Croc Craze

It's official. Garrett is crazy about Crocs. Only the "real" Crocs with the little alligator on them. You know, the ones that cost about $20 more than the knock-offs. Yup, that's Daddy's boy. Get the good stuff. Pay full price. No need for a sale. So opposite from me. Oh, well. Could be worse.

I digress. Garrett loves Crocs. It all began about a year ago when we were at the hospital for the bazillionth upper respiratory infection leading to the tonsil removal. In an effort to kill some time and to bribe (sure, I bribe, and I'm not afraid to admit it) the boy into being patient a little bit longer, we got him a pair at the hospital gift shop. He really wanted the bright red pair but in an effort not to give his Daddy a heart attack, I coaxed him into the black pair.

Little man wore that black pair pure out. Didn't even outgrow them. Just wore them out. Then winter came and we had a good excuse to pack the tired old soles away.

Just when we thought the Croc craze was no more, Kenny and I took a little vacation this winter and came home to find Garrett with a new pair of Crocs. This pair was black again but where the round holes usually would be, there were Mickey Mouse heads. At first I rolled my eyes but I have come around to the Mickey's. Maybe it's because Garrett is so stinkin' proud of them and tells everyone he sees "These aw my croc shoes. They have Mickey's. I got them at Nawd-strum store." Yes, the child knows that Nordstrom's is notorious for shoes.

And so it REALLY began. Everywhere we went Garrett noticed who had on Crocs and which stores carried them. Each trip to the mall became a battle to get him to leave the shoes at the mall. The boy loves him some Crocs. Eventually, I broke down and got him the lime green pair with Mickey's for grins and giggles and then a red pair for good attempts at using the potty. Daddy didn't ever have the heart attack.

But today, oh today, my child fell in love all over again with these:

What's there not to love? Crocs? Good. Red? Good. OU? Good. And so I couldn't even begin to argue that we 1)have enough pairs of Crocs at home or 2)that there are children all over the world with no shoes at all and we have more than enough. I just did what I had to do. I'm praying that Daddy won't mind since they pay respect to the old Alma Mater.

And, because his little heart just couldn't contain all of the Croc joy and he certainly couldn't leave them "wonely" (lonely) in the closet all night, Garrett carefully collected all of his most valuable possessions and placed them into his bed for "sweet dweams with me tonight."

I don't know why but things like this make me fall in love with this little man all over again. I love his quirks. I love his passion for all things important in his world. And I wonder, with this much passion at age two, what will he do with what he is passionate about at twenty-two, thirty-two and so on. I pray that he will use his passion (surely about something important and life changing) to make a difference in this world. Maybe not in the Croc-sort-of-way, but about something. Anything that makes his sweet heart tick. I can't wait to see how it all unfolds.

PS: I think I will get a pair of the Crocs bronzed. You know, like our moms did with our baby shoes. Kidding. Totally kidding. But I will save a pair. For good times sake.

A new post....

....if you scroll down and to May 10th....it's worth the hassle. Some really cute pictures. I promise!

And, please don't laugh. I cannot figure out how to make an old post publish as the most current one. Kenny is already asleep and I am too tired to fiddle with it. So, again, please just scroll down to May 10th: Arboretum.

Good-night.

Putting in a plug for.....

....some really cool art by Kristie.

Let me just tell you. I am so pumped! I am so giddy right now! I just don't think it's fair of me to not share this incredible find with you. My neighbor, Kristie, just brought over four fabulous canvases for Garrett's room! They are incredible. Really incredible. I gave her a swatch of Garrett's curtain fabric and showed her some of the patterns in his sheets (transportation) and she miraculously came up with these masterpieces:

I know that all of you are thinking that you just can't live without something for your kiddo's room either. Or a mural of some sort on the wall. Or even a cool paint technique in one of the adult rooms. Or something in the nursery. Or a gift for someone else. If that's the case, you can contact Kristie at kbendertx@yahoo.com She is beyond talented and creative. Seriously. And, for the record, way more reasonable than that big chain store with super cute kid stuff right across from the food court at Stonebriar Mall (I'm not knocking them -- just providing an alternative, people). Might I add better quality as well. And unique. So you get the point.

Running through my mind....

Okay, so it's been a while and I am sad to say that I have honestly tried to post several times. Actually, I have about 7 posts saved in my draft box that got started but never were finished due to virus-palooza over at the Wade house. Maybe I'll go back and finish them soon. Maybe.

So, in an effort to get something, anything posted, I am going to ramble through what's in my mind:

1. Hmm, what stands out the most in mind my mind? Oh, yes. That would be the two week plus virus that Garrett has been battling. Fever fest. Diaper ickies. Throwing up. There just isn't anything worse than to see your baby sick and feel so helpless. Someone really should have warned me. But, I'm happy to say that the little fellow has been fever free for almost 48 hours!! We are so excited. Cautiously excited.

2. On the other hand, Daddy-O and I have contracted pink eye. Apparently this strand of virus in kids can be transmitted to adults as pink eye. Again, someone (like our pediatrician or the lovely, grumpy nurse at said doctor's office who thinks I'm making all of this up) should have warned me. I have never had this lovely eye gunk. Not even in my 3+ years teaching 6 and 7 year old's. But, lo and behold, got it now. Counting down the minutes until these blasted eye drops work. And by the way, Kenny thinks I'm as bad as Rachel on "Friends"...you see that episode? Huh-uh. Me to the nth degree.

3. Love all the rain but seriously, it is like spoon feeding the weeds in my front flower beds. Spent the morning picking 'em all out. Not my cup of tea. Grown up stuff. Go figure.

4. Did anyone notice that Andy from the bachelor still has it goin' on for Bevin? If I were Tessa I would have requested a "apart-at least-two feet-at-all-times mandate". And the sparkly cast? Who has time for that? Oh right. The woman without the kids. Also ever notice how put together those gals look on that show? I sat there watching this season secretly envying their perfect outfits with the perfect accessories and flawless make-up and long, not tangly or in a mommy-pony-tail hair. Geez.

5. Love me some Apollo Anton Ohno (SP??). I am so pumped he won! Actually, I think I liked his dance partner more. If she wasn't already engaged I just might have to hunt her down and convince her to marry my brother. She seems like such a fun gal. Am I corny or what?

6. Broke out our first watermelon of the season. Garrett first spotted them at our favorite Frisco store and immediately "neeeeded" one. Okay, for those of you with toddlers, do you hear this all of time? "Mommy, I NEEEED that. Mommy, I NEEED it NOW." Geez-um. We hear it all of the time. This time I agreed. We needed that 5 lb. seedless watermelon. It is delicious.

Yup, little stinker went ahead and bit right into it when I turned around to go get the camera. Oh well. That can be his virus infested slice. Kidding.

7. Today we celebrated Garrett's Adoption Day. For those of you out there who are thinking "Huh?" let me fill in the gap. Each year on the day Garrett's adoption was finalized (May 24th) we celebrate this blessing by doing ANYTHING fun that HE wants to do. Typically it's his favorite meal, favorite dessert, etc. During our last grocery store run, he spotted a rainbow cake. When asked what he wanted for his special adoption day dessert, he said, "The wainbow cake. At Tawget stuh." So, in the pouring rain we hustled out to Target store and obtained the infamous rainbow cake. Ate it BEFORE dinner. Garrett ate dinner on the "Special Plate".

The Rainbow Cake. And Daddy. Could the day get any better?

Yuppers. Didn't even bother to use a utensil. Just leaned over and bit in. See a pattern?

This is the "Special Plate" that I grew up using. Each time someone in the family had something special to celebrate or be proud of we got to eat on the plate. Sounds so cheesy but to this day I love getting to eat on the plate! Traditions. Gotta love them. Gotta pass them on.

8. Started acupuncture this week. LOVE IT. Can't wait for it to be the miracle drug I've been looking for. I actually left the place in the most euphoric trance. Like after you've had a massage or finished a yoga class. Can't wait to go back. You should try it, people.

9. I love that my son has things that he just adores. Like getting mail. His sweet Jess sent him some mail today. Thank you, Jess! He totally digs the apple card and watch. I love that you know what makes him tick. And go to the effort to make him tick. What would we do without you?

See the watch?

10. Looking forward to the weekend. Sleep. Sleep. And more sleep.

Guitar Guy

Could anything be cuter than this miniature guitar guy?? I think not. I was resting in bed one day when Kenny was home (seriously, I cannot remember what day this was....Garrett has been sick and it seems that when you have a sick one, all memory is destroyed in the night time care). Garrett quietly came in to sing me a song -- "Twinkle, Twinkle" -- while strumming to his very own, pint-sized guitar. His little hand was placed perfectly on the cords and he was strumming with the other all the while the guitar hung around his oh-so-precious little neck. He walked around and around the bed gently singing me his sweet lullaby. I immediately proceeded to instruct Kenny to "getthecamearaNOW". Yup, uh-huh. Probably didn't even pause between words. That's how cute and important it was to capture on film.

I will leave you with this short entry for now...in honor of my best buddy. See? I can write a short one. Just for you. Because I love you that much. Really.

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Okay, one more picture...I just couldn't leave it out. I call this one "Seriously, Mommy. These are my socks. I love them. I love opposite socks, Mommy." And as an FYI: Garrett is totally obsessed with my funky, crazy socks that I've had for years but don't wear (unless they are thick and fuzzy and then I'll wear them at night). He has dug out all of the printed socks I own and put them in his playroom as his "sock puppets". Occasionally, as in this picture, he decides to wear them. But only because they were "opposites". I hope I never forget this precious Garrett quirk.

The Arboretum

Well, this is one of those posts that I had written a long time ago but never went through and finished uploading the pictures. Better late than never, right?

Several weeks ago, Garrett and I met Jessica and Jordyn down at the Dallas Arboretum. We had a ball! And, Jessica was kind enough to capture some of our moments there in a more "professional" way than I ever could! I am not going to write any cute story.....just posting pictures for enjoyment.

Fascinated by Fountains

Can you see my hands holding onto his pants?

Getting a really good view of the ducks....

Splashing ...

This shot looks so serene to me....

I imagine he's thinking, "I'm here. Now what?"

Taking a little picnic break....Jess made us yummy fruit salad!

Jordyn (pointing to her nose) & Garrett

Garrett was mesmerized by the "steam" watering system!

I adore this one! Enlarge it so you can see their expressions well.

Loving the huge rocks by the water...

Again, loving the "steam"...

I think I cried when I saw this one....so sweet!

Garrett has not used a stroller (a real stroller) since he was, oh, eight months old. We pull out the umbrella stroller every now and again. But it is rare. He decided that Jordyn's was suitable for riding in, though!

PS: In the first few pictures, Garrett was in a white shirt. In the last ones, he was in a floral print/Hawaiian shirt that Jess got him along with a matching dress for Miss Jordyn. So fun!

Re-Decorating Rendezvous

So this will be a post about me. Jill. Mommy, only. If you are here only for the Garrett fan-fair, please exit now. Gee, there go 99.9% of my readers. Don't worry. I know my rank on your list.





So, after a LONG, LONG day of working from my little, messy, home-office (yuppers, worked for my keep today) I decided to shut down shop. I closed that work laptop and vowed to do something, anything just for me tonight. At home. Without spending a penny.




I decided to dig into our guest closest where I keep all of my "not in use but might be someday" fabrics, framed pictures/prints and accessories. You know. All of those things that were a perfect fit in my old house but just haven't seemed to find a perfect spot in this new one.





And then I proceeded to do a bit of re-decorating in my dining room and entry way. **Insert Kenny's groan and sigh here** As a side note, this is oh-so-very typical of me. I get bored with my home decorating very easily and tend to re-arrange furniture, re-hang pictures, totally swap accessories from one room to the other. A lot of times I'll make a game plan for how I'll decorate when the budget so allows. And, most of the time, I don't follow through or take action on my decisions when budget does allow. Drives a few of you crazy, I know. But I like to weigh all of my options. Take my time.





And for the life of him, my hubby can't seem to figure out the fun in this. Neither can my dad. Inter-esting. But I still rope them in. Well, just Kenny.





Let me just say, I've had a ball. Am I a nerd or what? I took some action tonight. I re-covered the seat cushions on the two chairs in the entry way with the fabric left over from the kitchen. And mwa-la. Better. So much better. I took down accessories hanging in the dining room (not much) and puddied and painted the holes. G-man assisted. Let him do the painting. And yes, I know what you experienced mommas are thinking. Probably not the best move on my part because surely he will one day soon paint on another wall WITHOUT my permission. Moved the grandfather clock that belonged to my Gran to the corner. Made a game plan for where to hang the new pictures, which fabric to have the curtains made out of, chose a paint to have the walls painted and made a mental note to shop for swatches of fabric to recover the seat cushions to the chairs.

See, I did rope them in. The boys helping me re-cover the seat

cushions. Garrett using his pliers. Just. Like. Daddy. And, no. I don't take pics

just for this blog. I thought this was a priceless, father-son shot. Thought you might, too.

And for the grand finale, I dug out all of my home decorating magazines. Spread them out, flipped, flipped, flipped. Tore out some of my favorite accessory placing ideas. Arranged the pages near the area to be duplicated. Wondered where I could get these said accessories for less than the magazine was wanting.





Sound ambitious? I think so. But to those of you who know me, you know it might be another 6-12 months before I take action at all. If ever. I just can't seem to make decisions in our new home. Can't seem to get many projects done. Rumor is, it's because I have a little one running around and I'd rather be playing. True. For the most part. Or maybe I'm becoming a decorating snail. Just because I'm me.





Either way, had a ball. Had. A. Ball.