In honor of Cookie’s blog to Diet Pepsi, I thought I would tell you about my new love. If any of you watch NCIS, I wish I was like Abby when she gets a Big Slurpy every time Jethro comes into her office. But, instead of a big slurpy, I wish I could get a strawberry slushie from Sonic every time I think about it. I love them. I love the way they taste, the way the ice chomps between my teeth, I love the fact that it has real strawberries…mmmm…they are so yummy!!!!! So, any time you would like to show up at my house with a strawberry slushie, feel free!!!

Naming JD was one of the hardest decisions that Michael and I had to make. We knew we wanted to have kids!! We knew that whatever gender our child was that we would be estatic!! The only problem was naming him…We have plenty of names for a daughter if we had one, but figuring out a male name was very hard. When we finally decided on John Durant and then calling him “JD” Michael was very happy. He said that it would be a great name for a race car driver. After seeing JD in the costum KiKi gave him, I think Michael is RIGHT!!!

Sunday we went to see Thomas the Train, or as JD calls him: “Awesome Tom.” Crys’ whole crew and Michael, JD and I drove up to Salsbury, NC. JD, of course, had to ride with Crys because he loves her and her car…or maybe the DVD player?? Michael and I rode in my car and he forced me to listen to a new country singer named Colt Ford. Don’t look him up…he sings a ballad about the Waffle House, does that tell you something???

Anyway, when we got to Thomas RyRy was TOO excited!! I am so glad that we were able to go with them. JD totally understood that we were there for RyRy. I think that is amazing that a 2 year old can get the fact that ChooChoos mean RyRy. Any time that anyone gave JD something that had a choochoo on it, he had to get two: “RyRy one!” Tattoos, fliers, anything. It really was sweet.

I was totally impressed with the whole place. It was very children/baby friendly and everyone really looked like they enjoyed their job. I was really impressed with baby changing station. They had a huge room with everything you could have ever wanted or needed to change a baby’s diaper. I have never seen a place to cater so much to the needs of children. They had free putt putt, jumpy thing, side walk chalk, Bob the Builder performance, tattoos and pictures with Thomas and Sir Topham Hat. I really had a great time!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RY-RY!!!

As I have posted before, JD must sleep with Lightning McQueen. I still cannot find the small ones, so he still has the big one.

Well, tonight we added to that. Please note in the attached picture:

1. Lightning McQueen strategically placed, by him, so he won’t loose him.

2. His monkey that he has slept with for almost a year.

3. His cup of water. I put a cup there one time, MONTHS ago, and since then, every cup gets put there. He is so into routines!

4. Both of his Mater crocs! Yes, my readers, my child is sleeping with his shoes! Not just one of the Maters, but BOTH!! Can we say obsessed with both the movie Cars and shoes!!!?!?!

4. His Cars pillow, sheet and blanket.

Do you think he likes order and routine????

As you can see, I posted a picture from tonight. Doesn’t he just look horrible?? UGH! Breaks my heart every time I see them. I think we were lucky though (another example of God’s perfect timing) because we are already on antibiotics for him being sick last week. I think that is helping. They are not as white (I know, TMI) and don’t seem to be bothering him today. He wore his shoes all day and wouldn’t take them off, so I am assuming that his shoes weren’t hurting him today like they were Sunday. I gave him a hot bath last night and that seem to help a little. He is a tough little man. He was a little weary of pushing his car at Crystal’s today. He wanted me to walk around the yard with him.

I thought I would also catch you up on a few of his new opinions that this age of two is bringing:

He sleeps with something now: His Lightning McQueen! Yes, the car. He sleeps with a car. He holds it all night long and the first words out of his sweet mouth in the morning are: “Where’s Light-ning?” It is just too cute. Until tonight, when I can’t find Lightning. So, he is sleeping with a rather large version of the car…very large, thanks, Cyndi. I am sure he will hold it all night long, even if it is too big for him to actually be sleeping with.

JD has a new name: Guitar Man!! If you see him this week, that is what you need to call him. Why? Because he got a new tatoo. Crystal had a book full of tatoos that you just apply with water and he got a guitar. Now, when you call him Guitar Man, he will squeeze his eyes shut, air guitar on his stomach and whisper, like Patrick Duffy, “Gui-ta Man…Gui-ta Man!” All the while, his little legs are just a-dancing. It really is the FUNNIEST thing I have ever seen and I have NO idea where he got it from…especially the whispering!

Saturday I went to Crystal’s house to let JD play and just have a little fun. Crystal and I were sitting in her garage talking when I heard JD screaming. It was that kind of scream. The scream where you know something is wrong and your child is hurt. Now, this is a different scream from his scream when Ryan is beating him up and he is beating Ryan back. This is the scream that starts from your toes and makes all Momma’s hair stand up on the back of their neck!! I went running (which I sure what an interesting sight). By the time I got to JD his legs and feet were COVERED in ants. I don’t mean just a few, I mean like his legs were black (thank God they weren’t red ants!)!! I couldn’t get them off fast enough. I started yelling for Crystal and she, Tim and Addie all came running to help me. Sweet Addie girl, she really is a “Momma” at the age of 4 (Read one of Crystal’s post for more). When Tim, Crys and Addie got there we were able to get the ants off but we had to take his shoes and pants off. Now, those of you who don’t know JD too well, he is kinda particular about his shoes. Especially his new Gamecock Crocs. He must have shoes on at all times. So, in the mist of him screaming “Owww” about the ants, he started yelling at Tim because Tim had his shoes and pants (Yes, Gamecock pants). Strange kid, a hundred ant bites and he is worried about his shoes. Crystal, Addie and I took him inside and cleaned his legs off and gave him an antihistimine. But, oh, it is horrible!! His ankles and feet are just COVERED!!!

So, my question to all of you readers: what do I do now? Now, instead of just the red bumps, he has 50 or so whiteheads that are swollen and sore to the touch. I didn’t put shoes on him this morning (another battle because he must wear shoes) but I don’t know what else to do. Should I pop the head, leave them alone, soak him in alcohol?? I have NO idea!! A little help here!!!

JD is feeling a little better today after a round of antibiotic shots and an oral antibiotic. Yesterday he finally played with his box car and was just too cute. I wish he had felt great during his birthday party, but I am glad that everyone else had a great time.

I thought I would add the pictures so you guys can see them. Notice JD’s car had a sponser. Thanks, Michael Altman!!!

God is so good!!! We had JD’s birthday party this morning and it was just PERFECT!! The weather was AMAZING!! I think the kids had a great time today and that is the whole point of the the party!!

I just want to thank everyone for everything they have done for me. I have some wonderful friends that go above and beyond the call of help!! Last night was rough and Cyndi and Pam were there to help. They stayed with me until midnight last night to help me get ready for this party. I am so thankful for them. They gave up their plans last night to help me and that was amazing.

Today has been a wonderfully busy day!! I am so grateful to have a job that I am not bored or ever “not busy”. It is nice to keep my creative juices flowing and create lesson plans that, hopefully, my students will enjoy. Maybe I am teaching them something, someday…one day. Maybe they will learn and that makes me excited. Ok, let me clarify, I know they are learning the basic English information, but that is not what I am talking about when I say “teaching.” I am talking about teaching them something that they will remember in a critical time in their future. If something I say or do can keep a kid from taking the wrong path, then I am glad to be busy at school.

The other thing I did today that makes me so happy to be busy is I watched Addie and Reed’s first soccer game of the season!! YEAH!!! GO TEAM!!! They are on different teams this year and it is wonderful to see them both excel in such a cool sport. JD and RyRy just want to run around and play in the dirt and grass, but every once in a while I can watch the two bigger kids play. I love it! I love cheering for them and being a part of their lives. My parents were wonderful cheerleaders and coaches to my siblings and I growing up. Daddy always coached and Momma was ALWAYS cheering! It makes a huge impact to a kid to being in the middle of a game and hear your name being called by a family member. I am so glad that I am able to cheer for my favorite “green team” and “blue team” (I never did quite figure out the names of their teams tonight…so, cheer for the color!). I love those kids! I can’t wait to see RyRy and JD chasing after the ball! Won’t JD be too cute with his short little legs trying to kick the soccer ball!!! Oh, I can’t wait!!

Crys says I don’t write enough. Well…I figured I could update you on some things.

School: I am doing much better now that I am getting used to 140 students a day. Thankfully Crys had JD two days this week so I was able to get some MUCH needed work done. Oh, it was wonderful! Grades are due this week and I was able to put everything in and up to date as of last week. That was so nice and relieves so much stress. Grades are hectic to put in. Once you get your gradebook set up, though, things flow much faster.

Michael is back on second. Last week he went back. It makes me very sad. JD loves for Michael to tuck him in at night and I love having someone to talk to during the week. When he is working we get about 2 minutes a day to say everything that needs to be said. It’s difficult to not be able to talk to your husband Monday through Friday, but we manage. Heck, we’ve been doing it for 8 years now–we’re pretty good at it!

Oh, My BIG BOY JD!!! It is obvious that he is turning 2 soon. He has learned that he can have an opinion on what he wears and what he looks like. I will give you some examples of this past week’s morning time:

Monday, since we were out of school, I gave him a bath in the morning. Then I decided to spike his hair. Well, he just sat there and let me put gel and spray in his hair to make it stand up. When he saw it, he LOVED it! He showed everyone that day that his hair was done and he was very proud of it. Then, came bath time. When I went to wet his hair he started screaming and crying: “No, Mommy, NO hair!” He was destrought!! I had to hold his hands down just to wash his hair. I promised him that we would redo his hair in the morning before we left for school. He seemed ok with that and calmed down….then, came morning. He woke up earlier that I expected, while I was still in the shower. He came in the bathroom, waved hello to me, grabbed the gel and turned to me and said “More, Mommy!” I just about died laughing. I think he must have thought about it all night long! But, I will agree with him that he really does look TOO CUTE!!! Think of the little boy on Jerry Maguire just without the glasses. I will try to take a picture of him the next time we do it.

Next example: Game Day! JD loves his football jersey. He has been waiting all summer to wear it on game days. Thursday came and I forgot to clean his jersey. So, I put him in the Gamecock polo shirt. Well, he did NOT approve of that choice! “NO! MOMMY! JERSEY!!! NO!!!!!” He cried the entire time I dressed him. I finally convinced him that Daddy wore a shirt just like this one on game days and it would be ok. I guessed that calmed him down enough because for the rest of the day he told people that was Daddy’s shirt.

So, as you can see, every morning is a different scene with new opinions and new battles. It does keep me on my toes. Most mornings I don’t get frustrated, but sometimes…well, those are the mornings I need prayer. Don’t we all!!???

On a more somber note: I am asking all of my readers to really pray for the students and teenagers of this town. Life is not like it was when we were in school. There are SO many more pressures that we couldn’t have imagined 10, 20 years ago. Pray people, PRAY!! GET ON YOUR KNEES! Pray for the students, pray for the teachers. Pray for the administrators and the law enforcement. Those of us that love the Lord are trying but we can’t do it alone. We need your help! This is a time for intercession! I am asking and pleading for all the prays that you can afford. Not just for me, gosh, not just me, but everyone that works with or is a teenagers themself. Please pray! Lift up our teenagers. They need to know Who is the REAL Light of the World!!