Braden has been out of daycare for two days because he's been sick. He had a 102 degree fever yesterday morning and, while he hasn't had a fever since then, he is coughing and is just kinda puny. Yesterday I stayed home with him. Today he went to work with Daddy.
Here's what Braden had to say about it in response to my extended questioning:
"I played some Thomas games on the computer. He had a desk for me. I played three games before Garrett turned three. I played three games. Mom, when is Garrett gonna turn three? In April?"
"Daddy told me it was cold in there [the classroom] but I didn't wear my jacket. It was only a little bit cold. Not too cold. But then it warmed up a little."
"I think there were fourteen kids in there [the classroom]. They were writing while Daddy talked. They were writing what he was saying. I don't know what he was saying. Some kids talked, but he didn't say shush."
"I didn't go peepee all day when I was with Daddy." [holy crap! The kid didn't pee ALL DAY?!?]
"I had a quesadilla for lunch. I don't know what Daddy ate. And I don't know where we went."
"I had two days off. A day with you and a day with Daddy. The day with Daddy was better because I got to go to work with Daddy. I want to go to work with Daddy again because I love his school. He has a school and a office. Where my teachers teach me, I only have a school instead of an office."
"Daddy's school is taller than your school. He has lots of schools in Huntsville."
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Grandma is on Braden's mind...
Want to know how I know?
First, see the post below this one.
Second, he's in bed next to me right now (yes, at 10:19 at night) just sobbing.
Third, about an hour ago he brought me two pieces of a wall plaque. This was his last gift from Grandma--the gift that he chose to open on Christmas Eve. It is a rustic piece of wood with barbed wire (minus the barbs) around it. Three painted boots, made of some sort of plastic, protrude from it, forming hooks for his backpack, hats, etc. Mom told me before she died, before Christmas, that she bought it because it matched his room and he didn't have anywhere to hang his stuff. She knew he wouldn't be excited about it, but she liked it and thought he needed it.
On Christmas Eve when he opened it, he was a bit disappointed with it. I mean, it wasn't a toy. We told him it was okay and that someday he would really like it (Grandma and GrandTom also gave Braden a tackle box, but that was a gift that I had picked out).
I saved the gift tag from mom's package because it was in her handwriting. A few days after Christmas, once things had calmed down a bit and we had a quiet moment, Braden and I carefully taped the tag onto the back of the wall hanging. We decided to hang it by his bed, and we talked about how special it was that Grandma had chosen it just for him.
Tonight, he told me that he took the plaque off the wall because he wanted to see the back. He wanted to see what Grandma had written to him. As he showed me the broken-off boot, he began crying because, as he said, "this is so special and it is broken."
It can be fixed with wood glue. I wish our hearts could be.
First, see the post below this one.
Second, he's in bed next to me right now (yes, at 10:19 at night) just sobbing.
Third, about an hour ago he brought me two pieces of a wall plaque. This was his last gift from Grandma--the gift that he chose to open on Christmas Eve. It is a rustic piece of wood with barbed wire (minus the barbs) around it. Three painted boots, made of some sort of plastic, protrude from it, forming hooks for his backpack, hats, etc. Mom told me before she died, before Christmas, that she bought it because it matched his room and he didn't have anywhere to hang his stuff. She knew he wouldn't be excited about it, but she liked it and thought he needed it.
On Christmas Eve when he opened it, he was a bit disappointed with it. I mean, it wasn't a toy. We told him it was okay and that someday he would really like it (Grandma and GrandTom also gave Braden a tackle box, but that was a gift that I had picked out).
I saved the gift tag from mom's package because it was in her handwriting. A few days after Christmas, once things had calmed down a bit and we had a quiet moment, Braden and I carefully taped the tag onto the back of the wall hanging. We decided to hang it by his bed, and we talked about how special it was that Grandma had chosen it just for him.
Tonight, he told me that he took the plaque off the wall because he wanted to see the back. He wanted to see what Grandma had written to him. As he showed me the broken-off boot, he began crying because, as he said, "this is so special and it is broken."
It can be fixed with wood glue. I wish our hearts could be.
Thoughts on Heaven
The boys and I have had many conversations about heaven lately. Some are pretty funny. Some make me cry.
In the days after mom died, Braden, being the literal kid that he is, accepted the fact without question. Grandma died. We're not going to see her again. She's in heaven. Garrett, at two years old, didn't quite get it. He kept mentioning Grandma and Braden would quickly say, "Grandma died. She's in heaven."
In the past week or so, Braden's been asking questions. Last week we were driving home from school and he asked, "Mom, where's heaven?" and then "Can you drive a car there?" and "Can an airplane fly there?" I attempted to answer, but how can heaven be explained to a four year old?
Yesterday, Garrett slipped out of my hand and ran out past the truck while we were in the Petco parking lot. I freaked. I grabbed him about the time he rounded the bumper and jerked him up of the ground by one arm. I shoved him into his carseat, heart pounding, and said, "Garrett don't ever run out in a parking lot. A car could have smooshed you because they wouldn't be able to see you!" Braden matter-of-factly said, "Yeah, Garrett. And if a car smooshes you, you'll be dead and then you'll be in heaven with Grandma." Oh, gosh kid. It's moments like that when I don't know whether to laugh or cry or be horrified.
Today as we were driving home Braden asked, "Mom, Grandma's in heaven, right?" When I responsed affirmatively, he said, "I can remember her shopping at Wal-Mart."
I wondered what the connection was. I don't even pretend to have an understanding of heaven, but I sure hope that there are not any Wal-Marts there. Although, knowing mom, if she had a choice of shopping at Saks or shopping at Wal-Mart, even in heaven, she'd choose Wal-Mart. And that thought made me smile.
In the days after mom died, Braden, being the literal kid that he is, accepted the fact without question. Grandma died. We're not going to see her again. She's in heaven. Garrett, at two years old, didn't quite get it. He kept mentioning Grandma and Braden would quickly say, "Grandma died. She's in heaven."
In the past week or so, Braden's been asking questions. Last week we were driving home from school and he asked, "Mom, where's heaven?" and then "Can you drive a car there?" and "Can an airplane fly there?" I attempted to answer, but how can heaven be explained to a four year old?
Yesterday, Garrett slipped out of my hand and ran out past the truck while we were in the Petco parking lot. I freaked. I grabbed him about the time he rounded the bumper and jerked him up of the ground by one arm. I shoved him into his carseat, heart pounding, and said, "Garrett don't ever run out in a parking lot. A car could have smooshed you because they wouldn't be able to see you!" Braden matter-of-factly said, "Yeah, Garrett. And if a car smooshes you, you'll be dead and then you'll be in heaven with Grandma." Oh, gosh kid. It's moments like that when I don't know whether to laugh or cry or be horrified.
Today as we were driving home Braden asked, "Mom, Grandma's in heaven, right?" When I responsed affirmatively, he said, "I can remember her shopping at Wal-Mart."
I wondered what the connection was. I don't even pretend to have an understanding of heaven, but I sure hope that there are not any Wal-Marts there. Although, knowing mom, if she had a choice of shopping at Saks or shopping at Wal-Mart, even in heaven, she'd choose Wal-Mart. And that thought made me smile.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Happy Birthday Blog!
I just realized that my blog is one year old today!
Thanks for reading and allowing me to share over the past year.
Thanks for reading and allowing me to share over the past year.
Playing hard and sleeping hard!
GrandTom was here this weekend working with Kyle on a landscaping project. That meant we all spent lots of time outside, especially because the weather was amazing! The boys sure played hard! Here's Garrett on his scooter. This scooter was a Christmas gift from Braden. Braden has one exactly like it, but he wanted Garrett to have one so that Garrett would quit using Braden's scooter. 
This is Braden on Garrett's bike. Santa Claus brought this bike for Garrett--apparently it is okay for Braden to use Garrett's toys. Notice the arbor and fence in the background. This is our new landscaping project, phase 1. Phase 2 will be the installation of flowerbeds around the fence. I'll post pics in a few months when it is complete.
One of the best parts about the boys playing so hard is that they sure sleep hard! They each took a three hour nap yesterday. Ugh! Look at their scraggly hair. They got haircuts last night. I didn't think they needed it, but now that I look at these pictures (especially Braden's), they sure did!
This is Braden on Garrett's bike. Santa Claus brought this bike for Garrett--apparently it is okay for Braden to use Garrett's toys. Notice the arbor and fence in the background. This is our new landscaping project, phase 1. Phase 2 will be the installation of flowerbeds around the fence. I'll post pics in a few months when it is complete.
One of the best parts about the boys playing so hard is that they sure sleep hard! They each took a three hour nap yesterday. Ugh! Look at their scraggly hair. They got haircuts last night. I didn't think they needed it, but now that I look at these pictures (especially Braden's), they sure did!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Mom's obituary and memory video
My sister posted Mom's obituary and the video we played at her service. Check it out:
http://www.lchafin.com/lindaallen
http://www.lchafin.com/lindaallen
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Conversations with Garrett
Garrett and I are sitting at the breakfast table eating lunch. He just said to me, "Mommy, I love juice. I love juice and apples. Wait! I don't love apples. I just love juice. And milky milk. I love juice, milky milk, and Cali. I really love Cali. And I love mommy, and daddy, and brother."
(Cali is our chihuahua).
I just asked, "Garrett, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
His eyes lit up and he said, "a tiger. I can be a tiger and brother can be an Elmo. I can be an Elmo like brother. Elmo has to be red."
Garrett and I aren't alone very often. When we are, he sure does talk a lot and is pretty funny.
He just told me, "Mommy, I have to get that red Elmo back" and took off running saying, "come on, Cali, we're superman."
(Cali is our chihuahua).
I just asked, "Garrett, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
His eyes lit up and he said, "a tiger. I can be a tiger and brother can be an Elmo. I can be an Elmo like brother. Elmo has to be red."
Garrett and I aren't alone very often. When we are, he sure does talk a lot and is pretty funny.
He just told me, "Mommy, I have to get that red Elmo back" and took off running saying, "come on, Cali, we're superman."
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