Happy Veteran's Day

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
John F. Kennedy



Thank you to those we hold near and dear to our heart for your selflessness in protecting our country.

Especially Those Killed in Action
Sgt. Brock H. Chavers, KIA
Spc. Issac L. Johnson, KIA
Staff Sgt. Alex French IV, KIA
1st Sgt. John D. Blair, KIA
Sgt. 1st Class Charles H. Warren, KIA
Spc. Mathew V. Gibbs, KIA
Spc. Jerry L. Ganey Jr., KIA
Spc. Michael J. Stokely, KIA
Cpl. Patrick D. Tillman, KIA
Sgt. Timothy M. Conneway, KIA
Sgt. Anibal Santiago, KIA

Bryan
Rick
Brandon
Pete
Kanaan
Grandpa Robert
Dale
Royal
Roger
Tom
Matt
Mack
Nick I.
Nick A.
Walker
Daniel
Kurt
Brian P.
Melissa
Cahill
Brian E.
Kenny
Mr. Franklin
Ray K.
Ray A.
Chris
Caput
Gonzo
Steve
Barb
Josh
Haven
Griff
Lavant
John F.
Brandon R.
Bravo
Cavalier
Sean

Howard

Persun

Banister

Tracy

Roxie

Drew F.

Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul. 
Michel de Montaigne

Jackisms

Yesterday and today I was told by Jack's two different teachers that he had an issue 'not listening.'

Surprise, surprise.

In detail, they explained that when his friends were being rowdy, he would be rowdy; when they weren't listening, he wouldn't listen; if they would hit, he'd hit ... and on and on and on ... By the time his teachers had his friends under control - he would be in full force of whatever they weren't supposed to be doing (& not taking clues by what his teachers were telling his friends). Tunnel vision.

So over dinner tonight, I had a long talk with him. I told Jack his hands are for hugging, words are to be nice and ears should always listen - especially to his teachers. He nodded along with what I was saying - as if he was listening to me. I was impressed!

I ended my lecture, "So, Jack, do you understand what I am saying? We're to always be sweet."

His response - "I looooooooooove meatballs!"

Good grief.

The Adventures of Potty Training

Monday, October 24, 2011
While I was getting Jack ready for bed, we talked about being a big boy.  I put his diaper on and explained it was going to be the last diaper he ever wear - at least under my roof. He nodded and said, "okay."

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
I kept to my word, pulled out Jack's big boy underwear and gave him two pairs to choose from. He opted for Mickey Mouse. He didn't argue and put them right on - but it wasn't something he was too excited about, I felt. I reminded him that if he had to go to the bathroom, he needed to tell his mommy. If he were at school, he needed to tell his teacher and they would help him go. Again, he nodded and said, "okay."

Prior to departing for school, I asked Jack if he had to go potty.
"No," he responded.
I loaded up the truck with Jack's bag for school filled with underwear and pants while he doddled his way through the garage. Just as I turned to get him into the car I hear:

"Ope." (Jack's merged words of oops and oh)

There the 3 foot toddler stood with his legs 4 feet apart and a huge puddle between his legs.
Lesson learned? Don't ask him if he needs to go potty - tell him to go potty.

We arrived at school around 8:30am where we 'potty-tried' before I left for work. By 10:00am, my phone rang with a request from his teacher to bring spare shoes. At 11:00am, I found myself taking an early lunch at Payless looking for 'pee shoes.'

I picked Jack up from school with a huge load of 'pee laundry' and two pairs of shoes for the wash.

The evening didn't get any better; I had to add my clothes and the bathroom rug to the pee laundry, too.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Clean shoes and a new bag of clean clothes and off to school we go - after I told Jack to go potty, which he did.

No phone call from school.

At pick up, one pair of soiled underoos - not seven.

That evening, I told him I was proud of him for wearing 'Big Boy Underwear.'
He yelled, "NO! They are Big Boy Panties!!!"
I stand corrected.

Into a Pull Up for bed and he declared, "I like my Big Boy Panties."

Thursday, October 27, 2011
While dropping Jack off at school, Jack sat on the potty. I told him to make the water yellow.
He responded, "No,  I'll make it brown - just like your shoes!!"
And he did just that.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

No accidents since Wednesday until today. Mommy put Jack down for nap without a Pull Up. Everyone else was in the living room watching the football game when we heard the toilet flush. I walked into the bathroom to find Jack trying to go potty ... after he wet the bed.

Nice going, mommy.

Wrap Up
Jack hasn't had too many accidents. It was a Pull Up for Trick-or-Treating and one for the last football game. Other than that, he might have had a total of 5 accidents after his first day? He's done really well. I'm happy with the choice to go cold turkey and skip the 'training pants.'

Best Potty Line Ever (to date)
This last weekend at the football game, I asked Jack if he had to go potty.
"Yeah!" he said, "and it's gonna be yuuuucky!!!"

Sometimes life is going to hit you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith.

Steve Jobs

Jackisms

Mia & Co. came over on Sunday evening. Jack and Mia immediately ran off and played. I meant to take a picture of his room after they destroyed it, but Katie beat me to cleaning it. Jack and Mia are such great friends; we're always happy to see them spend time together. I loved watching them chat over dinner, too. After pizza and dessert, Mia and Jack headed to a bath.

In the tub they splashed and giggled and did what kids did in the tub. A little while into the bath, I asked Mia about her big girl panties and told her to tell Jack about them. She told him that she wore big girl panties and that she used the big girl toilet - she liked her panties, too! All the while, I could tell Jack was inching away to the other side of the tub, losing his playfulness and getting ornery.

Mia moved onto a different subject.
Mia splashed Jack. Jack stared at Mia.
Mia played with some of the bath toys. Jack stared at Mia.
Mia threw her head back and laughed. Jack stared at Mia.
Mia dumped water on her head. Jack stared at Mia.

Finally, Jack screamed, "I LIKE MY DIAPERS!"

And the bath was over.

Happy Everafter In Your Eyes

The morning sunrise spread her wings
While the moon hung in the sky
Held the sea in your hands
And happy everafter in your eyes

Couldn't leave you to go to heaven
I carry you in my smile
For the first time my true reflection i see
Happy everafter in your eyes

Every star in the night
Promises the dawn
I will be there if you fall
To ever so heavily rest upon

All that I can give you
Is forever yours to keep
Wake up every day with a dream
And happyever after in your eyes

Happy everafter is in your eyes

 - Ben Harper

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

A Commissioned Artist?

Add that to my repertoire.

As part of my job, in the last year, I've exhausted myself working on a Public Art Project called Eagle Nation on Parade. Starting from a blank slate, four of us have brought this project to fruition. It's been a painstaking process, but in the end it's for a great cause - to celebrate the visual arts while raising money for art scholarships and undergraduate research initiatives for the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences at Georgia Southern University.

Over the summer, we put a Call for Artists to submit their personal designs and a chance to make their mark in our Eagle Nation. Well, last minute, I decided to submit my idea and plopped it in the middle of the others we received. I used my maiden name so no one would know it was me, but after looking through all of the entrants, I decided a completely blind jury would be best. Therefore, they wouldn't unknowingly favor or judge on friendship, hometown, alma mater, etc.

Before I knew it, I was called in to jury the entries alongside three other people - one being my boss. I felt a little awkward but made a point not to pay any attention to my design. We weeded out designs with negative messages, picked three that will go to auction in February and gave the remaining designs to our three Commissioned Eagle Sponsors.

Today, the last Sponsor decided on their sculpture's design. My colleague said, "it's #19 - the all blue eagle with the writing on the rock."

I told her to "shut up." (Professional, I know)
She questioned, "what's the big deal?"
My response, "that's mine!"
Her surprised excitement was followed with silence... "where are you going to work on this 6' eagle?"
"Shit." (I guess it's time to finish the TVs ...)

Above is my über simple design. While some of the other chosen designs have extreme detail, mine clearly does not. My reasoning was to simply pay 'homage to the fanatic Eagle Nation supporters who represent the True Blue spirit' and to one of my undergraduate professors who always pushed, 'less is more' - ha.

(they received Yard of the Month, August 2011)

The Sponsor is The Heritage Bank of the South and have prime real estate in downtown Statesboro. Therefore my blue eagle will get overwhelming face time with the public.  I'll drive by it on my home, on my way to the bank and on my way to El Sombrero.

I am anxious to work as a commissioned artist verses a hired designer. I am not a painter by trade and have never studied it. I know I can paint a blue bald eagle, but will soon find out if they'd like the design altered in any way; I pray I can paint their vision.

So there's the mark I'm making in Statesboro and my Alama Mater - I hope many eager eagle scholars go far with the money raised for them.

Hide & Seek

Who knew it was so hard to teach a 2 year old Hide & Seek? I spent the evening counting to 10, only to uncover my eyes and find Jack sitting nose to nose with me covering his eyes, too. Easy seeking, I suppose - and each time his belly laugh was the best reward, ever!

Finally, he counted and each time I slowly tiptoed further and further away from the counting post. We ended the game in his room. I hid under the laundry basket; he passed by me a couple of times, getting worried and unaware of the rump and piglets hanging out of the backside of the laundry basket. (it is true, I can no longer fit inside a laundry basket.)

However, once I gave away my hiding spot, Jack thought it was the coolest, ever! Now I can't get him out of the laundry basket.

Happy Birthday to Dadddddddy!

Happy End of August! Where did the month go? We've been really busy on this end. Bryan has been working hard at Ft. Stewart and I have been dealing with the fall semester of school to start - as an employee and a student.

Of course, our biggest event in August was Bryan's birthday. Since he's been working this hot month of July, I'll thank all of you on his behalf. He was showered with cards, gifts and love - we appreciate it.

On Bryan's birthday, Jack and I decorated a overly chocolate cake and headed down to Fort Stewart to spend time with Bryan. Jack was a very good helper. He picked out the decorations, sprinkled on "blue rice", dinosaurs and white nonpareils onto his daddy's cake as I rotated it to get even coverage. Jack at one point dumped the full jar of nonpareils all over the counter. I made him freeze while we listened to the little candy balls bounce all over the house for at least 5 minutes. It's been over a week, I've vacuumed 5 times and I am still finding those little suckers.

The second Jack arrived to Bryan's Bachelor Pad, he wanted to 'see the goats & chickens at daddy's work ...' Poor Bryan - back to work after he'd been working alllll day. I noticed immediately that they only had one chicken when there used to be a handful. Bryan said they had a visitor from a fox ...

Jack loooooooves animals!

Following, we headed to a high class eating establishment in Hinesville called Applebees. It was an adventure. Jack was on his best dining behavior EVER - no sarcasm, seriously.

During our drink order, Bryan ordered a Blue Moon.
Jack immediately says, "I'd like a Blue Moon, too."
We all laugh ... "Silly Jack, you can't have a beer."
"NO," he corrected us, "I have a BOO BOO, too!" And he stands up while trying to pull his pants down to show everyone the welt on his hiney he gave himself previously that day. I thought the waitress was going to die laughing.

Following that, in a nutshell, Bryan came across a raw boneless chicken wing; a huge storm rolled through, cutting the power off inside the restaurant; the generators tried and tried to kick in, the fire alarms kept going off and Jack kept screaming, "We have to get out! We have to get out!" (Looks like someone was listening during his fire drills at school!) Our dinner was average (surprise!) and we headed "home" for some cake!

Helping daddy blow out candles

Jack helped put candles in the cake ...

Hanging out at Daddy's home away from home.

RV Vacation: 4th Stop Part 2.2

Once we returned back to 'the Hook,' we grabbed lawn chairs, snacks and a blanket and headed out to the beach to watch the fireworks across the harbor - from the beach, you can see New York ... Staten Island, Prospect Park, Long Beach and so forth. We enjoyed a stroll and a sunset, then settled in for fireworks. While the fireworks display was small in size - it was enormous in quantity. Saying we saw a couple dozen shows is an understatement.

PS - Jack still hates sand.