recycling pick-up day

Today is trash pick-up day. Which reminds me, I never posted these.

Three weeks ago… My helpers carrying the recycling bins back to the house on a very cold pick-up day.

Always an exciting thing to help do. {It doesn't take much around here to make people happy.} Right now, Hannah and Joseph think that helping out around the house is so much fun. You know that Hannah has her chores (or duties, she calls them). Joseph, too. They like to contribute around here and I'm glad. Hope it lasts. They've got years of domestic responsibilities ahead of them.

sick, pre-k camp-out, and other stuff

Hannah was out of school the better part of last week. She had one of those super high fevers again that took a while to come down. This time, though, there were almost no other symptoms. She complained a couple times of a stomachache and a few times of a headache - but over the course of several days. It was weird. The fever went down over Thursday night and by Friday morning she was fever-free. Who knows…viral, I guess.

We had a nice time and I liked keeping her home with me. We went for a walk and found this pretty tree in our neighborhood. 

Anybody know what it's called? Hannah loved it.

One day, I surprised her with The Sound of Music. I DVR'd it a long time ago and she really liked it. I love it, too. I had it on VHS, recorded from TV, but we no longer have it (or a VCR for that matter). She was excited, as you can tell…

Had to take a picture of this happy cutie as she watched:

And since it's quite a long movie, her brother woke up from his nap and watched some too.

On Thursday morning, my small group met here at the house. I told Hannah she would need to stay in her room. She was so sweet, quiet in her room, constructing this:

…a "tent" for her dolls (they were inside). She was proud of it. I thought it was pretty clever myself. And Fancy. The dolls had everything they could possibly need in there.

On Friday, I finally took down the tissue poms that were hanging in the playroom. They were put up for the Fancy Hannah party in September (10 or 12 in all) and, well, we just left them up. Too much work to only enjoy for a little while. The throw-outer in me was starting to itch and I thought they kinda obstructed the view of the children's artwork I just hung along the moulding. At first Hannah was not happy with the idea of taking the poms down (unlike her momma, she doesn't like to get rid of ANYthing), but then decided she was ok with it and had a good time crushing them.

She donned her favorite tutu and convinced me to let her watch another movie.

…and climbed right up there to select it for herself.

Early Saturday morning, at 2am, Joe left to go camp out in front of the board of education to get Hannah into pre-k. There were 47 spots available and we were number twenty-something in line. A friend who is hoping to send her child to the same school had her teenage daughter and a friend sit in chairs for us from 10:30pm-2 when Joe and the other dad took over. The line was 50 or 60 people long by midnight! When I got there in the morning with the kids, Joe was cold and tired. He's such a good daddy.

Government funding for pre-k isn't finalized until July, but we are pretty sure she's in. A relief!

The rest of the weekend was relatively low-key. Hannah was well enough to go to a royal birthday party and we had supper at a friends' house.

{Fingers and toes by Erin.} 

 {Sitting beside Princess Katie.}

Always one to do her own thing, she didn't want to wear one of her princess costumes; she wanted to wear her flower girl dress from Uncle Will Will and Aunt Crystal's wedding. I couldn't really object, her mind was made up. I suggested she wear her new lace up the leg ballets adorned with little flowers, and - once she grabbed some accessories - she was Princess Hannah.

  {"Nana" Anna with all the princesses.}

When it came to the piñata, Hannah didn't seem at all concerned about being in the front of the line. Unlike her competitive parents, she was completely fine being the last one in line. She didn't even get a chance, as the piñata was busted open by the ninth or tenth person. And, when it comes to going after the candy, she's even less concerned. 

It's funny…and I love it. Don't get me wrong. She is competitive about a lot of things, but there is something about piñatas, I guess…

While subdued during the party, by supper she was back to her usual goofy self.

friday randomness

I am not an every day blogger. If I were, my posts would mainly consists of pictures taken from my phone - and most likely of the kids, things pertaining to them, design inspiration or just random things like this…

But I'm hard-pressed as is to find time to sort through photos that sync between my phone and this computer and then upload them to the blog…much less write things to go along with them. And who wants to listen to me ramble everyday anyway?

So, with that said, occasionally a photo dump, mobile style, is in order.

Here is some randomness from the last couple weeks.

I tend to relearn often that boys and girls are quite different.

Take coloring for example.

They can coexist completely focused in their own worlds. Sometimes it's coloring, sometimes it's trains, and sometimes it's puzzles and Legos.

…and other times they conspire and cause trouble, just as siblings should.

Yes…she has climbed in his bed and I listened as she tried to coach him on how to get out. Thankfully, he chickened out. I'd like a few more months please…

Granddaddy sent them a map. 

They are very excited. We've already put stickers on where people live. 

Hannah and I went to Augusta for an appointment with a pediatric ophthalmologist. 

Our pediatrician thought she noticed one of Hannah's eyes drifting at her four-year well visit. Her office called in a referral and, because it was barely noticeable, the appointment wasn't until four months later. She did great and her vision is perfect! 

We had lunch afterwards, and I had one of those mom moments, when I looked at her and wanted time to stand still. I asked her to smile for a picture so I'd always remember the sweetness on her face.

It was just a Chic-fil-A lunch. But it was way more than that. I so enjoy our time just us.

Hannah went to the dentist this week, as you might have seen on Instagram or Facebook. It started well. She was a willing patient and Joseph was there for support. 

And then it got a little dicey.

And then we got here. Joseph messing with all the tools and Hannah looking like someone about to have a panic attack.

Her teeth are great!

Yesterday I took Joseph to Savannah for another GI appointment. He doesn't like the sun in his eyes.

I usually give him a pair of my sunglasses and that helps a little. He was pretty angry with the sun though. I recorded part of his lashing out. Not sure how to upload audio files, but it went like this: "Ahhh! Go away sun! Go away!!! Ahhhhhhh!! GO away sun, GO AWAY!!!" The little guy had to deal with the sun (and I had to deal with his yelling at the sun) for half our trip. 

After three hours we were on our way. I do not like going to that office. I so want a normal, healthy little boy who is free from pain and the situation he's been dealing with for 2 1/2 years. We do believe things are getting better, though slowly. And we are optimistic that he'll eventually grow out of all his troubles. Please God…

When I got home, Joe had this delicious dinner planned. {I told you this was a random post.}

A re-invented huevos rancheros with corn patties, poached eggs, sautéed peppers, avocados and homemade pico de gallo. We put the kids to bed and had a quiet dinner. It was yummmmmmy.

That's all for now. Meme is coming tomorrow and we are celebrating her birthday. Hannah is beside herself talking about what we are going to do, how we are going to decorate, and (of course) what she is going to wear. 

Hope you have a nice weekend. 

photo streamin' and instagramin'

The nice thing about Apple's Photo Stream is that it collects pictures from my phone and iPad and puts them on to my computer without me having to do a thing. Before, I had to email images to myself or plug my phone into the computer and upload manually.  It's great...when it works. For whatever reason the Photo Stream on my computer is no longer updating (help?!). I do have a PC which could be the problem...but I digress.

Just thought I'd share some mobile uploads today. Random family doings and goings...

 my new "wallpaper": hanging out on the driveway

 my lock-screen shot: being fancy...even while getting ready for bed

 helping Joseph at the Chic-fil-A playground

 looking too old on the big kid swing

just a Sunday spin around the backyard...and cheese

 my sweet girl and picnics on the back porch

practicing the Buck pout

 a couple of Sundays ago...

my little guy in another hand-me-down from his uncles

This past Saturday we drove to Fayetteville for a one- and six-year joint birthday party for our sweet cousins, Lyndsey and Peter.

Raffie even did some driving

 Aunt Trudie took this picture of my girl

 the great-grandchildren (minus Jess)...thanks Maddie and Aunt Kristie for the help!

That last picture is another one Trudie took. She entitled it, "just 26 more minutes mom!" Which is exactly what she said to me when it was time to get in the car and head home.

One more thing...

I've just recently gotten into Instagram. I know, something else to take up time and aid in procrastination. But it's not the black hole that Facebook is, or this blog for that matter. It takes only a minute to tap the Instagram app on my phone and look at a few photos posted by friends or share one of my own.

Here are a few:

I can type a caption, tag someone in the picture, and "followers" can like or leave a comment. {I thought someone (ahem, Dad) might need an explanation.} It's great...and easy...and, well, if I've disappeared from the blog for a while you might find me/us there @lbbuck. I added a widget to the side of the screen here, too, so you can click and view current pictures. That's assuming you are interested!