The Dreaded Day

A few days after Deacon was born

Tomorrow is a day I've dreaded since the day he was born...Deacon's first day of school.  I hate that my kiddos continue to grow up despite all my efforts to stop them. 

Hayden's first day of school wasn't near as difficult for me.  For those of you that know Hayden you know she was born ready for school.  She has always been a miniature adult. I remember when she was three years old having to come up with different activities just to keep her busy and content. By the time her first day of school rolled around, she was more than ready. Now, I did cry a little bit on the car drive home after I dropped her off for her first day of kindergarten, but I was okay. I wasn't the mess I am this time around.

Deacon is ready for school. He wanted to go to school last year with his big sister. Most days while she was at school he would ask when he could go to school. He's super excited about it. So, technically I should be okay and happy for him, right?  

No...I am so sad. 

I started crying a few weeks ago on my way to pick up the school supply list.  I tried to suck it up and put myself together before I got to the school. I mean seriously, what crazy person cries on their way to pick up a school supplies list? 

Today I have fought it all day long, but I lost the battle this evening around bath time. Ugh, what am I going to do tomorrow?!

I'd like to blame it all on the fact that I'm eight months pregnant and super hormonal/emotional. That makes me sound less crazy. However, I think I'd still be a basket case.

Side note:  Just in case you are worried/wondering, I am not crying in front of Deacon. I put on a happy face and act like I'm really excited for him when we talk about school. I'm not that awful.

Here's the part where I thought I'd sap it up a bit, (because I'm not being depressing enough) and add some old pictures of my baby.

Always, always the clown

He has a thing about putting anything on his head

It's not like I'm sending him off to college, but I'll miss my little buddy during the day. He loves to make me laugh as you can see from the above pictures.

This day Deacon wanted to hold my hand while we watched TV.

Deacon is also incredibly affectionate. At least once a day he climbs up in my lap, or sits right next to me on the couch.

Alas, I know I will survive. I just already hate tomorrow. I don't want to be the sad mom crying as she leaves her child's classroom. I never thought I'd be that mom, but it's looking more and more likely. Let's all just pray I can keep it together until I leave the parking lot!

Sweet Summer Time

Summer break is rapidly coming to an end for my kiddos.  School starts on Thursday! The last few weeks we have been cramming in as much fun as we possibly can before August 8th arrives.  I am incredibly sad to send my kids to school...Deacon for the first time.  I'll have more about this upcoming sobbing meltdown (me, not him) in a few days.

Anyhow, back to happiness and summer fun.  A few weeks ago we took our annual trip to The Blue Hole in Salina, Oklahoma.  This is by far one of our favorite places to go each summer.  The water temperature stays between 56-60 degrees...freezing, but awesome on those brutal Oklahoma summer days.  The springs that feed the water hole are what keeps the temperature so cool, and why the water is so clear and beautiful.

Last week I promised Hayden we would have a mother-daughter day and Deacon a mother-son day.  Hayden's special day was first.

I have reached the point of my pregnancy where painting my own pigs (toe-nails, we call them pigs) is no longer an option.  I was in dire need of a piggy-grooming, and Hayden had never had a pedicure before so I thought it would be fun to surprise her.

We had lunch at Vidalia's (one of our Tahlequah favs,) and afterwards I drove her to our surprise destination.  She was really excited when we walked in the nail salon and I said, "Two pedicures please."

She was really cute and comical to watch.  They turned the massage chair on and it was pretty much just throwing her around and beating her up.  She was very relieved when I showed her the button to turn it off.  After that she fully enjoyed the experience.

Me in the blue toes, Hayden in the hot-pink zebra...naturally.

After our pedicures we did what girls do and went out for some ice cream.  It was a perfect girl's day.

Next up was mother-son day.  I gave Deacon the option to go duck-pin bowling or go to the movie theater.  Deacon chose "bowling-bowling."  That's what he calls it. Bowling-bowling he wanted so bowling-bowling we went.

The Wolf at Tenkiller golf-course is where the duck-pin bowling is located.  It's perfect for little kids because the bowling balls are a third of the size of a normal bowling ball, and the pins are smaller too.  We also had the place to ourselves--bonus!

Deacon trying one of his many methods

I don't know how we managed to keep the same exact score for a few frames, but we did.  We are both horrible.

After bowling, Deacon and I ate at the restaurant in the club house.  Our family actually eats there pretty often. It's a great little place to eat.  Deacon and Mama day was a success.

Today we went to the lake. My kids are little lake rats.  They love it, and I love that they love it.  I drag my lounge chair into the water and soak up the sun while the kids play in the water.

My kids play very differently in the water and they play separate for the most part. Hayden is rarely above water.  She LOVES to go under and flip and flop and try new swimming techniques.  In fact I bought her a nose plug at the beginning of the summer and it's her new favorite thing in the world. Today she went into great description of what her future swim class...that she would be teaching...would be like one day. "Nose plugs, life vests, and snack-time."

Deacon rarely goes under water, and doesn't stray too far from the shore.  He is constantly singing a song, quoting a show or movie lyrics, or playing some kind of game he has made up.  But he's always talking.  Today after the singing and movie lyric quoting, he found a piece of driftwood and was attacking the incoming waves to protect us all.

Enjoying a snack in between their swim.

Summer is my favorite, I'm so sad to see it coming to an end!