I Think He's Got It!

Peyton is understanding that blue and yellow make green!  BIG DEAL.  A few weeks ago I posted that he was confusing blue and yellow, and he still does some.  But Wednesday morning he was playing with the blue and yellow play dough I made him when I heard him say to himself, "Blue and yellow make green."  Well that is all this teacher-mother's heart needed to rejoice. 

Tuesday afternoon, mixing in the sun

No booster, Mama!

talking in Bubby's microphone

While we were playing, TJ bumped his head on the table and he started to cry.  He looked up at me with those precious eyes and of course I said, "Come here baaaby."  (Cue sappy, pouty-lip, Mommy voice.)  Most kids would walk around the table to get their lovin', not TJ!  No he crawled across the table!

Not Much to Say

Bye Daddy! Have fun at work!!

Everyday when Jake leaves after lunch, the boys work hard to catch every last glimpse.  Love it.

TJ did not know I had the camera

AW, my baby getting ready for bed

I will read in brother's room before bed

No, I'll crawl away and let brother take over

Effective Discipline

Well, Peyton got the beard trimmer again.  I had a calm talk with him about how upset I was with his actions and informed him that his Daddy would hand down the ultimate punishment.  Punishment- a negative consequence that is applied.  Daddy decided to bypass my suggestion of a spanking and hurt little Peyton much worse.  PEYTON COULD NOT RIDE THE LAWN MOWER!  (Please understand that I am exaggerating, I did not have the guts to withhold this priviledge.)  Guess what? Peyton may have learned his lesson.   

his makeshift lawnmower



so jealous of Daddy and TJ on the real mower



Triggers

Hi, my name is Whitney.  I have triggers to my anxiety and anger. 

Lack of sleep is a trigger.  Or I suppose it is a factor?  Either way, when I don't rest well, we have problems.  Simple! Just start getting more sleep.  Oh if only.  Reasons I don't sleep well: 1. kids in the bed 2. kids getting up frequently 3. worry about not getting enough sleep and the effect it will have on tomorrow.

Mischievous kids are a trigger.  One day all of  the stunts and shenanigans will be funny.  One day.  Not today.  Not Tuesday at the barber shop either.  I don't like buzz cuts on my kids, no I don't like mischief.

More mischief in the kitchen

Comeback (Sauce) or When Whitney Falls off the Wagon

Jake likes to put me on the 'experimental cooking' wagon, which means "Stop cooking food the boys and I don't want to eat!"  Oh, I just can't help it!   They can make me cook spaghetti only so many times before I get all wonderlusty.  That being said- tonight's menu: Crab Cakes with Comeback Sauce dip, with Melon and Plum Salad.

comeback sauce

Crab Cakes

  Sorry, no image readily available for the salad, check your Southern Living magazine.

ingredients for crab cakes

Very disappointed.  I am.  Only success was Comeback Sauce.  My crab cakes never hold together.  On the bright side- things are looking up for the Key's.  What do I mean- well, wouldn't it be bad for me to spill when nothing is definite?  Sees ya

Wordy Wednesday

My heart is full of joy these days.  My boys are wonderful, but they keep me busy!  I think I'll post through captions today.

Tuesday: Peyton is a hard worker. 

Tuesday: If we had a playhouse, the AC would be it!

Tuesday: This man luh-uh-ves his trucks!

Tuesday: TJ is not a fan of my camera.

 Peyton has really blossomed in the last eight months.  Don't misunderstand, his tantrums are worse than ever, but by far less frequent.  He is such a caring little fella, always concerned about his Mommy. 

Wednesday: Peyton built a house for Mommy.

Wednesday: TJ came to find us.

 I was semi-glad that TJ never took a paci.  We spent countless hours searching for one of Peyton's pacis to make him happy.  I remember telling Jake "I hope our next child sucks his thumb, that way we always know where it is."  WELL I GOT IT! Now we are concerned with getting him to stop sucking his thumb...

Wednesday: TJ loves his thumb and his hair whenever he is changed or mad.

Wednesday: Following directions!

 Since TJ will not voluntarily smile for the camera, I have started fake-bribing him.  I feel bad though if what I have promised really isn't a possibility.  Case in point- they shared a banana for snack today and TJ wanted another.  I used this knowledge to capture the shot below, then I gave him a banana.  Wouldn't it have just been WRONG for me to say banana and not have given him one, or worse, not HAD any?

Wednesday: I said 'banana' so he would smile at me.

Wednesday night: Jake reading the book Peyton checked out at the church library during Mission Friends.

21 Days

I would like to have that outfit, Kate's outfit

I follow a Kate blog, click here, but she has been woefully unsighted lately.  When she returned I saw this greatness.  My mother-in-law told me that Kate and William moved into the palace recently, sad.  After seeing this picture, should my next shoe purchase be riding boots, as shown here, or closed toe pumps, that we all know she wears constantly. 

I considered several titles for today's post, one of which was 'Blood Poisoning.'  The Keys recently dropped off grid to check on my mom and attend to other business.  Mother had a very serious case of blood poisoning caused by a run of the mill infection.  And our other business will remain private for right now, but no new Keys are in the works (cause I know that is what you think.)


'Craps' was another title I considered.  Part of Peyton's schoolwork is crafts, or craps as he says.   Today we finished last weeks stuff.  Bluberry pie and a bublebee.    And you know I took pictures.

Combining circles and the color blue: blueberry pie!

TJ was painting...kind of

TJ working hard on his bumblebee

Peyton working on his bee, notice the owie

Supper tonight will be cornflaked pork chops and sweet potatoes of some kind.   I'm going to pound the pork chops thin too...  :) 

Later

I have been in a trance the last few days.  So much to let you in on.  But it will be later.

Switched

It's been a switch-y kind of day.  If I have grabbed my switch once, I've grabbed it lots.

Under my car

threatened with the switch

We lock them in the gate

Gettin' the switch!

I got switched!

 

Stunna

This week started out just spify.  I went to see "The Help" Sunday, I enjoyed the movie.  Unfortunately, I can't recommend the movie because of language.  Not just the n-word, no the unmentionable Lord's name in vain.  I should have walked out, but I didn't. 

My lovely backyard

another angle

Peyton learned about circles this morning; we searched our house for our first shape.

Peyton pointing to a circle!

Take your hand off the wiper!

I took this video to share.

After nap, the boys went back outside because today was GLORIOUS!

 can you see the scratch by his eye? 

I bought new sunglasses at Charming Charlie's.  Jessica doesn't like them, Leslie does.  What do you think?

???

I had to move the grill outside the fence.

Maybe a fence will keep the boys out

I took pictures when we were in the swing.

It was a wonderful day.

A Door in the Ditch

Disney Princesses was our theme, young women's purity was our purpose.  Jessica, Leslie, and I worked second shift at the youth girls' lock-in.  While I did not get any pictures, I will assure you we had more fun than the girls.

Saturday,  I asked Jake what this was about...

A Door in the Ditch

Speculation?

Working on the 4-wheeler

As I was mixing molasses and brown sugar for the baked beans, Peyton came inside and said, "Daddy needs a telephony scruicedriver."  I had to ask Daddy what he wanted (wouldn't you?)  Turns out he needed a phillipshead screwdriver to work on the 4-wheeler.

TJ runs from cameras, this is the best I could get

oh well!

Fall.  You remember that I am patiently waiting for cooler weather right?  This afternoon a large windstorm swept some hot air out of Demopolis.  Tomorrow will probably be unbearable again, but we had momentary relief.  And I liked it!

Weary Morning

Today I decided to capture our whole day on digital camera.  I attempted to play with natural light as I worked.  So here goes:

Breakfast: baker's dozen lemon poppy seed mini muffins

For my friends who are planning imminent weddings and dream weddings: I desperately wanted a brunch wedding where we could serve mini muffins and coffee punch at the reception.  My coordinators (Mama and Aunt Donna) loved the idea of this, but logistically it wasn't preferrable.

 I still think it was a wonderful idea, but I say this to encourage you to let a few dreams go so that everyone enjoys the day more.  I would probably be the only one who was happy with a brunch reception: 9:30 am ceremony, 5 am makeup/hair call time? Someone would have shot me.

Peyton and his yellow sunshine

A good night's rest helped Peyton understand the color yellow.  He drew a circle to color in so he could make a sun.  This picture is my second attempt at light play and photography; you like?

This is a hug, notice Peyton's flat palms.

TJ has taken to getting his lovin' from Mommy and Brother; I ask him for a kiss (he sticks his face up to  me,) then runs to Peyton and gets a kiss from Bubs.  So precious, the one moment it lasts.

Lip-rebusted

What happens when I prepare lunch in the kitchen while the boys watch Sesame Street?  This.

Poor baby TJ.  His lip bled more today, and I ruined another shirt (blood doesn't come out of cotton,no?)  I really don't believe Peyton hurts his brother on purpose only he does not understand how his actions affect little persons.

Still riding baby toys

One day, soon I hope, I will combine this new picture of Peyton with an old picture taken in this exact location. 

Day 1: Tracing his name

Day 2

Day 3

The 'P' on the right is Mama's

Day 5: making progress writing from top to bottom, which is the first step in writing a 'P'

Finally, their favorite activity.  Playing on the lawn mower!  I instructed Peyton to drive and make his noise.