Easter Treasure Hunt

CeCe & Pops came for a visit this weekend.  Between school and baseball, we had high hopes of getting in some time on the beach.  The weather forecast had something else in mind because it rained and rained and rained some more.  In spite of the rain, CeCe managed to plan a treasure hunt for the boys complete with scripture-filled clues leading them to treats along the way.  The final clue took them to a treasure chest filled with goodies.  They loved running from one spot to the next to find the clue and surprise.  I know coordinating the clues with a scripture and lesson was a time-consuming task, so we are super grateful for CeCe's work in pulling it all together.  As you can see, it was a hit!  The mid-hunt cupcake break helped to refuel. :)

Soap Poisoning?

Well, as you can see from the picture, we are, obviously, the meanest parents on the planet.  Let's start with stating that neither boy suffered from soap poisoning as a result of a little disciplinary action.  And here's how it all went down.  About a week ago on a Monday morning, as we were pulling into the school parking lot for drop off, Bennett decided to drop a bomb.  He said in the most casual voice, "Chandler said *%! is a bad word, but how could *%! be bad?  I mean, what does *%! even mean?"....I'm not going to say the word that he said (3 times in a matter of 0.5 seconds), but let me just state that my body literally flinched when it came out. 

Please note, we drive 25 minutes to school.  We had approximately 23 minutes to properly discuss had Bennett chosen to bring this up earlier, but since we were then pulling into the parking lot, I was a little pressed for time.  I quickly explained how that was an ugly, ugly word.  We don't use that word in our home.  It's not honoring to God, and the list of reasons went on and on at a rapid pace.  However, in my heart of hearts, I knew right then the damage was done......Beau, the exhibitionist little brother, had heard the word.  It was only a matter of time before the next bomb would be dropped.  I could only pray that it wouldn't be 1)  in the classroom of his precious, little Christian school, 2)  shouted out in front of our pastor, and/or 3)  at the baseball field as he crossed home plate.  I say this only because I know this child well.  Putting on a show is his gig and he loves a good reaction.  I know he saw the shock in my eyes when that word first rolled off his big bro's tongue, so it's not likely he was going to waste that one on just any crowd.  Goodness!

SO yesterday Bennett runs in and shouts at the top of his lungs "MMMMOOOOOMMMMM, Beau just said *%! again!".  Can my people PLEASE stop saying that word?  It's burning my ears!  Fletcher sat them both in chairs, put a fresh bar of dial soap in each of their mouths, and taught them a new word:  con·nois·seur    His projection is that we are going to have two soap connoisseurs in our house if they keep repeating what lofty, little Chandler is telling them.  I mention Chandler for a few reasons.  First, I don't know this child and couldn't pick him out of a crowd.  His mom, whom I do not know, and I are not facebook friends or instagram mates or anything else, therefore, this isn't a passive-aggressive approach to get someone to reign in their child.  And second, I was fully prepared to throw Chandler under the bus if I got a phone call from the school regarding this word coming out of a Tidwell boy's mouth.  I'm not fronting....I've got no loyalty to Chandler. :)  I will forgive, unless he follows up with the definition of the word at which point I really will tackle him. 

My Little Characters!

I'm not sure where to begin.  I've been meaning to sit down at the computer and jot down a few things that have been going on around here.....but those "few things" have literally kept me running to and fro so much that I just haven't had a second.  First off, we're in baseball season!  When I say "in" I mean in it up to our throats and loving every second.  I have already lost my mind and all that goes with that cheering on my two favorite boys.  Somebody please create a pill for all of us overly competitive, super intense, slightly out-of-control, helicopter moms.  Step one is recognizing the problem, right?  Now get me some meds for it!:)  All that aside, the boys are loving every minute of it and making great friends along the way.  When we haven't been at the ball field (which is not much), the boys are totally emerged in their alter-egos.  Some days that would be the Lone Ranger and his lofty sidekick, Tonto.  Some days it is Matt Dillon and Chester from Gunsmoke.  And since our recent visit to Nashville where the boys' favorite pastime is watching Three Amigos with their Pops, they now hop into the rolls of Lucky Day and Dusty Bottoms.  It's a never-ending cycle and I'm just along for the ride sneaking pics for proof of all I endured.  Regardless of the starring role, a gun, a horse, and lots of shouting is involved.  I find myself dodging cowboys left and right just walking from my bedroom to the kitchen.  I thought last night when the boys finally crashed and the house was quiet, I much prefer little cowboys shooting guns in the air and steering their horses wildly around than quiet any day of the week.  These are the days!  I'm posting some pics to show our ongoing theme here.  There's a picture of Beau on the pitcher's mound taken right before he shouted to me in the stands that he's "WEALLY, WEALLY HUNGRY!" and pointed to the concession stand.  Nice timing!  And a picture of the boys crashed out in the car after a day of running around in Nashville.  This is how it happens.  We go and go and then.....out!  I call that kind of napping MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!  Love, love, love my two jokers!

    

A Sports Jacket & the "F" Word

It's been exciting weekend here!  First, and not, foremost, Bennett's basketball team won their first game of the season.  Let me be clear, not the first game they've played, but the first one they've won this season.  It was a victory for us all if you know my competitive nature.  Not to take anything away from the coaches.....that would be my husband and my friend's husband.....BUT I'd like to chalk this victory up to momma's blocking out demonstration during breakfast.  I feel totally confident that's what made the difference.  Thank you, Coach Cameron, for those drills.  It was not wasted on me. :) 


Saturday afternoon we attended a neighbor's birthday party.  Can I preface this with the fact that the skies opened up that morning and literally dumped rain for hours.  The yards were a muddy mess.  But never fear, the weather did the polar opposite of what it would have done had I been hosting this party, and it cleared up.  Saturday afternoon was a beautiful day in Pace, Florida.  Having said that, the mud was still there.  Fletcher told the boys to wear their keens or old shoes to the party.  Good advice had it been taken.  I'm sitting at the party visiting with other moms when the man behind me laughs out loud and points to the two kids playing football in the mud with their socks on and no shoes.  Now what kind of parent would let that happen?!  Aunt Golda loves to point out things my boys do that are "signs of intelligence" and I'm hear to tell you, Saturday they were showing very few of these signs.  Can I get an AMEN for Clorox!  Bleach was made for mothers of boys.


Sunday Bennett was baptized which is obviously the more exciting portion of our weekend.  It was a wonderful day for our family and we could not be prouder of our little man.  And a little man he is!  I notice it every day as he dresses himself and comes out of his room with the same outfit his dad would wear:  khakis and boat shoes with his hair parted on the side.  As we were walking into school this morning I had Beau on one side and Bennett on the other.  We're chatting away getting in our last bits before the kids walk into their classrooms.  Bennett reminded me that he really wants a sports jacket.  Again, a little man.  And Beau agrees that sports jackets would be nice and adds in that he's going to refuse to sit next to Carissa in class because she "farts" all day long and he's sick of it.  Wait, what?  How did we transition from sports jackets to that in about 2 seconds and can we please not say the "F" word?  I whispered that plea as we made our way to class.  When I picked him up early for his dentist appointment today, he handed me his jacket and announced in front of the receptionist that he'll stop using the "F" word.  Goodness Gracious!  I wanted to tell her it's not that "F" word....it's really more of a lowercase "f" in this case.  Walking to the car I had to laugh and I just kept hearing what my father in-law always says, God sure does have a sense of humor! 


I've decided I need a shirt that reads:  HUMBLED by Beau
    

7 is Heaven!!!

I'm a day late (and a dollar short, I guess) with this post, but in my defense we are in the middle of Christmas!  Excused tardy....I just excused myself. :)  Our precious Bennett turned 7 yesterday and I'm in absolute shock that this child can be this old.  He has a sweet, toothless smile that gets me every time he grins.  It's short-lived, but I love seeing it.  Bennett is our rule-follower.  He's my sensitive, pleaser eager to help.  He loves school and hops out of bed every morning ready to go and learn.  I love watching him play and listen to the dialogue that goes along with whatever scenario he's created.  Bennett can dominate on the soccer field and his competitiveness is something passed down from his momma.  His daddy is competitive too, but he's more diplomatic about it.  I'm a terrible soccer mom....but don't mistake that for an apology. :)  The joy Bennett brings to our home is beyond what I'm capable of sharing with words.  I love that he loves to be apart of things.  He wants to be in the middle of the action, not watching on the sidelines.  He's already told us he wants to be a doctor and work with cancer patients.  Big dreams for our little boy.  Bennett, we can't wait to experience this next year with you.  May the Lord bless you and continue to guide your heart.  We love you, sweet boy!  

Wishlists....

A friend and I had planned to run up to Mobile this week to squeeze in some Christmas shopping.  Mobile offers more store options compared to our little Pensacola area.  I tell Fletcher Okinawa scored a 1 on a scale of 1 to 10 in shopping grades and he moved me to Pensacola and bumped us to a whopping 2.5 (the .5 added solely because of the Target).  Can a girl get an Anthropologie or even a Gap?  For crying out loud!  But back to my point....as I walked Beau into his classroom on Wednesday, I mentioned that I was heading to Mobile to do some shopping and asked if he needed anything.  He responds (with his teacher standing next to me) that he would like a warm hat to wear since it's gotten "so" cold.  I can do that.  Granted we've lived in a tropical climate the last 3 years, so 55 degrees outside does feel pretty chilly.  Then he preceded to tell me not to get it from the Lost and Found, but he wants it bought from a store.  Can I just start with a disclaimer that I have never walked into the lost & found at his school (or any other place for that matter) and taken an article of clothing for either of my boys.  Why on earth would that come out of his mouth?  And while we're at it, why does there have to be an audience when comments like this are made?  I felt the need to plead my case to Mrs. Kelley in my defense.  In the one in a trillion chance that she happens to ever come across our blog....Mrs. Kelley, I promise I buy my children's clothing and accessories at a store.  And I have never raided the school lost & found....however, that may not be such a bad idea for future reference. :)  Here's Beau looking too-cute-for-words in his new hat.  He has since upped his request to a warm hat with a ball on the top.  For that I may go to the lost & found.

Tis the Season....

It's only fitting that this is the season for birthdays, right?  I try to tell the boys how special they should feel getting to celebrate their birthdays so closely to THE birthday of all birthdays, our Jesus!  We had big Beau's last week, a combined party for the boys this past weekend, we'll celebrate Bennett's at school this week, then at home on his actual birthday.  AND THEN, we'll celebrate Jesus' birthday.  And I love birthdays.  Everyone's, not just mine.  I want it to be the best one yet...every time.  So, needless to say, I was thrilled the party went well and the boys were both smiling at the end of the day.  I was exhausted, but considering this was the lowest maintenance party I have ever organized, we can chop my exhaustion up to the sheer panic I create in my constant pursuit of perfection (even regarding a 5 and 7 year old joint birthday party).  I'm sure they have medication for people like myself, but I'm convinced I can just sweat it out at the gym or pray it off.  I'm a work in progress.  In the midst of this chaos I like to call my life, I get little gems along the way.  They're actually rather large gems I hold so close to my heart since I fear they are coming and going way too fast for me.  Bennett left the sweetest little note out yesterday and I immediately knew that I will look at in the years to come and remember my precious almost 7 year old with his two front teeth missing and want nothing more than to be standing in a messy kitchen with legos on the ground knowing he's sound asleep, happy and healthy, in the room next to me.  Blessed, I am.