Be Careful What You Wish For!

You know those creepy stories where someone is granted a wish, and it goes all wrong?  Like "I wish I was rich" and the spouse dies and leaves them lots of money.  Or "I wish so-in-so was alive again" and they come back as a corpse.

In fact, it seems like every story out there about wish-fulfillment, everything goes completely wrong and the person has to work to take back their wish.  I just saw a Hannah Montana rerun where this happened to Miley.  Come on...don't act like you don't watch shows on the Disney Channel.

Anyway...I think the Birthday Fairy granted me a couple of wishes.  Only she has a really twisted sense of humor.  My birthday is tomorrow.  Last year was the big 3-0 and I had a big party and it was a huge deal.  31 is a pretty low key year and I haven't thought a whole lot about my birthday.

*Except* I told Aaron..."All I really want for my birthday is to be able to lay in bed all day and read Mockingjay, but there's no way that's going to happen"

Enter mean fictional Birthday Fairy.

Yesterday morning my kids were at the bus stop and they were cold.  It really wasn't that cold, but whatever, I walked across the street to bring them jackets.  As I headed home (with Adeline in my arms- as always) I stepped off the curb (it was a really big menacing, monster curb) and heard a pop (two pops actually) as my ankle twisted.  I went down hard, and I wasn't able to "right" myself because I was more concerned with keeping Adeline off the asphalt.

It really, really hurt!  It was so painful, I thought it had to be broken.  But x-rays confirmed that it was just a sprain.

So yesterday, I spent all day laying in bed, reading the Mockingjay! (with my foot propped up and iced) And I finished it.  But now I'm hobbling around, my house is a mess, and I have missed several things that I needed/wanted to do.  And it will be a month before I can start jogging again!

Not exactly what I had in mind!

Wish #2

My other "wish" has been to lose the *ahem* couple of pounds that the cruise forced upon me :)

What do you know...I woke up this morning with a fever, sore throat, headache, swollen lymph nodes...and no appetite.  (And Abbott woke up with the exact same symptoms.)

Anna had strep last week and I was pretty certain that Abbott and I had the same thing.  So I made a trip to the pediatrician (hobbling and miserable...but I was happy I was able to drive).  Strep throat for Abbott- check.

Then I took myself to the doctor.  Yes, the SAME doctor I saw yesterday for my ankle.  I haven't seen him in a year, and now I'm like some crazy hypochondriac in there two days in a row.

Strep throat for me- check.

So I figure this is the twisted Birthday Fairy's way of helping me shed a few pounds.  It's the feel-so-crappy-you-can't-eat method.

So for my birthday I got a sprained ankle and strep throat.  Seriously.  I should have just asked for the Kavu bag.

Anyone want to come to my pity party?

The First (and Third) Day of School

The first day of school did not go as planned for the Patterson family.  Thursday was supposed to be Anna's first day of Kindergarten!  Unfortunately, Wednesday night she started running a fever and going to school was not an option.  Such a bummer!  I really felt horrible for her, but she was only concerned about her clothes.  She was laying on the couch and she asked me (quite pitifully) "mom, will I still get to wear my new favorite outfit?"  I was happy to reassure her that I wouldn't be returning her new school clothes just because she didn't wear them on the 1st day.

So we sent the boys off to school on the 1st day without their little sister.

The big 5th grader.  Aiden started middle school this year.  He doesn't have his backpack because everybody in his class left their backpacks at school (full of supplies) at the open house.  I really had to bite my tongue when his teacher said to leave it.  I think I would have embarrassed him just a little if I had said "but he has to bring it home so I can get a picture with his backpack on the first day of school".  I had already agreed not to bring my camera into the school...and now no backpack :(  He doesn't seem overly concerned.

Abbott was happy to show off his new backpack.  He's in third grade this year, and I don't think the third grade will know what hit it!  Abbott agreed to let me take a picture outside his classroom (but not inside).  Sadly, he ended up completely off the hook because I had to stay home with Anna and dad did the 1st day walk in.

Aaron called to tell me that when he told Abbott good-bye, he only said one thing: "Tell mom I love her".  I think he was worried about me.  He's such a sweetie.

I am sure going to miss these boys all day!

Abbott said "hey mom, get a picture of me smelling the flowers".  He's so strange.  I just had to throw that in.

Later that day I took her to the doctor because she was complaining about her ears hurting.  She didn't have an ear infection, but she did have strep throat!  Yuck!

So she didn't go to school the 2nd day either.

And she was really, really, sick all weekend (even after days of antibiotics).

But on the the third day...the kindergarten princess went to school!

I really wanted a picture of all three of them...but Aiden's bus came before I finished Anna's hair.  Dang it! 

My beautiful little kindergartner on her first day of school.  Even if it was everybody else's third day.

In front of Central Park Elementary.  Adeline was so sad to see them go.  All day she kept asking: "are we going to pick up Anna now?"  She is really going to miss her big sis (and the brothers, but mostly the sis).

In front of her new classroom.  I'm sure I looked like the crazy mom still taking pictures on the third day of school!  Oh well!

Anna at her table...ready to color her Gator.  She was much more nervous than she was originally.  I think she felt like everybody else already knew each other and knew everything, so she was a little scared.  But I know she will do great!

When she got home I asked her if she missed me.  She considered it for a while and said "no, not really".  But a little while later she crawled up in my lap and gave me a big hug.  It was an I-missed-you-but-I'll-never-say-it hug.  That's good enough.

I'm so proud of my three big kids!  It's going to be a great year!!!!

Finding a good way to spend it...Summer 2010

There's a hundred and four days of summer vacation
And school comes along just to end it
So the annual problem for our generation
Is finding a good way to spend it

Like maybe...
Building a rocket
Or fighting a mummy
Or climbing up the Eiffel Tower

Discovering something that doesn't exist (Hey! )
Or giving a monkey a shower

Surfing tidal waves
Creating nanobots
Or locating Frankenstein's brain (It's over here! )

Finding a dodo bird
Painting a continent
Or driving your sister insane (Phineas! )

As you can see
There's a whole lot of stuff to do
Before school starts this fall (Come on Perry)

So stick with us 'cause Phineas and Ferb
Are gonna do it all!

OK...so I happen to think that the Phineas and Ferb theme song is adorable!

I never counted to see if we had 104 days of summer vacation, but we sure had fun finding good ways to spend it!  Unfortunately, I never found time to blog it.  So this post is in honor of all the fun we had this summer.  Starting school is so bitter sweet, but we can certainly say that we had an awesome summer!


Our little strawberry patch brought us pure joy early in the summer.  The kids never appreciated all of the tomatoes and green beans that came out of the garden.  This year they decided gardening is fun with the addition of yummy strawberries!  We had to go out almost every evening a pick them...it was wonderful.

I can't get behind buying a boat, but I certainly support RENTING one every so often!  We had a blast out on the lake.

We call this the "white trash princess" look.  Adeline is so much fun and her spunky personality never fails to make us laugh.  She loves to throw this tutu on to go play outside.

And I caught her throwing a little fit.  I wish she wasn't so cute when she's throwing fits!



The three older kids went to Mad Science Camp.  They loved every minute of it!  Here is Abbott with the rocket he launched.

They were given stickers to put on their rockets.  Anna used her extra stickers to decorate her name tag.  That's my Anna!

And they gave each kid as much cotton candy as they could eat.  What do you think the highlight was of the camp?

This was Aiden's last year of cub scout camp and Abbott's first year.  I'm glad they got to be there together for one year.

Abbott did great at archery

A firetruck came and sprayed all of the boys with their hoses.  When you're an 8 year-old boy, there is nothing better than being soaked by a fire hose on a hot summer day!



Some friends invited us over to do a "Cake Boss" day.  All of the kids had their own cake and they got to decorate it ANY WAY they wanted!  Abbott made a football cake.

Aiden did a Percy Jackson theme

Adeline had ponies (and lots of sugar and marshmallows!)

Anna was very meticulous with her Littlest Pet Shop cake.

All of the cakes

Abbott want to a Razorback football camp.  He loved every minute of it and he can't wait to start football (tackle- not flag- don't insult him) this fall.

Razorback quarterback Ryan Mallett signed his camp tee shirt.













One of our very favorite things to do every summer is pick BLUEBERRIES!  Tons of them!  Enough to freeze and use all year long.


I just couldn't resist throwing this picture in.  Blueberry picking 2003.  The same exact little farm...same yummy blueberries!  Aren't my little boys adorable?  And I only had two kiddos!

Back to 2010...Aiden found a heart-shaped blueberry

Anna was serious about finding the perfect blueberries.

This year we went with friends (and no dad) for the first time.  Some of them had never picked blueberries before.  Yummy blueberries for everyone!



We are really lucky to have a drive in theater close by.  It's $11 for a car-ful.  Nothing says summer better than a drive in.


We went twice this year.  We saw Toy Story 3 and The Sorcerers Apprentice.  These pics are of our Toy Story trip with friends.


Speaking of movies...Abbott decided to go all out for The Last Airbender.  We are huge Avatar fans and we were really excited for this movie.  We call Abbott "Abatar- The Last Windbreaker".  He's so much fun...and he got lots of comments at the theater!



One of the big highlights of the summer for the boys was their lemonade and snow cone stand.  I love to support capitalism, so I helped them get started.  They set up the stand several times with different sets of friends each time.  They made a few bucks and they were happy.


I love this picture.  They dropped- and broke- my snow cone maker.  I told them they couldn't set up their stand offering snow cones without a snow cone maker.  They came up with this solution all on their own.



Aaron played church-league softball.  We had lots of fun "watching him play".  Or maybe we we visiting and playing with friends.  Either way, we all had fun :)





Another favorite summer tradition for our family is ICE CREAM FOR DINNER!  We do it once a year, and everybody leaves the table happy!  This was our third year, so they knew it was coming and kept asking for it.  I like to do it early in the summer...kind of a summer "kick off"...but this year I had to wait until I could surprise everyone.  That's my favorite part.  Even dad doesn't know when it's coming!

Happiness is...a big bowl of ice cream with sprinkles and no vegetables in sight!



Five yummy flavors to choose from and tons of toppings!






After dinner, we watched a movie and ate "dessert":  Carrots and dip, beef jerky, popcorn, and cheese and crackers.  Quite possibly a perfect evening.

Everyone but Aiden did swimming lessons and they all learned a lot!  I was worried about Adeline, but she ended up doing great!
Anna was in class with two of her BFF's- Carly and Bryn.

Adeline and Kade

Climbing the slide

Anna jumping off the diving board




It wouldn't be summer without a trip to Silver Dollar City.  When we found out the Tom and Jerry were going to be their for breakfast, we were so there!  We stayed at a hotel with an indoor water park Friday night and went to eat breakfast with Adeline's favorite fictional characters bright and early Saturday morning.

Big hug from Jerry!

Adeline is the happiest little girl on the planet!

Then we had a very fun (and very hot) day at SDC.



We met cousins there!

Abbott loved the Magic Show and was excited to learn a trick from the magician after the show.


Abbott went to two wrestling camps this summer.




We did a family Photo Scavenger Hunt with some friends.  We didn't win (go Wisers!) but we had a lot of fun taking our pictures!  Here are a few of them.
This is a picture with an animal:

With a yellow car:

WIth a train:

Making a human pyramid:




One day we went with some friends to the lake.  I didn't think I would enjoy it (you know...because it's a lake).  But the kids had a blast and it ended up being a really enjoyable day.









Another summer must-do is a Naturals baseball game.  This is our local minor league team...they are a farm team for the Kansas City Royals.  They have a really nice field (with a playground) and it's dirt cheap to get grass seats (by the playground).

I seriously adore this picture.  Really I adore the moment and I'm glad I was able to capture it.  We were just walking from the car to the stadium.  Aiden picked up Adeline and Anna and Abbott are holding hands.  How cute is that?  Nobody told them to hold hands...they just did.  And they walked hand in hand all the way to the gate.  It was precious.  Those are my two "middles" that fight like crazy.  This was another perfect summer evening.

Anna and her buddies.

The boys with their buddies.  The kids enjoyed watching the game...but spent more time rolling down the hill.



Wild thing in a tutu sneaking off with a donut!



Aaron and I took the girls on a special date to see the Broadway performance of Beauty and the Beast.












I know I'm a tad bit biased...but these are the most beautiful little girls that ever walked the face of the earth!  I love them!  It was so fun to see their excited little faces when the show started.  (Not quite as much fun to watch Adeline toward the end jumping on the stairs.)



This little stinker got herself stuck under dad's truck!





Anna loved her hair post-french braid.  She looks like she belongs on a beach.



Roller skating.  I'm just glad nobody broke anything.

Adeline loved being pushed around the rink in her stroller.

She felt like she was on a roller coaster!




Our fantastic summer culminated with our cruise!  We spent all summer looking forward to it, and then it was over much too quickly.  I have a lot of amazing pictures that I want to share, so I promise to post more later!



The beach in Cozumel, MX

Riding a 2000 year old snake-thing in Progreso, MX

Mayan temple

After the cruise we spent a few days in New Orleans.  None of us had ever been there, and we actually liked it more than we thought we would.

I loved the colorful masks!  I feel a masquerade party in the near future...

They had a great Children's museum that was popular with the kids.  Adeline cracked everyone up when she grabbed this rope and was slowly raised up very high in the air.


When we got back from vacation, we had one last hurrah with our friends.  A "Back to school party".  Here they are doing the crab walk:

And the long jump:

They also did jump roping, basketball, bubble gum blowing, and other fun outside games.


I guess that's a summary of our summer adventures...at least the adventures where I remembered to bring my camera!  It was a great summer and it went by way too quickly.