The Good and the Bad

The GOOD:
Xander had an awesome birthday. He loved every minute of it except being sung to. We had a little family party at home. He had a train cake and got mostly transportation themed gifts. After the party, we took the Amtrak to McComb. Aunt Mad and Uncle Da came with us, so it made it extra special. Xander wanted the train to slow down a bit though. He still loved it. The McComb train station has a huge antique train, so Than and the boys climbed all over it. The rest of the day was filled with other fun. He likes telling everyone about how he got to ride the big train.

Hylan has been saying more words like dog and keys and Sally and making the tongue clicking noise to call her. His sleeping habits have somewhat improved, so he's happier, and we're happier. He loves playing outside, and throws a fit every time someone walks out the door, and he can't go. He has the most infectious smile, and everyone who meets him instantly falls in love.

Today we got to pick blackberries. Xander actually picks one or two every day that are ripe, but today there were lots of ripe ones. It was pretty exciting.


The BAD:

My mom found out that she has thyroid cancer and will have to have her thyroid removed. Luckily though, they don't do chemo with thyroid cancer, so she may not have to have any further treatment after the surgery. The worst case scenario is that she'll have to take some radioactive pill and stay away from everyone for a week.

Than has to work Saturday. He had to work Memorial Day too. I'm just upset.

About two hours ago I kept hearing a car horn. It sounded kind of distant, so I didn't really worry about it....then our dog started barking which is kind of weird. She's really not much of a barker (anymore). I thought another dog was just in the yard or something.....then Than walked into the kitchen and there was a car pulled right up to the house in between two of our cars(okay, our driveway is pretty long, so it's not like they had just pulled over or something).......then Than saw a woman run across our front yard and jump onto the hood then a man got out. They were like arguing or something and yelling up at us through the window. We were just so confused. We have no idea who they were. We called the police, but they left before the police had a chance to send anyone. We figured they were out there for at least ten minutes, walking around our yard and hanging out in our driveway. They didn't look drunk or like they needed help. It was bizarre and scary. I can't go to sleep. Maybe they were the ones who have been stealing from us and were mad that we had added some locks. This was a good neighborhood until the government stepped in and forced the apartment complex down the road to lower their prices because there weren't enough minorities living there. Ugh, I'm just so angry. What if these people come back and break in? What reason could they have for being in our yard, outside of their car? None.

Funny Names

I went to high school with some crazy-named folks. Okay, I hope this doesn't sound racist, but some black people like to make up insane names for their children. Often they are pronounced totally different from what you'd think. I like to find these names in birth announcements, my dad's class roll every year, and the arrest reports. Here is just a small sample of my recent findings.

Orlandas
Undray
Latrez
Demon (I'd bet this one is pronounced Duh-mon)
Casnacita
Panaquad (puh-no-quah...middle syllable short o sound) I went to high school with her. Her siblings and cousins have much funnier names, but I just can't remember them right now.
Charlickia
Chavaqua
Tequilla

AAHHH

Xander: (licked me) "I yicked you, Mama!"

Me: "Why did you lick me?"

Xander: "You dood."

yicked=licked
dood=good

That was Xander.

This is Hylan.

...screaming his lungs out because the only thing that will make him happy right now is turning the lights on and off. He even turned down a powdered donut and my phone. My Smylin' Hylan is now Hylan the Handful.

Picture update

Here are a few pictures for those of you without a facebook or who don't look at it very often. They are way out of order, but here you go. Enjoy.

Hylan decorating an Easter egg

Xander hunting at the Primary egg hunt

the kids and me waiting to hunt

Xander decorating eggs

Hylan hunting

Hylan attempting to eat with a spoon. He does better with a fork.

Xander with the train he made from cars. Btw, the binky is still gone, just an older picture.

the cupcakes I made for the primary egg hunt with a couple that Than and Xander made

All of my boys in the box after we got a new refrigerator

my favorite flower bc it smells like candy

My little reminders

Sorry if some of my posts are a bit boring. Sometimes I write here to make sure I remember to write things down for the boys later.

For example:

Today I was out swinging the boys and I was singing the I'm feelin' HOT HOT HOT song. I don't remember the title right now, but you get the idea....then Xander and Hylan copy me. Xander wasn't a surprise but hearing Ha Ha Ha come out of Hylan's mouth sure was. It was so cute. His favorite words right now are uh-oh and uh-uh. Hylan has been getting better at using a fork lately too. That means total self-feeding is just around the corner. Hooray!

Tomorrow is story time at the library. Xander has been doing better and better. He sits and listens to the stories. Sometimes he tries to pick out books for the librarian to read. It's so nice that she's patient and usually gives in at least once or twice. Xander's birthday is next month, and he is well aware. He tries to convince us that he's already three but then just goes into how he's "getting a Percy for my birthday in May."

These are a few of their favorite things

Xander
no longer having to take a nap
wrestling with Hylan, Parker, and Davis
sneaking his lawnmower inside
saying his alphabet, getting to the end, and replacing Z with F, and laughing
telling me he's not crazy but a wildman instead
ramen noodles
being read to
running around naked
cuddling with Mimi
the new sandbox
Daddy swinging him high since Mommy can't go as high

Hylan
saying new words like dog, bite, and dada
candy
poking Mommy in the eye
belly-buttons (aka pookas)
dogs
pretending to give Xander a toy then yanking it away
pretending to read
finding out how things work and are put together
begging Pawpaw for food, no matter what it is
Daddy coming home from work


I didn't get a picture but visualize. I walked into the bathroom to find Xander trying desperately to hold on to one of Hylan's legs as Hylan is desperately trying to reach into the toilet to splash around. As much as Xander bugs the poo out of Hylan, he still tries to protect him, and that makes me happy.