Weekend With The Family

We had a great time this weekend. We didn't do a whole lot, just hung around the house, played outside, cooked steaks and pork chops on the grill, and rode the go cart. Of course, I was left out of the go cart fun, but everyone else had a blast. Here are some of the pics I got.

I still can't believe that Dad actually got Mom to ride on the thing. She swore she absolutely would not do it.

Akeem and Patrick, doing donuts in the front yard.

Of course, we did more than just play on the go cart. The boys played outside practically the whole day. Whether it was on their bikes, which in AJ's case is a little train, or in the back of Akeem's truck, it was definitely a beautiful day to be outside. And, we made the most of it.

Daddy was totally worn out.

Patrick and Faith had a good time.

Of course, we couldn't just play outside all day. After a hard day's play, everyone needs a good rest.

I think this is Dad's favorite. AJ was so happy to see him and didn't leave Pawpaw's side the whole weekend.

The weekend was perfect. It makes me really homesick, though. I hope to get back home someday soon. I definitely want to be back home when the boys start playing ball. My dad want's to be able to coach AJ, like he coached me and Patrick when we played ball. I hope he will be able to. I guess it will depend on if AJ is into sports. Although, with his lineage, I don't know how he couldn't. I think it's in our blood. Sometimes, I still miss being on the basketball court and I know that Patty misses baseball a lot.

Hopefully, soon we will able to do this more often. Until then, I will hold these times together close to my heart. You know, I spent years in Memphis, hours away from my parents, and I really never got homesick. I was young, in my twenties, and I didn't have any children. I think the kids make the biggest difference. It seems more important now, to be close to family, to have those ties. It's really important to me that AJ and Jabari have a close relationship with their grandparents.

Been A Little While...

(Don't have a clue why he's laughing.)

(He's riding on his Thomas the Train.)

But, I've been a little busy. I had back surgery a little over a month ago. I've also had a problem with my wireless internet, and since I can't sit up for more than 20 minutes at a time, blogging from my desktop was a little out of the question. But, I was able to get my wireless working yesterday, and so here I am today.  We've still been taking pictures of the boys, even though I've been a little incapacitated lately. So, here are some of the cutest ones.

These next pictures are so amazing because it took FOREVER for AJ to get into this tent, then even longer to get him to go through the tunnel. I had to get the camera when he finally went through it and then WOULDN'T STOP. 

 Aren't they so cute? I have no idea how I got so lucky to have such a good looking son and stepson.

Also, we went to Nacogdoches Trade Days this past weekend. It was the first time I've been out of the house since I got home from the hospital, with the exception of the appointment for the checkup with the neurosurgeon. I found a beautiful hanging plant that looks great on my front porch. 

 

And, we got two pets. Please, allow me to introduce Petey and Pablo, our new hamsters.

My parents are coming to visit this weekend. Patrick and his girlfriend, Faith, are coming with them. I'm really excited because I haven't seen Mom since the week after my surgery. It's been even longer since I've seen Dad, and even longer than that since I've seen my little brother (excuse me, younger brother, he hasn't been my little brother since he turned 11).

I was so glad Mom was able to be here to help after my surgery. I couldn't do anything and she was a life-saver, being there to help me take a shower and get up and down out of bed. She also did everything around the house and helped out so much with AJ. Now, I'm able to get around okay by myself, and I can even wash my own hair. Akeem just has to be around in case I get tired or need a hand to get out of the bathtub. Boy, what I wouldn't give for a walk-in shower right now.

The weekend that Mom left, Akeem's sister came down to stay with us and help us out. She's been here the past four weeks. She's really great with AJ and helped me out with washing clothes and keeping the house clean. She's had to go back to Arkansas, but I think she's going to come back in a week or two. Since the surgery, Akeem's been working on the day shift. I think, when she comes back, he'll go back to nights. I know he's ready. There are just too many drivers on day shift and he doesn't seem to get the miles that he did when he worked nights. Plus, he's sleeping habits have been jacked up since the change. It seems like he sleeps the entire time he's at home. He will even fall asleep sitting straight up. It really worries me, even though it is kind of funny.

Speaking of work, I can't wait to get back to it. Even though I'm working from home some, helping out when I can, it's been really hard to just sit and not be productive. I have completed four word search books and two afghans. I've watched every episode of Law and Order: SVU, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, and House.  I've learned how to cook chicken spaghetti and walked around our go cart track so much I can do it with my eyes closed. I've done all that, but I still don't feel like I'm accomplishing anything because I can't be at work. My doctor won't release me to return until after my next checkup, which isn't until almost the end of April. It's frustrating because I have defined myself by my job for so long and it's almost like I don't know what I am now.

Anyway, I'll be back to work as soon as I can and hopefully everything can get back to normal. I will have to take breaks more often. I won't be able to sit behind my desk all day on Wednesday to get cost closed as early as possible. Hopefully, everyone at work will be understanding of my situation. But, all one can do is hope.

I will post again after my fun weekend with my family. Until then...

Yes, I just posted, but...

  

I got some really cute pics of the boys tonight, when they were playing. I just had to post them so that you guys could see them. I was on here blogging about last weekend, so I thought, what the hay? I'll go ahead and get these on here, too. Two birds, one stone.

I had just finished washing Jabari's bedding and getting it back on his bed. Jabari got under the covers and told AJ to get in, too. Then, Jabari told me, very matter-of-factly to "take a cheese of us". Teehee.

Jabari is in love with everything Toy Story. So, of course, when we transitioned AJ to a toddler bed, we bought a new Toy Story bed for Jabari and gave AJ the Elmo bed.

So, later on in the evening, we were all watching Dora the Explorer, another one of Jabari's favorites, and the boys were acting REALLY silly. Here are pictures of them with pillows on their heads, along with some other silly poses.

      

They are sooooo silly!!

A visit from Memaw and Pawpaw

Last weekend, my parents came to visit us for the weekend. They also brought Jabari down to us, since it was time for us to have him again. It was the first time since a couple of weeks before Christmas that we had gotten to see him. It seems like his voice is deeper and he's grown an inch! All in the span of about 5 weeks. It's crazy.

Anyway, we went to the mall, then Akeem and I treated Mom and Dad to Cheddars. It's a really good, down to earth restaurant in Lufkin that has good food, great atmosphere, and good service. I knew they both would like it. And, they did. Then, we went to the Ellen Trout Zoo and rode the train.

Back at the house, I cooked a good dinner of BBQ ribs, steamed potatoes, green beans, and rolls. Everyone liked it and was a little surprised, I think. Mom did help with the potatoes, though. I'm more of an instant mashed potato girl, myself.  After dinner, we just sat around the living room and visited while Memaw and Pawpaw played with the boys. You can just see it in their eyes and the boys' eyes, they all just love each other so much. It brings tears to my eyes, a little. I'm just so glad I have such a great family and that we are so close. I don't know how people do it who have family but, for whatever reason, don't communicate or spend time with them. It makes me sad. I live over five hours away from my family, but still usually talk to one or both of my parents daily. Akeem is the same way with his sister. They talk every night.

But, I digress. Now, on to the most important part of this post, the pictures. I know how much all of you like to see the boys and how they've grown. Of course, in these, you will have to deal with seeing Memaw and Pawpaw, too. And, they will have to deal with being in the pics, haha.

Now, I just can't wait until Spring Break, when Uncle Patty will be out of school and can (hopefully) take a few days off work. He is planning on coming down then, with Mom and Dad,to visit us. Of course, I think he has an ulterior motive, called the go cart. But, I won't hold that against him. I think they are going to bring Faith, Patrick's girlfriend, with them. I think we will have tons of fun. I'll update, with pics of course, afterwards.



Christmas at Memaw and Pawpaw's (oh, and Uncle Patty's)

We took Jabari back to Arkansas this weekend and back to his mom. I hate this. I hate to have to leave him. When we get back home, it's like the house is just SO quiet without him there. But, you do what you have to do.

Anyway, because we aren't going to have Jabari for Christmas, we decided that on this trip we would also visit both sides of the family and have an early celebration with them. Also, due to both of our jobs, it will be difficult to travel on Christmas weekend, because we don't get a day off for the holiday since it's on Saturday this year.

So, Friday we ate a big Christmas dinner with ham, dressing, and all the fixin's. Then, Akeem and I went out for a date night and let Memaw and Pawpaw babysit. They had a blast. We got up early Saturday morning and opened presents. The boys had such a good time. But, AJ got a little preoccupied with one toy and was totally uninterested in opeing his other presents. Weird little boy. But, anyway, here are some of the pics:

 

We also visited Akeem's family on Saturday and opened presents there. But, I didn't get any pictures because I forgot my camera. We actually used my mom's camera to take the pics at her house.

By the time we got back home Saturday night, we were exhausted from all the traveling. But, I wouldn't trade the love in our families for all the rest in the world. I'm so glad my children are surrounded with so much love.

Early Christmas Present for the Boys...

...including the hubs. Yes, that's right ladies and gentlemen, we got a go cart this weekend. My husband wanted a motorcycle. I finally had him talked out of it, because, let's be honest, that's a pretty selfish thing for a dad to get. Instead, we decided that if he really wanted it, we would spring for a 4-wheeler.

On Saturday mornings, we've started a tradition of looking in the paper and picking a few good yard sales to go to before we head to Lufkin to hang out at the zoo, park, or, now that it's getting a little colder, the mall. Well, wouldn't you know it, there was a yard sale that had a 4-wheeler for sale. So, off we go about seven miles out of town (and the opposite way of Lufkin) to this very nice lady's house. It was 8:15 am. The sale started at 8:00 am. The 4-wheeler was already sold. BUT, there it was, looking all shiny and blue and pretty, and most importantly, a lot less expensive than a flippin' 4-wheeler: the go cart. Akeem drove it around the yard for a little while, just checking it out. Then, we left to talk it over. We drove back into town and ended up hitting up the ATM to get the cash and back we went. He called one of his friends to help us get it home and we were riding around OUR yard within the hour.

The boys absolutely love it. AJ just throws a fit when he has to get off the thing. And, he can't stand to see anyone riding it if he's not riding too. The boy knows what he wants, and he will whine and cry and throw tantrums to get it. Lots of tantrums.

Here are some pics of all three of my boys on their new toy.

Okay, so Jabari doesn't look too excited in that last one. But, I think it was just because I was taking ANOTHER picture and he didn't want me to take ANOTHER picture. He's definitely into that "I want what I want" stage. KWIM?

Memaw's Visit

My mom, better knowed now as Memaw, visited us this weekend. She got here Friday afternoon and is leaving in the morning when I leave for work. She has gotten to make Pawpaw super jealous because she's been able to hang out and play with AJ all weekend long and Pawpaw didn't get to come this time, so he's missing out on all of it.

On Saturday, we went shopping for my and Akeem's Christmas/birthday present: new living room furniture. I was getting a little frustrated because we couldn't find what we wanted. Then, when we did, the store we found it at said they would have to order it and it wouldn't be in until the middle of the week. So, we went out to Lufkin and looked at a couple of stores there. Finally, we found exactly what we wanted. And, they had it in stock. So, Mom paid for it and we headed back to Nac to get a trailer from one of Akeem's coworkers. We got back to Lufkin and took Mom to Cheddars to eat. It was really good. Our waiter was training, so that was fun. He kept getting the information fed to him by his trainer. It was kind of like an actor in a play who can't remember his lines, but is getting them fed to him from just off stage.

Here it is now, Monday night, and it seems like the weekend has flown by. It's almost time for Memaw to leave and it seems like she just got here. She brought a lot of books for AJ and he's fallen in love with this one picture book that has animals in it (pictured below). He has drug it around everywhere with him the entire weekend. We kept him out of daycare today so that she could spend as much time as possible with him.

Here are some pics I took tonight of the two of them (on our NEW loveseat!).

My Mom is so silly, she wouldn't look up for the pictures because she didn't have any makeup on. ;)