Pictures

I finally took Brantley for his annual pictures. This is probably the last time I will do this since he will start having school pictures. All of the pictures were so good, I couldn't decide what to get so I ended up with way too many pictures. And, since I bought so many pictures I got the whole session on a CD. I put them on the gallery website to share. Let me know your favorites and if I have them I'll send them. The printed ones have been cropped, centered, etc.

Hummingbird

Something interesting happened today. A hummingbird got trapped in our garage. They are so pretty, but apparently pretty stupid. We left the door open thinking it would fly out and it didn't. Then, we put a feeder in there hoping it would eat and it wouldn't go near it. So, what do you do but get on the internet to find out what to do. I actually found a website that had the specific question, "Help, I have a hummingbird trapped in my garage." Apparently, they are attracted to the red handle on the chain release that hangs down when the garage is open. They fly in and get disoriented and immediately fly straight up. Our garage has a really high ceiling so the poor thing just kept flying back and forth. The article on hummingbird.org said that they do not like to fly in the dark so close the garage door and when they fly over a clear space on the floor, turn off the light. They are supposed to land on the floor, but this little guy wouldn't do it. It would grab onto the wall and perch, or perch on parts of the gargage door mechanisms. I had my hands on it a couple times but I was too afraid that I might hurt it. I was amazed how tiny they really are. And, this one wasn't very colorful. Apparently, it is a black chinned hummingbird. At one point it landed on the bar that the chain from the opener runs through. I got on the ladder and set the feeder right next to it and it wouldn't get on it and eat. I tried to nudge it but it just cried. Not it's normal chirp, but literally a cry. I think the poor thing was about to starve. I gave up after about a hour of trying. I can't believe it didn't die. Finally, I opened the door and hung the feeder on the red handle. I figured, that's what attracted it in there, maybe it would find the feeder that way. After I went inside, I got another idea. I went in the back yard and got the hanger for the off insect repellent lantern and took it around to the garage. I was going to try to put the feeder on it and put it just outside the garage. As I was trying to get the lantern off, the hummingbird landed on the feeder. I just stood there but I didn't want to scare it. Finally, I moved away and went in the house through the back door. I peaked through the door to the garage and watched as the bird landed on the feeder again and finally flew out! YES!!! I closed the garage and put the feeder outside. Hopefully she will find it. I'm sure she's starving.

I got in trouble...

One thing I know is that you have to pick your battles. So, there are things that I am really strict about, and others that I'm not. One thing I'm really strict about is being buckled up the the car. Brantley knows that he gets in the car, gets buckled up, and stays buckled up until the car is parked and no longer moving. Well, you know I have this habit of unbuckling while I'm parking in the garage - it's the multi-tasker in me. Today, I unbuckled while parking and Brantley called me on it. He said "Mommy (in a stern 5 year old voice), you took your seat belt off before we were parked." What do you say to that. "Yes, Brantley, you are right. It won't happen again." :)

Brantley Collage

We are putting together a scrapbook for my boss who was promoted and is moving away from us. Each of us has one square to do with as we please. I figure she doesn't want to look at a picture of my ugly mug, and I'm definitely not creative enough to write a poem or do anything other than tape pictures to the square. So, I did a collage of Brantley baseball pictures. She's a baseball fan and she likes hearing stories about Brantley. So, here is my Brantley collage. Pretty cute I think.

Quotable Quotes

Various phone conversations: "A real power ranger came to my party. Yeah. He was awesome."

While watching Little People with mommy: "Mommy, let's talk about kindergarten."

On the morning of his actual birthday: "Are you sure I'm 5 today. Let me look at my hands. Nope, my fingers aren't long enough. Are you sure I'm 5."

At dinner today: "Mommy, will I have to do homework when I'm in kindergarten. I like homework. I can't wait to do homework."

After dinner: "I'm doing my homework. See, these are check marks."

The room is still clean!

Power Ranger Birthday Party!!

Today was the day of the big birthday party. We invited the whole class but only half came so it was very manageable. I think a lot of the kids are on vacation right now. Here are pictures from the party. (You don't have to sign in to view them.) Brantley was very apprehensive at first, but by the end, he loved the power ranger and gave him a big hug. We had pizza and cupcakes and then Brantley opened his presents. Talk about craziness. I tried really hard to keep track of everything, and I think I did okay. Here he is wearing one of his presents.

Candid Shots

Check out what I caught Brantley reading.

The 4th of July

I'm a little behind because I've been out of commission for the past couple days. Monday night we went to a cookout up the street. We had such a good time. We didn't get home until 11:00. Brantley passed out when we got home. He would have slept later Tuesday morning, but the Roomba started it's business at 8:00 and woke him up. We didn't do much on Tuesday. We hung out with Lawson's parents and then watched fireworks in the neighborhood - after a nice 2 hour nap! I managed to hurt my back lifting Brantley into his booster seat for dinner. Lawson had to help me sit down in the grass so we could watch fireworks. Notice how Brantley has his fingers in his ears. He won't take them out when fireworks are going on. What a weirdo.

Keeping a clean room....

So, Grandma hands me a bag today and says Brantley has to earn this. I say Ok, what does he have to do? He has to keep his room clean for a week and he can have it. By the way, Roger says the new Superman movie is good and we should take Brantley. We might have to do that in the next few weeks.













So here is a picture of his room today, after I picked it up. It was trashed at the party today.

The Family Birthday Party

Well, today was the family birthday party. Each year we get the family together for Brantley's birthday. This year we are having 2 parties: the family party and a party with his school friends. So we all got together today for BBQ and birthday cake. I know we should grill hamburgers or something, but BBQ is just so easy. You've never seen a child so excited before. Brantley could hardly contain himself. He loves having all the family around, but he wouldn't be a kid if he wasn't excited about presents. So here he is before he blew out the candles on his cake. It's hard to believe he's going to be 5 years old. And here he is opening presents. Some of the words out of his mouth were Awesome, Cool, Finally, and my personal favorite - This rocks. Happy Birthday Brantley!

Brantley's new roommate

We finally rearranged Brantley's room - again. I had to take a picture because it's never this clean.

Next step is to get his closet organized. I have a plan, I just have to get in the mood to do it when I have the time to do it.

While we were rearranging, Brantley was helping. He kept asking if he could put Hermie in his room. I figured, why now. I told him he has to make sure he had food and water now. Here's Hermie's new spot in the house.

Swim Lessons

Today was Brantley's first swim lesson. He's been getting around the pool just fine with his ring and his swim trainer (if I can get him to wear it!) but I really wanted him to start swimming without the flotation aids. I found out that a girl in my office used to give swim lessons while in college so I immediately asked if she would be willing to come out and give Brantley lessons. She agreed and was just as excited about it as Brantley was. It was the first thing out of his mouth this morning, and all he could talk about as soon as I picked him up today. He did really well, but I think he was paying a little too much attention to me on the side of the pool. I didn't get in because I figured he really wouldn't listen, so I watched from the side. He did really well and is fearlessly jumping in the pool now - without his ring! Here is a picture after we got home and he already changed into his sleepy clothes. He should sleep good tonight, if I can get him in bed!

The Zoo with our cousins

Saturday we spent several hours at the zoo with our cousins from Texas and Mt. Juliet. We had such a good time, despite the heat. The favorite exhibit this time was the Lorikeets, except for Brantley. I think the Meerkats are always his favorite. There was even a baby Meerkat there this weekend. So cute and small. Check out the pictures here. You don't have to log in to see them.

Trouble

Brantley got in trouble today on the field trip. At the beginning of summer camp we were told that if any of the children could not behave on the trips, they would not be allowed to go. Well, Brantley wasn't listening today so he does not get to go on the next field trip. At least it's just one he can't go on. And, it's just as well because the next field trip is bowling, and we all know what happened the last time we went bowling. I was hoping that he would tell me about it without me having to ask about it but he didn't. He just asked me if I was mad at him. I said no, why would I be mad at him and he said I don't know. He even lied to me when I asked about it. He said the field trip was fine. I asked if he got in trouble on the field trip and he said no. After some more prodding, he admitted what happened and was very upset about it. Punishment: no bowling field trip next week and no TV tonight. I'm thinking I should have done a bit more though.

Hermie

We've had our hermit crab, Hermie, for 3 years now. At least, I think it's been three years. He has molted 3 times but I swear he's not any bigger than we we got him. Brantley likes to get him out every now and then but mostly we just watch him in the aquarium. Look what that crazy crab is trying to do....

Swimming

I bought Brantley this cool swim suit.




















I put it on him to go to the pool today and he was not happy at all. I finally told him he better straighten up or we wouldn't be going to the pool. He was upset about it. He said people would laugh at him and that it made him look like he had a big belly. I told him he had to at least try it. If he didn't like it, I would put his other suit on. Well, guess what! He can swim! The suit is great. You still have to watch pretty closely because it won't completely keep him from going under. He has to move his arms and legs, but it works great and he can swim!

Fun in the pool

It's going to be a good summer in the pool. Brantley is loving it. We spent several hours in the pool at grandma's this weekend. I bought these super soaker flash flood water guns and Nathan had one so we had a water gun fight it the pool. The water guns are as big a Brantley, but that didn't stop him. Everyone had fun, and even grandma go into the water gun fight. Brantley really enjoyed it. He's fearless this summer when it comes to jumping in.

Learning to Slurp!

When you were young, wasn't it the most fun thing to slurp spaghetti. Brantley is just now trying to slurp and he makes the funniest face when he does it. And yes, his plate does have a hamburger on it. I gave him some of my spaghetti to eat.

What will I be when I grow up...

I forgot to include this on the graduation post. The program that day had a list of the children in Brantley's class. Beside each name was what they were most likely to be when they grow up. Anyone care to take a guess what was beside Brantley's name?