Another late update

OK, so it turns out I did not have as much time as I thought I had this summer to keep everyone up to date on the Smith family comings and goings this summer. Between keeping a 1 and a half year old entertained during a summer where outside activity was very limited and being gone almost every weekend, it just never got done. Needless to say, yet again, there is a lot of catching up to do. I think I will start with the most recent and work my way back. It will be like a journey though time. Enjoy!!

I am back in school of course and relived that this year's class will be the complete opposite of last year. I really enjoy my kids so I may actually make it through 180 days of them. I could not have done another year like last year.

Brady is so excited about his first Halloween where he will get to participate. OK, so maybe he still won't know what is going on, but mommy is supper stoked about Brady getting to dress up and go trick or treating for the first time. As I was shopping for a baby shower I stumbled upon the newest Halloween costumes for this year. As I flipped through the usual candidates of doggies, bears, cows and lions, I knew exactly what Brady was going to be as soon as I saw it. A 3 eyed, 4 armed monster would be the perfect choice for Brady's first Halloween. I scooped it up and quickly purchased it with my other items. Upon returning home, I showed Brady his new costume. I asked Brady if he knew what it was. He quietly replied "monster". I was so excited that he recognized the blue creature and he was showing interest. My heart sank briefly as his next comment, also spoken quietly was "mommy, scared monster". Oh no, how would he wear the costume if he was afraid of it? This had to be remedied right away! I told Brady how nice this blue monster was and that he likes to give kisses. Brady then asked me, in a little braver octave, "Cookie Monster"? I saw my way in. "Yes Brady! This is the Cookie Monster. Do you want to try it on?" He shook his head yes and we quickly got him dressed. OMG! Too cute for words is all I can say. Unfortunately, it was a little too small and I knew I would have to exchange it for a different size. Upon returning back to the store, I was disappointed that there were no more sizes of this particular costume. I would have to choose another critter for Brady to be this year. Luckily I found a somewhat equal replacement. Though it is no where near as cool as the blue monster, Brady will be a green alligator this year.

Some of you may have heard of the passing of Rusty, my best bud for 15 years. He passed the day before school started. I had to make the difficult decision to put him to sleep after several days of not eating. He was skin and bones and he was beginning to become disoriented and weak, constantly falling over. It was so hard to carry him through those doors when I knew I would not be coming back out with him. Because, this was Rusty, he went everywhere with me, but I knew I would be going on with out him. He was with me through middle school, high school, he went with me to college, he saw me married off and he let my first born lay on him. He had been in my life longer than he had not. He cuddled with me during those trying teenage years, he went to the barn with me every day, he pulled all nighters with me in Raleigh, he co-hosted "get togethers" in my apartment in Greensboro, he protested having to coexist in the same house with Adam because he was a jealous dog, and accepted Brady even though I thought he wouldn't. He wasn't just a dog, but a piece of me. No dog will ever replace him.


For our final hoorah this summer, Brady, Dad, Jill and myself spent a lovely weekend at Ben and Amanda's new house at the beach. Brady and Johnathan had a great time together. We went to the beach, the pool, and we spent a morning at the aquarium. This was the highlight of the trip. Watching the boys was quite an experience. They were both mesmerized by all the sea life they got to see. The main attraction was the huge shark tank, where a diver went in and talked to us about the animals in the tank. As soon as Brady saw him, he immediately turned to me and said "Mommy! Diver!" He recognized this man from a first words book that he reads constantly, and because Adam and I brought him back a wind up diver for the bath tub on our own visit to the same aquarium weeks before. He told me about the diver every day and even on the ride home. He was also able to tell daddy about it when he got home with little help from mommy.

Brady continues to out talk his peers. At his day care he is the only child his age that talks as much as he does and Ms. Shannon says how she has conversations with him all day long while the other kids just sit and listen.

The moral of this picture:
Parents should always watch where they are walking, because their children are following right behind them.