mom's ramblings

I returned from a trip to San Diego last Sunday. I had went out west for a conference with work and left Jeff and Logan to fend for themselves. While I was away, My nephew Adam and his wife, Stephanie, asked Logan where his mommy was, "San Diego." he replied.

When they asked him what I was doing in San Diego, he told them I was looking for a new job. Stephanie said that little kids always know what's going on, but to be sure they asked Jeff. To which he replied, "Well, right now she's cold!" (and I was. I had packed for low 70's and arrived to 50's.) Anyway, Adam took that as Jeff avoiding the question. Adam and Stephanie then thought we were moving to Cali! :)

Nope, sorry guys, can't get rid of us that easy!

the kindergartener

Yep! That's our boy. The big kindergartener looking quite pleased with himself. I hope everyone had a great halloween! We did. The Scott boys came over to trick or treat with us, along with Hannah, Lucas and LeeAnn Saylor. We had a great time. We made a fast dash around the neighborhood in 45 minutes so we could still make it to bible study on time. Of course the pics are still in my 35mm waiting to be developed. Someday I will graduate to a new digital camera that I like.

it's about time...

Finally! It is almost the end of October and I haven't posted since mid-August. I am sure I have voilated some sort of bloggers law. But finally, here I am at midnight, downloading photos from the weekend. It has been a busy couple of months, but I will be honest, I haven't posted because I am lazy. That and who can keep up the Scott's blog. They do all kinds of fun stuff, like going to a doggie halloween party, camping, host halloween parties. OK obviously it is late, because I am rambling and not getting to the fun.



I went to my first parent-teacher conference. On Wednesday, before going, I told Logan I was going to talk to his teacher. He asked, "What about?" "You" I replied. Then I asked, what is she going to tell me about you? His eyes widened. "Mom, I had to turn my color." Completely ratted himself out. Kinda funny, but kinda scary. He is a little sneaky. Anyway back to the PTC - Love setting in the kindergarten chairs! Basically she said Logan was doing great and a joy to have in class, blah, blah, blah... Oh yeah, did I mention he talks too much and interrupts her during class.



I ask Logan why he interrupted his teacher and all he had to say in his defense, "I had something to say!" He is learning a lot. We play word games in the car and he loves learning new things.



Now for the fun part. It's HALLOWEEN! Such a fun time of year. I love making his costume, I hope it continues to be a tradition in our house. But all too soon, he will prefer the cooler store bought jobs. This year he wanted to be a dragon. I thought he was a dragon last year, to which I was reminded it was a dinosaur. Again, I thought they were the same thing. Again I was corrected, "Mom, a dragon has wings!" So, I had to creat a red dragon with wings that blew fire. Jeff thought a lighter with a can of hairspray would work fine. (Jokingly!) But we opted for something a little safer. Here's my fire-breathing, shiny-winged flying, red dragon...

OK for my last bit of blogging for the night, I promised HollyM a pic of my new 'do. Since it was halloween.

I do enjoy playing with photoshop.

and they're off...

the training wheels! Satuday afternoon, as we were loading the car for a birthday party. Logan wanted to ride his bike and he was working diligently with a wrench to take off the training wheels. Daddy came to the rescue and took them off. Logan insisted on no help. "I want to do it like Jacob told me." He then repeated Jacob's (5-year-old next door) instructions and took off from the driveway all the way around the back of the house!

Jeff and I were amazed. I would have pictures, however they are still in my camera - my 35mm camera waiting to be developed. I'll share later.

big day

Today was a very big day for Logan (& Mom). Logan officially became a kindergartener. A proud student of Mann Elementary, home of the Mavericks.

First order of the day was brunch at Julia and Ellie's with my fellow first-timers, Julia and Ryan. We live so close together but all of us are attending different schools.

After a great brunch, it was time to head home and wait for the bus. Our neighbor, Jacob is also starting kindergarten today. He and Logan are both 'Mann Mavericks' but in different classes.

After Logan eagerly jumped on the bus, I headed to Mann to watch my big boy enter school for the first time. Once inside the building, he didn't know where to go and got a little afraid. I didn't get any pictures at that point, because I heard him say, "I need my mommy, cause I don't know where I am supposed to be" and the tears started (for Logan). I helped him find the right line and introduced him to another little boy that was in his class and lives on our street! He dried the tears quickly and followed his teacher to the classroom. While I was trying to sneak a peek into his classroom to check, he saw me, gave me a big smile and waved good-bye.

Logan enjoying his "brefkast" (at least I think that's how you would spell it in 'Logan-ese')

Ryan was very excited about the adventures ahead.

Julia was all smiles and Ellie joined the celebration.

Logan and Jacob ready for the big day! They were the first one's on the bus!

I was headed to the bus stop at 4:10 (for a 4:14 delivery) and when I walked opened the garage door, Logan was trying to get in the front door! He was so wound up! He truly enjoyed his first day of kindergarten. When I ask him what he did, his reply was, "we did art and had a snack." He said they were suppose to draw a picture of his family, but he only drew him and Daddy. He didn't have time to draw Mommy and Penny (his pet bunny).

His backpack is ready for another adventure tomorrow... day 2.

museum of life

Photography by Logan

Grandma and Grandpa have been visiting with us for a few days. Logan has enjoyed spending the last couple of days with them while Mommy and Daddy were at work. Today we visited the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky.

Logan calls it the 'Museum of Life'. They have lots of dinosaur replics and lots of good information. It was an interesting morning.

My what big teeth you have....

Ride'em cowboy!

Help! Mommy is trapped! (Photography by Logan)

teacher meet & greet

Saturday, August 11, we went to tour the new school and meet his kindergarten teacher. Logan is very anxious to get started at his new school. His favorites - the Art and Music rooms!

His new teacher will be Mrs. Frolo-Baker. She will have 11 boys and 5 girls in her afternoon kindergarten class. Fun times ahead! :)

Only 5 more days and boom - Logan is a kindergartener!

good-bye to little red

Last Friday (the 10th of August) was Logan's last day at Little Red Schoolhouse! He was very happy. He took a cake to share with his friends. (he wanted to add the sprinkles)

He is excited about his upcoming adventures in kindergarten at his new school - Mann Elementary.

shearing time

I finally caved! I gave Logan a buzz cut. He gets so hot, it was time. But I almost cried! But he is still cute. You be the judge...

week in review

Whew! It has been a busy week! After lunch at Grandma & Grandpa Dodd's on Sunday, Daddy left to spend a few days with Papa Cheatham in Ellettsville, Indiana at PTP (Preacher Training Program). No, he's not ready to change careers, but he did enjoy the class and visiting with his Grandfather from Texas.

On Monday night, I took Logan to Georgetown and met my sister, Louise. Louise took Logan down to Grandma & Grandpa Proctor's to spend a few days. Logan had a blast. He got to play with his cousin, Brent (2nd cousin actually). Mom said they played hard... all day long. They must have because Logan fell asleep watching Wheel of Fortune Tuesday night. He NEVER falls asleep watching television. Dad said they were good boys - LOUD - but good!

So, I had a couple of days alone. I took Tuesday off and spent most of the day scrapbooking. I am trying to finish his Alaska trip. (OK, reality check - I have just gotten started and a looonnnng way to go!)

Tuesday night I headed to Lexington to see Allison Kraus and Union Station with a few good friends. Good concert, great seats and fun conversation!

Jeff returned home @ midnight on Wednesday and Thursday night I drove back to Georgetown to meet Mom and Dad to pick up Logan. Holly travelled down with me. We enjoyed our Cracker Barrell 'supper' (2nd time this week!), visiting with Mom and Dad and playing checkers on the front porch!

Tomorrow we are having a yard sale. A good time for me to purge the clutter from my house and I am in the right mood to do it! Hopefully the old addage, one man's trash is another man's treasure" holds true tomorrow. Good night!

a day at the zoo

On Friday, we had a picnic at the zoo with Holly & Abby Morgan and Amy, Caleb, Ryan and Matthew Scott. It was a fun day. Even the black bears were up and walking around! We left around 3:15 after Logan had a complete and total meltdown because he got a splinter!

Little did we know, the electric had went out at the zoo and they were closing. If we keep our tickets, we can go back another day for free.

twin update

Maddox and Morgan got to come home (ok a week ago!) They are doing great. Maddox (left) has the typical 'Proctor' head, which is noticeably larger than Morgan.

Big brother Gage (age 4) is adjusting quite well and being a great helper to Mom & Dad.

pictures of the babies

Maddox Lee Proctor

Morgan LaChelle Proctor

Finally, I have pictures!! My cute little great-niece and nephew. I get to take Candy to the hospital on Friday, so I get to hold the babies!! Yeah! I will take a few more pictures. They are not eating as they should and have to stay in the hospital for a while. Maddox and Morgan are breathing on their own, but need to gain some weight.

new cousins for logan

My nephew, Steve and his wife Candy, were blessed with twins, Maddox and Morgan! I don't have pics yet, but I am sure Darlene (Mamaw) will have a few for me tomorrow.

Morgan is breathing on her own - no oxygen! Yeah! Maddox is the fighter. He needs a little more help in the lung department. They weighed in a little over 4 pounds each, and both with a head full of hair.

Gage is a big brother! I will post pictures soon.

ready or not here he comes...

Today I took my five-year-old to his kindergarten screening. What an experience... a 2 1/2 hour experience. Kudos to all the teachers (none of them were kindergarten teachers) who volunteered for this tour of duty.

Logan did well. But it was quite funny. One of the teachers ask him to say his ABC's. "Frontwards or backwards?" he asked. The same teacher asked him to draw a picture of a person and then a ball. The conversation went something like this...


"Can I draw a cat ball?"

"What is a cat ball?"

"Yarn!"

Oh well, kindergarten is going to be quite an adventure.

Yesterday, we went to Portrait Innovations for his five-year-old shots. Not really impressed with the photographer, but she got lucky and got a couple of good ones. (and some not so good!)

But it was a fun day. Abby and Holly went with us, so we had a pic of them together. With their blond hair, they could pass for siblings. We did have a lady ask us if they were brother and sister a few weeks back. She said they "fight like brother and sisters!"

logan's alaskan adventure

When the Make-a-Wish Foundation fulfills a wish... they really do it right! Logan was watching for our ride to come pick us up and he came running... "Daddy it's white. It's a limousine!" He was so excited! That was just the beginning of our magical trip. The seven hour plane ride was good. Long, but good. The flight attendant introduced herself to Logan and asked about what he wanted to do in Alaska. When we landed, she introduced their special guest, Logan Dodd to the entire plane. Logan got to sit in the pilot's seat after we had landed. He was loving it, even if it was after midnight our time.

Tracy and Anthony met us at our hotel. It was so good to see them. Anthony has gotten quite a bit taller. Logan just giggled, he was happy to see Anthony (& Tracy!) Saturday, we took a drive north and visited a reindeer farm. (Did you know that caribou are called reindeer when they are owned by someone?) After a 20 minute educational session about reindeer, we got to pet and feed them in the field, no fences between us. We also saw a buffalo, moose and elk at the reindeer farm. We fed grass to the elk through the fence.

Sunday after church services we had a picnic at the Alaska Zoo. It was a cold day at the zoo, but we didn't let that interfere with our fun. (There is no comparison to the Cincinnati Zoo.) They did have a polar bear and a big sick elephant. Evidently some kid thought it would be fun to feed a plastic dinosaur to the elephant! After Sunday evening services, we saw a Mommy Moose and her two babies on the street in Anchorage. Mommy Moose had tried to hide her babies in the trees, but a lot of cars were stopping to take pictures. However, since we were going to church I left my camera at the hotel and did not get any pictures of the moose by the road! :(

Jeff got up early and went fishing for King Salmon. Unfortunately, he (and everyone on the boat) got skunked! Tracy, Anthony, Logan and I went exploring Anchorage. We visited the Wild Berry Farm, which advertised the "World's Largest Chocolate Fall." Being a huge chocolate fan, I was anxious to see this, but alas, it was broken. After the disappointment of the "World's Largest Chocolate Fall" we went to Beluga Point. We did not get to see any whales, however Logan reminded me once again that my child has no fear. He was half way up this HUGE rock before I knew it. Tracy had to climb part of the way up and talk him down. Not that he was scared, he wasn't, he just didn't know how to get back down. He loved climbing on the rocks. Anthony thought the rocks were cool too. He climbed all the way to the top!

Tuesday morning we were to head south to Seward. I, of course, woke up around 4 am sick. Extremely dizzy and nauseous. So we started a little later than planned. Luck for me, it did not last long (and just in case you are wondering it was not morning sickness!). We had a fun drive to Seward. We stopped at Beluga Point again, so Jeff could see what experienced climbers Logan and Anthony were. Only this time, Jeff was with Logan, so of course they went all the way to the top! We also stopped at the Alyeska ski resort and rode the tram to the top and ate lunch. It was a fun ride up to the top. It was rainy, cold and foggy, so there wasn't much to see when we got to the top, just snow! As we continued our journey to Seward, we drove down a six mile dirt road to the Crow Creek Mine and panned for gold. It was still cold and rainy, but that didn't stop us! We found a few flakes, not enough to retire on, but it was fun.

Make-A-Wish had reserved a house for all of us to stay together in Seward. We really enjoyed Seward. It is a quaint fishing town. We saw sea lions in the harbor and a bald eagle flew right over our heads. Jeff was scheduled to go Halibut fishing, but it was cancelled due to bad weather.

Wednesday, we had an appointment at the Alaska Sea Life Center. This aquarium was founded from an endowment from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. Their mission is the save sick and injured animals that are native to their area. The folks at the Sea Life Center were gracious enough to give Logan (& his entourage) a behind the scenes tour. Wow. We had a blast and learned a great deal during our 5 hour tour. Logan had an opportunity to pet a seal, meet a sea lion up close and personal, hold a puffin in his hands, hand-feed the birds fish, feed and pet an octopus. And if you ask him, his favorite disgusting part was dissecting the squid. Anthony enjoyed the squid too! They both really loved going inside the bird's display and feeding them.

Thursday was our last day in Alaska. We were suppose to visit an Ididerod training camp for the snow dogs, but somehow we missed the turn. By the time we realized it, we didn't have enough time to turnaround and go back. Bummer! But we had fun on our way back to Anchorage. We stopped quite often to look at the scenery, see a moose and a few dall sheep, throw rocks, take pictures and shop for weird jerky meat.

The weather wasn't perfect, but we still had a great trip. It was so good to visit with Tracy and Anthony. They are doing very well in Alaska.

Thanks Make-A-Wish and the Hyatt Regency of Cincinnati (they sponsored Logan's wish) you really created lots of wonderful memories for Logan (and all of us!!)

Photo: The view from the harbor in Seward, Alaska.

logan's make-a-wish

Amazing things happen when the Make-a-Wish Foundation asks a 5-year-old, "What do you wish for Logan?"

"I want to go to Alaska to see Anthony." he sheepishly (if you can imagine Logan being sheepish) replied.

Erin and Lisa, his Make-a-Wish volunteers, stopped by our house last November to meet Logan and see what he wished. I never thought it would happen, but in January of 2007, I received a call and we were going to Alaska!

More details & photos to follow.