Shades

Mason and I just got new sunglasses. Somehow my old ones cracked while sitting on top of my head and I wasn't even touching them. Don't worry mine aren't Thomas the Tank Engine.
If you see me in my new sunglasses and they don't look good, consider that I found myself asking the opinion of a 5 year old and 2 year old. It only seemed natural to ask someone and my days of shopping with girlfriends are long gone.

Baseball ???

A glimpse of our family baseball games.

Count Down

I have been getting a lot of "how many?" So today we made a chain for the number of days until the beach and until school starts. When Owen removed the piece for today (the scissors were his idea) he shouted "Happy 1st Day of School" (kind of like you'd yell Happy New Year's) I am glad he is so excited. I hope it doesn't all disappear when he realizes there is a 2nd day of school!

Brothers

My boys have a morning routine and they like to stick to it. It started when Owen was around 3 and sadly Mason (2 yrs) has grown to expect it too. They watch a show and drink their juice. Well, this is how I found them this morning. Of course taking their picture ruined the moment but at least now I have it forever ;)

For boys who are very active they get mesmerized! It's a little scary!

Excited

The letter arrived today.
The letter we've been waiting for with his teacher's name.
Mrs. Locher, Room 32.

We had to take his health form over and so we peeked in his future room and walked around the school.

He left feeling very excited. With all kinds of questions.
We won't be to attend the Open House and so he won't meet his teacher before the 1st day. I am a little nervous knowing we'll miss some info and introductions.

Multi-Tasking

I never thought I'd...
be playing catch (football with Owen)
and hitting a golf ball with a baseball bat (with Mason)
ALL at the SAME time.

Is this how Olympic sports are dreamed up?

Updates

I know you are all waiting with baited breath...

Owen is tying his shoes! It's a slow process but it works.

Mason has slept through the night for a week now. It only took 4 weeks. Not sure what that learning curve means for our future. His naps still greatly vary in length from 1-2 hours, but he is still taking one! Hopefully it's an age thing but he is very stubborn. Almost broke his big toe trying to climb over the baby gate. At least he isn't trying that anymore ;)

Day with Mom

My Mom and I took a little road trip today by ourselves. We left early this morning and headed south for about 2 hours. Our first stop was the Greenfront Furniture Store. Well, all 13 buildings of it. We had a great time browsing. We were both casually looking for rugs and I was hoping to trip upon a dresser for Owen's room. I came close to buying a runner for the upstairs hallway but it wasn't long enough :( And no luck on the dresser. Nothing with a price tag that said "Beat on me, I belong in a boy's room."

Our second stop and main reason for the trip was my cousins baby shower. We have 2 baby boys entering the family with the exact same due date in Sept. We'll see who wins the race.

It was fun spending the day with my mom without the boys. We can't do it very often. I am very blessed to have her nearby.

EJ and the boys had a great day together. It was so fun being the one to come home and hear about their day. EJ had a delicious dinner waiting for us when came home! Hopefully he'll be up for doing it again when go back to Greenfront so my sister can join us :)

Hot Date

I've got a hot date tonight. He should be arriving very soon! Can't wait for some 1 on 1 time with my hubby and no cooking for me :) maybe even a movie? can't remember the last time I saw a movie in the theater.

We have a quick stop to make at the tile store. We are finally ordering the bathroom tiles. The vanity was also ordered today. 4 weeks and he'll be getting underway.

ali

If only...

Why didn't I take a Transformation Course in college. I truly think a degree is required to work these Transformer toys. I think they must be different from when we were kids. I had several as a child and don't remember them being so impossible. Are they adult proof? I also don't think mine were plastic. Ours were the real deal. The plastic parts all fall off and I have no idea if I can't rework it b/c little hands have put various parts together upside down and backwards. Oh, the toys...

School Fever

Yesterday Owen decided he needed a desk. And since mine is just being used as a surface for piles of miscellaneous things (he didn't even know I had a desk) I cleared him a space. I am guessing it's all the school talk, but he has been quite serious about it ever since. He is definitely keeping it neater than I do. Perhaps this will be his homework spot. If only he stays this excited.

Happy Anniversary TOT

Thank you for your compliments!

Owen is slowly warming up to the new header. He doesn't like it as much as the old one. He liked it a little more when I explained my inspiration was the start of school.

So where did Tripping Over Toys come from?

1. Most literally because I do physically trip over my children's toys on a daily basis. I remember being a first time home buyer and thinking I'll never have a house full of ugly plastic toys. Surely I'll figure out a better way. Ha! If you find one, let me know.

2. Metaphorically it represents my relationship with God. The second you bring home a newborn you realize how truly selfish and self centered you are (if your first year of marriage didn't already reveal it). The Lord has used my children over and over again to remind me that life isn't all about me. My life is not my own, it belongs to my maker and HE is good. Being a mom is the hardest and most rewarding challenge I have ever faced. My boys are constantly there right under my feet, just like their toys. I often feel like they are in my way, they are keeping me from doing what I want to do. But the Truth is that they are helping me to become more like Christ. I am learning to die to myself and give to others.

"[Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." -Philippians 2:6-7

Christ came to earth to serve me. He died for my sins. It's not out of obligation that I want to return the favor. It is a response to His amazing Love that gives me the desire to serve Him. A simple way of serving Him is by loving His children, His gifts to me, Owen and Mason.

What is truly amazing is that I have discovered over time how the tripping and stubbing of my toes doesn't really bother me anymore. Evidence that I have changed. He is at work in me.

the original

Face Lift

Tomorrow is Tripping Over Toy's 1 year anniversary. I've had a lot more fun blogging than I expected. When I first started, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up and I wasn't really sure what I'd blog about. Well, 415 posts later, I think its safe to say I've figured it out. I am still not sure it's interesting to others and my writing skills are still terrible, but I love having such a great collection of photos and memories all in one place. (I guess my next task is having a blog book printed.)

I'll confess one reason for starting my blog was so I could design a blog header. Little did I know I would eventually design blog headers for other people. I've learned a lot more html than I ever thought I would. I am so thankful that EJ knows so much and is willing to patiently teach me. This new blog is more his doing than mine.

The blog has helped me be more intentional about thinking through what's on my mind and heart. I often find myself thinking in terms of a blog entry. This was addicting at first, but now it really helps me stop and think. It also helps me take notice of what my boys are saying and doing. I may not have as many professional pictures of Mason as I do of Owen, but I have a lot more candid shots.

A year later, I still find myself worrying about what others will think of me or if my blog is popular enough. But I've done that in all other areas of life for 31 years so why should this be any different?

P.S. my inspiration for this new look was the start of school. EJ and I will be parents of a school age child! I know I am going to be that mom that cries at the bus stop. I am tearing up as I type. This is the start of a whole new season for our family. I am sure it will be the theme of many future posts.

Stay Tuned

I have been hard at work. No, EJ and I have been hard at work. In honor of my 1 year blog anniversary, Tripping Over Toys is getting a face lift. I have spent entirely too much time tweaking it and its almost ready. I am so excited. I've come a long way in my blogging skills, but I couldn't have done it without my own I.T. man. We make a great pair. Thanks EJ, you are a very patient man!
Stay tuned!

One Fish, Two Fish

This is fairly recent progress.

Pirates on Parade

We went to a free Parks and Rec event today called Pirates on Parade.
Owen dressed up for the occasion. He already had the pirate costume as part of his dress up box. For his 4th b'day we gave him a box of costume accessories. (I made most of them)

Owen participated in the costume contest. He had to say his name,
age and give an "Arrgh!" on stage. I didn't think he'd actually do it,
but he did a great job.

Tied Up

Teaching Owen to tie his shoes might just be the most frustrating experience ever.

I heart him

Fun with Cousins

Yesterday we were blessed with a house full of family and a yard full of dogs. (5 dogs is quite a zoo for a home with no pets and 1 child who is terrified) We had a fun hectic dinner and a great time catching up with one another.

My cousin David and his daughter, Haleigh joined us at the pool.

Mason with my cousin, Daniel.

The 3 biggest dogs wrestling.Haleigh and her dog Casey.

Mason's 1st walking of a dog.

If you look closely you'll see Owen hiding out with my mom.

New Shoes

We bought Owen new sneakers this weekend. He doesn't want to waste time at the pool b/c then he couldn't wear them. He wears them around the house all the time.
If only it didn't feel so good to get new stuff. And if only we'd realize ahead of time how quickly the joy disappears and we start looking for something else. I know this and yet I want new stuff all the time.
We have a great children's book, "Your are Mine" by Max Lucado. It's a story of wooden people named Wemmicks who are carved by Eli, the Wemmick-maker. The Wemmicks think those with the most "boxes and balls" are better people. I love that the objects of desire are not special and they don't do anything fancy. Just boxes and balls. In the end, the lesson learned is those things don't make us special, we are special b/c we are God's. He made us and we are His. The book is really good, if you ever looking for a new book. Oh wait, maybe you could get it at the library ;)

BIG One

I don't know if it is Mason's age, appetite or the fact that he is the smallest one in the family, but when it comes to food his first words are "I wanna BIG one." Do we not feed him enough? Is he afraid we are going to run out? I think he honestly thinks the Bigger the Better. I can't imagine how he has already come to this conclusion ;)
Fortunately he takes our word for it. If we say its a really big one, that is good enough for him. I wonder how long that will last?

I gotta fast car

...And I got a plan to get us out of here

Thanks!

Whoever prayed for us last night, thank you. Mason only woke up once at 1:30. Even if it was just for one night, it was much better than 3 and 4 times.

Sophisticated Mama

Mason is now calling me "Mum." I guess Mommy and Mama are not sophisticated enough? I can't say that I like it. Last time I checked he is only 2 and we are not British. I was hoping it would disappear after a day or two, but it hasn't.


Just for the record, b/c surely I'll look back one day and laugh at how much this bothers me. It's been 3 weeks and he still can't remember how to sleep. All that early training down the tubes. What the heck? Oh crib, how I miss thee.

Getting Ready

Slowly but surely our little Kindergartner is getting ready for school. I can't believe school will start in less than a month. Yesterday, we bought as many school supplies as available (some supplies Sold OUT at two stores) and some new sneakers, tax FREE. EJ and the boys were troopers. It wasn't quite the special moment I was imagining. The crowds, the list, the empty shelves, the boy who has only worn Crocs since June and has forgotten how a real shoe feels. Fun times!

The happy graduate...

of
The Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management

EJ and Cary were roommates all 3 years.
The program consisted of 1 week per year for 3 years with numerous assignments in between.

EJ had a great week in Charlottesville.
Lots of hard work and lots of fun too.
I think he is glad to be done.
He is still not interested in being a banker ;)
Which is fine by me.
We are very proud of him! And glad he is home.

Time with Grandparents

We've had a good week. Tomorrow, Owen and I travel to Charlottesville for EJ's bank school graduation. Mason will stay with my parents.

EJ has been gone all week. We miss him so much. We were in F'burg part of the week which helped the week go by faster.

A jam session

Mason rocked his clothes off

Making a paving stone with Grandma

Pretzels

I've been wanting to make soft pretzels with my bread maker, but just hadn't gotten around to it. I finally did it. This morning the boys and I made them for our playgroup friends. It turned out to be a fun activity. I gave Mason his own piece to play with while Owen and I rolled out the dough. Then Owen painted on the egg and added the salt. We definitely need some practice. I didn't get a picture of the finished product, but they were much too fat. They still tasted good. The boys enjoyed watching them grow in the oven.

It was much easier for Owen to make sticks.

We are having playgroup (Mason's friends) to our house this morning. Owen has been busy preparing for the "children and babies." I am not sure what that makes him, a teenager? It's pretty cute! Let's see how he handles them once they are here.