Just a Little Impromtu Vacation, Full of Gifts

Friends invited us to stay with them at a HUGE, and I mean HUGE lakehouse this past weekend.  The forecast showed ZERO clouds.  The Tootles accepted. 

After turning in a last minute time off request, we headed out Thursday night, and woke to this beautiful site.  I'm reading A Thousand Gifts right now, so the ENTIRE trip, I kept thanking God for anything and everything.  A full drawer of utensils, paper plates, Sammy's smile, the four waverunners, a guest house to sneak away for sleep, sunscreen... I couldn't stop thanking Him for all his little, and big gifts in life. 

This little Toot was such a sweet gift on the trip.  He LOVED the boat rides and waverunners.  Loved the joy he oozed out from every pore of his little body. 

This little gift, while on the tad side of grumpiness, he was such a hoot at times.  Through the whole trip, I kept thinking that I really need to work on his gratefullness.  Wee bit of a whiner on this trip.  Welll, we got home on Sunday, and this little one was curled on the floor, shivering.  Sure enough, he was sick.  (I'll still work on gratefulness (along with myself)). 

Gift of father and son bonding time!

Gift of us being patient enough (after being told by the pool guy) to let the hot tub warm up.  The kids hogged the tub the whole time.  After bed time was our only shot.

Sammy was like a puppy dog on the boat.  He let the wind blow in his hair.  Little bug land on the face... didn't matter to him. 

We had two sunset cruises one night.  A few of us adults strategically figured out how to send all the kids on one boat right, so we could have a gift of nonethingness, and a glass of wine.  This is what came back to us. 

Really enjoyed the moms/friends on this trip.  The kids hardly ever wanted their picture taken.  When it was our turn, the little ones popped in. 

Sammy got a hold of the gift of sunscreen and applied until it was gone.  Sorry Shannon.  (gift of a forgiving friend).

 These sweet little faces found a slug, yes slug.  And, being the cute, precious girls that they are, created a home for it.  Nice work! 

Any picture with my boys is a gift to me. 

Camera Phone Diaries

The past two weeks have been a little bit of everything. From a nice dinner with Nama Dotty to an ER visit, we did it all!

1. We've been enjoying the warm weather. I'd say the "unusual warm" winter weather for us but really it's not. Flip flops are worn with a fleece jacket. Uggs worn with shorts.



2. We were a house-of-sickies for way too long. Check out the coon-eyes on that girl!



3. Ryan's class dressed up as clowns one day. Since our house was one big infirmary, Mimi and pop pop took the kids to get better there, so rod and I could get better here. While there Mimi created the best in show clown costume! Ryan looked adorable!






4. We had a movie night (still sick). So nice to lay low. The kids loved it.



5. Ryan and I had a lunch date after church. Love getting one on one time with him.



6. Soon after our Sunday lunch date, I started cooking a big pot of taco soup. As I was smashing the recyclables down to make more room in the can, I cut my finger on the lid of a can I had just opened. Off to the new Baptist standalone ER, five stitches and we were back home in time for the Oscars.



7. I graduated Ryan to the boxer-brief underwear. Doesn't he look so cute in them?!? He loves them because they "mean he's getting bigger.".



8. We got better! Started JuicePlus!




9. I got a date night alone with Nama Dotty! We went to Cheesecake Factory and such s nice evening. So much food! We joked that she was going home from a grocery trip.


She looked so pretty for our date night!



10. The kids had Community Helper week. Ryan dressed as a fire fighter.




11. Went to La Gloria and enjoyed my girlfriends and kids! Love, love this place. Perfect for kids and allows for a fun, hip atmosphere for the tired parents.








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

It was a Big Day for our Big Boy!

Today was a big day for
Ryan. But, really it's a day that I will never forget because I felt a little piece of my boy leaving me.

We were all in the backyard playing when it happened. Ryan was standing on his playset and could see the kids riding their scooters over the fence. In his super innocent, eager voice he said, "hi guys". Right away my heart panicked that they would think he sounded dorky or not cool (who am I? The cool police?!?!) and laugh at him being stuck in his backyard and not able to be outside playing with them.

They said hi back and asked him to come out an play with them. Ryan eagerly answered, "Okay!" I freaked out, gave Rod my fish-eyed look (for which Rod gave them back to me because we both were not exactly ready for front yard, play on your own, kind of play). I told Ryan a king as Daddy was out there with him, he could go.

And, in less than 30 seconds, we were ALL heading over to the neighbors house...




Here's where I had (one of I'm sure many) a moment of "I've been replaced.". Nothing I say will be funny, cool or super smart. I'm now just a "girl without a scooter".



Rod and I learned a lot today: 1.) Ryan did great and fit right in. 2.) No, we are not ready for him to play out in the front by himself and his buddies. (Only if we are outside or our new friends who we've gotten to know lately.). 3.) Sammy wants to be Ryan. 4.) we definitely need to upgrade Ryan's scooter.

Ryan's scooter is a hand-me-down that Ryan loves. He kept saying "but my scooter is so cool" when he was playing with his new mommy-replacements.

Not sure what is happening below but thought the picture could tell a thousand stories.




Ugh, as I create this post, I totally realize that I was "that mom" (and without a scooter) with a camera documenting a simple day playing outside with the neighborhood kids.

My heart melted the entire play time. I couldn't keep my eyes off of Ryan.

While he was playing he looked at me and said, "it's because I'm getting bigger." (why he was out their with "those" kids).

Lesson 5.) this mom's heart needs to toughen up!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO YOU!!!  XOXO 

The boys school had a Valentine's day party for parents to attend... and grandparents, who you'll see below!(pardon the grainy pics)

Sammy's room (Red Room) had made tie dye t-shirts for Valentine's day!  So cute walking into his room with all of them in their shirts!  Gosh, this school is great.

Ryan and Sammy's main squeezes!  When the school declares a party day, you can bet the boys will be over-represented.  And, I LOVE that!  Love that!  These boys are loved and supported. 

Here's my main squeeze in the Gold room.  You could tell by the smile on his face that he LOVED having Nama, Nama Dotty and Mimi at his Valentine's day party.   

Last week, we represented the Tootle boys by attending Cowboy Breakfast.  Bean and cheese tacos for all.  Sammy scarfed down 2 1/2 tacos in no time.  Love how these boys eat at school but not at home. 

Sammy's class is full of cutie-pa-tooties. 

 The Red room teachers mentioned the Valentine's party, and these two both (without a bit of hesitation) said they'd be attending (acting like this was the first they heard about it but really they knew all about it from the calendar of events that they both received and have read a few time).  Gosh I love these ladies. 

In true cowboy fashion, WANTED posters were put up on all of the kids. 

Please lock your doors and hide your kids.  Ryan Tootle is WANTED for...

Ryanisms

1. Ryan was going potty and then playing around with his "boys". He said, "That's a ball, Mom. What kind of ball is it?". Answer: a grown-up one.

2. "mom, Jesus died on the cross so we can have his magic."

3. We were saying our prayers and at the end of his standard, learned prayer he said (and I will never forget for the rest of my life), "God, thank you for loving my mommy." Jesus loves me so much I can't get over it.

4. "Mom, you go cook my dinner and I will watch Alvin and the Chipmunks." really?!? Just like that?!? You just get to command dinner and a movie?

5. "Mom, I need some cards." He had to take something that starts with a W to school and he chose his wallet.

6. "Target is my favorite store." Agree. It comforts me.

7. He has a new exercise.

8.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Camera-phone Christmas

A brief look back at the fun we had over the Christmas break.

We have just about eaten all of San Antonio HEBs and restaurants.



Rogers Ranch playground always pulls through. The Sturm boys joined us!



Ate at Bigz! We ate, kids played.



Check the balancing act he has going on here!


Nama and poppy got the boys a trampoline!!!!! This is hands down the best! The kids love it which means I love it!




Thanks Santa. One kind man.



Jenny woke up early and heading to our house so she wouldn't miss his expressions. She and I got coffee and had some good convo until the kids woke. We were a tad early.



Ah! My fav moment was watching Ryan see what Santa left behind.



Lots of gifts and spoiling at Mimi and PopPop's house. We played right-left-center to win our Christmas gifts! Lots of tamales, beans and wine.



Sammy became friends with the talking Elmo.



On the 26th, we went to Pericos for breakfast. It is a perfect place for coffee, migas and child entertainment. Miga consumption should be a slow, joyful one.




Made a chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache on top. (just wanted to say "ganache").


Now, this lady needs to go on a diet!

I'll have some good pics of the fun TWO weeks I had off. Happy New Years!!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone