PIF: Day Twenty

Pay It Forward: Day Twenty

"Oh my Peas!" ...as Princess Pea on SuperWhy! would say. And, really all of my life right now in one way or another revolves around that show.

While I was at work this morning I received the NICEST text ever. Little Dude loves him some "Bang Bang" projects at the hardware store. They have them on average twice a month and today was one of the days. As it happens one of the folks we were going to meet up at the Tree Lighting with last night went and she texted to say they had picked up an extra kit for Little Dude since he was sick. How incredibly kind is that?! What a giant, love-able way to Pay It Forward.

Little Dude and the hubs had planned to go anyway just to pick up a kit and leave, so they did run into them. Here is a situation where "it's the thought that counts" was totally at play. We are so blessed to have such great friends! We are so fortunate to have found such an amazing group of people to share our lives with out here. Thank you very much Bates family!

Little Dude and the hubs also did a nice pay it forward to me today. We are all sick (apparently the pink eye was just the beginning) and after I got home from work all I really wanted was to take a nap. So, they covered me with blankets, Little Dude read me a story, bounced on me a few times and bid me good-night. It was the perfect early birthday present. Really, I could have asked for nothing better. Thanks dudes!

Make sure to check out Hey, Y'all, What Eyes See Daily, and Open-Ended Art for Young Children who are all participating in daily blogging with National Blog Posting Month as well.

ECF

For some time, make that 2 years and change we have lamented from time to time that we don't have family out here. For simple things like a doctor's appointmentwhere Tim has to take off work or I have to take Liam to a place with sick people or to have a date night or run simultaneous errands.And, of course the extra snuggles and loves for Liam from family would be awesome.


However, in the week leading up to Liam's birthday it became evident that we could no longer make those claims. We have a wonderful East Coast Family (ECF). Our friend Jodi e-mailed to see if she could watch Liam so Tim and I could have a date (Even though I had to work--darn bills that need paying.). Then, on Monday before we had company another friend, Alisyne offered to watch Liam for 2 hours so I could run to Party City and the grocery store while Liam got to play with his good friend Noah.


I also got Tim tickets to a concert by the band that we first connected with (he burned me CD's of theirs instead of bringing flowers on our first date). It is only possible for us to go because of the generosity of our friends Jamie and James who are watching Liam for the night.


We are blessed to have such wonderful and amazing people in our lives. They are the "village" that helps us to raise Liam and we just want to send a big thanks out to our East Coast Family: P & R, Jamie & James, Suzanne & Chris, Alisyne & Chris, and Jodi & Scott.

L is for Lunch

Having a little jelly sandwich for lunch with Grace.

Don't be alarmed by the Band Aid container on his plate. He likes to pretend they are "sugar packets" and was handing them to Grace to cheer her up.

Whoa...What?? I'm a parent?!?!

Holy smokes! This whole parent thing just snuck up on me when I wasn't looking. We had an awesome day for our buddy planned today. We took him to his first major league baseball game. Go O's!

The game was around lunch time, so I buzzed out to the concession stand to pick us up a couple of 'dogs and drinks. And..ummm...dude I paid for the stuff like a REAL parent...and I got extra napkins...and did up his 'dog just the way he likes...and HOLY SMOKES this is stuff "parents" do.

I know I've been doing this thing for awhile, but wow it walloped me over the head today.

We also took him to the circus with a few of his buddies.

Here I found myself again standing in line for dinner (highly nutritious day, I know) and I was standing next to other parents...insane.

Aside from the smack upside the head from Captain Obvious about parenthood. It feels good to have someone else's needs in mind. It feels nice to take care of him and provide him with spectacularly special days like this.

I can't wait for more.

G is for Gas

"Fill 'er up, Noah!"

(Note: Liam pays in slightly soggy Oreos.)

D is for Driving

Noah: "Dude, I think we have to pull this parking brake to get moving."
Liam: "Whatever man. How do we get some tunes going in this place?"

The Impossible

Trying to get two almost 2-year old's to look at the camera at the same time is a little like trying to catch fish with your bare hands.

At least George looks attentive.