hurricane ike...

I thought I'd post some pics of life "for us" after Ike.

Here's a pic of the generator. Everyone kept asking me if it was big. I think so, but I have no idea. So, here ya go.

Matt, Andrew and I slept in the living room. Andrew LOVED sleeping with us. It was hard that first night when the power came on because he was used to us going to bed and being in the room with him. Here's how Blake slept... We ran the generator all night and when the boys napped. Other than that...it was HOT! In the afternoons we'd go outside.

The boys played with the hose, fishing poles and bubbles. I thought this pic was funny. I look gross so just look at the boys.

So, that's about it. I was only here for 4 of the 13 days and that was enough for me. I don't know how Matt did it the whole time. It has really changed our perspective on things.

quick update

WE HAVE POWER!! We got it back at 2:05 PM today!!! I'm trying to clean up around here and get beds out of the living room and extension cords off the floor! We were out for 13 days. The boys and I got back on Monday and were getting very tired of living like this! I definitely had to remind myself A LOT how thankful I am that we didn't have any damage...no power is better than what others are going through right now.

So, I'm off to get my house back in order. I'll catch up on emails later. Thanks to those of you for checking on us. Hopefully life will get back to "normal" soon. We are heading to Sea World tomorrow!!

update

This will be a quick update...

I'm still in Shreveport (well Bossier) with the boys. Matt stayed behind and rode out the storm as he had to work. We still have no power. We've heard it should be on Monday. I plan on leaving here Sunday or Monday. I've definitely enjoyed our stay here and we appreciate all the help and hospitality but we are anxious to see Daddy!

1st day of school

Andrew started preschool today!! I think I was more excited than he was! Don't get me wrong... he was excited, but I was THRILLED!! We didn't decide to send him until the week before school was starting. I was limited on where I could send him but really like his school. He's only going 2 days a week until noon so I still plan on working with him at home.

Here's the happy boy...

And Blake had to say cheese...

When I picked him up his teacher said he had a good day. She said he's a perfectionist (I'm sure this is her nice way of saying he's OCD and I know this.) He doesn't like dirty hands or dirty clothes! I think that's a good thing tho! Who wants a dirty boy! :)

I definitely enjoyed my morning with Blake. It's nice to have that time with just him. They are all down and I STILL have some ME time!! What a day!!

pics of the week...

Sunday night I decided to take some pics of the boys in the tub. I really haven't pulled my camera out much lately. The boys were totally hamming it up. Andrew likes to look at the picture after you take it so he doesn't mind posing these days....

Andrew actually smiling! And little B with his sad face.
One day last week we had gotten Andrew some buzz lightyear thingy for his crocs. I think you can see one in the pic. Anyway, that night he wanted to go to bed with his shoes...and while that's really gross, I didn't want to listen to him cry and fuss about it that I just quickly gave in. This is how I found him when I went to check on him. I don't think I could fall asleep like that.

I took a pic of Blake sleeping because we've cut his passy!

He still kind of chews on it and will sometimes carry it around but there is no more sucking on it and that's all that matters, right?

Yesterday we went to the Drs. for a well visit and today we are paying for it. Blake had a few shots and today he's had a fever and a couple of bad diapers. I'm sure he's wishing he had his passy for comfort and yes, I'm feeling a bit guilty about that but I didn't really think it through. He was just wanting it ALL the time and I felt like we needed to get rid of it now instead of later. Plus we'll be traveling some over the next couple of months that I really didn't want to put it off. Okay, now I'm just trying to make myself feel better....oh well!

Oh...and Blake BIT Andrew yesterday. I wasn't around as I was putting wash away but it totally freaked Andrew out. Andrew pesters Blake sometimes and I think Blake finally found his way to get him back! Of course I don't really want him to bite others but I hope it taught Andrew a lesson!

family

This past weekend Matt's parents and sister came in. We celebrated Andrew's birthday with them since they weren't able to come in for the party. So that made party #3 for him. (I think he celebrates as much as Mandy does.)

This is the only decent picture I have of them.

Granny brought some boots for Andrew. He was so excited because he LOVES to jump in puddles. Since it rained ALL day we tested out them out.

Blake is sizing them up...

And Blake got a turn in them. He wasn't nearly as coordinated as Andrew.

Andrew got a slip 'n slide and as you can see...he was clueless about what to do. Aunt Rachel put on her suit and showed him. It was funny! I wasn't about to show him! Anyway, we had a great visit. As always, it goes by too quickly!!

this week...

Just thought I'd add some pics of a few things we've been up to this week...

Andrew making a duck...

Andrew made a dinosaur and a daisy. He's making his dinosaur noise... Blake making his dinosaur noise... Can you tell we've been doing the letter D this week?

And here's Blake helping Daddy. Anytime we pull out the vacuum Blake has to run and get his toy to help. Maybe I should just buy him a real vacuum and put him to work!!

morning walk

Almost every morning the boys and I walk about 2 miles around the lake. I try go right after they eat so they are content and it's not as hot...it's still hot but not as hot as say 9 AM! It's also humid. fun stuff. I wear a hat to keep my hair off me and out of my face. Today the boys had to wear one too. They looked so cute that I had to take a pic. My camera fogged up from the humidity so the pic isn't that great.

And no, I don't normally let Andrew bring a huge toy but today I was being nice. Usually they both get to bring one car...and B gets to bring his lovie...of course!

little update

This will be quick as I'm sure the boys will be up soon...

Luke came over to play one night and we ended up throwing all the boys in the tub...

Blake has been cutting a few teeth and can be found sucking on that durn passy and carrying around his lovie all day until Mommy can steal it from him!! Andrew has been fighting me for my laptop! He's got a website that he likes to play on and has caught on quickly with using the mouse!Well, that's all I got!! I know this is a weak post! Blogging world has been quiet these days! I go back and forth on keeping mine.