training walks. I often walk at a local lake with some nice trails and a gentleman nicely showed up this turtle he found in his yard. I thought it was so cool to show Avery. Don't worry I now know that turtles carry salmonella, but Avery survived.

So, again please donate if you can help me. If you can't help financially thanks for praying for us and families dealing with breast cancer. Also, it is not too late to join the walk. You CAN do it, the training isn't bad at all so far. I am actually enjoying it. I can't believe how much fun I am having seeing all the people from our neighborhood walking and doing fun things like finding turtles to show the prince.