Back to School Block Party

A couple of community churches came together tonite for a "Block Party." The event doubled as an  pportunity for the world to feast on the deliciousness that is Holy Smoke BBQ as well as an outreach for those in need of school supplies. 

The boys and I dropped by - not for the BBQ (sadly) or the school supplies (see my post from earlier today) - but rather for the fellowship, or, in the boys' cases, the Snow Cones. 

Freddie and his pal Gideon also found a ton of fun in the inflatable waterslide that was parked in the Canton First Baptist lot. Jones sure did enjoy watching them slide, and at one point, he said to me, "I wish I could go down it," but when I said, "You CAN!" Jones didn't take the bait. 

It was a beautiful nite out in the town of Canton, another one that made me grateful to be raising my babies in this kind of place. 

Fruit "Cake"

There's a little girl in our church who has QUITE the reputation.

She's about Jones's age - the fifth of sixth children and the only girl, and she only knows how to function in the world as she's seen done by her big brothers, so she's rough and tough and loves to tumble.

Bless her heart.

It's actually pretty adorable. But it's also made her something of a nursery LEGEND.

The boys, though, had never even mentioned her, so I guessed they just steered clear of her domain.

Until today.

Today, I went to pick them up from the nursery, and they both ran to me, excited, but also saying, "Mama! Kate (only, Jones calls her 'Cake') pushed me." I just laughed and brushed it off, telling them, "She didn't mean to" and "She was just trying to play with you."

Jeremy and I were laughing about it as we strapped ourselves into our seats. That's when Kate came out, leading a line that included her mom and most of her brothers. I pointed her out to Jeremy, saying, "That's Kate."

Jones must've spotted her at the same time, because I soon after heard him say, sincere concern in his voice, "Hey! Let's get outta here! Cake's coming."

It was hilarious. It totally reminded me of the bully the kids avoid on "A Christmas Story." "Cake" is definitely not one to be avoided, but she's got that kinda rep in Arden Pres nursery circles.

I'll bet it serves her well in a house full of brothers!

After church, we went to War-Mart. Jones had asked if we could get a star to put on top of the Christmas tree in his room. I wanted to buy "Rudolph" on DVD, so the boys would recognize him when we "meet" him at Dollywood, so I said, "Yes."

While we were there - just Jones and I went in - he also picked out some door decor for him and Freddie. As soon as we got home, I hung his on the door. He called it "Red Nose the Reindeer." I collapsed from the cuteness of that and privately mourned, knowing that he'd correct himself as soon as he watched the movie after nap time.

Sure enough, he did. "Red Nose the Reindeer" became "Rudolph the Reindeer." To me, though, he will always be "Red Nose."

As for the star, Jones picked out one that is just covered in turquoise glitter (he picked a Kentucky blue one for Freddie). We put it on his tree when we got home, and he looked at it proudly but said, "It needs to light up." The star was NOT the light-up kind, so I just wrapped some of his tree lights around it, and that not only appeased Jones; it AMAZED him.

As planned, he watched "Red Nose the Reindeer" not once but TWICE after getting up from (not) napping.

'Tis the Season, People, and so far, this one has been super.

Family Fun Fest

Early last week, I got a call from Lizzie Gray.

She asked if we could come to their church's Family Fun Fest this afternoon. Since we were already planning to be in Greenville this weekend, it was a no-brainer.

Church started early, since they were meeting in a park before setting up for the 2-4 p.m. festival. When we got there, Jones and Freddie immediately went to their cousins and spent the entire service sitting beside them.

Honest to goodness, I could not be more proud of how well they behaved. Jones got a little cracked up when Freddie pulled some grass out of the ground, but he kept it under control, and when Freddie sneezed twice, he whispered to Bobo, "Bless me." But beyond that, both of them sat quietly and still throughout the whole service.

I.was.BESIDE MYSELF.

I was so proud, in fact, that I went to the trouble of moving their carseats over, so that they could ride home (and, then, back again after lunch) in "Pop's New Monster Truck."

Jones was sitting behind Pop, and before they left, Daddy pulled out his headrest, thinking it'd make it easier for Jones to see out. Jones was good natured about it, but he kept asking Daddy to put the headrest back in. When Daddy finally did, Jones gave him an immediate thumbs up and said, "That's right!"

When it was time to head back to Trailblazer Park for the festival, Daddy teased Jones by coming over to take the headrest out. Jones, laughing, put both arms on top of the rest, so there was no getting it out.

Wonder where he gets that OCD?!

Anyway, it was a great festival. Jones regressed to his old nature (ugh), not doing ANYTHING, in spite of my getting my face painted (by Lizzie Gray!) and having a balloon animal made in hopes it'd convince him to do the same.

Freddie, however, did the obstacle course - and anything else we'd let him - about a thousand times.

It was a beautiful Sunday.

"Oh, the things we used to do at Vacation Bible School ..."

The day has finally come.

Well, the nite, that is.

Tonite, Jones went to his very first Vacation Bible School class!

It went about as I expected it to - Jones stayed attached to me and, later, Jeremy, as if he were our second skin. He didn't want to dance; he didn't want to run through hula hoops or blow bubbles OR PAINT HIS MOTHER A FRIEKING PICTURE FRAME, THOUGH SHE REALLY WANTED HIM TO. He just cowered beside his daddy, sucking his thumb and insisting he did NOT want to make ANY kind of merriment.

Crazily enough, though, as we were walking out, Jones jubilantly volunteered, "Thank you, Mama, for bringing me to Bible School!"

Then, before bed, he jumped up and down, saying, "I LOVE BIBLE SCHOOL" without even being asked.

You got a funny way of showing it, Kid.

Maybe tomorrow will be better; if not, I'll just pretend the picture frame I painted was made by him. I'll treasure that bad boy forever.

Freddie was in the nursery, where he (of course) did fine, except when he stood at the window and saw the bigger kids blowing bubbles. He went a little bananas, crying and trying to climb out the glass.

So, assuming we're welcome back, we'll give it another go tomorrow and hope Jones ACTS like he loves Bible School as much as he says he does!

(I LOVED it, by the way. The friendships I've already made at our amazing new church are some of God's great gifts to me, so hanging out with those ladies, while Jeremy tried to coax Jones to act like a decent human being suited me just fine!)

I love this picture of Freddie
and PRECIOUS Lillian Brokke.

Pretty is isn't ALWAYS as pretty does.

Remember last week how I bragged on how well Jones behaved in big church? Well, this week, he behaved the exact opposite of that. By the time the sermon started, I'd taken him out twice and was sitting in the classroom wing, wishing I had telepathy, so I could let Jeremy know to please COME ON, because I didn't have the car keys, and Jones's whining was MAKING ME CRAZY.

The bright side is that at least he looked cute, if he didn't act that way.

Also, I've learned that the quickest way to get him to stand and pose for pictures is to tell him that he can take a picture himself when I'm done taking a picture of him.

Why didn't I try this years ago?

Here are a few of the pictures he took.