Divide and Conquer

Luke had a birthday party at Hoppity Hop again today.  Children's birthdays are kind of awkward situations.  If the sibling is not on the invite do you take them anways or not?  So far, we have not taken Katherine to the parties Luke has been invited to. So, Paul took Luke to Rylee's birthday party while Katherine and I did things at the house before going to Mom's for the afternoon.  Things are coming along nicely there.  We got a lot done, but still have quite a bit to do. Luke had fun and Paul said he was well behaved.  That is always my fear that he is going to act like a wild child!

Waiting for Daddy

The kids love watching for Paul to get home!  They especially like the weather being so warm and the windows being open. They were watching for Paul and then suddenly he was behind them in the window! 

Today was productive for me.  I hit a great consigment sale in Hendersonville.  Katherine is modeling one of the cute outfits I found for her - a Kelly's Kids two piece set for $10!  I got her several cute thing - a patriotic monogrammed dress, the applique set,  cute cardi with tags still on and some play clothes. Not as much luck with Luke.  I did luck up on a barely worn pair of Sperry sandals and some navy Keds for $4.  I also bought flowers for the cemetary for Mom to take this weekend, filed our taxes, did 5 loads of laundry and cleaned on the house some.  Not sure what I would do without my Wednesdays off!

Alot of Time at Nonna's

 

Mom's closing day is approaching quickly.  We have been spending a lot of time over there and this weekend was no exception.  Andrew came in for the weekend to help.  I think he was a bit overwhelmed when he got there!  We have been working diligently but there was stuff everywhere. We got  a lot done in the garages and some inside.  Several trips to Goodwill and the dump were made.  It was hard for all of us to work because the kids wanted to be right in the middle of everything. Paul hurt his back at work last week and he is unable to lift anything.  He is in horrible pain, especially when he first gets up in the morning.  He went to the doctor and got a muscle relaxer but it is nor providing much help.  So, Mom had some guys she works with to come and help us load up furniture.  Mom's dining room suite, treadmill and grill got moved to our house.  A bedroom set is going back to Florida for Andrew and Mandi.  The house is starting to echo now -- very strange!

Andrew wheeled Luke around the two-wheeler and of course Katherine had to do it, too!  We were so glad to have Andrew's help!  The next time he comes in town Mom will be in a new place!

Morning With Mom!

Note the towel on her head - and yes, I took her in to the school like this!

Last night right at bedtime Katherine threw up.  And then she threw up again, and again, and again.  She didn't not act like she felt bad, no diarrhea and was not running a temp.  We had not heard of any stomach bugs going around and all of us were fine.  After we got her bathed for the last time and put to  bed around 9 she did ok until about 3 when she threw up a tiny bit again.  I knew she could not go to school so I started trying to figure out what we could do.  When she woke up she was fine!  Happy and babbling like always.  Paul and I really think it was something she ate.  It was so hot here this weekend that I wonder if her milk got too warm in a sippy cup.  Since it did not appear to be viral Bill and Paula said they would love to keep her for the afternoon.  So, I went to work around noon and worked for a few hours.  Paul was not able to get Luke picked up from school in time so I rushed out of work to get her picked up and to the school before they closed.  Whew!  What a day.  At least our baby girl is back to normal!

A Night without Brother Bear

When we got home from school Monday Luke asked if he could call Nene and Pop.  He dialed the number with some help from me.  The first thing he said when Paula answere the phone was "Nene I want you and Pop to come pick me up from school tomorrow so I can spend the night with you".  After they talked for a few minutes he handed the phone to me.  She asked if I minded if he spent the night on a "school night".  It certainly does not bother me!  So, we made plans for them to pick both Katherine and Luke up from school and take them to their house yesterday afternoon. 

I stopped by after work and picked Katherine up.  She had time to play before I got there.  Luke was helping Bill fertilize the yard.  The afternoon was absolutely beautiful.  Paula and I enjoyed sitting in the swing for a while before Katherine and I left.  It was strange only having one kid home last night.  I thought we might do something special with Katherine, but we didn't. We just enjoyed spending some one on one time with her and we think she liked the extra attention!

Luke had a blast on his overnight.  They went to eat at Pot Hog for supper, stayed up late playing and then he went to school late this morning! 

Weird Fashion

I had to work this morning.  It is still unseasonably warm here.  Paul and Luke went to get ready and he came back dressed as a redneck -- complete with sandals, cut off jeans and white socks!  He thought he was quite funny!  Katherine has a thing for keeping something on her head.  Most of the time following a shower or bath she insists on keeping her hooded towel on.  Sometimes she even goes to bed with it --  I know, I know not a good thing -- wet towel, wet head, etc. 

Bubba's socks

Both kids love to mess up all the clothes while I am folding them.  Tonight Katherine insisted on putting on Luke's socks - two different ones!  She is still very much in to clothes, shoes and hats!  She is all girl!  She also gave us quite a surprise when she started using the potty a couple of weeks ago!  She got the potty we used for Luke out of the bathroom closet and started sitting on it.  One night she was sitting on it and Paul yelled across the house to me to tell me she used it!  She takes her diaper off by herself and just goes about her business.  She seems to prefer to sit on the regular toilet with the potty ring on it.  She has actually pooped in the potty, too!  I told Paul it is bad but I wasn't really planning on encouraging this already, but it seems as though she has other things in mind!  We are proud of her!

Our First Goose Egg

We had another first in the Troutt house tonight.  We were all upstairs and it was almost bedtime.  I asked Katherine if she wanted to go take a bath. She took off down the stairs.  A few seconds later we heard a thud and Katherine screaming.  I rushed down the stairs to see her by the door.  I scooped her up and just held her for a few minutes.  When I pulled her away from me I couldn't believe what I saw -- a huge knot protruding from her temple.  I completely panicked and said we needed to take her to the ER!  I ended up calling the on-call service for our pediatrician.  They called back immediately and I explained what happened.  Much to our relief she told us she should be fine.  By this time Katherine was giggling and reading a book with Paul.  She said it was just a goose egg and old us what to watch for.  It would be ok if she vomited once, but if she vomited twice we were to take her to the ER for a concussion.  She said we did not need to keep her up any longer than normal and to try to stick to her routine.  We debated abut letting her sleep with us, but we decided against it.  Instead, I got up every couple of hours to check on her. 

I have definitely placed more calls to the after hours pediatrician already with Katherine than we ever have with Luke!  I was just glad to know that it was nothing to worry about, even though it looks awful! 

Under Contract!

Dumping the weeds Paul pulls!

Mom's house has been on the market since last Fall.  She has had a lot of lookers but no serious offers until now.  She is under contract!  We are all excited, nervous and overwhelmed.  There is a lot that has to happen between now and the closing - home inspection, appraisal, packing, selling things she no longer needs and the list goes on and on.  The next month is going to be busy! 

It just so happens that a new construction condo is back on the market in the development she wanted to build!  So, if all goes according to plan she can close on both places the same day!  With the house being under contract comes a lot of questions that have to be answered.  We are trying to determine what furniture she will take, what Andrew and I want and what must be sold -- thus the picture of the lovely dining room table that is currently in our house.  We are going to get Mom's dining room suite so we need to sell our current table -- any takers?  We have it and some other things on Craig's List.  Hopefully we can sell some of it that way.

I got to go have brunch with Virginia today!  It was partly for my birthday and partly because we have not seen each other in a while.  We went to Mad Donna's in East Nashville -- it was great!

After School Treat

Yummy!

Sometimes the kids and I enjoy a treat when I pick them up from school.  There is an Italian Ice shop in Hendersonville we have been wanting to try. Apparently one of Luke's teachers mentioned it because he has been asking to go there for a week.   It was good.  Of course, both kids love anything sweet.  We will definitely go there again.