Fabulous End!

I've gotten to where Sundays are my favorite day of the week. It's the day I slow down and just enjoy life. Today was no exception. After church and a quick trip to Walmart this morning, we drove out to drop off Rob's antelope meat to be processed. When we got back to the house my intent was to read while P napped but I was more tired than I originally thought because I, too, took a short nap. Upon waking we saw dark clouds heading our way.
I've loved Summer storms since moving to NV but I really like them this Summer because it means the house cools down a few degrees. Rob cut up his antelope loin and threw it on the grill for dinner. I've heard mixed reviews about antelope meat so I was hesitant to try it but I really liked it! Rob, never having cooked antelope before, overseasoned it a bit so the meat was salty but other than that it was delicious! While enjoying dinner, the rain began. I quickly tossed the dishes in the sink for later and took P outside to enjoy the rain, thunder and lightning. Life is too short to sit inside while it rains so we splashed, ran around and oohed and aahed over the lightning strikes. To top off the night we watched one of our favorite shows, "Army Wives". It was a fabulous end to an equally fabulous weekend!

Cantaloupe, er Antelope

Yesterday we packed up after a short day of work and headed East to Elko. We got there around dinner time so we ate at one of our all time favorite restaurants. Then we enjoyed the hotel pool afterwards. Rob and I were both impressed with how brave P was in the pool. With his water wings on he just took off, doing his own thing, only asking for help a couple times. He enjoyed taking a ride on Daddy's back to the deep end then swimming back to Mommy when they got closer to me. We turned in early because Rob had a big day ahead of him today. He had a cantaloupe to hunt!
This morning he got up at 4am to head out to his huntin' spot, claiming it before anyone else. I won't ruin the details of his hunt as that is his story to tell. But I will tell you that my gut feeling that he made fun of me for having was true. He killed a cantaloupe, er antelope! P was so excited that he kept calling the antelope a "cantaloupe". :)

Once Rob got back to the hotel P and I took off for the playground down the road. True to his personality, he made a new "friend" as soon as he got there. The 2 little boys had so much fun together and could've played all day but we had to get back to check out of the hotel. After visiting beautiful Lamoille Canyon at the base of the Ruby mountains, we made our way back home.
A few of the things we liked best? Sleeping in an air conditioned room last night, going to a great restaurant, seeing a couple friends today and Rob killing his first antelope of course. Although short and quick, it was a nice little getaway!

Dinosaurs, Frogs and Ducks

I'm trying to give P as much "Me Time" as I can before the baby comes. I try to find a balance between housework, errands and doing something he'll enjoy. So when I got a weekly email outlining fun kid events around Reno I jumped at the chance to take him to a dinosaur themed kids' museum. It turned out to be disappointing as it was more of a playroom or a parent supervised preschool setting. But he enjoyed himself while we were there and he even got to see his little buddy, Andy. The one thing he did enjoy was the dinosaur play area outside the museum. He wanted to climb on all the dinosaurs and then he talked to them, apologizing to them for not saving his salami snack for them. :) From there I took him to a pond where I had recently done an impromptu photo shoot for a friend. I knew the pond was slap full of huge frogs. Much to our delight we not only found frogs but a friendly duck and some fish. I think he enjoyed that more than the dinosaur "museum". To top off the morning we stopped for some chips and guacamole on the way home (His new favorite....much to my delight!). This afternoon has been filled with a nap, outside play and lots of mud sculptures. Other than the unbearable heat, it's been a great day!

What Was He Thinking??

After being in bed for awhile last night I felt the need to check on P. (I love our house but being upstairs while he's downstairs concerns me at times.) It was a good thing I followed my gut because much to my dismay I found a disaster zone downstairs. P had gone into his bathroom and had literally opened every bottle, tube, container her could find. He had vapor rub all over his walls and on Ruby's head. He also covered poor Ruby in Calamine lotion (She is still pink today) and then, I'm guessing to get it off her, she rubbed all over the walls and leather furniture. P also put his red toothpaste on her neck, giving her a beautiful red necklace that may become more permanent than temporary. He then proceeded to dump his body wash and/or lotion all over his carpet, which no amount of Resolve would fix. To top it off, he had the concoctions all over his body as well. After I told Rob about the incident this morning (he snored right through the fun last night) he voiced exactly what I was thinking when I was trying to clean P, Ruby and his room...."What would make him lay in bed and think 'It would be fun to get everything and pour it all over Ruby and my room.'?" Ah, the mind of a 3 year old boy!

Monday Morning Vent

I was told a few years ago about all the negativity that comes with a job share, that it's like a marriage. Sometimes it's great and sometimes you're put with a partner that you don't mesh well with. After a couple years with an awesome job share partner, we had to part ways in June (She was having her 3rd baby and desperately wanted to be a SAHM). Yes, she had her quirks that drove me crazy and I'm sure I had mine that drove her crazy but we would vent to our BFFs (our hubbies), confront the issue if needed and then move on. I didn't realize at the time how good I had it! Now I do. Over the Summer I got put with a different job share person to teach Kinder. My principal does not hire people I would hire but I guess since I am not a principal it doesn't matter. However, usually with a job share, the teacher already in place has some say about it. But, like I said, my principal doesn't work that way. So I have a brand new teacher to work with and I've forgotten what it's like to need to hold someone's hand throughout the first year of teaching. It's also made me realize why I don't want to be an administrator any time soon (I don't have the patience required). I dread my phone ringing and seeing her name on Caller ID. Although after ignoring her calls for a week, she hasn't called as much. I dread opening my email account and seeing her name in the "Sender" box. I dread my alarm going off on Monday and Tuesday mornings, knowing I have to go to a job I am not fond of. The sad thing is is that the kids and parents are awesome! If they were all I dealt with I'd absolutely love my job but unfortunately that is not the case. So, as much as I hate Rob going back to his old job where he travels all the time, I am looking forward to having his old income back where I can stay at home. My teaching partner is a nice enough person and means well. She has bent over backwards in certain areas to pick up my slack. But it's just not a marriage made in heaven. Are there people out there that have it a lot worse? YES! Can a sleep deprived gal (due to a toddler and some annoying bluejays....but that's a blog for a different time) with raging pregnancy hormones vent on a Monday morning before heading off to a job she isn't fond of? Absolutely! Thanks for "listening". I feel better now. Happy Monday y'all!!

Fun, Fun and More Fun

The baby is laying on "his" belly. The head is to the right and the spine is up top.

I don't enjoy the scorching heat of the Summer (especially with no A/C in the house) but I do love all the Summer activities. This Summer has been busier than most. Maybe because of the job Rob has/had. Maybe because of our "Archery Family". Whatever the case may be I have loved all the Summer memories we've created. Camping trips, swim lessons, hikes, a birthday BBQ, a concert, swimming in the lake, the water park, mini golf and minor league baseball games are just a handful of the fun things we've done. And the best part is that the Summer isn't over yet. Rob has some hunts to go on, Mom and Dad Herrington are coming for a visit and the Rib Fest is always a favorite way for us to end the Summer festivities.
My all time favorite activity that we've done? Watched the progress of our baby. I had a dr appt today. Originally we were only going to hear the heartbeat but the dr couldn't find it (She had the doppler machine too high) so we got an ultrasound afterall. When we walked into the ultrasound room, P excitedly announced "I loooooove to see my baby brother or sister!". My sentiments exactly! And by the end of the month we'll know if our baby is a boy or a girl, another exciting thing.
So I can endure the swollen feet and uncomfortable sleep at night due to the heat because of all the fun we've had. This is Summer living at its best!

So Proud!

As a parent I feel the 2 most important jobs I have are to teach P everything that I can and to teach him wrong from right. Doing that means shielding him from evil on TV, monitoring his friendships, taking him to church regularly and instilling the morals and values I find important. Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing a good job or not, but know that regardless I have to answer for my parenting when I reach eternity. That being said, it's always nice to receive praise here on Earth. For the past 2 days, P's preschool teacher has stopped me and Rob to brag about him to us. We think he's close to perfect but to hear it from his teachers just makes me stand a little taller and prouder. Yesterday she told us that she was impressed with his letter recognition. She said that he's one of a few that recognizes the letters when the class plays Alphabet Bingo. Today she stopped Rob to tell him that it's rare to meet a 3 year old with such good manners. She said that he was trying to use the sink but a little boy was in the way so he politely said, "Excuse me. I need to use the sink." When the boy moved aside he thanked the little boy. Although we think he's smart and polite at home, it's nice to know he demonstrates the same skills out in public. He makes us so proud in every way possible!