The Strawberry Festival Parade

So this was originally going to be a blog to give Grace a time to shine, unfortunately she has been sick with a fever and was not able to be in the parade with Grandma and Grandpa Hotrum. This is where Dylan comes to the rescue! So we all got ready and took off at about 9:45 to head over to Lebanon and drop Dylan off with Grandma and Grandpa. Then to go and park and get a good place to sit to watch Dylan reprise his role as passenger extraordinaire in the Model T. So we park off of 2nd street and walk down W. Milton Street to get to the corner of Main and Milton where we were meeting Kaydi, Grace, and Jude. As we are walking down the street I look up and there is a guy throwing up in the bushes as we walk by, then goes back to smoking his cigarette like nothing had happened! Needless to say I picked up the pace a little to get where we were going! We get over to the street and got a great place right on the front line! So now comes the waiting part.....after about 40 minutes or so we see the beginning of the parade. There were a few cool things like old cars,big rigs, strawberry festival princesses, pt cruisers with Dog or Bear mascot in the back....we couldn't really tell what he was??! Next came the fire trucks and then I realized the Dylan and the Grandparents were right behind the fire trucks! I welled up a little like always....then ran up to get some pictures as they drove past. After the excitement of Dylan passing we decided to sit for a bit longer then go and collect Dylan at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We got to see more old cars, a marching band, Smokey the Bear, and Ally's absolute favorite.....TRACTORS! She was so cute Daddy went over next to her and would squat down to her level so he could talk to her and then she would squat next to him....it was hilarious! So after the tractors we decided to head on out as it was lunchtime....even though we maybe say 1/4 of the parade....of well we saw the best part! We got to have lunch at Grandma and Grandpa's then loaded up and headed on home for NAP! What a great day!!!

The Sandbox That Daddy Built!

So about a week ago I came up with the idea of making a box to play in. The debate after we decided to make a box was what to put into it. I was thinking something like pea gravel and Darrin was thinking sand... So we did some research, our neighbor has a pea gravel box, so we went to look it over and see what we thought. The discussion continued and finally I saw the light. We decided on sand. All the while we were busy staining and painting the box that Darrin had put together. We got the main box stained jointly, then Darrin started painting on the lid and I finished the painting over a day and a half period. After the painting was done and dry Darrin went about attaching the hinges so that it would accordion as we open it. After attaching the hinges to the lid piece Darrin brought the pieces out and attached the pieces to the box. There ending up being the slightest space where the boards met so we attached a 1x6 to serve as a handle a seal. Darrin went and got the sand this afternoon and filled the sandbox, taking a small break to rest and enjoy what he had built. After his break he went a got a little more sand we finished filling the box and let the kids loose....they played like crazy for over an hour and a half!!! Come check it out sometime!

Dylan's Last Day of His First Year of School........

Today is my "baby's" last day of his first year of school. For some strange reason the end is harder than the beginning for me, and I have been thinking of why this could be. The only thing I can think is I am not the sole caretaker for him now, I am not the only one shaping who is is and who is going to become. This is very difficult for me and I know it is for the best but still it makes me sad. On Tuesday I told him that I was sad that today was his last day of school and he replies, "Not me!" A big smile came over his face. I am not entirely sure he understands what summer break is because as we were leaving school he said I want to bring my shovel for sharing. So I said you will have to bring it next year. When we got home I said I am so happy school is out now I have you all to myself, to which he replied, "I want you to share me I like my teachers!" So to Mrs Alisa and Mrs Tanya and all the teachers to follow I say, "Thank you for doing this job you do....you are helping the next generation to becoming what they are destined to be!" Here is the beautiful book Mrs Tanya made for each of the students in their class. And thanks again....its been fabulous!

The Slow Release of DD....*tear*

So for those of you who are unfamiliar with who DD is, let me explain. DD is a comforter, companion in sickness, best friend, tear collector, first love, patient great listener who is game for anything....also know as my son's lovey or very favorite stuffed animal. I just recently have noticed DD being absent from alot more playtime activities than he used to be, you see DD used to go everywhere all the time no matter what, so much so that there are actually 2 DD's, just in case the unthinkable would happen, although after he discovered that there were 2 one of them still remained his favorite more loved on one.

We received DD from Grandma and Grandpa Hotrum a little while after Dylan was born. It had a beautiful scarf around his neck and a music box in his belly that played Jesus loves me. While one day something that ended up being completely un related happened, Dylan broke out in this insane rash....and while I know you are not supposed to wash toys that have music boxes in them, I did. I was so anal (and still am) about washing things I figured it would not be that big of a deal. While Dylan slept with DD every nap all night constantly, so when he broke out in the rash my first thought, don't ask me why, is that battery acid was somehow leaking from DD and on to him. By this time I should tell you that DD had lost some of his fluffy-ness and his scarf (choking hazard?!?). While in my haste and not realizing the possible other causes of the rash of the devastating effects of what I was about to do, I threw DD in the garbage. (*tear) While what happened next was devastating....turns out the rash was from a strawberry sensitivity and Dylan would NOT sleep without DD....Thank the Lord for my mother in law though....she had also bought one for my sister in law Kaydi for the baby they were expecting. So I hastily call Kaydi and frantically explain the situation and ask if I can come down and take theirs and that I would replace it. She says yes of course because she is the BEST EVER!!! (yes, you Kaydi Belle Hotrum!) So I drive all the way to Lebanon with a screaming child thinking that my redemption is near....get there run in and grab the dog, cut off the scarf and back out to the car. I try to give it to him....he throws it down he knows it is not the original, I try to play the music and that freaks him out more. By this time mostly he is crying out of complete exhaustion. So once we get home I do very quick and major surgery on DD to remove the music box on the off chance that it was the battery acid. And by that night he is happily doing much better!

Another fun time was when DD took over Mommy's camera, he got one of the best pictures of Dylan ever!! Here is his work! The day he discovered there were 2 DD's was absolutely hilarious, we had done a little switcheroo so that we could wash the one since it had been a little while. So not thinking about what I was doing or the trauma I might cause I load up the laundry basket with everything and bring it into the bedroom to dump on the bed and begin folding. While out flies DD. Dylan's eyes get really big and he looks down to make sure he is still holding his DD, the he exclaims, "Mommy, there are 2 DD's!" Luckily he thought it was cool and it didn't upset him in the least, these days after he is sick or its been awhile he informs me that DD needs a bath and he will bring it to the washing machine and put him in to get clean. My kids amaze me!

As I have browsed through pictures while writing this DD has been a constant companion to my son, It makes him feel secure and happy. I will leave you with a small sampling of pictures of our DD. Pray that he will want to keep him around a while longer at least for bedtime....let him stay small for me a little longer!!