A first for us all!

Last week when we were eating dinner Mason started to complain about one of his front teeth bothering him. Due to his history with the dentist and cavities I told him we will have to get you in to see the dentist. It bothered him another night when daddy was home so daddy took a look and said it was kind of wiggly, but not to bad. This sent Mason in a panic. He's so funny. He didn't want to lose that tooth. He was determined not to wiggle it. Well a few days later he was eating lunch and started having a cow. He said he tasted blood and his mouth was bleeding, so he started spitting. Well daddy investigated again and found he had lost his tooth. Next came the tricky part. Where was the tooth? Mason said he thought he spit it out. So daddy started searching the floor and found it. 

We were so excited. He's our first Harris boy to lose a tooth and this was our first visit from the tooth fairy. Mason could hardly sleep. He was up most of the night waiting and so afraid she wasn't really going to come. He drew her a picture and because it was so small we stuck the tooth in an envelope so it wouldn't get lost. I am happy to report that sometime in the night he manged to stay asleep long enough for the tooth fairy to do it's thing. He was one happy kid when he woke up in the morning . He is one rich kid. Did you know the tooth fairy now pays $1? I only got a quarter when I was a kid.

Because I'm Onry, I must complain

To the makers of our new fridge,

I am guessing who ever designed these buttons must not of had kids. In my opinion a lock button is a feature designed for families with small children to lock them out of the water and ice dispensers. Protecting my floor from the floods of my 2 year old. But someone failed to realize that small pictures that point out LOCK and UNLOCK are easily read by the small children I mentioned earlier. No worries though. I guess I need to come up with a clever way to keep him away from the buttons. But honestly... Really? Lame.

Exciting News

 It's official.... We have packed up the important stuff.

 And we have moved back to our house!!!!

 We slowly started moving things for the past week. Matt has worked his butt off. But as you can tell by the mess and the boxes we are making progress. I thought we had gotten rid of so much stuff and it would be a piece of cake moving. Yeah we have a ton of stuff still. It scares me to think of how much junk we had before we moved. Because did get rid of a TON of stuff.

 I am loving this! It's crazy I used to think our house was so small and I wished we could move. But I tell you what... Pack all your stuff into storage and leave your house for a year and a half or so and when you get back you'll LOVE your house. I am so excited. I have so many ideas. I hope you don't mind I was so excited and proud of OUR house that I took lots of pictures. Yes most are bare walls and boxes everywhere. But think of the potential.

 It didn't take long for the boys to find the toys.

 And the neighbor kids. :)

 We found this awesome bunk bed. It has three beds and those drawers are actual working drawers. Oh and did I mention that the bottom two drawers pull out and there's a hidden 3rd bed. All 3 boys can sleep in the same room. Best investment ever.

 The starting of our Car's bathroom.

 Snuggling on the couch.

Lot's of boxes!

I can't believe it's finally here. I am so grateful for Matt's parent's they opened their home, gave up their space and sacraficed their sanity to allow us to live with them. It wasn't always easy. But they made us feel very welcome and I am so thankful that we were able to live there and it was our home. I'm afraid all of us have been spoiled with certain things that come with living with Mom and Dad/ Nana and Papa. This will take some adjusting. But luckly we don't live to far. They haven't gotten rid of us. :)

Just Call Me Sally Homemaker!

 I used to help my mom can every year. I dreaded it and complained the whole time. I didn't quite understand why it was something that meant so much to my mom.

 It's time consuming and very messy.

 It's physically consuming.

 But do you know what? It was sooo much easier and less stressful without a crazy 2 year old running around back than.

And despite the fact that it is still physically and literally time consuming when you have a family to feed, someone gives you free fresh fruit and you do have the knowledge or at least can gain the knowledge... it is worth it. Even if it's for 4 jars of peaches. I feel like I accomplished something on my own. This is the first time ever I did something like this on my own. I had to prove to myself that I could do it.

For the Record...

Yesterday Mattix, Manning and I made a ton of cookies to share with the teachers and office ladies at the school and of course to fill our cookie jar. I was pretty proud of myself for the first time in a long time I did not over cook one batch. They seemed to all turn out pretty good looking. Manning begged to taste the first cookie. He took a bite made a face, walked over to the garbage can and spit it out. I asked him why he did that. He says to me, " oh those cookies are kind of yucky." Did I mention I was not just making these for my family? So I had Papa sample one. He said they were pretty good. 

Well when I got done making cookies this jar was full. By the time I went to bed.... Not so full. I think it's safe to say Manning was wrong. I made a dang good cookie. (I checked the trash, it didn't look like anyone was spitting out the "kind of yucky cookies." )Thanks JaNean for the awesome cookie recipe. I think I am finally getting it down to almost like your's.

He's the Greatest!!

 I can't help but brag, but I do have to say I am married to one very amazing guy. 

He works so hard everyday and honestly I think I should be the one rubbing his feet and pampering him. 

He talked the boys into pampering Mommy for family night. It was totally his idea. They pulled out my pedicure stuff and each of the boys took turns massaging my feet and Matt did an awesome job painting my nails. I had tears in my eyes the whole time. I felt so loved.

See being the only girl in the house isn't so bad. I think I could get used to this. 

I love ALL my Harris boys. I am one lucky girl!!

The Snail Family

 The boys spent quite a while collecting snails from around the neighborhood the other day. As nasty as it was boys will be boys and it kept them busy and out of trouble for over an hour. They lined them up and named them and gave them each roles in the "snail family." And of course... I took pictures.

 

Ewww!!!

We (barely) Survived the First Week.

Mason running to class the first day. Notice that it looks pretty empty there? Yep that's what happens when your mom underestimates the traffic that early in the morning and you're 10 min. late on the first day of school. 

I wish I could say that I was super strong and with this being my second year of this school business I was a trouper and didn't even cry. Yeah well it didn't exactly go that way.

 Regardless of being late he still makes a pretty cute first grader. He looks so grown up.

 His class was already sitting and getting ready to start the day so we helped him get his stuff and find a desk. I felt awful. He was so excited and would of done just fine if we didn't have to deal with the confusion of being late and not knowing what was going on. But he relaxed and I didn't feel as bad, he wasn't crying when I left. And despite a couple other first week hangups he has had a very good week and loves 1st grade and he loves his teacher. He came home the first day and reported that LUNCH was his favorite part of 1st grade. He loves feeling so big and eating lunch at school with his friends. I am excited to see him grow and learn this year.

Mattix walking to his first day of Kindergarten. This is the face of a kid that is not happy to be here.

 If it weren't for the other issues involved I would probably of made it through the whole having a kid in 1st. grade new territory without crying or getting to emotional about it. But this year Mattix is moving up. He is officially a kindergartener. I've said this before and it is 100% true he is my Mama's boy through and through. He has the most tender heart and my biggest helper. So this should come as no surprise when I say, that this week has been torture for the two of us. Yes this sounds ultra dramatic.

 I tried to get pictures of him. But as you can see. He was not to thrilled about it all.

 He did not want to go in.

 I warned him I couldn't stay. I had the other two little ones with me and I've been told by many that if I just leave and let his teacher take him, it builds that trust between the two of them. He was doing good. We found his desk and everything. He started to color. I thought it looked safe to go. So I turned and it began.... He had his melt down. Manning couldn't understand why I was leaving Mattix crying. He started to cry. "Mommy, Mattix is crying." He kept saying. His sweet teacher came over and took him. I couldn't get to the door fast enough. Than  before I got to the door, some dad stops me to say to me, "I'm so glad my kids are not that attached." I made it out of the school fast with only one or two tears. Manning was totally bawling. I got to the car and lost it. I started bawling too. I am sure that the mom's walking by and getting in their cars were thinking "wow first time moms. Gosh just go party. Live it up. One less kid to worry about for a few hours." These thoughts just made it worse. I sat in the parking lot for 30 min, crying. Pathetic I know. But it ripped at my heart to know that MY kid was scared and I couldn't comfort him. I wanted to sneak back in and check on him but Matt said no it would make things worse. It was a sad day for me.

Manning giving Mattix a ride to school the next day. 

 But I am happy to report that he did come home from school and was very happy. He said he only cried for a little bit and had so much fun. He loved kindergarten. He even made a couple of friends he said.

I love this smiling face. He is a very handsome kindergartener.

So I asked him on day 2 if we could take the camera and have a do over with happy pictures. He liked the idea.

We got there a little early and I watched him play with his new friends and when it was time to line up he started to get all weird and clingy again. These two boys called him over and said "Mattix come stand with us." It took a little coaxing. It melted my heart to see him with friends. I guess I just pictured him being the "baby" of the class that no one wanted to play with because he cried. But no he has friends. I helped walk him and his class into the school. I wanted it to go smoother than yesterday. It started to. But we couldn't escape without another melt down. But I after seeing him play and hearing his happy day report of the the first day, it was so much easier to leave him crying. Because I knew he was going to be OK. 

This week has been an emotional roller coaster for me and the boys. Between getting used to a new very early routine and not being a house of morning people. Than all the drama of getting used to all the "school stuff" that I never thought of and just the emotions of the boys being gone when I am used to them being home. At least I can say that I SURVIVED! 

 I walked up without Mattix knowing when I went to pick him up and it made me smile to see him talking and laughing with his friend. We will get used to this new chapter in our life. One day at a time.