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I really have NO wisdom for today, just thought I would tease you with that.

1.  We’re so proud of Jacob, who is finishing up his second semester of piano.  He really has a knack for it, despite his small hands.  And he loves the challenge.

2.  Pops (Steve) found a slug to show the boys (this is a ritual that only Pops’ are good at…one time he found a dead tarantula, while on a jog.  He ran home, put it in a container and kept it until his next visit with the boys).  I think this picture of Caleb is precious!

3.  The pediatrician gave me the green light to start Samuel on a little bit of rice cereal.  I started yesterday.  He loved it!

And, finally, please welcome the Smith family….

into the 21st century!

We got a HD satellite receiver.  And I have to admit, HD is really amazing!  I especially enjoy doppler radar in HD and the Food Network in HD, and playoff basketball, and the Discovery Channel, and…well, you get the idea.  And we FINALLY have DVR!!  Now could someone please show me how to work it?!  I do believe TV watching will NEVER be the same again. 

to my easy baby?

He’ll only take 30-minute naps.  Is wailing if not given attention.  Is requiring us to bounce/walk/talk/sing/coo/and all-but-hang-upside-down-from-the-ceiling in the evenings.  I hope this is temporary!

I’m still singing from last week’s trip to see WICKED.  My mom and I were giddy with excitement and thrilled with the show.  And I think the "boys" (Derek and Steve) enjoyed it as much as we did.

And I have a dream…

to be invited to something like THIS some day.  I love getting on the First Lady’s webpage and reading all about the linens and china, the guest list, the menu.  Wouldn’t that be so fun?!  But with only 134 people in attendance last night, I think my chances at being invited are slim at best.  But one can dream…

**EDITED AGAIN!:  Since this blog is all about counting our blessings, I thought I would share this on the heels of my last "edit".  Our neighbors right across the street had their trampoline picked up and thrown into their neighbors backyard (up and over the fence) and then into their window.  Now I know how lucky we really are!

**EDITED: Just discovered that the trampoline was thrown several feet into the back of the house, barely missing a window.  The posts that hold the net are bent and a rain gutter is smashed like a pancake.  Boy are we lucky it didn’t hit the window.

We had another incredible storm here last night.  It felt like a hurricane!  There are at least 4 trees in my neighborhood that are down.  And running my errands this morning, I saw at least 20 trees (some of them very large) that were uprooted or had significant damage.  Thankfully, the only thing we had to deal with was water pouring in under our front door.  And then I realized it wasn’t just pouring under the door, but from the middle of the door!  Water was seeping through the paneling on the door.  All of these towels were soaked.  Luckily, I was home so I stopped it from heading for the carpet.  It was incredible.  Derek was at a restaurant with customers and water was pouring in the front door there too.  Downed power lines, power outages, flooding…makes me appreciate that it wasn’t worse at our house.

1.  For the third year in a row, I am exhausted every other day, because I stay up to watch THIS.

2.  I found out yesterday that I live on one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the metroplex.  Although, it didn’t take a news story to tell me.  A young pregnant teacher died in a traffic accident just up the road from our house on Monday…very sad.

3.  We get to see THIS on Thursday night…can’t wait.

4.  This little guy started belly-laughing yesterday.  Before now, we had only gotten quiet giggles.  But the boys were blowing "zerberts" on his legs and then looking at him with anticipation, and he was laughing so hard you could see his belly bounce up and down.  It was PRICELESS!  And, of course, they were thrilled.  Derek and I tried to re-create the scene later that night.  All we got were confused stares…"why are you blowing on my leg like that?"  The way he watches and responds to his brothers is so special…I love it.

4.  And he has to get more shots today.  Caleb said, "Mom, please don’t make me watch."  It is hard for all of us!

It’s been 4 months since this little guy graced us with his presence.  And I have loved every minute of it.  He’s batting at toys this week and trying to "catch" them.  He’s giggling.  And for the first time, he’s crying when frightened.  The guys were singing loudly the other day and he wailed in fear.  Too funny.  I am sure he’ll be rolling soon because he’s twisting his hips and his neck all around when he’s on the floor.  And that sleeping thru the night thing was short-lived. He’s up every night at 4 am!

CONSTANT Motion!!

Speaking of Samuel…I’m being summoned!

Dear Family and Friends of the Smith Family:

I would like to, first off, apologize to you.  It is my understanding that you have been made to suffer when convening at the Smith home for several years.  This suffering has caused you to avoid the Smith home on important holidays…like New Years and Thanksgiving.  It is shameful the things they have made you endure.

The woman of the house seems to deem me unnecessary.  Not so, says the man.  Thank heavens he was able to talk some sense in to her and allow me to take-over. 

Feel ashamed no more, men.  No longer feel pity for the man they call Derek.  The HOLE has been filled.

Sincerely,

MIT.

(Short for Mitsubishi Diamond Vision 52-inch projection TV, with 1080P HD)

I’m sitting on my couch, curled up with my laptop, listening to the thunder and pouring rain.  It’s been coming down all day.  And the poor weatherman must be exhausted.  It’s one of the cooler springs I can remember, which is nice considering how hot we’ll get this summer.  It’s also one of the most torrential.  There have been lots of tornadoes and thunderstorms.  In fact, I was telling Derek tonight that the weather coverage is almost anti-climactic these days.  If the tornado is not in your county, you try not to worry about it too much.  Not sure I could say that in years past.  I used to be a weather researcher, right out of college.  I worked for a start-up project called "WeatherCaster".  It was a great idea…one that WFAA did a spin-off of.  But the management was bad and it lost money too fast.  Fun though.  It taught me a lot and got me hooked on weather-watching.  I love a good Doppler radar. 🙂

I wish it were Sunday.

Cuz that’s my Funday.

(I used to love the Bangles).

All of my craziness from the previous week has ended, and I have a slower week this week, thank goodness.  Had a fun lunch here on Friday, with chinese chicken salad and La Madeline’s tomato basil soup.  Had a dinner party here Sat night with my homemade chicken parmesan.  And another girl brought creme brulee.  Yummy!!  I finished this…

And received a certificate of "Highest Honor" for following the rules + some other things.

And I attempted to get pictures of the boys out at Zion’s Cemetery (thanks for the tip, Shelley) last night.  It’s a beautiful cemetery up on a hill that is covered with bluebonnets.  And many of the graves are from the 1800s.  Loved it.  Sadly, the boys were not as excited about picture taking as I was.  Samuel was too intrigued by the grass.  But, oh well.  A neighbor makes these cute tie-dye t-shirts, that I just couldn’t resist.

This little one has gotten so BIG in the last week or two.  He’s so fun.  He LOVES to suck on his hands (fists) and is trying to "catch" his feet.  He is in constant motion…kicking, batting, looking around.  He’s so responsive.  He adores his brothers and will not take his eyes off of them if they’re around.  He giggles every once in a while, but is mostly just happy to watch people and smile.  He tries to get my attention if I’m not looking at him and then when I do, gives me a big grin.  So sweet.

He loves to stick his tongue out!

And have you seen this?

http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/planet-earth/planet-earth.html

It is A-MA-ZING!!  We’re hooked.

1. Jacob is home sick today.  Poor guy.  NEVER gets sick, thankfully.  Except for today.  Fever.  Just wants to sit and watch tv.  And get hugs.  And say things like "Caleb is really nice, Mom."  Maybe he should get sick more often!  Just kidding.

He is not really into mom-approved cartoons anymore.  He was requesting bass fishing or animal shows this morning.  Of which, none were on.  So I relied on what I watched when I was sick as a kid…game shows.  Price is Right.  Bob Barker.  While searching for the channel, I explained what a game show was.  "Is it kind of like the Olympics, Mom?"  Not exactly, buddy.

2.  Caleb is unloading the dishwasher right now.  Just the silverware…my least favorite part.  It’s been his job for about 6 months now.  And I love that there are no child labor laws in Texas.

3.  Samuel LOVES to be bounced.  It’s the only time we can get him to giggle.  I did "ride little horsie" about 100 times for him yesterday.  He was "over it" way before me.  So sweet.

4.  Since I still associate myself loosely with broadcast news…  I say "SHAME ON US" today for broadcasting repeatedly the pictures of the Virginia Tech shooter with guns in his hands.  It is disgraceful to me.  There is absolutely NO value in it other than shock and awe.  Whom does that serve?  Certainly not the victims.  Certainly not the rest of us who are sickened and saddened by this tragedy.  I wish some newsroom manager, some TV exec, some news producer, some reporter, some anchor would stand up and say "we’re not going to do it".  Are they so desensitized to it, that they can’t see distaste and vulgarity for what it is?  Makes me sick.

5.  Boy, am I relieved that Sanjaya is off of American Idol.  No explanation needed. 

Ok…back to work.

BUSY!  Sometimes I miss the pace of bed-rest. 🙂

1.  Finishing the PTA scrapbook for my deadline on Saturday.

2.  Baking cookies for a church event tomorrow night.

3.  Hosting a lunch for 5 ladies and 6 kids here on Friday.

4.  Hosting a "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner" for 4 couples on Sat night.

And cleaning, cooking, homework, diapers, caring for a sick 7-year old, laundry, bills, errands, chauffering,…

and listening to Caleb’s non-stop whistling. 🙂

And when I stop to really think, I realize LIFE IS GOOD.  I am so blessed.  These are happy times.