Josiah turns 8

I just love Birthdays!

I love the excitement in children's faces on their special day.  I mean they wait and wait for their birthday and then all of a sudden it finally comes.

We have a small tradition at home that when they wake up they go in the dining room to find a banner, a picture of themselves, and their gift.  It's such a small thing, but yet they absolutely love it.

Josiah woke up Friday morning, September 20th, to remember it wasn't just a normal school day, but today was his 8th birthday.  He went straight to the dining room.

He ate pancakes with a birthday candle to blow out and was extremely excited over his birthday present.  We got him a nexus tablet.  This was all Maynard's doing because I was a bit hesitant.  The good thing is that we don't have WiFi at home, so I don't have to worry about him being on the internet unsupervised.  We downloaded a bunch of games and different things and he is an extremely happy boy right now.

He left for school happy as could be because I promised him a "hot lunch" that day.  I rarely bring him fast food for lunch, like maybe 2 or 3 times a year, and so when I do, he is excited.  He has also been on a strict diet so a Happy Meal was sounding pretty good to him.

When I got to school he came running out to grab his Happy meal.  It was so funny.

Then I went back to school around 2 for Josiah's school birthday party.  Most parents bring cupcakes, but I try to change it up a bit, year from year.  Last  year I brought a piñata and they loved it.  This year I brought snow cones.  I'm pretty sure they loved those too.  So if you are a parent of a child in Josiah's class, that explains the blue mouths.  Sorry about that. Ha Ha!  It was so hectic that I didn't get to take pictures.

Finally.............school was over.  They no longer had to wait.  It was time to go to the Bounce House.

We stopped to pick up Josiah's bestest buddy ever, Zackary.  These boys see each other maybe 2 or 3 times a year, but their friendship has never dwindled.  They always just pick up where they left off. 

We were on the interstate about 20 miles away from home when I heard a loud thump.  I looked up and seen Titus with his hand out the window.

Titus: "What the world?"
Me:    "What did you just throw out the window?"
Titus: "Nothing."
Me:    "TITUS.........."

Then my van starts swerving and I realized that we had a flat tire.  (I still wasn't convinced that Titus was innocent.)

I was in the fast lane driving about 80 mph.  (Unless your child was with me, then I was only driving 70 mph in the right lane.) ;)

Maynard coaxed me over and we got to the side of the interstate.  He gets out to check out the damage and we have a flat.  A screw was in the tire.  Titus was innocent.  This time!!!!! Ha

I had 2 extra kids in my vehicle that we were now responsible for and we were sitting on the side of the interstate.  Every time a vehicle went down the road my van shook.  I was scared silly.  I immediately thought about people that get out on the side of the road to fix a tire and get ran over by a car going 80 mph.

What to do?
What to do?

We were stopped right next to and exit ramp.
Only that ramp was for oncoming vehicles.

Maynard had a suggestion.
I didn't like that suggestion.
It no longer became a suggestion.
We did it.
We, I mean He, drove up a down, exit.
YIKES!!!!

And again........If I had your child in my van and you are reading this blog, then that is not what happened at all. lol

So here we go thumping off the exit passing other vehicles coming on to the ramp.  We got some crazy looks.  My favorite was the State trooper who just waved us on. lol

We got off of the ramp safely and a policemen pulled up behind us offering his assistance.  Which actually included him driving off and never returning, or sending us the help he went to find.  God Bless you, Sir!

At least we are more safe now than what we were.  Maynard gets out the spare tire, which is one of them donut thingees.  Guess what?  We didn't have a jack.

I got ahold of my pastor's wife and she drove down to let us use her jack while she also picked her daughter up out of our vehicle..  Wonder why? Ha

We got the tire changed amongst the wails and tears of a heart broken 8 year old.  He didn't take the news of not being able to go to the Bounce House very well.  I mean, would you?  If it was your birthday and you looked forward for weeks for going somewhere to celebrate your birthday and then not get to go?  These kind of things happen quite often to us and I just hate it for my kids.

We worked fast!!!!

Went home and changed into 2 other vehicles.
Drove to Mr. Gattis and met friends from church.
We also promised him we would just go to the Bounce House the next day and they would have longer to play.  So actually he was going to get to celebrate his birthday for 2 days instead of just 1.  It worked.  He was happy again.  Especially, when we surprised him getting permission for his friend Zack to stay all night with us.

Best Buddies

Times have changed.  Sleepovers now include tablets in bed.

These kiddos were up and at 'em bright and early.  Like 6 a.m. bright and early.  Like drums already beating, bright and early.

They got dressed, ate breakfast and me and the kids headed to the library for a special science day, while Maynard left to go get some tires put on.

Good news!  Maynard found tires and had them put on by 10 a.m.

We were having a blast at the library.

They got to create their own bouncy ball.

 

 

Then they got to make their own cotton candy. 

I forget all the scientific things behind all of it, but the kids got to create their own bouncy ball which was a lot of fun.  Then they got to make their own cotton candy.  Amelia got white cotton candy.  It was supposed to be blue, but it was mainly white, so I let her eat it.  Can you see that big smile?????  I actually caught her back in line trying to get seconds. Ha

We had to leave the Science day a little early in order to have plenty time at the Bounce House so the kids were okay with that.

We stopped for Taco Bell and headed to bounce.

They bounced and bounced and bounced.

For over 3 hours.

What is so hilarious is that it was the kids that were telling us they were ready to leave.  They were wore out!!!!!!

I love the picture of them snoozing away.  They had gotten up early and played all day and was just needing to have a power nap.

We met Zackary's parents and dropped Zack off.  This was his first sleepover and I think he was quite ready to see his Mom and Dad!

I'm so glad Josiah ended up having a great birthday.

I haven't done parties in a few years.  Instead I just let them choose what they would rather do.  They always choose to do something fun instead of a party.  We like to drag Birthdays out and make them last as long as we can.

And a birthday is not complete without free fried ice cream and being sung too at your local Mexican restaurant.  Josiah liked it a bit more than Amelia did on her birthday.

Happy Birthday, Josiah!  I love you so much!!!!

Making Progress......Weight/Wreaths

Well, it's been over 2 weeks since I last posted.  Not a whole lot has been going on.  Which is usually a good thing in our case.

Of course, my last post was about Josiah's horrible visit to the dr's office.  I think we all have recovered since then and hasn't let it bother us as much.  It also helped that I received a letter from St. Joseph hospital apologizing for the way we were treated and assured us that the situation had been handled and guaranteed us that our next visit would be much more pleasant.  As soon as I read the letter I just felt like I could let it go and just move on.  Of course, the next time we go to the doctor it's gonna be AWKWARD!!!!

The good thing out of the whole situation is my family has made better eating habits and have included daily exercise. 

Me and the kiddos have started walking every evening.  Oh the excitement of going on walks. (At first)

Josiah had made it to the end of our street.  His first 2 mile walk.

We love stopping to see the donkeys on our walk. (Any reason to stop is good enough for us) lol

We've even took our bikes for a spin around the track.


 

It's really hard to put children on a diet and them not feel like life is ending, but I have cut way down on sugary snacks and mainly have been watching their proportions.  Josiah no longer gets seconds and I've noticed he's eating things he didn't care for in the past because he knows that's all he is getting.  Titus is mad because I only let him have 1 of his beloved PB&J sandwiches and often reminds me it wasn't him that got in trouble for being fat. Ha ha!!!

I have to include this picture because it made me laugh so hard.

This is cotton, not marshmallows.

 

1 week after being on diets the kids must have been craving sugar.  I didn't realize how bad until in Sunday School one morning.  Titus picked up a bag of cotton balls and asked me if he could have a marshmallow.  Josiah and Amelia started shouting that they wanted one too.  Of course I said "Yes", because I was dying to see how this was going to turn out.  Titus felt of one and had a funny look on his face, but Josiah and Amelia popped one into their mouth.  I laughed and laughed.  Poor kids!!!!

All in all, I am so proud of how Josiah is doing.  He doesn't always want to walk and I have to convince him to go with me.  Titus and Amelia always want to come walking too, but they don't want to go as far and of course they don't walk very fast.  They don't get to go every time, but they still go a couple times a week. 

It's been 3 weeks now since Josiah has exercised and dieted and I am proud to say that he has lost 5.4 lbs, as of last Saturday.  He has probably lost more since then, but I haven't weighed him again.  I kept telling him that when he lost his first 5 lbs  I would give him a special reward.  Can anyone guess what he asked for??????

PIZZA!!!!!
 

I cut the slices in half, so he actually thought he had 4 slices, but he really only had 2.  Hey, a Momma's got do what a Momma's got do!!!!!

I am dieting right along with the kids, but my scales are stuck.  I've only lost 4 lbs in 3 weeks, but I'll take it!!!!

I will keep you posted how we are doing!!!!!!

This is totally not related to dieting, but I am so proud of my wreaths I made.  I have said on here before about how I am so craftily challenged.  So when I do something good, I can't wait to share.  At least in my eyes, I did good, so don't be mean if it really is bad, Ha ha!!

I bought an ugly grapevine wreath at the Goodwill and gave it a makeover.  I think it turned out really cute!!!!!!

This is my big wreath on my front door.  I did have it done in teal and pink, but completely redid it for fall.  I just love my letter P.  It was wooden and I painted it orange and added the yellow polka dots.  I may have copied the painting part off of http://livinglaughingandloving-sarah.blogspot.com. 
My big wreath still needs some work.  I am not crazy about it,  For some reason I like my little wreath better!!!