Last week my mother visited us for a whole week (yeah!) and we had a lot of fun.



She went with us to Jayson's swim class and we did some touristy stuff. Aidan (of course) got sick just in time for her to come so she rode the Metro all by herself to see the museums at the National Mall. She didn't get lost at all, which is more than I can say for our overnight stay to Manhattan. Jay came home on Saturday morning from Oakland so my mom and I left the boys with him and rode the Chinatown bus up. The Subway system is rather more complex than the DC Metro, but wqe made it alive and even got some great shopping in! My mom can shop like no one else I know. It's a talent.




On her last day here we all went to Old Town Alexandria then to Arlington Cemetery where it was freezing then dropped her off at the airport and went sadly home. Three days later as we were eating dinner, Jayson looked around and said "oh, where's Grandma!?" We reminded him that we had dropped her at the airport a few days earlier and he thought about it then said, "oh, with Grandpa. That's fun. It's fun at Grandpa's house...I want to go there!"

It's Hard to Grow up!

Today I had several realizations that my children are growing up and I need another baby. I'm so reluctant for Aidan to experience the milestones that prove your child to be a toddler, no longer a baby! He was weighed at the doctor today (he has bronchialitis AGAIN so they prescribed a steroid to use in his nebulizer)and he is well over the 20 pound weight requirement to move him from his rear facing car seat. I don't know why I was so shocked when I realized that in one month when he turns one we'll be putting him in a "big boy" car seat like Jayson. I'm seriously crying a little bit while I type this. I don't want them to grow up. I really don't. Today after I picked Jayson up from preschool we went to the pharmacy for Aidan's RX and while I waited in line Jayson went over to check his blood pressure. I know that there's a sign that says no children or whatever, but I've always felt that since my child is so advanced and responsible for his age that sign doesn't really refer to him (ha, ha). I wasn't worried at all because he does it every time..he sits down, puts his arm in, waits for the beep, and comes back to tell me what the machine says about his heart. I forgot to watch him while I paid and when I was done I turned to find Jayson standing, looking at me. As soon as I said "oh, hi" he started sobbing. His face just crumbled. I looked over at the 12 year old that had been sitting in the chair next to the machine but he was just reading a book. I asked Jayson what was wrong but he wouldn't even talk to me. I started to get worried that someone had hurt him or who knows what. Finally, after I took him out to the car and we were driving away he told me that that boy had told him the machine wasn't a toy and had turned it off. I kept asking him if the boy had hurt him or hit him or said something mean but Jayson said no. He was just completely crushed and ashamed that the boy had told him not to play on it. I have never seen Jayson's feelings hurt like that and it was heart-breaking! He has perfect self-esteem (up until now). That's one of my favorite things about him...his absolute assurance that everyone loves him and each other. His eyes were opened to the realities of growing up: self doubt, embarrassment, shame. He suddenly seemed so young and vulnerable to me. I hate that they have to grow up. I know that it's unavoidable and necessary, but I just wish I could protect them from pain, grief, hate, and every other thing they'll encounter in this world while they're in it. I guess all I can do is try to help them see the good in things. I need to get prego stat before I become irrational over Jays and Aidy.

Hi Daddy!

It's only been two nights and one and a half days but we really miss Jay! Nothing is as fun without him here, although much more organized. That's not really a very good trade. The boys and I went to vote today and there were no lines, which was really nice. I changed all of the batteries in toys that needed them replaced and sterilized all of the Legos and bouncy balls in the dishwasher. Jayson has been a "life gardener" all day and insists on blowing his whistle and telling me and Aidan when we can or cannot walk, eat, talk, etc. He didn't wear his life jacket today, for which I'm grateful because sitting in a car seat with a life jacket is never a great idea. In fact, it's impossible. Don't expect Jayson to agree with that statement: I spent a long time trying to convince him of it while I tried to pry his fingers off of the buckles to get it off yesterday so we could go to the grocery store. It's 3:00 here and I have the worst chocolate craving, and Jay really hid the Halloween candy well before he left this time! I've looked everywhere I could think of. I'm going to go look some more, but I do hope I don't actually find it

Tonight's Jaysonism

Tonight for scripture study we read about Saul in the New Testament and how he fell down and heard the voice of Jesus Christ. After I read it, Jayson said, "yesterday when I was big (that's his usual way of starting a whopper) I was walking and I fell down and I heard Jesus and he said (in a deep voice)'Oh, why did you fall down? I didn't know you.' and I said 'Oh, it's me, Jayson. I think there was a stone. (he's been very specific about rocks orstones or boulders. They're all different.)' and Jesus said, 'are you okay?' and I said, 'ya, I'm okay.' and that's all." My favorite part of that story was the voice change he made to differentiate between himself and Jesus, I guess for my sake, so I wouldn't confuse the two of them. I guess the important thing is that he was listening to the scripture. Pretty much.

Months Later....

It's been a long time since our last entry so this is a summary. Jay has been busy with work and is leaving for California where he'll be working until Thanksgiving! We'll miss him! He also completed a 5-K that we ran with some friends and Jayson thought his dad won the race because Jay sprinted to the finish with his arms raised high in the air. Jayson laughed and cheered. I ran it too and got 2nd overall, which was a little boost to help prepare me for the Nike Womens Marathon. It helped me get there, but that's it. It was a fun weekend in San Francisco with my mom and sister Kelsey (I got to meet baby Briley for the first time, too!) butthe marathon part of it was rough! By mile 19 I threw up and was not feeling great, but I finished. In 4:30. Oh, well. I did get my Tiffany's finisher necklace. It was harder than delivering a baby though, I think. Of course, I can never remember the pain of childbirth so maybe I should ask Jay. It stays very fresh in his mind. Jayson is doing very well in school now, and is often assigned the job of clean-up leader (reverse psychology, I think. It seems to work.) We just got back from trick or treating with one of his new school friends Nathan (Pooh Bear for the night). Jayson was a cute Peter Pan and Aidan was a pirate. Arggh! He managed to lick off all of his eyeliner mustache and take off all accessories in the first 10 minutes or so. While he is still struggling to walk on his own, he has begun picking up his toys (then dumping them out again) and his best talent is still eating. Speaking of eating, Murphy tried to get into Jayson's candy bucket tonight after trick or treating and got it stuck on his head. He ran around and around and finally bumped into the couch and it fell off. Some of the pictures in the above slide show require explanation...We went to the Marriott Ranch with Crystal last weekend for their annual Corperate Retreat and it was so much fun! Jayson got to ride a horse and we all went on a wagon ride (pulled by a tractor) and Jayson played tug-of-war. There are also pics of Jayson's Fall Festival and Halloween party at school (different days) and some of my marathon and our 5-k. That's it...it's all I have the stamina to write tonight. Goodnight!