Grant strikes again!

It seems that it is fire prevention week (maybe month) as Grant was taught how to dial 911 this week in preschool. Now, if I had had my head on straight I, I would have gone ahead and laid the ground rules down about 911 by saying something to the effect of, "You can only dial 911 in an emergency. We are not going to call them for fun," because this is Grant we are talking about; you gotta stay waaaaaaay ahead of the game with the child. Let's review his track record, shall we? This is the same kid who stuck a pea up his nose last year for the heck of it - took two doctors (including an ER visit) to get it out. This is the same kid who pulled the fire alarm at church one Sunday morning when he was two just because it was within his reach and it was red. (am I right, Bryan and Shaye?) This is the same kid who pushed the "P" button on our house's alarm system when he was three because the button looked cool, so therefore the police came. Which means... this is the SAME kid who called 911 tonight!!!! Why am I not surprised? And if you know Grant at all, you are most likely not batting an eye at this story!


The lowdown: Grant came running into my bathroom around 7:30 tonight crying hysterically and saying, "I am soooooooooo sorry, Momma. I did not mean to call the emergency people! I am sooooooo sorry!" You guessed it: "emergency people" meant "911". I immediately raced to the phone hoping someone was still on the line. Nope. I hit "redial" to see if 911 would come up on the screen. Yep - it did. This meant he really did call 911. I called 911 back and told them it was a mistake and everything was okay, however they still had to send a policeman to our home to check things out. In the meantime, Grant was beside himself. He was sure he was going to be arrested or maybe get a ticket, so he hid in his closet (because I am sure you are all aware that if you hide in your closet you can not get arrested or be given a ticket...). At that moment, the policeman shows up. I open the door and quickly began to tell (you know how fast I can talk) him that we are so sorry for causing this problem; that Grant had learned how to dial 911 in school this week and for some reason he had decided to give it a try. I invited him in (thank goodness I had just picked up the house) and told him that Grant was going to need to apologize for what he had done. To my surprise, the policeman was soooooo VERY kind about the whole thing. I mean, I figured he would be annoyed at yet another obnoxious kid who dialed 911! But I am so thankful to say that he proved me quite wrong. As a matter of fact, he followed me to Grant's room (where Grant was hiding) - I think the officer came in and followed me to take a look around the place to make sure everything really was okay - and spoke so sweetly to Grant. Grant was in awe that he was getting to talk to a REAL policeman in his OWN room -his facial expression was one that said, "I am the luckiest kid on the planet to get to be talking to a policeman right now." Too cute. Anyways, Grant apologized a million times to the officer, and the two became best buds faster than I can eat a Hershey's Kiss. Grant told him how he was going to be a policeman for Halloween, and the officer took Grant out to his truck and let him sit in his truck, turn on the lights (I got a video of this, but I 'm having a hard time downloading it.), the siren, and he even gave Grant a little badge. (Grant is sleeping with it tonight. He thinks it's pretty neat.)

I very much appreciated the way the man handled it as he told Grant he was so glad he knew how to dial 911, but that he should only do so in an emergency. Of course, I had already told Grant that, but I think it was good for Grant to hear it from the officer as well. So what was Grant's response to this? He looked at me and said, "Okay, Momma. I will only call 911 if Rhett is drowning in the pool (we don't have a pool) or if you are dead." I am sure something about that is supposed to give me comfort...

Pictures of the event:

Grant following the officer out to his truck to get his "surprise".

The officer giving Grant the little badge.

Best buds!

On a side note:
We all wore our Halloween shirts today. They got great reviews.

My little toots. (I mean, my sweet pumpkins.)

Catch-Up Time

Wow!! It's been quite a while since I last posted. (Bet you're pretty shocked, Shaye and Courtney.) Truth is, I've been wanting to add a new post for a while now, but the time to do so never seems to present itself. I think that's primarily because I have been spending every spare moment HAPPILY making things that I am going to sell at our church's Holiday in the Grove at the end of October. I am making personalized sippy cups, adult sport bottles, kid sport bottles, travel coffee mugs (the kind that have a lid), and t-shirts with my embroidery machine. I am totally pumped about the cup/bottle/mug thing, but alas, I don't have many pictures to share of those yet. I know you'll be on pins and needles until I do. In the meantime, here are the most recent shirts I made:


Sure, the pumpkins' leaves makes them look more like apples rather than pumpkins, but that's okay. And yes, my pumpkin's mouth (my name) is a bit lower than I had planned, but oh well. I got better with Grant's and Rhett's as practice does make perfect. (they really are cuter in person) Something tells me Da-tee won't like these, but oh well about that too. hee hee


I decided to MAKE these shirts for three reasons: 1.) Making is waaaaaaaaay more fun than buying. 2.) The Halloween t-shirts I bought for the boys are long-sleeved. Dumb purchase, I know. It's still like 100 degrees down here. 3.) Making soothes my soul. It takes me away from the every day blah of laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning and chasing kids.

I totally love these shirts! I monogramed the chunky car shirt with Rhett's name to be the exhaust coming out the back of the car, and the chunky flower's stem is actually the little girl's name. I'm not sure I totally love the fabrics I used for the flower shirt, but the idea came to me on a whim, and I HAD to make it right THEN (when I get excited about a project, I drop everything and have at it) which meant there was no time to go to the fabric store, so I had to use some remnants that I turn to when I must do emergency sewing for the soul.

I tell ya, nothing makes me happier than being able to create and sew with my new embroidery machine!!! It's the highlight of my day!!! Well, other than the kids and Kerry, but you get my drift. I'm currently thinking of other designs including some spunky ones for Christmas. I can't wait to make those! Do you know what I would give to turn off my phone, turn off the stresses of every day, send my kids somewhere else and just make, create and sew in my own little I'm-Alone-and-Happy-to-be-Sewing world? First things come first though: I can not "work" when the house is dirty because when I sew, it is my time to relax and enjoy being me. But if the house is dirty, loads of laundry need to be folded and dirty dishes are staring me down, there's no way I can relax. So like I said, first I would have to clean. Then I would need to turn on "The Golden Girls" or an old black-and-white movie, open the blinds and enjoy the happy sunshine (a thunderstorm would be even better with a flickering sugar cookie candle next to me) while sewing and sipping a DrPepper or a decaf hazelnut Skinny Latte from Starbucks. I mean, sewing is my steroid, if you will. (I know - odd analogy, but I'm Amanda, and what you get is what you get.) It makes me feel alive, energized, happy and it makes my soul feel strong. And let's just take this quick opportunity to say that I've never actually taken steroids other than when they were prescribed by a doctor. I'm not like those Granbury football players I went to school with. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! That was looooooooooooooooow!

Moving on: So, a few days after Ike hit the Galveston/Houston area, the boys and I made our way to Granbury to get away from the crazy lines as the gas stations and the lack of bread, milk, eggs, and so forth. During our visit, my dad drove us to my Uncle Mark's ranch house which is where Boone, Kate, Jackson and Everett are living until they can move back to Galveston. We really wanted to see them and give them our support, but we also wanted to meet Everett. What a cutie-pa-tootie he is!! Of course my camera died when I was getting a picture of the newest member of the fam because I have incredible luck, so instead, I will share other events of the day at the ranch.

1. Uncle Mark bought this jeep thingy for my Grandmom after she had both knees replaced because he thought she would have a hard time getting around the ranch. Boy, did he underestimate her! She gets around just fine, so now the jeep thingy is the favorite boy toy at the ranch. I'm not sure who loved it more: my dad or the kiddos...

2. Well, the TV is really fun to watch at the ranch, too. (cute cousins) 3. And, I suppose one could also have fun fishing in the stock tanks. (Sorry, Kate. This is the best "1st picture of Jackson fishing" that I could get.)
4. (or trying to swim in the stock tank - Rhett...I wonder how much cow poop is in there...GROSS! Let's just stay out of the stock tanks all together, boys!)

I told Grant to point to the fish he caught, but of course when I took this shot, he moved and instead it looks like he is doing some kind of ballet pose. Sorry cousin Carrie. ha ha

Rhett and Pops playing in the jeep:

How is it that M&Ms melt ON Rhett's mouth instead of IN it? So no, he has not grown facial hair.
Someone had a great time with their reflection in the shower knob during their bath... (this one's a great example of the "impressive lungs" Josh Howell says my kids have)

This week Kerry is in Brazil on a business trip. He was very excited about going, and I was very excited for him, but I miss him terribly. I have a bit of an ill feeling deep down in the pit of my heart due to the extreme distance there is between us right now. He comes back Sunday, but a week later he goes to Egypt for another week long business trip. I'm sure I'll be sad then as well, but I'll try to make the best of it. Maybe that's why I tend to sew when he's gone: it keeps my spirits up. I am TOTALLY used to his traveling. It really is just part of my world. Most people have no idea HOW I do it, but really after eight years you figure out how to manage for several days w/o a hubby while at the same time taking care of two young kids alone. He used to travel a lot, but now that he's moving up the corporate ladder, he truly doesn't leave town much, so I know I should just be thankful for that. And, I am. I still miss him, though. No doubt he's having a blast. To quote his email the other night, "I am not going to begin to describe the view of the ocean from my hotel room because I don't want to rub it in."Well, good for you, you big mouth!!! (I mean that in the most loving way. ha ha) I do hope he is having a good time on his little South American adventure. He is such a hard worker and deserves these types of perks. I'll post more about the boy's work schedule when Busy Season rolls around (January - May). I think it'll blow you away! My mood also seems to dip waaaaaaaaaaaay down during those long months as I am 100% a single mom, and the stresses of that can be overwhelming at times. This will be my first Busy Season with blogging. I think it will help keep me company. Gee - that's pathetic!! We'll save that fun for a later date though. Well, I am off to get ready for bed. I've been quite ill with asthma the past six days, and I need all the rest I can get before going back to school tomorrow. I am actually looking forward to the school day. I miss my PERFECT students and my 6th English class is studying Greek mythology - one of my FAVORITES!!!! I totally LOVE it! What? Did you just call me a dork?

On a side note, keep my ACU friend, Alyson, in your prayers. Her baby is due any day now, and if you've ever been in her shoes, you know all too well the anxiety, worry, happiness and the crazy emtions she is feeling right now. Hang in there, Aly!! All of us moms out here are pullin' for ya!

Did Jesus miss out?

Bedtime seems to always be the marked slot in our day that Grant and I talk about God. Grant has been asking some very deep questions recently as he has been trying to piece this whole very confusing God/Jesus/Heaven thing together. Tonight's talk, however, was just funny. Short, but funny:

Grant: Momma, is Jesus big enough to drive?
me: Yes, but there was no such thing as cars when Jesus was still alive on the earth. So, no,
Jesus did not get to drive.
Grant: Ahhhhhhhh! Poor Jesus! I think he really would have liked driving.

Check out these cakes!

My chilhood friend, Heather, is an AMAZING cake decorator. She truly inspires me to try new things, but let's face it: she's really good, and my cakes would look... well... not as good (I know from experience as I have dipped my creative juices in the whole cake/icing/fondant world. No doubt my pigs or chicks would look more like pink and yellow rocks.), so I'm not sure if I'll give it another whirl. I really just wish she lived closer because I would get all of my cakes from her, but she lives in the Granbury area. BUMMER!!!! Well, if you're ever in the Granbury area and need a cake, you should give her a call!!!

Now how perfect is this cake? Can you tell she is the mother of two boys?? Here's how creative she is: the haystack cake was just for the birthday boy to smash and smear as all one-year-olds always do.

Precious Words

This will be a short one, believe it or not, so there is no need to get comfy. I just want to quickly share the sweetest thing that Grant has started to say with the whole world because I think it's priceless and it totally melts my heart. Grab a tissue because it's precious.......... "Momma, I will love you forever and ever!" and then he gives me a kiss. I don't ask him to say it, and I don't even ask for the kiss that definitely serves as the icing on the already yummy cake. Now how perfect is that?Every time he says it (usually at bed time) I find myself not only storing those innocent words in my "Extra Special Mommy Memory Bank" where only the PERFECT moments are kept, but I also find myself trying to save the way his little voice sounds when he says it so I can pull it up on the day he goes off to college or the day he gets married and remember "our" special times and how he'll always be my "prince". (Disclaimer: it still totally surprises me that he is so lovey at this point because he was sooooooo NOT a touchy-feely baby. He did not want to snuggle. He did not want to rock. (Too bad we bought a really nice leather rocker before he was born for that specific reason. Oh well - at least Rhett likes it.) I feared he would never want to be close to me the way I imagined he would when I was pregnant with him. Thank goodness he's changed his mind!)

PS #1= The boys and I spent a lot of last week in Granbury to get away from the whole Ike mess. While we were there, we took a day trip to my Uncle Mark's ranch house outside of Brownwood (where Boone, Kate and the boys are currently living until they can go back to Galveston) to meet our newest cousin, Everett. The boys (Grant, Rhett and Jackson) had the BEST time together on the ranch, and Everett, well, he just slept, but he was still really cute and a perfect snuggle-bug. Pics will come whenever I get a new battery for my camera... You know how long that took me last time.

PS#2= Due to Ike, Kerry's business trip to Brazil that was supposed to occur this week was cancelled. He was a bit disappointed, but I was selfishly THRILLED. Ya know - I'm liking Ike more and more. (except for the HORRID traffic problems he caused! It took me an HOUR to get to school today; it usually takes me less than 20 minutes!!)

Guess this wasn't as short as I planned. Big shocker!

Hasta la Vista, Ike!

We decided to take advantage of the "calm before the storm" and spent most of Friday outside because we figured we would not be able to get out of the house for a few days after Ike. The pre-storm weather was perfect. The humidity was low, the sun's burning rays were hidden behind cloudy skies, and there was a really nice breeze; granted the breeze was from the scary incoming storm, but the breeze was rare so we took advantage of it. After a fun time at our favorite park, we fed the ducks and then enjoyed lunch at Sweet Mesquite. Although almost no one in Sugar Land evacuated, there weren't many people out - unless they had kids. I noticed those with kids were out and about staying as busy as possible for the exact same reason we were: reduce the amount of Ike-Cabin-Fever that was sure to come in the near future.

Friday before Ike:

Fun at the park: Rhett going UP the slide, as usual...

Daddy got to join us at the park since his work was cancelled Friday.

Lots of kids at the park. We did not know any of them, but Grant made friends with them quickly. Not sure if you can see them well, but all the boys had sticks because... well... playing with sticks is fun!

Peek-a-boo, Grant! Grant and his new friends.
Fun with Daddy at the park.

Honk! Honk! Jeep drivers comin' through! Grant and his new neighbor friend, Amber, enjoying time outside before the storm hits.

Saturday afternoon after Ike: pictures taken around our neighborhood.

"Go Away, Ike".

The park/tennis courts/sray park/pool/baseball field by our house.

Our fence.

Debris hanging from power lines near the mall.

Another park in our neighborhood.

My advise: If a category 3+ hurricane is headed your way, GET OUT OF TOWN. We experienced hurricane winds (100 mph) ALL night, and Ike was "just" a high category 2. (Actually I heard the winds have to be 111 mph for a hurricane to be labeled a "three". Ike's winds were 110 mph so he was labeled a "two" .) I would certainly imagine that anything over a "two" would be very dangerous; hence my advice to get out of town. I am sooooooo happy to report that the boys did very well during Ike. Rhett did not awaken once, and Grant only awoke occasionally; who wouldn't with winds like that?? We played musical beds in the hopes that we would all get the best sleep as possible. Therefore, Grant slept with me and Kerry slept in G's room. Rhett remained in his bed all night as we wanted to keep things as "normal" as possible. I hear that lots of people slept in their bathtubs, so I feel a bit guilty that we didn't. But, I suppose I should get over that because we are totally FINE. Trees did not smash through our windows as I had feared - HOORAY, and - the best news of all other than the fact that we are not hurt and not flooded = we have water AND electricity. Get this: The news is saying 96% of the areas affected by Ike (millions of people) are w/o power; except us. Our power lines are underground, so we have had power the majority of the time. If it weren't for that, we would probably be MISERABLE in this heat and therefore be headed towards Granbury. Having electricity is one more thing that makes me really feel for those near Galveston, or any other place/person that has been through a hurricane for that matter. I feel a bit tougher, braver and wiser having been through a hurricane as it is an experience one could never put into words - you just have to go through it in order to have DEEP empathy. From now on when I hear the word "hurricane", I will have a totally different picture in my head of just exactly what that word means, and I will have an even deeper respect for those that will have to endure it - no matter if they suffer a lot of damage or a little - hurricanes are an awesome force! How does anyone doubt there is a God once they've gone through one? The storm's size, power and pure rawness is a strong reminder of how powerful and almighty God's creation is. Thank goodness God is all knowing and made hurricanes m-o-v-e.

Schools and businesses are still closed. Grant MAY have school tomorrow (Monday), although most of our part of the world, including public schools and my private school, Logos, will be closed tomorrow. Kerry was supposed to catch a flight to Chicago tonight, but due to Ike and the fact that Ike's rain is headed towards Chicago, that flight no longer exists. I'm secretly hoping the business trip is cancelled all together. I am also secretly hoping Grant DOES have school tomorrow because the boy needs to get out of the house for a while, and Rhett and I need to get away from him for a while, thus his going to school tomorrow would be a win/win situation for us all. Love the boy- but he gets Cabin Fever easier than I do - and that's a BIG statement! He's been outside playing with the neighborhood kids all morning (and believe me when I say they were all as wild as holler monkeys - being cooped up for 24 hrs. can do that to kiddos; especially boys) and now he's outside helping Kerry clean up the yard. Maybe that means I can put him to bed a bit earlier tonight since he should be extra tired from all of this hard work, and Kerry and I can have another kid-free-movie-night-at-home as we enjoy all of this extra "us" time -and- electricity!

**UPDATE = Grant's school WAS cancelled for tomorrow. Bummer x 4.
**UPDATE = Kerry flies out for Chicago tomorrow. Bummer x 5.

Ike is not taking a hike!

I think we may be really dumb. WHY would you stay anywhere where electricity could go off at any time and toilets not work and water not be available??? I'll tell you why: because you're an idiot. Yip - that means I am one of "those" (an idiot) that is sticking around for Ike. Actually, I think almost everyone I know including friends, neighbors and family are staying put, but I've never been one to follow the crowd. Every inch of my soul says to LEAVE; not because I am afraid of the actual storm, but because I am afraid of losing power and water. (Hello? Have you seen the radar pictures???) Unfortunately, it's not that easy to leave. Wait. I take that back. It is easy if you don't mind sitting in "Rita Traffic" for hours and hours and hours and hours and hours and hours with two young children which would then cause you to go insane, rip all your hair out and bang your head against a wall. Kerry and I swore we would never do the "Rita Traffic" again which is a main reason as to why we are staying here. Have you seen the traffic reports tonight?? Holy moly! NO WAY could you PAY me to get out there in it. As Ike gets closer, however, my insides are shaking a bit as I have never been through a hurricane. I find myself wishing I was Samantha (not "Genie" - thanks, Jess) on "Bewitched" and I could blink my eyes really hard one time, and with a nod of my head (or is it a crinkle of my nose??), we would be in Granbury where I would feel safe. There are long lines at gas stations (there's lots of honking), grocery stores are swamped, traffic is pretty heavy, the news is on 24/7 as opposed to "Grey's Anatomy" and other fun shows, and schools and businesses are closing. As a matter of fact, both Grant's preschool and my school were cancelled for today AND tomorrow. Despite all this mayhem, "natives" to the Houston area are not scared - at all. This would include my husband; hurricanes don't frighten him in the least. As you could imagine, that little difference of opinion between us has caused some "loving" friction in our house today. Kerry thinks it will be no problem at all, and all I can see in my mind's eye are trees flying through our windows due to the predicted 100 mph winds, water lines bursting, electricity being out for days, and being stuck in a house without air conditioning with two small children until the cows come home. I should take comfort in that, as I mentioned, almost everyone is staying here because they think it really won't be that bad. What exactly do they not understand about the statement, "100 mph winds"???? Sounds pretty bad to me...
Anywho, due to my panicked state, I have been getting ready for Ike for 24 hrs now.
So far I have done the following to prepare for Ike: helped a few neighbors carry heavier outdoor items to their garages, purchased lots of diapers, filled my gas tank, done LOADS of laundry, placed everything that lives on the back porch on their sides (iron table, chairs, sandbox), taken the wreath off the door, brought in welcome mats and other outdoor decorations, saved lots of ice, got prescriptions refilled (especially asthma stuff), cleaned the house (dusted, vacuumed, shined, wiped, scraped, fluffed and mopped - my house is sooooooo clean), done three loads of dishes, made several lists of what to do when Ike gets closer (fill bathtubs with water, fill washing machine with water, fill other large containers with water, get candles, flashlights, cash, cell phones charged, plan meals) and packed up the kids and myself -oh, and the dog. That's right: I've been packed and ready to G-O since 11:00 p.m. Wednesday night which was when I learned Ike was turning towards Galveston/Houston. Never thought I would still be here at this point...
So far Kerry has done the following to prepare for Ike: picked up his dry cleaning, taken a nap and made a short trip to the grocery store.

I swear to goodness: if I did all of this work for nothing and Kerry comes out looking like the genius in all of this, I am going to be really...well...ticked. Mark my words though: if Ike ends up being as bad as they are predicting he will be, I told Kerry I get to sing "Told ya so! Told ya so!" for a year. I may even add a little victory dance to the routine.

But seriously, I want to take this opportunity to give a shout out to my dear cousins Boone, Kate and Jackson of Galveston.http://www.katya0026.blogspot.com/ Bless their hearts; especially Kate's. Kate is 39 weeks pregnant with their second boy, Everett, and was scheduled to have a c-section TOMORROW, Friday the 12th. However, since they live in Galveston as Boone is attending med school there, they chose to evacuate to San Antonio last night. I feel so sorry for them. What a bummer! If you've ever been pregnant and near your due date, you can probably feel Kate's pain. Everett, we are excited to meet you, but we ask that you stay put for a few more days. Love you guys!! Hang in there, Kate!

**UPDATE = Everett has arrived! He was born around 11:15 Friday the 12th in San Antonio. I'm thinking his middle name should be "Ike".