The Roe Round Up

I have been taking the boys to the same pumpkin patch each fall for seven years now. In the past I’ve posted the pictures of each year in my post, but this year since I am so late uploading it I’m not going to take the time to go find all of the older pictures.

James is getting to be a pro at taking them. He knows the routine and has no problem. Thomas remembers being here in the past, but doesn’t quite get the significance of it all yet.

I wish James wouldn’t have slouched so I could see just how tall he is, but oh well. I’ll remember next time to tell him.

Thomas remembered the tractor and wanted a picture on it. It cracks me up that they’ll ask me to come take their picture.

This are was new last year, but I kinda like it. I love how the boys are hugging each other. It shows that deep down they really do love each other.

I can’t get enough of my sweet Tom Tom.

Or my handsome James.

Just me and my boys.

James really wanted a solo picture with me. It melts my heart. I know that one day he won’t want anything to do with me, so I enjoy every second of the time he shares with me.

And because James wanted a solo picture, Thomas wanted a solo picture. Fine with me! I’ll take all I can get!

I absolutely love going to this place with them. It’s going to break my heart if we ever miss a year. I sure hope that day never comes!

Thomas was a big help to me today. He decided he wanted to empty all of the trash cans upstairs for me. This is usually James’s job, but he didn’t do it last night and the garbage truck came today. Thomas did it for him.

Then he showed the delivery people where to go with our new washing machine.

And he couldn’t wait to start the first load of laundry!

Pile it all in, Thomas!

And now the fun begins! It was really cool to watch the clothes get washed.

What a big boy!

Yesterday Thomas and I were having a discussing about heaven. He asked me if there was sand in heaven. I said, “I bet there are beautiful beaches with sand on them in heaven.” He got very excited and said, “When I die you need to attach my bathing suit to me so when I get to heaven I can swim with Jesus!”

I just love this kid.

Thomas had a Halloween party at school today and was very excited about being a Jedi.

The kids each got to pick a pumpkin out of the pumpkin patch.

They had a hayride around the school.

I left the house for the first time since the surgery. I didn’t tell Thomas ahead of time on case I wasn’t up for it, so he was really excited to see me.

James is following in Jim’s footsteps in being the scariest and most ghoulish monster in the neighborhood. I’m hoping to get one more year of a cute costume out of Thomas, but we’ll see what happens.

The boys had a wonderful time with Jim walking around the neighborhood with their friends. I went through 14 bags of candy before I had to turn the lights out and shut the door.

I’d say this Halloween was a hit!

Thomas has been waiting 3 years to go to PSR. He’s finally able to go!

I’m happy that he’s happy.

I knew that you were ready to come out. I was ready for you to come out. I told someone at work that I was having this baby today. She laughed and said I still had four weeks to go.

I had an appointment for my 36 weeks that day. It was a doctor I had never seen before. I told him that I was having this baby tonight. He laughed and said I still had another four weeks.

I knew that you were ready. You knew that you were ready. It was like we already had this deeper connection and we just were reading each others minds. Or you were just as uncomfortable as I was.

My water broke that night. It was about 36 hours more of labor, and a full 4 hours of pushing, but you really were ready to come out.

I was in love at first sight. I’ve never been more in love since. You stole my heart 8 years ago today, and my life has never been the same since.

I never believed that you could love someone the way that a parent loves a child. Then you came into our lives.

James, you rock my world.

I love you to the moon and back, infinity, plus one.

Happy Birthday, birthday boy. I’m so proud of you.

Today was Thomas’s first day of Early Fives at St. Catherine’s. he was so excited he couldn’t stand it.

Daddy worked from home this morning so he could take him to school on his big day.

He was so giddy in the car. He was cracking me up.

I think I have a picture of both kids from each year they attended in front of this sign.

I was thrilled that he got Mrs. Werner this year. James had Mrs. Werner when he was in the 5’s and she’s awesome.

I sure hope he had a wonderful day. I’m sure he did.

Where, or where, has the time gone? I sent my little boy off to second grade. How is that even possible?

It was a very fun, non-stop summer around here. He was busy from the first day until the last. He flew on an airplane by himself, went to camp for a week, stayed at his grandparents house, came home and finished off a great swim season, swam in the county meet and qualified for state, went to Florida to visit the rest of his grandparents, and then finally came back to compete in the state swim meet. Whew! Non-stop summer!

I’m very pleased with his class assignment this year. He has Mrs. Williams, who we met this summer. She taught Thomas how to swim during swimming lessons. She is so patient and kind, and I was thrilled when I found out that James was in her class.

James and his daddy as we head out the door for our annual first day of school picture taking.

“James… Can you at least look happy?”

“Here? How’s this mom?”

“I want a picture! I want a picture!” And it at least made him smile. Like a real smile.

We have Ms. Tammy as our bus driver again this year. She’s awesome, and that makes for a happy mom each morning.

Thomas and I had a great, quiet day, while James was at school. We missed him, but there was no fighting or bickering or time outs, or anything that normally happens when they are both together.

Happy first day of 2nd grade, James! I love you!

It’s so hard to get pictures of Ren. He’s 11 years old now, and I may have half a dozen pictures. I took these the other night on the porch.

He’s getting old now. I can tell it in his behavior. He’s on Prozac because he’s so moody and temperamental. It’s been almost 2 months now and he’s doing so much better, so I’m glad we decided to get it for him.

But he’s still my baby. Always will be.

I planted this cat nip from seed at the end of spring. He didn’t have any interest in it at all like I thought he would.

But this night he finally got into it and smelled it some. He didn’t eat it like I thought he would, but he was very relaxed.

This picture shows two things:
1- this is what you get when you allow Thomas to dress himself. Notice the tie, gloves, and long sleeve shirt in July. 2- he really does love his brother.

This might be one of my favorite pictures of the boys. I absolutely love it.