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There’s a country song out by Trace Atkins right now called "You’re Gonna Miss This".  It’s about all of the stages in life that you try to get through so you can move on to the next.  And I think of it often when I look at the messes, or am frustrated with the kids.  I think to myself, "you’re gonna miss this", and I know it’s true.  But something tells me I will not miss last night.

10:45 – lights out for Mer

11:30 – Sam wakes up screaming

11:45 – Sam back to sleep

12 midnight – Jacob kneels on the top stair and vomits down the rest of the stairs; cleaning ensues

1 – get Jacob setlled on a makeshift bed in my room with a bowl

2 – Jacob wakes up again throwing up, but this time into the bowl

2:30 – Jacob falls back to sleep

3 – Mer falls back to sleep

4:30 – Samuel wakes up screaming; won’t take his binky; won’t be consoled

5:45 – Mer calls her mom – who’s just gotten out of the shower – to give her an earful and just to know that there is life beyond the dark abyss of the night

6:30 – bring Samuel down after two hours of attempted consoling, medication, bottles, etc. and try good ol’ Mister Rogers Neighborhood.  He enjoys it and so do I.  Mr. Rogers always saves the day.  We eat some breakfast.

7:30 – Samuel finally takes his binky and falls asleep leaning against me with a Rice Chex in hand and a bib on.

7:45 – I open my eyes to find Caleb watching TV with us; he’s fully dressed.  I manage to put Samuel in his bed asleep.

With everything going on, I realized that I missed May 1st…Samuel turned 16 months!  So here’s a few things that he’s doing:

– any time we’re sitting on the floor he tries to walk backwards and plop on your lap

– he loves his small, square silky blanket and his big, heavy “bee” quilt

– he points at things he wants and yells “maa!”

– he loves to dance, especially in the car, and loves the Barney CD

– he’s starting to assert himself with his brothers, especially when Caleb takes things from him.  Sam will yell and swat at him. 

– he loves to swing at the park

– we laugh because he has a “primal grunt” that he does when he wants to go fast or play rough.  He can’t run, so he’ll “grunt” and walk fast instead.  He’s all boy, for sure!

Caleb LOVES preschool.  He’s made lots of friends, has two great teachers (both named Suzanne), and has learned so much. 

But Monday night at the Spring Program at his school, we started to discover that for him…it’s all about the girls. 

One child would not stop hugging him.  Another one was asking her mother to get a picture of the two of them.  Another female was chanting "Cutie, Cutie Caleb"…his apparent nickname.  Derek and I looked at each other and laughed.  And then we almost cried…we are in SO MUCH TROUBLE.  He is such a Romeo.  Teenage years will be interesting. 

I’ve told him that I’m the only one allowed to give him kisses and call him "Cutie, Cutie Caleb"…for now.

Caleb and Savannah

Tasha, Dominick, Caleb, Emma and Clayton

Jacob declared himself to be Caleb’s "bodyguard" by the end of the night.  That may end up being necessary as time goes on!

On Sunday, Derek, Caleb, and I all took a LONG nap.  We were exhausted.  We’re talking 3 hours.  Jacob, not one to slow down long enough for a nap, spent the time quietly and productively.  We were so pleased!  And when we woke up he had prepared a magic show for us, using a kit he had received as a gift.  It was so fun! 
(I must have still been half-asleep because all my pictures were blurry.)

Every good magician should consult his notes.

Jacob, you’ll always be magic to us!

Picture taken in Fredericksburg last weekend.  Samuel took a spill in the dirt and it ended up in his mouth and up his nose.  Seems a fitting photograph for this post.

I’m having one of those days…

the kind where you laugh because you feel like everything is going wrong.  When nothing seems to be falling into place.  And it’s humorous.  And you just KNOW that tomorrow HAS to be better.  It just HAS to be.   

Samuel is running a high fever.  The doctor says it’s an adenovirus.  And the high fever and sore throat should last about 5-7 days.  With day 3 and 4 being the worst.  Then she looked at me and said, "today is considered day one".  Thanks…

Derek left town tonight.  For 5-7 days. 

Just kidding…he’s only gone for 3.

And my oven is broken.  It’s possessed.  It just completely went dead one day.  No rhyme or reason.  But it still chirps at us every once in a while.  It’s like something out of Twilight Zone.

And my satellite is out.  So I can’t watch tv.  Tragic.

That’s it really.  Nothing major.  Just a no good, very bad day.

But in the midst of it all there are still blessings.  It rained all day, but seemed to stop just long enough for me to run to my car with Sam after his dr’s appointment, and just long enough for me to get Caleb to music class.  And I never got wet. 

And Caleb had a preschool program tonight…and they sang "This Little Light of Mine" which will make any day a little brighter.

Here’s hoping tomorrow brings more blessings, and less mess.

I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am of these two guys…Derek and my Dad, Cordel.  After several months of training and planning, they did something so BIG!  This weekend they rode in the MS 150.  A bike ride for charity.  It started right here in Frisco, at RoughRider stadium.  Went to Texas Motor Speedway.  And then on to downtown Fort Worth.  150 miles total.  Derek opted out of the Sunday ride, but made up those miles by riding 70 of them by himself on Friday morning.  What a guy!  Then they braved the wind and cold and rode together yesterday for 83 miles.  And my dad rode hard today and finished strong.

They rode with the "Performance Bike – Frisco RoughRider team"…headed by a friend with MS, Rod Moffitt.  There are several other friends on the team as well.  It was fun to see these guys ride it together.  My dad and Derek raised around $3500 to help stop Multiple Sclerosis.  A disease that has affected Derek’s dad (diagnosed 18 years ago) and my cousin, Brooke (diagnosed almost exactly 1 year ago).  They rode for a great cause, and for them it was personal.  They worked hard, bonded together (Dad calls Derek his "wingman") and they had a great time. 

Me and the kids woke up at 6 am with Derek on Saturday and took him to the START line, and cheered on the team as they got going.  Then we went with Christy (stepmom) and my brother Mike to welcome the team to the Speedway.  It was a fun atmosphere, beautiful weather, food, and fun.  I hope the kids will remember it for a long time…what an accomplishment.

So, so proud of you, Derek and Dad!

Just home from his ride on Friday.

SATURDAY MORNING, START:

SATURDAY AFTERNOON, FINISH:

Not sure who is more tired here…Papa C or Sam?!

MOST of the 200+ photos that I took at the family reunion are of these two cuties, who were born just 6 weeks apart.  Mary Madison is the daughter of my cousin, Kate.  They were not too interested in each other (typical at this age), but we were certainly interested in photographing them together.  But separate was fine too…poor kids are probably sick of us moms with cameras.

Did I say Everest?  Oh, I mean Enchanted Rock.  It just felt like Everest!  At least to me and Caleb.  It was HOT, hot on Friday afternoon when we decided to hike a steep granite rock in the hill country of TX, prior to our reunion.  It is beautiful.  But me and Caleb took the slow and steady course, and…didn’t make it quite to the top.  But got to enjoy the view longer from the 3/4 mark! 

Now wait a minute?!  You might be asking yourself, "I thought she said that Caleb didn’t make it to the top?"  He technically didn’t.  But at the last minute, decided he wanted to be in the picture of those that did. 🙂  See, I’ll prove it:

Most of the time he was right here with me…

Complaining about how hot and tired he was.  Or was that me?

But not this guy – no sir-ey – he was perfectly happy to go along for the ride.

We had such a wonderful time with family last weekend in Fredericksburg, TX.  All of us are descendants of William Andrew Robinson (1874-1952).  His children (with Una Vay King) were Rubye, Doris, William Beverly (Bev), Grayson (who died as a baby), Byron, and Roberta.  None of them are still living, but their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren gathered together for the weekend.  What a legacy!  I love the feeling that comes when family gathers…some of whom we hadn’t met…we were instant friends.  My kids loved being with their second and third cousins.  It was a wonderful occasion.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Picnic dinner at Juliet’s

SaturDAY:  Shopping and Swimming

Saturday Night: Family Photo and Dinner at Hondo’s (restaurant)

With the largest representation…we are the descendants of Byron Robinson!  And believe it or not this is only 1/3 of the porch. 

My dad with his siblings, Robin and Lisa

Me with my siblings, Mark and Michael

Jacob is playing tic-tac-toe with Everest, a relative who lives in Paris, France and speaks limited English.  So fun!

Another "cousin" that the kids had fun with, Kyle.

This week our family has been thru a hard thing.  But as always…hard things bring blessings too.
I found this scripture tonight and feel that it sums up the week for me:
Romans 5:3-4
“…but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

  And patience, experience; and experience, hope…”

I feel like we have experienced a little more patience, a lot more experience, and an abundance of hope.

Thank you to all of you who have called, left messages, took our kids and mowed our lawn, brought dinner, sent e-mails, said a prayer, sent beautiful flowers and even yummy fruit.  We love you and appreciate you.