Serious Conversations

This post is to remind me someday of the marvelous things these boys are saying and doing. I tell you they are blowing me away!
Let's start with Sawyer. All three of these things were in the same day, too! And that was a few days after he has started to ask a lot of questions about baptism and communion. Never mind that, he is not there yet, but asking questions and that is fantastic! So we are reading and discussing and trying to understand, etc.
1) He asked on the way to school how Jesus got out. You know, got out of Mary. I responded truthfully, the way it happened with all three of them and reminded him of the knife, the sewing up, the rest. Simple enough, I think. Why? was that not good enough? Did he know something else? Turns out he knew they didn't have operating rooms and scalpels. So we discussed how they might have made tools to do the job. OK, so that was a lie.
2) That afternoon he asks me if Santa and God know each other. The logic being if Santa knows what you are doing all the time and God even knows your thoughts. There is a relationship here. He also asked if Santa were a Christian. He thought he must be because he does so much good stuff for people. So that lead into, it doesn't matter how "good" you are if you don't have a relationship with God. Ouch! seems pretty harsh for Old Saint Nick, huh? So I told him to gather all his questions and we would answer them all tonight at bedtime. I just can't stand for him to be confused!! It has to end, but we are both very OK with that, and of course there will still be a Santa surprise.
3) We thought Dawson had said the S word (s-t-u-p-i-d) and I casually reminded him that it isn't nice to say that word and in the middle of my reminder, Sawyer, with his big brother voice, shouts, "Dawson! We don't say that! You know better!" So meanwhile I realized that he had called his little toy a skeleton and not the S word and Sawyer is hollering at him AND doing it for no reason. So, maybe he didn't say skeleton. I asked Saw what he thought he heard and he thought it was the SH word! Now that my attention is NO longer on Dawson's would-be potty mouth, it is on what this evil public school is teaching my son, my baby......I retrieved my jaw from the floor and said, " what SH word"? He whispered to me, "s-h-u-t -u-p".
Breathe.
Another reminder that Sawyer is growing up is seeing just how responsible he can be. Today, since Landon is still sick (Yes, STILL!) I needed him to run into the store and get a couple of lemons for me. I was so excited to tell him he got to do that for me when I picked him up from school. So I took him to an AMAZING store called The Nugget. It is one of the best things about our neighborhood, but that is another post. Since the produce is right outside and in the first part of the store, I knew he'd find it and be able to pay for it easily. And he did. I just wanted to run out the truck and take pictures and tell him how proud I was of him, etc. and then I realized that would not be cool at all. So I stayed in the truck, and took a pic with my cell phone out the window and then gave him "rocks" and said "thank you so much!"

About Dawson.....
He continually tells the story of how he was bitten by a radioactive spider when he was very tiny. He is very convincing and shows me the spot on his hand and everything.
He tells me I am his best friend AND Super Spider Girl, but not at the same time.
He exclaimed today that making gingerbread cookies was the best thing in the world. The best. really? I can do better than those. But he thinks that making them was the greatest. That reminds me of all the wonderful reasons why I stay home with them.

So, even though Landon is still keeping my laundry room busy, my Fabreeze spray empty, and the Lysol is nothing but fumes.... I'm really trying to soak up the moments, because they are coming and going pretty fast these days!

10 Things Tuesday

I've never done a "10 Things Tuesday" post before now...but it has been forever since I've sat down to catch up. So this is my way of covering a multitude of topics in one sitting! This is actually more like 15 Things... but like I said, it's been too long since I sat down to write what has been happening! ( Starting with the most recent )

1) We've all had the flu. It started with Landon on Saturday and Sawyer in bringing in the rear. No pun intended. Not a great weekend for us. I have to say that Ragan was quite my superhero, though. While I was absolutely dead, he took over when we wasn't feeling too super himself.
2) Ragan's birthday was the 4th and I made a cake that he has always hinted a bit that he enjoys (without making me feel horrible that I have never made it for him in our 12 years of marriage!) So, here is my 1st carrot cake.....
Landon, waiting patiently while Daddy talked to Grandma Nell on the phone.
Landon sneaking a little icing!! Don't tell Mom!
Notice the slice taken out? That was for Sawyer and Landon ( my dairy free boys) I put store bought cream cheese icing in the middle and then took out their part, then put the REAL stuff over the rest. YUM!
I headed to the store that morning realizing that I hadn't purchased carrots in a while and figured I wouldn't have enough. I glanced at the recipe and saw a number 3 beside the carrots. So at the store I saw that they came in 2 pound packages. Of course I thought that looked like a large amount of carrots, but if you know me at all, you know I didn't think about it, I just bought 4 pounds of carrots, brought them home and grated them up. Really, quite fun! Dawson helped too. This display is what I had LEFT OVER! The recipe called for 3 cups of grated carrots and now I can make 3 more cakes!!

3) Sawyer has VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) every month at school and he actually had it his first day there. He began sculpting clay and learned all about the processes that take it from clay to his finished coral pot and pinch pot. I love them and we try to use them whenever we can.
4) We made tags for our Christmas presents and this is Dawson's signature pose. Look at those eyes! and those cheek bones! and that chin! He is so much fun!

5) Speaking of so much fun....these two have taken quite a liking to one another. Good thing, huh? Dawson is really learning to be gentle and Landon loves to sit with him after he wakes from a nap. Sharing snacks is a favorite.
6) Landon has mastered the steps. He goes up and down just to go up and down. I was so scared of this, but he is really quite good at it and safely does it on his belly.
7) This is at Joe's Cable Car in San Francisco (featured on the Food Network for famous burgers) I enjoyed it, however it set our family back a mere $60 ...and the boys split a meal!!!
The balloons were a thoughtful gift for purchasing our expensive hamburgers. I thought it would be quite disastrous, however, it kept them happy all the way home. (about an hour and 45 minutes)

8) Staying in downtown SF, we walked to find a restaurant. This one (also burgers, who is charge here????) was very close and we only gave money to a few homeless men before we walked in. This picture is for you LORI!!! never mind the frowning little boy who is getting sick of his picture being taken.
9) Our hotel was a bargain (if you know Ragan) but also tight quarters. Landon resorted to playing UNDER his stroller and peeking at himself in the mirror. He only got stuck a few times, but enjoyed this entertainment for a long time!!
10) I was optimistic that this photo taken in the lobby by the big tree might be a great Christmas card photo. Not really, but one with all three of them non-the-less. It took forever to get them all looking at me! Everyone in the lobby were so not impressed. So what if all of them were dressed up for some fancy night on the town, some big party, or just a weekend without their kids.....we had on our best jeans and sweater to eat burgers at the famous Lori's Diner with our boys. I'm sure we were having just as much fun!
11) The Aquarium was great!! Sawyer couldn't get enough of touching the skate, starfish, and even a shark!
12) Looking out over the bay at Alcatraz.
13) Sorry it is sideways...I had just told him to show me his nose. This is what he does every time! Thanks big brothers! We were at the park and enjoying the last pretty day before the 50 degree days!!! Brr!

again, his favorite spot to put a finger!
14) Our 12th anniversary was November 23rd. Ragan brought me these beautiful flowers!! I loved them! Our gift was the gala and the weekend in SF. No need for anything, but the flowers were very sweet!!!
Sorry this has been such a long post. I'll try and do better. I think we are managing here quite nicely and have decided to stay with Rancho Cordova Church of Christ. There is actually a home group that is starting in our area, so that is exciting to be able to get to know others that live near us. Ragan is so busy and working hard to do well in his new position. He is usually in Pleasanton (SF) once a week for a few days. Since he is home the rest of the week, it is no big deal. I am so thankful that things are starting to feel normal and am reminded once again that home is where we are together.

The Gala

So... the gala! It was great fun and considering that 2 of the three people that I know here so far were there, I couldn't have asked for more!
Just in case you were wondering, that would be
1)our RE agent - we love her and her kids
2)Ragan's boss and her husband - they are great too! and
3)a Ragan's analyst from home office moved out here a few months before we did, with her husband - they will be our guests this year for Thanksgiving.
Anyway, we left the kids in good hands with #1 and went to the event to see #2 and #3! Treasure Island is/was a military base under the Bay Bridge in between the Oakland area and downtown San Francisco. We got off the bridge and started second guessing ourselves and got back on and went across. So I have officially been to downtown SF, but only long enough to pull over and reset the GPS. Seeing the city as we crossed the bridge was amazing to say the least. NYC is my only comparison. So lit up and inviting!! Another time though. So we get back across and find the hanger that the party is in and let them park our car. I slipped on my new heals walking in, but thankfully it was early and only a few valet drivers witnessed.
Now, the important stuff....there were the fanciest porta potties I've ever seen. Yes, you read that right! Portable toilets!!! At this????? what? that is what I said, until I went in. I can't describe it, just believe me. The only real negative part was the quarters were a bit tight, but there were mirrors and carpet and nice scent in the air. weird, I know!
OK, so we wander around the cocktail hour and look at the silent auction items, most all of them starting around $1000 bids. We kept our bidding to a minimum. The company started coming and we had lots of fun conversations and plenty of beautiful things, people, food, etc. to enjoy. The dinner didn't seem like it would be worth $1000, but apparently it was. Safeway raised millions that night that added up to $200,000,000 this year to give to cancer research and MDS. Billy Gilman and the California ambassador for MDS, a little adorable girl, sang. (you might remember him as a little boy singing "one voice" and some other top country hits.) and then Kenny Loggins was the main entertainment for the evening. Awesome!!!! It was one huge 80's memory after another for me and I'm sure for most everyone there. We finally left around 11pm and got home about 1am.
The last time I was that dressed up, had that many pins and hairspray in my hair, and saw Ragan looking so dashing.....was my wedding. We need to do that more often!

My Real-Life Scavenger Hunt and lots of pictures!

Oh my goodness, I finally found my battery charger for my camera! So that means I haven't taken many photos. There are some precious ones from right before we left that I am posting now and then I will do a separate blog about the gala.

I only have about 3 boxes in my closet left (which I've thumbed through to find a couple things, which tells me I should take it all to Goodwill!). My playroom (family computer, sewing, and general misc. room) is really still in so much chaos. I am not terribly worried about it, but I've got a few friends having babies ( yippee!!!!!!!) and I can't wait too long before I really will need to make sense of it. :)
We found the remotes, now that we have Direct TV and it doesn't matter. We found the power cord to the main TV, which was packed with the office things, after we went and bought a new one. We finally found the disposable camera Sawyer's class gave him as part of their farewell, with things in the garage, now that things are starting to seem ordinary and don't really merit a picture anymore. I am not kidding when I tell you those packers were a real piece of work!!! It wasn't like that the first time, I think because there was a woman in charge of the packing. Don't you think? She would naturally, tape all the remotes to their object that they control instead of packing them all in random boxes.


Anyway, here are the pics................

Sawyer and Maddy at the "going away party"... Teri, I'll never forget what she calls this poncho!

Sawyer opening a huge crate full of stationary, stamps, stickers, pencils, a globe sharpener, camera, and a framed photo of the class with a matting around it signed by everyone. There were numerous other gifts as well. We were overwhelmed with love that day.

Tucker and Dawson - part of a three musketeer posse



Will and Rachelle the weekend before we left

I made cookies and I found these two being very sneaky! Notice how dark my tile is now? It is amazing what it hides! yeah!!
Sawyer's new teacher, she is just what we prayed for!
Rachelle and I being cheesy!
Teri and I after the party. I remember being numb from my tiredness!
Shannon, Kristin, and I at our favorite late night spot. We are about due for a night out, girls!!
The first room finished - the big boys'. Not a whole lot going on, but they are boxless. I am very happy that the curtains I had made a year ago for Sawyer's room, work in this one too.
We had to go buy glow in the dark paint for the letters. Very cool though, and really did wonders for my night light needy boys.
Dawson came down the steps like this the other day, this is classic Dawson! This jersey NEVER gets buttoned anymore. I did convince him to put on an undershirt when we went out later. He has on the only salvageable jeans that used to be Sawyers. He thinks they are so cool.
Landon being cute on the airplane that my dad made for Sawyer when he was this age. All three of them just love it. still. You can see my curtains that I hung ALL BY MYSELF! and some other goodies I don't know where to hang yet.
Dawson trying to be cute again.
So... that is all for now! I am almost caught up! Details on the gala coming soon!

I Have Power Tool - Hear Me Roar!

I went and bought a drill today. Who needs a handyman?

Ragan is in San Francisco dining with important people in his favorite dress shirt and I am in a ratty old tee and jeans I've worn all week (FYI I did put them in the wash tonight). I laid in bed last night and thought through all of today and how it would go and how I would get so much done. At midnight, I literally had to pray that God would help me think of other things so I could sleep. You see? It is some kind of evil curse on me and my head. I can't stop!
I have two, 1/2 brackets in the wall in the dining room and the stupid things have two parts and they won't go together right. What kind of idiot am I that I can't figure them out? I did really like drilling the holes though. I called my dad to walk me through it. He is master tool man and could most definately made a living making things out in his shop for money and not just gifts. He helped...but he is in MO, and we so aren't.

I guess I'll sleep on it. I just wan't the house to look different than when Ragan left. Is that too much? Well, I did hang things in his office and it looks pretty good now. I figured he needs peace more than me at this point, right? He is the one working for a check!

We did have great talks with Grandpas today and a great walk and play time in the park. Landon is keeping me very busy with his diapers. I think he is getting a few more teeth.
Oh, and it is Treasure Island that we are going to this weekend, not Angel Island. If anyone really cared! I just found the invite and thought I would correct myself. This is kinda like the mj chronicle and I just need to be accurate for the integrity of my publication!

Seeking: Personal Assistant

Hey, everyone. We're still here. Just overloaded with crazy. There are so many boxes, most of them empty and waiting to be picked up, but they clog up the entire garage! I don't want them to be picked up yet because we want them ALL gone when it is time. So the random things that we can't find yet, we are assuming are hidden out there somewhere. I did find my baking stones, I almost panicked about those. I have had the same ones since we got married and they make the best everything around here!
So what is out of boxes is finding it's place but not as fast as I'd like. I have worked so hard to get to the point we are at now, and I am needing a new surge of motivation to get me going again. What I would really like is a personal assistant. I've never spoken those words before now. As a mom of three there are many expectations of me, but I'm feeling a little worn and useless today. Every time I turn around there is something else to run to Lowe's or Target for and I really think that having someone who could be my double could help me so much! I'm talkin' some serious organization and time management at it's finest! I'm sure that bossing someone else around would be appreciated by Ragan as well! We have found someone to be a handyman to hang things and fix little things here and there, but he also has another job and I want all this done yesterday.
I guess I need to be patient. With a family the size of ours we surely will take a while to get all settled in. Then I will gripe about not having anything to shop around for. Well, that is probably not true.
Something fun I did get to shop for last weekend is a formal event that Ragan and I are going to this coming Saturday. So I found a great dress, shoes, and accessories and had so much fun! I am looking forward to the ferry ride to Angel Island and spending time with just us.
Sawyer is really enjoying school and seems to be making some friends. Surprised? I'm sure not. I still am amazed at how well all three of them are adjusting.
I started doing some preschool work with Dawson here because the place I had planned to take him seems to not do well with communication. I thought it was going to be the perfect place ,I had done my homework checking it all out. But for some reason they haven't gotten back with me. I'm a little offended. They don't even know us. Oh well, after we find our church that we are going to stick with, maybe we can make play dates and he can get some peer interaction. He does need that!
Landon keeps taking two, 2 hour naps each day and going to bed between 7-8 pm. Like that could get better? He is by far my best sleeper and I love him for that....and all the cute little looks he's giving us, and that he will FINALLY keep his helmet on when we go for rides! He continues to endure the pain and suffering that goes along with being a third child. Just last night he received a nice goose egg on his forehead from middle man. He is going to have so many "love scars" when it's over!
Anyway, just some rambling. Ragan is learning everyday and feeling overwhelmed, but I think in a good way. I am so proud of him. God is so good and we are very thankful for Him bringing us here to learn and experience life. We are praying that He will grow us in ways we have no idea we need to grow in and make us better servants in the process.

I will not worry, I will not worry, I will not worry...

Sorry. Reading that last post is a downer! Now for the good part!

Monday morning I resolved to call the school near our new house and see if they still had the one 1st grade spot open for Sawyer they told me about 3 weeks ago. As I am sure most of you parents reading can relate, this whole school thing has been a serious stress that I have tried really hard to keep in check. Moving to a very "left" state and all that is going on politically right now, not to mention not having been in a public school before now...it all added up to major worry. I had been told not to be surprised if we had to enroll in another school (not that far away) because they only allow 20 children in a class. (otherwise they loose their state funding) That part is good, right? Well, I had idealistic dreams of walking him to school each morning and then meeting him there after, not ever having to drive. So I had set myself up for disappointment. Ragan says I'm good at that. Anyway, made the call, brought by all the extensive paperwork, and YES! He got in! Yeah! Thanks be to God for helping me think about other things. There has definitely been plenty of that to do!
One down!
Then I couldn't help but notice that there were other children passing through that he looked like he might have something in common with. I am sure that my big boy could talk and find something in common with just about anyone, but my observations were another window closed inside my very busy computer inside my head.
Two down.
His teacher!!! She is super! So we can tell. She is young and energetic and appeared to have things well under control. First impressions are everything, so I'm told. I am impressed.
THREE DOWN!
Now, after we successfully enrolled on Monday, I got the list of supplies and we headed to WM to buy those things and lunch stuff. We head to the isle of lunch boxes first. Doing a quick looksie I can see that the cheap brand of lunch box has the brand, "California Innovations". Sawyer notices and gets excited and I tell him he will be the only one excited about the name of his new state on the outside of his lunch box. I am happy though because it cost less than $5!!! There is another lady near us and she is overhearing the conversation. She giggles and says to me, "Did you just move here?" I replied, "yes, how did you guess!"
Turns out she just moved here a month and a half ago. She lives in the same town. She is from OHIO! Her children are in K and 2nd grade. She left an independent Christian Church where here children attended school at their academy.
Did you read all that?
God is so good! Don't you agree? Why did I ever give worrying a try? Why is it so hard to hand it all over? I am sure I will continue to struggle with trying to be in control of everything just like we all do. But I am trying harder and certainly humbled once more with His mercy.
Today was Sawyer's first day. It went great. Of course it did.

We've arrived....thank the merciful Lord, that trek is over!

By the sounds of that, you are correct to assume it wasn't pleasant getting here.
I took every good mother's advice and decided to put all three boys under the influence of our friend, Benedryl. Let me just tell you all before you give him an important task for YOUR family someday, that he DID US ALL WRONG!
As if all the "see ya laters" weren't enough ....
Landon just screamed and whinned, screamed...whinned, and then started over, and over again. The first flight Ragan was sitting in the middle of the row in front of all three boys and myself. Ya, you read that right. Landon was just miserably tired but so not giving it up. I finally got up and stood with the flight attendant in the back and let him help her prepare drinks (while contemplating one for myself). That worked for a while until he got bored looking around that area, so we moved to the bathroom. Yes, we hung out there for a good 20 minutes. He was changed and then loved the mirror and the flusher and the soap...then that got old and someone knocked. So we moved back to our seat and the screaming started again. But let me tell you that if anyone had given me any kind of a "can you get your kid together kind of look, I'd have brought out some ugly for them. That is horrible, I know. I was dealing with some pretty serious pity for myself. At that point, the floodgates opened somehow OUT OF NO WHERE, and I started crying uncontrollably. ME! CRYING! Everyone is looking at me anyway. Help! So I poked at Ragan and he turned around saw me and obviously grabbed little man. Just a few minutes later the landing gear made their debut and Landon fell asleep for the remaining 15 minutes coming into Houston.
Now, the even longer flight to Sacramento was no better for him, except that they couldn't even get us in rows next to each other, so Ragan, Dawson and Landon are in row 9, and Sawyer and I had to be clear back in row 19. Bummer. No, really, I felt bad for him and everyone else on board.
So we made it. Then Dawson decides to pull the whole, "my world has fallen apart and I can't talk ledgible, my legs don't work and I don't care if the whole airport and shuttle bus and rental car place hears me crying at the top of my lungs crap". Seriously? could we not have done this on the plane when only a few people would've seen you get threatened with your life? huh? really? He finally wore himself out and decided to chill when we got to the hotel and it was 2 in the morning Ohio time. Now it is party time because, unlike his baby brother, he slept and isn't so tired anymore. His lungs just got a workout and now his body needs one too.
Sawyer was just sweetness. In his weary state on the plane he really wanted to go up to Daddy's seat and try and help him out. "I know I can help, Mom! Please?" He ended up sleeping too and of course was full of energy for rough housing later as well.
So, everyone finally got to sleep and then at 5:30 am pacific, they start rising!!
UHG!
So we were up early ready for our day, enrolling in school and swimming! outside!! It is 85 degrees here after all.
I'll tell you about our FABULOUS day that followed that madness later. We have to go to dinner before the boys explode in the other room.

Preparing for Departure

Well, the boxes start getting packed tomorrow and we are starting to feel like crunch time has definitely arrived. I know I should probably be doing other things...but.
Our ABF prayed over us on Sunday am and that was a huge blessing. I will never forget that. I cried my eyes out for the first time since I started to realize we were heading west a couple of months ago. That was good for my soul, my spirit, my marriage...you name it!
The boys will be in school all week. I am so happy today was school pictures for Saw and I am thrilled that he will be in a pic with his class. That will be meaningful to him. Dawson's isn't till next week, but he has plenty of photos with his buddy that is in class with him.
Ragan is getting excited and I am too, I think. I am excited to have a lot to do so I can keep busy. That seems to be how I work things out in my head!
Can't imagine posting anytime again real soon, but I will let you know when we get there and if Sawyer gets into the school by our house or not. I know God is preparing a wonderful teacher and a friend or two that will be at the school we are suppose to be at. We will have confidence in Him who has is all under control. Thank you God, for reminding me of that and calming me of my needless worries.
I'm off to pack some suitcases!

I think Landon must be gifted

So many reasons for this, but I'll try and not be too boastful, so I'll just name a few.
First of all, Landon knows where his nose is AND his eyes. Actually, everyone else's eyes are easier for him, but he definitely knows the difference. We have this huge puppy that has a nose the size of Landon's head (OK, not that big) and he has used it as his learning tool.
He can tell you what a dog says.....big gruff! SO very cute! He has just the right inflection in his voice to differentiate it from any other animal you might ask him about. I promise.
Landon, we all know by now is a screamer. Tonight on the way to the Lodi shopping outlet (to ride a very awesome train and do a little shopping) I told Ragan that I had just realized he hadn't screamed all day long! After a few moments of quiet, Landon took his paci out and, you guessed it, HE SCREAMED!!! what? you must be joking! We tested this on the way home and he did it again. I swear I'm not making this up. We better get him on a waiting list now for a very special school!
The best one is that when I ask him if he ready for night night, he usually points up the stairs and lays his head off to the side (as if he is telling Ma Patty that he is her little angel) and I tote him off to his bed.
I know this probably doesn't seem like much to you... but I am so amazed at what I see him understanding that I am not sure the other boys did as this age. And they are no dummies, but I am going to safely assume that having two older siblings will tend to help the third one out a bit. I hear that the third ones don't talk as much because they never get a chance... that is what I will be looking for to make a more accurate diagnosis.
Never mind that scream. I'll deal with that on the airplane in a week and re-evaluate. I can't help but think he is surely some kind of special!

Yes, We Are Moving ...

...to California.



Yes, you read it correctly.



No, we haven't been in Ohio two years yet.



Yes, Ragan is still with Smuckers.



No, I never thought I would EVER live in THAT state. But you know what? I never thought I would ever live in Arkansas either, much less call it home. I never thought I would ever live in Ohio either. But we already shed tears, missing our dear friends before we are even gone!

So there. It's out there.

We did ask for this. The whole point in coming to home office was to be equipped to get a sales job with another grocery, to be completely qualified to go back to WM some day (soon!!??). We pray the Lord wants that for us as well.

So, that is what the trips have been about. We will be living in Rocklin which is just east of Sacramento about 20 minutes or so. Ragan will sell to Safeway with his office in our home with a trip once a week or so to San Fran. Sawyer will be starting off in public school for the first time. that is a huge prayer focus for us right now. The school that we hopefully will be in is just a short walk down the bike trail from our new house. That part is awesome. There is a beautiful park and soccer field across the street from us. Things are going to be just fine. It is a very different climate and culture there. Lots of room for me to grow in who I am. I know it will be challenging and a daily struggle to be who I need to be. Don't we all struggle with that though? I will be reminding myself of that often!!

Anyway, we went out last week to find the house and brought the kids. We really thought it would be important, especially for Sawyer to see where we are going and get his input. We had our first offer accepted on our favorite house by Tuesday and had the rest of the week to lounge!! So I am sharing pics to show what we did when we weren't swimming or playing basketball at the hotel.