Whirlwind

Haven't blogged in a few days! Sorry! On Sunday I was fighting a sinus infection and didn't have a lot of energy. Ian spent the afternoon with mom and Gavin chose not to take a nap to help me out. We went to the grocery store and had a humiliating moment. My card was denied (zero balance I might add). Left the groceries in bags with the checkout person and got into my car with Gavin. I called Cailean and turns out we had to use our new cards starting on Sunday. Yes, very humiliating.

Sunday night we had a great dinner with Megan and Rob (I work with Megan). We took them out to dinner at Brixx since they gave us the elliptical. They are such wonderful people and the boys were great!

Yesterday morning Gavin and I ran some errands after we took Ian to school and then went over to mom's place because Uncle Mickey is here for a quick trip. Spent a few hours over there, came home to put Gavin down for a nap (denied), then went to Kingswood to play basketball when Ian got out of school. Cailean met us there and then we had our parent/teacher conference with Ms. Braun. Obviously it went very well and Ian is doing OUTSTANDING! Then, we went over to mom's for dinner. Cailean stayed longer than us because he was helping Uncle Mickey install a ceiling fan for mom.

This morning both kids had school. The boys were dressed, ate breakfast, brushed their teeth, sneakers on and all set for school. It was sorta early. So, I got the DVD out that dad sent down from 3/17/09. His band performed at his work and dad got it taped. Now, most kids would probably be interested in Curious George or some other cartoon. No, not ours!!!! LOL They watched dad's entire DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They LOVE watching their Grandpop and at times they were waving to him! LOL LOL They both claim they want to play the drums AND the bagpipes. Hooray!!!

So, we get into the car and guess what we had to listen to? LOL The Catamount Pipe Band's CD! Can't get enough of Grandpop and the bass drum as well as the bagpipers. We were out of the CD for a few weeks because our first one stopped working (it's always in my CD player). Dad sent another one down because they were yelling, "We NEED Grandpop's CD for our trip to Disney!!!" So, Grandpop to the rescue...nice little care package for the trip! Phew!

I didn't go into Ian's classroom this morning like I normally do (sorry Ms. Braun!!!). Instead I took care of a few things around town and then packed a bunch of stuff and piled things in the spare bedroom for the trip. I felt like I needed to take another shower after all the running around.

Gavin and I are about to go pick up Ian at 3:45pm, then head over to Stride Rite for new sneakers (gotta love the coupons, but still trying to find that money tree) for both. Then, to SuperCuts to get Ian a haircut (Gavin got his over the weekend). Then, trying to figure out dinner before heading to the soccer field for the Sharks' first soccer practice!!!

I can't wait to tell the boys that we are heading to HOTLANTA to stay with Uncle Matt and Alissa!!!! The four of us are driving down June 10 (Ian's last day of school) and coming home that Saturday night. My brother is taking the 2 days off and taking us to the Aquarium, Centennial Park (I want to see my brick that Aunt Sandi bought me in 1996), another park to play soccer, possibly the zoo, Chucky Cheese and bowling. Cailean said that Uncle Matt might need to get ready for Uncle MATT Summer Camp with Ian and Gavin each year! LOL LOL So yes...we are VERY excited that we're finally getting down there. It's a break between end of school for Ian and the start of tball.

Okay, that is enough updating for now...I'll post more later!!!

Getting Pampered...

We had a great day today! Well, I did anyway. hehe Cailean and Gavin left early to run errands, go swimming, do Cricket Club, Wendy's for lunch, a haircut and then home for a nap. During all that, Jessica and Luke picked Ian and I up and we took the boys to The Scotland Adventure at Luke's church. It was a 2 hour event where the kids would do Highland Games, listen to bagpipes, learn about Scotland, etc. Jessica pulled some strings and got Ian moved to Luke's clan! So, they were together for the morning. While they were doing that, Jessica and I went across the street and got PEDICURES!!!!!!!!! I was totally loving life!!!! hahahaha Now my toes look all nice for Disney! lol It was a GREAT morning!

When we got home, mom and Pop-pop pulled in right behind us (perfect timing). Ian took off running errands with them and hung out at their house until Cailean, Gavin and I went there for dinner. I was able to do some laundry and start the packing for our trip.

We headed over to mom's for a few hours tonight. We usually go over Sunday night, but tomorrow night we're taking a couple out to dinner since they gave us their elliptical.

Oh and Ian is signed up for a few camps this summer. He'll do a basketball ball one (just 1/2 days for a week), VBS with a bunch of his friends, and 2 weeks at the Y. Between the camps, possibly a trip to the beach with our good friends, a visit to Atlanta to see their Uncle Matt and Alissa and playing t-ball this summer through the Town of Cary...summer will just fly by!

Thursday

Ian's soccer practice was rained out last night, so that was a bummer. Probably a good thing for our household though because Cailean has some type of cold and he was pretty much out of it yesterday when he came home from work. Everyone was asleep by 7pm last night, so I was able to scrapbook in piece and quiet!! I think I did about 16 pages or so and was soooooooo stress-free! No reading reports on the computer, no reading emails, no watching boring tv...just my pictures, my scrapbook stuff and me!!!! LOL

The boys both had school today and Gavin called me during one of my meetings. I was in a meeting with Jody and she told me to answer the phone (I thought it was Cailean calling). He put Gavin on the phone, so of course I had to put the phone on speaker, so he could talk to Jody. He told her he went poopy on the potty! LOL She knew what to say because she was congratulating him many times about his big accomplishment!

We're having Mel and Denise over for dinner tomorrow night, so I'll be baking some cookies tonight! The boys are excited to see them and I haven't seen them since Gavin's party. They do so much for us with Cody.

Monday and Gavin

So yesterday morning Gavin and I took Ian to school and then headed over to a thrift shop to drop off some boxes from mom's place. After that we headed over to AAA in Raleigh to pick up our Magic Kingdom tickets, then headed to Dunkin Donuts in Morrisville to get coffee for my grandfather. I was talking to my brother and telling him what we were doing. I said, "Yea, I'm getting coffee for Pop-pop, so he can be quiet for the day and Mimi can enjoy a peaceful afternoon!" Then we went to their place to hang out with them for the morning. I was too lazy to find the key, so Gavin rang the doorbell quite a few times. No answer. I told him to knock. He did and no answer. ARGH. I finally got smart and called them and told Pop-pop to let us in. He did...Gavin walks right in and looks at my grandfather and says with an attitude, "You didn't hear me knocking?????" We were laughing so hard!

Yea, Gavin was on fire yesterday with these one liners to my grandfather. It was hysterical. We had fun over there (when do we not though) and then came home for lunch and a nap.

No More Diapers!

That is what Gavin says now! He has been daytime potty trained since last July! He has been potty trained during the night since probably December. He wasn't all too crazy about going #2 on the potty for a long time...preferred a diaper. He had to be in the right mood to go on the potty for that. But...since about two weeks ago...when he has to go, then he asks to go on the potty! Amazing!

GO SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That would be Ian's NEW soccer team's name this season!!!!!!!! We're excited! Our first practice is this Wednesday night at 6:45pm. Rob is the head coach for our 5th season and I'll continue to be the assistant. We've moved up an age group and it's all boys now. Jackson, Asiv, Amaran, Max, Ian and Cason are on the team together! The other six will be new to us. I'll post the schedule. Gavin has to wait until NEXT spring until he can be on a soccer team!!!! He'll have to watch this spring season and then fall season. It seems like years for me. He is sooo ready even at age 3!!!!

Is it Sunday night already?

Okay, so Saturday morning...I took the boys to Dick's Sporting Goods and bought Ian a new pair of cleats. Since they were all priced the same I let him pick them out. He chose...are you ready??? A big shocker...LOL...you got it! Black nike cleats with red and white on them for NC State! LOL So now he was excited to go to the soccer clinic!

We got to the field very early (30 min early thinking there would be TONS of people). Nope. the Duke team showed up a few minutes after 11am (guesss they wanted to make a grand entrance). There were probably around 50 or so kids there. So, the coach called for all 5 and unders to go in one group. Well, there were about 10 there. I think Ian was probably the oldest in that group...the ONLY kid who listened, the ONLY kid who paid attention and one of a few who didn't cry. Yes, tons of 4 year olds who didn't really want to be there. They had 4 stations and were in each station for about 10 minutes or so. About 4 or 5 Duke soccer players were at each station, so the ratio was pretty good. Ian had great comments from the first group, but they pretty much ignored him in the rest of the groups because he was not obnoxious, rude, crying, etc. Anyway...

After all that soccer, the coach called everyone together. He had "prizes" to give out which were posters. Anyone wearing something that said DUKE got to get two extra items. Okay, whatever. I purposely did NOT have Ian wear ANY NC State gear because I did NOT want him to get picked on or told to run sprints. Mind you Gavin had one on and was on the field with me. hee hee So...Ian LOVES prizes and wants a poster to get autographs. So, he raises his hand for EVERY question. Questions such as "Who played against the Railhawks last Saturday?" Ian answers to the coach, "Rhinos." His response was, "Rhinos is a team in the MLS?" First of all, Ian doesn't know MLS and second of all...could the coach have said, "Good try." Nope. So, after a bunch of questions were asked and kids were getting these posters...the coach gave a stack to 2 players and told them to hand them out. Well, Ian had his hand on one, but a kid took it from him. So yes...Ian was one of THREE kids (yes, I noticed) who did NOT receive a poster. Then I had Gavin having a meltdown because he wanted one. So, trying to convince Ian that it was okay he didn't get one...we get into the car and I drive away (steaming!!!!). Ian says, "The Duke Men's Soccer Team didn't think I did a great job because I didn't get to get a poster." Okay, so rip my heart out. I told him that he did a GREAT job and the Duke coach was VERY disorganized and unprepared and should have had enough for all the kids. So, he was very sad. He got anything he asked for on the way home.

So, I was FUMING...didn't call mom, didn't call Cailean and didn't call Leslie back. Why? I had ears in the backseat! When we got home, I went to the garage and called Cailean at work. Within 15 minutes I had typed up a letter to the coach (well written I might add) and sent it to the coach. Cailean talked to Ian on the phone and Ian told him what happened and said mom thought I did a great job, but Duke didn't think so.

Okay...we've moved on from that. I hold grudges, so I will NEVER like Duke.

Saturday night we had dinner at mom's with the Reid family. OH MY GOSH...what a blast! The four kids had soooooooooo much fun together and my grandparents were soooo excited that they had company over! I don't think Rob was in the house 2 seconds and Pop-pop was showing him the map of Africa and Rob was given a book. LOL LOL We watched a NCSU wrestler win the National title on tv, so that was exciting. It was a late night and we sure did pay for it today.

Cailean took today off, so he went to church with us, helped out in Sunday School and then enjoyed the Bob Evans outing. Ian went with my mom for the afternoon. Gavin came home with us and chose not to take a nap, so we took care of a few things outside before heading back over to mom's.

Another busy week ahead of us...I'll keep you posted on the happenings as they come!

Heading into the weekend

We've got a busy weekend ahead of us! It's going to be FUN!!!! Cailean is working tomorrow (not a typical work day for him). Ian is going to a soccer clinic at a soccer facility hosted by Duke University. It's for 1 1/2 hours and I think it's pretty much to promote their soccer camps this summer. It'll be good for Ian to get out there for some free instruction and running around with kids his age. But, I just had him try on his cleats that he wore last season. UGH!!! They are too small!!!!!!!!!!!! So, I guess that means an early trip to Dick's Sporting Goods to see what they have in stock. The clinic is at 11am.

Saturday night for dinner we're heading over to mom's place. She invited the Reid family over for dinner. The boys are very excited to see Max and Sam tomorrow night. It'll be a lot of fun!!!

Cailean took Sunday off, so he'll get to join us for church and Sunday. He is probably more excited that he gets to experience Bob Evans with us! LOL I told him to look at the menu prior to Sunday morning, so he can give his order to mom. It's all about efficiency!!!!! Mom orders for the boys and me, so by the time we get there at 11am...the food arrives! Perfect timing each week!!! Sunday night we'll have our usual dinner over there, too.

Not sure what the weather will be like yet. Maybe we'll hit up a park Sunday afternoon and ride some bikes!

Soccer starts NEXT week!!!!!!

So, basketball ended on Saturday, March 7th and now soccer starts Wednesday, March 25!!!!!! Ian's team name will be the SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rob continues to be the head coach and I'll be his assistant...this is the 5th season! We've got a lot of kids who have been on our team before, so I'm excited!!!! Games are going to be on Tuesday or Thursday night at 6:45pm with practice on Saturday afternoons. That's a huge difference than the last few seasons. No girls on the teams since they are in their own league now. That's another difference. The rules will change somewhat, so I'm really excited for this season!!! We'll be playing closer to mom's place, so a different field than where we've been playing the last four seasons.

Here are some updates on the boys...

Gavin: loves to make sure people are happy lately. He'll say, "Mommy, you happy?" He says that after he goes poopy on the potty!! LOL He enjoys doing whatever Ian is doing. He wants to work on sight words. He enjoys games. He loves to be outside. He still loves to cuddle. He loves to do whatever Ian tells him to do. He continues to say, "I super duper have to go potty." "I'm super hungry." He loves snacks and he usually is the first one to eat his meat on his plate.

Ian: loves to play basketball anywhere. Loves to be at school. Loves to give the play-by-play about what happened at school. Is cautious at times. He loves to be his dad's helper. He loves to tell Gavin what to do and then laugh when Gavin gets into trouble. His writing has improved tremendously and is into writing longer sentences. He commented that he wants Ms. Jackson for a first grade teacher next year because she is cute. GREAT!!!!!!

Monday!

We're off to another week! Not too much going on at night this week for us. I know we have to take care of our taxes (oh how I dread that). One of my coworkers, Megan, is GIVING us her elliptical machine! We're going to pick it up tonight. I'm very excited!!!!! THANK YOU MEGAN AND ROB!

Hey Grandpop, Gavin wants to learn how to juggle and says you have to practice. Can you come down and teach him? LOL He knows you can juggle!!!!

Last night Gavin and I skyped Aunt Cindy in California. She was skyping with Maddy over in Prague. So, we had a conference call. How cool is that?! We couldn't see each other, but we had like a telephone conversation.

Gavin is really into his sight words. Ian goes through a lot of sight words at meals and Gavin wants to be just like his big bro. Both are doing really well with them. It's sorta cute!

Oh and if you have any Campbell soup labels...send them on down to Ian! His school collects them and earns money. We're also on the hunt for box tops! Ian has been able to understand this system and he and Gavin are addicted to finding box tops on packages in our kitchen cupboards. It has become a topic of conversation with Aunt Sandi, mom and Mimi. They are on the hunt for them, too! :)

Happy Birthday to you...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is Cailean's mom's birthday. March is a busy month with birthdays in our family. Cailean's brother had a birthday earlier in the week...my dad's was yesterday and Cailean's mom's is today!

Enjoy your day! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...

Happy 61st Birthday Grandpop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ian and Gavin did a great job calling up my dad this morning and singing the Happy Birthday song to him! Then Ian asked if he was 80. LOL LOL Sorry dad! Then he asked when he was moving to Georgia! hee hee

It was hard getting up this morning. I stayed up and watched the Syracuse/West Virginia basketball game while doing some NCSU work. I think I saw midnight!! Ian went to Elijah's birthday party this morning at Science Safari. He was supposed to have a soccer clinic with NCSU this afternoon, but it has been raining for two days. So it's a no go and it'll get rescheduled.

Ian chose a basketball theme for his birthday party! Who would have guessed, right?! I've got the wording down, but need to come up with the invite and get those done.

Ian and Gavin

It is going to be another beautiful day today...in the 80's!!!!! Then, I guess some cold weather coming in and rain for the weekend. ARGH. That's all for the weather report! LOL

Gavin continues to fight with us on naps. He still really, really needs them because he is beyond cranky when he doesn't take a nap. Trying to convince him that napping is good is a little tough. He wants to do things himself and he is improving at drop off for school. Yesterday he resisted going, but was laughing as a teacher was trying to get him out of the car.

Ian loves school. Wow...who would have ever thought, right?! He told me Saturday morning he wished he had school because school is fun! I was able to be in his classroom yesterday and he definitely has come a long way. I look forward to Mondays because he gets a Monday folder with a newsletter and all his work from the week.

Loving the weather...

Ian's last basketball game of the season was on Saturday and we had just six out of ten players with us due to some kids sick and some were at school (make up day from the snow day on Monday). It was just an awesome game! I was so proud of them and we looked good out there! Ian made a few baskets...had a bunch of assists...had 2 steals...and was just on fire! It was so cute to see the kids high five each other when someone did something on our team!!! Go ARMADILLOS!!!

Poor Gavin though. I always let him be with the team during warm ups and then at the start of the game he has to go into the stands. He is MISERABLE!!!!! At half time he runs out to get a basketball during the quick break. Then he has to sit through the second half. As soon as the buzzer goes off...he runs to our team, takes a knee (like he is a player on the team) and I was just waiting for him to high five the kids on the other team! LOL He has tears because he wants to play on the team sooooo badly.

I had an extra team shirt and waited until last night to give it to him since the season is over. He is #11 and thinks that is just the coolest! It definitely took his mind of a trophy!

We spent before the game and after the game at mom's place yesterday. Around 5pm or so we all headed over to the Observation Park at RDU Airport. Cailean was working a 16 hour shift fixing a plane, so he surprised us for a few minutes. We got home, gave some showers, read some books and they were out at 7:10pm!

It was such a perfect weekend with weather...in the 80's. Yes, we broke out the shorts!!!! I had to take Ian to Kohl's this afternoon to find shorts for him that were non athletic looking! He is now wearing size 7X in shorts...wow...actually that is the size he wears for pants, too! But, it must have an adjustable waist or they will fall right down to his ankles!

Tomorrow Ian goes to school and then Gavin and I will head over to hang out with my grandparents and Aunt Sandi. We left his bike over there tonight, so we'll go to the park and ride the loop there while a couple from the Kirk visit with my grandparents.

"One Shining Moment"...Armadillos 2008-09

One of the dads on our basketball team put together this video clip and put it on YouTube. It's awesome!!!!!!

If you're not familiar with the"One Shining Moment" video, it's a song that is played after the NCAA Men's basketball championship game and highlights the NCAA tournament. The NCAA has done this for as long and they show quick clips to the beat of the song (Joe tried to do in this video). Anyway, hope you enjoy it...Make sure your volume is turned up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV05GLH9wuE

The Best Passer and Most Coachable Award goes to...

Ian receiving his trophy and Gavin hoping there was an extra trophy in the box
Ian's fan club!


The Armadillos (3 kids missing)
IAN TURNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight was our last basketball practice of the season. Time sure does fly by! Usually we do trophies after the last game, but since our last game is this Saturday and year round school kids have school this Saturday (make up day from our snow day on Monday)...not everyone will be able to attend our game. So, Leslie and I thought we would give out the trophies tonight after practice. I was a nervous wreck talking in front of everyone (I don't think I'll ever get over that!!!), but I made it through. I'm definitely looking forward to our final game this Saturday, but really sad that the season will be over.

So yes...Ian received the Best Passer Award and Most Coachable Award. He has these unbelieveable bounce passes around defenders to his teammates. Amazing! Accurate and strong. He also received the Most Coachable Award because he is a great listener for the coaches, pays attention and will follow instructions. I told him that maybe we'll use that term at home to improve his listening skills!!!!!

Gavin's experience in Ian's classroom...will we be banned??!! LOL

Yesterday was a busy day with a lot things going on at Ian's school for Teacher Appreciation that I organized with help. I also had to work at NCSU. Oh and yes...had Gavin, who was actually a GREAT help going from one place to another. Our day started bright and early to pick up breakfast items at Bob Evans to take to all the teachers. Anyway, I had a day spa there for 1 hour and 12 teachers were the lucky winners to receive hand massages and parrafin wax. Another mom and I subbed in the classrooms when the teachers were having this done. Ian's teacher's name was drawn and so I was able to be in Ian's classroom for a few minutes.

Here is what happened...

I walk the kids in from recess and they get drinks. They line up again and we head to the classroom. They got their rest mats out and went into their spots. So, there Ian was...laying on his rest mat. Gavin goes over to Ian and SPANKS HIM SOOOOOO HARD!!! OH MY GOSH!!!! So, the kids started laughing (great...I'll be fired) and then Gavin laid down next to Ian and oh...I wish I didn't leave the camera in the car. It was adorable. The two were soooo cute!!!!! Gavin was hoping that I wouldn't see him and when Ms. Braun came back in I think Gavin was hoping he could stay with his brother. LOL LOL

When we went back to get Ian, Gavin was wiped out and fell asleep in the car. His naptime was all messed up today because of all the stuff we had to do. Then we met mom, my grandparents and Aunt Sandi at Mimi's Cafe for dinner. Home for books, teeth and the kids were asleep by 7:20pm!

Off to another eventful day today...school, work, Teacher Appreciation luncheon, basketball practice (last one of the season), handing out trophies, home for showers and bedtime. It'll be a late night for the kids!

Finally...some photos!

The boys with their Nana and Poppi...making pancakes
toasting some marshmallows

Ian and Gavin getting ready for bed

Gavin in his swim lesson

Gavin and Ian watching teams practice

Finally...posting pictures! During February we enjoyed going to TAC a little before Gavin's swim lesson and we just watched the older kids swim and swim. Two swim teams were practicing in the afternoons and I was just loving life! Lots of memories were going through my head as I sat there and watched. Oh how I loved being in that shape years ago!!!!

Cailean's parents were here and Cailean thought it would be a great idea to start up a bonfire and toast some marshmallows! It was a bit chilly for the event, but well worth it. The boys love doing this!!!

We've got a busy rest of the week! We actually had a snow day yesterday and today was a 2 hour delay due to black ice. So, the plans for Teacher Appreciation Week at Ian's school that I put together with some help...well, let's just say we are on Plan C now! I'm running back and forth between Kingswood, home and NCSU this week and also trying to still recover from pneumonia.

Aunt Sandi arrives Wednesday evening and will be here for a week! She'll stay at mom's, but we'll get to see a lot of her!!!!!

We're Headed to Disney!!!!!!!!

We decided to tell the boys tonight that we are headed to Disney World during their spring vacation in April! We've known for quite a few months that we would be heading there. This trip would NOT be made possible if it weren't for Doug and Karen Lyford. They are from Chelsea, VT and I've known them for YEARS!!! I enjoy giving my Duke/NCSU tickets to them and they soooooo graciously gave us a ONE WEEK timeshare to anywhere!!!! I don't know who is more excited...Cailean or me?! We didn't want to tell the boys because we didn't want to hear "When are we going? Is it April 3rd yet? How many more days." So, tonight I put in the Disney dvd that Cailean's brother and wife sent to us and had a few Mickey Mouse, Cars and Nemo books on the floor. Ian caught on quickly and I did see a smile on his face. Gavin just yelled out that he wanted to meet Goofy! LOL I don't know what I was expecting...cartwheels? jumping up and down? I don't think they quite understand what Disney World is all about or where it's located.

So now I'm on the hunt for finding deals with tickets. No more spelling out Disney (of course if Ian was paying any attention he would know what we were spelling) or anything like that. I can call AAA in front of the kids, etc.

Back to today...

Ian and Gavin had an eventful day. Mom and my grandparents picked them up at 8:30am and they headed to church. I took a cat nap and met them at Bob Evans for brunch. I'm still trying to recover from pneumonia and my medication makes me sooooo tired. Then, mom took them to Target and then over to Max's and Sam's house. Since they live near mom, it was easier for mom to drop them off. They spent the afternoon with Max, Sam, Rob and Leslie. That totally helped me out. I just snoozed on the couch and managed to do some laundry. THANK YOU REID FAMILY!!!! Cailean picked them up on the way home from work, swung by mom's to pick up chili (she made in the crockpot and shared with us, so I didn't have to cook) for dinner and came home.

It's Teacher Appreciation week this week at Kingswood and we were going to have a HUGE breakfast at 8am and have the mayor come talk to the teachers. Well, we are expecting a few inches of snow and not sure if school will be cancelled. So, we decided to move the breakfast to Tuesday morning to be on the safe side! I had a lot of fun planning it and there is a great core group of PTA members who are sooooo active and really helped pull this off.