One Cool Dude ~ 9-28-11

Braydon found our 3-d glasses from going to the movie a while back.

Grandma Nancy turns 50! ~ 9-27-11

My mom would have turned 50 today. It's crazy to think of her at 50 considering she passed away at 33, the same age as I am now. We went out for Chinese food tonight for dinner, my mom's favorite food next to crab legs. It also happens to be my favorite. My first job was at a fast food Chinese restaurant where I ate Chinese 2-3 times per week and LOVED IT! I think I could still eat Chinese food that many times per week.

My mom collected butterflies and it seemed fitting that Cameron would color some at school this week.

Cameron practicing P for his last name.

Full of Personality ~ 9-11

Braydon got the personality gene from the Payne side of the family. He is funny, energetic, and when he starts talking we won't be able to get him quiet.

Who could deny this precious face?!?!

Fave place to eat ~ 9-11

One of Cameron's favorite places to hang out is in the window sill. 

 You can also tell the garden is thriving behind him.

Fruit by the Foot ~ 9-17-11

Braydon decided to take it upon himself to get a snack, open it, and start eating it. Sneaky little boy!

Mental note, hide the snacks!

Fishing Trip ~ 9-14-11

Michael got to play hooky today at work and go with the owner and the owners son fishing out in the gulf. He had fun and came back with his tail bone hurting. Serves him right for not going to work! I wish I could play hooky!

Play time ~ 9-11-11

After we got home, got baths, and had snack it was play time for the little and big kiddos. Now that Braydon is tall enough to try to climb in the laundry basket its one of his and Cameron's favorite places to play. Tonight Daddy decided to sail them around the living room and kitchen. Man, I hope they don't pick up too many bad habits and start crashing into walls and breaking things.

Braydon enjoying his ravioli's.

Thinking about climbing into the basket.

 

Cameron teaching Braydon how to put one leg in and then while standing inside putting the other leg in.

 Problem was that Braydon wasn't quite tall enough to stand in the inside to pull his other leg over so Daddy helped him out.

Cameron loving on his brother.

Daddy pushing them around the living room

and kitchen, where it slides great.

Then Cameron getting the idea that he could push his little brother. Waiting for the basket to tip and Braydon to come tumbling out.

But alas, no one came tumbling out...this day.

Jersey's for the boys ~ 9-11-11

Michael and Cameron have Texans jerseys and Nana wanted Braydon to not feel left out. So when we came over for the game she had Braydon a jersey waiting for him. Cameron was a great big brother and put it on him. Took a little time and some help but he finally managed.

Cameron making his first attempt to put the jersey on Braydon's head...

Braydon more interested in the chips.

Cameron re-evaluating the situation and trying to figure out a 2nd attempt.

Bryan holding up the top so Cameron could navigate the bottom over Braydon's head.

Having some success.

Although Braydon didn't like it because it was taking to long.

Braydon wondering what in the heck just happened and wanting his chips back.

My three handsome men in my life. Happy they can represent the Texans in style together.

Braydon's Mess ~ 9-10-11

If you want a mess to be made, Braydon is your dude to do it. He can destroy a house in less than 5 min flat and then look at you with puppy dog eye's and crocodile tears because he doesn't want to pick it up.

I take my lunch to school and use plastic utensils that I wash to eat. I had just gone through the utensil drawer, pulled everything out, put them in baggies separated by type, put it by the front door to take to school, and BAM!!!, Braydon gets a hold of it and does this...

Assisting with toilet repairs ~ 9-3-11

I guess you know the toilet is overused when the handle breaks off! So, it took all of us to get it fixed. One would think the toilet handle wouldn't be complicated, but it was. You have to bend it to "mold" it to use for your toilet. Whoever heard of such a thing?!?

Cameron and I attempted to fix it ourselves but we instead let Daddy take care of it.

Work, Work, Work ~ 8-28-11

We made it through our first week of school, only 35 more to go!

Work is never done around our house, as I'm sure it's not around your house. We had a really big storm come through the day before and this is what it did...

Then I had to do something with this...

Those branches are NOT as small as they look. It took some power tools to 

get this to a manageable size to discard.

 All the while Braydon just sat and chilled.

But of course when we got back inside, Braydon was all over the vacuuming! 

I see that as a one of his chores in the near future! (Especially since I HATE vacuuming.)

2nd First Day of School ~ 8-25-11

Since yesterdays pictures weren't so great when we got home we took a 

2nd shot at them. Not so bad. Much better mood!

First Day of School ~ 8-23-11

 Here Cameron is with a shiner on his eye where he hit the window sill yesterday at daycare. Poor thing. He looked miserable here, but was just a little tired from 2 days of school!

He started his 2nd year of Pre-K with Mrs. S. We just LOVE Mrs. S and will be so sad next year for him not to have her and her aides to teach him. Plus I taught Mrs. S's older kiddo several years ago. It's been a nice relationship and Cameron has learned SO much.

 Braydon enjoying chocolate after we get home from school. The boy is 

spoiled, as Cameron is, about wanting chocolate. The look on his face is SO devious.
We already know we will have our hands full with him.

Getting Ready for School ~ 8-22-11

Tomorrow starts another year of school for Cameron. Last year he went to school in the morning and daycare in the afternoon. This year he will go to daycare in the morning and school in the afternoon, which means NO NAP. We are a little concerned about no naps but Cameron has to get prepared for kindergarten next year when he will not have nap time. He still have his wonderful teacher, Mrs. S and some great aides that assist in his class.

Here Cameron is showing off his backpack and shiner he got on the first day of daycare by diving face first into the windowsill.

  I hope this is no indication of his craziness at school!

14 months - Where does the time go? ~ 8-22-11

My sweet little boy already 14 months. Where does the time go? 

Loving some animal crackers, which are a staple around our house.

My Little Romantic ~ 8-10-11

I'm very much a romantic at heart. I have dreamed of the guy who opens the doors, pulls chairs out, asks me about my feelings, does all the chores without being asked, rubs my feet and gives back massages. But alas, I have awoke from my dream...But I can teach my young men to do those things and make a woman in their future VERY happy!

Cameron is well on his way. I don't think we have ever had a candle lit dinner in our house. But that didn't stop Cameron from asking to "light the candle for dinner." In fact the candle has been purely a decoration on the kitchen counter and hadn't been lit.

I smiled big and found a lighter to light the candle.

Cameron's big smile over a candle lit dinner.

We have some furry visitors! ~ 8-10-11

My in-laws went on a cruise to Germany and we offered to babysit the dogs. It was interesting having 2 more dogs in the house. Our dog is short-haired...their dogs are long haired. Our dog eats anything in front of his face...their dogs are EXTREMELY picky eaters and want to be hand fed...not from ME!

 Braydon took every chance to empty the dog water bowl.

 The visitors slept in the kitchen in Braydon's baby fence. 

 And of course they RACED Bishop for food at our house! Picky, I think not!

Someone had a hand in the move ~ 8-7-11

Looking ahead...I truly believe that things happen for a reason. I've had lost of things happen in my life that haven't happened by coincident. And this year is no different.

A great friend of mine, Lisa, was diagnosed with uterine cancer on June 15th of 2011. I knew her a little from working together in the math departments. After her diagnosis, she started a Care Pages where she could "blog" about her experience. She sent myself along with others a link and I started following her journey.

I was thankful for a friendly face during in-service to sit with and someone to "know." Our two middle schools were always rivalries and never meshed well so I didn't know anyone else in the department. And besides that I didn't know anyone besides my new principal who had been my Assistant Principal last year.

A few weeks in, Lisa was told she would need chemo, radiation, and more chemo to "cure" her. She has a 12 year old daughter, Miss C, who she adopted almost 5 years ago, and is a single mom. So, I truly believe I was moved to my new campus to assist Lisa in any way I could. I don't think I have done anything anyone else wouldn't do. I occasionally go pick up Miss C for school when Lisa is too tired and weak to take her to school and since I go right by her house after picking Cameron up I sometimes take her home in the afternoon.

I've been blessed to meet and get to know Lisa and Miss C. Miss C has a form of autism. She is extremely high functioning but over the course of the first half of the year she has taught me a tremendous amount. In addition I have learned what it would be like to have a *almost* teenage daughter! I know she will continue to teach me lots and I will do my best to help Lisa and Miss C in anyway I can.

I might have been moved due to budget and personnel changes but I firmly believe that I was moved in order to be there for Lisa and Miss C in any way I can.

Changes... ~8-5-11

I was notified on the first Friday in August that I would be changing schools. With school finance hanging in thin air, schools are not hiring. Our district is not different. We are in better shape than most as we operate in the black rather than the red. We are not hiring anyone that is not essential to running a classroom, which means teachers are being moved around to fill the needs. Since I taught math lab the last 2 years I knew that it might be likely that I would be moved. However at the end of last year as I inquired I was assured that I was needed where I was teaching already.

Well with changes rampant during the summer months I was called on Thursday, (8/4) and asked if I wanted to go to the other middle school in the district. Because the new principal was my old AP (Assistant principal for those of you not in the biz) last year. I was tickled that she thought enough of me to ask me to switch to her school. I thought at the time that it was a request... I hung up the phone telling her thanks but no thanks. A few hours later I received a phone call - while I was on a call I couldn't hang up on - from our assistant superintendent, Mrs. S. I listened to the message that was to call her on Friday, as she was heading home for the evening. What?!?! I freaked out all evening!

On Friday, I spoke to Mrs. S knowing already what was coming. With people leaving and my position going away I needed to move to the other middle school. I had been at my old school for 7 years! And this all happening ONE WEEK before in-service was to begin. I was crushed. I spoke with several friends who all agreed that it sucked but what else was I to do. I was most ticked about the fact that I would have to move all my stuff from one classroom across town to another with little help, all while I was supposed to be spending the last few days with my two precious boys.

I was mad and upset with little I could do about it. I called my entire math department to tell them their department leader would be leaving and going to our other middle school. One of the teachers even offered to go in my place since her husband and son were at the new middle school, but "higher-ups" had other plans.

So, I figured out a way to get some help with watching the boys and my brother-in-law helped me move the big stuff. I put on a smile and with apprehension got ready to start the school year.

I was slated to teach 6th grade math again and after 2 years of being away from main stream 6th grade I was excited to get back in the game. I found the silver lining in my move. I get a window in  room (and that is a HUGE deal) and I started off the school year with a student teacher, which I could not have done without.


*** I'm sure this sounds awfully upbeat now that 5 months have passed. Had I written this in August, I seriously doubt it would have sounded quite like this! :)

More bounty from the garden ~ 7-31-11

Everything has been yummy so far from the garden.  Cameron added his little 

lock and key to the pictures to add his own touch.