Last night was the first baseball practice! Michael is really good at baseball, he has a great arm. He just needs to learn to control it. And the boy loves to slide, he slides into base even when he doesn't need to slide! The coach even said something to the team about Michael sliding more than the other players. Great...that just means more dirt in my house!

I am finally recovering from Carowinds. My voice is pretty much back to normal! One other thing that happened after we got home from Carowinds...Michael was very tired that night, but Tod insisted that he take a shower before he went to bed. So he was standing in the shower, and he decided to fill the tub and sit down. Tod walked into the bathroom to make sure he didnt fall asleep, and Tod starting scrubbing Michaels back with the scrubby thing. Michael said with his eyes closed..."no one's ever cared about me like this before". If that doesnt put your life in perspective...

Carowinds!

Wow...another great weekend! Saturday morning, Michael woke up to find a ticket to Carowinds on the kitchen table! He said "are we going to Carowinds someday" and we said how about today! He was so excited!!! We got into the park about 11am, and it was beautiful. I'm not sure if it ws the fact the school had started back, or if people were afraid or hurricane Irene, but there were almost no lines! It was about 88 and partly cloudy with a nice breeze...the perfect day. Michael loved the roller coasters. Unfortunately there were a few that he was still not tall enough for, but I just reminded him that next year he will get to ride all of them! Tod and Brock took some time to ride the big rides, while Michael and I had fun riding others, just the two of us. I did find myself sounding like my parents several times throughout the day...no, we did not come here to play games, we came to ride the rides...no you cannot have an airbrushed baseball cap...no, we did not come here to play games, we came to ride the rides...no we are not buying you a giant plastic tube of powder candy...no, we did not come here to play games, we came to ride the rides! He did play one game and won a stuffed monkey! We spent almost 11 hours in the park, and he was great...exhausted but great! I lost my voice from screaming on the roller coasters, but that's how my Daddy taught me to do it...scream so you dont cry! And we all had blisters from walking so much, but it was worth all the fun we had!

Yesterday we laid low. We got Micael some new clothes and shoes. He told us he wanted dress shoes. Tod asked "what kind of dress shoes"...he said "like those hyphens" Tod said "do you mean loafers"? Yep thats what he meant. I'm not sure how Tod got loafers out of hyphens...but ok. It's so cute that he wants to dress like Tod, I love it actually...it's much better than t-shirts and those shorts that boys wear.

Tomorrow is his first baseball practice. He has been looking forward to baseball starting! I can't wait to see how he does!!!

New School Year!

So yesterday was Michael's first day of 4th grade at his new school, St. James Elementary! So I got up early in the morning and made him waffle's. He loves my home made waffle's...he said they are the best things on earth! After a belly full of waffle's we all four walked to the bus stop (Michael, Tod, Zoe and I), which is at the front of our neighborhood. It's about a 2 minute walk fro our house. No on else was at the stop, which surprised me. I guess everyone else in our hood will be drive their children. Michael was excited about getting to ride the bus! While we waited for the bus, Michael looked a little nervous. I gave him a hug, told him that we love him and that we are very proud of him. We also reminded him to be a good role model.

When the bus pulled up, he jumped on...and he was gone. I had a little tear in my eye. Then all day yesterday, I kept thinking about him...what ws he doing...was he being good...having fun...scared...did he eat his lunch? When I got home last night he told me that yesterday was "the best day EVER!" He told us about his day, and he sounded really excited. When we put him to bed last night, we always say prayers, and ask "what was the best part of your day" and he said "making new friends". Another tear in my eye...

Tod doesnt have any weddings this weekend, so we are going to try and get to Caroinds tomorrow or Sunday! That should be fun with a 9 year old!

Brushing Teeth

Last night I asked Michael to go brush his teeth before bed.

Michael "how about I don't brush them tonight, and I brush them 2 times tomorrow"
Me "no, you have to brush them tonight"
Michael "how about 4 times tomorrow".

I tried to explain that if he doesn't brush his teeth then the ice cream he just ate will root his teeth while he sleeps!

Fun weekend!

We had another fun and busy weekend at the Coles house! Friday night we went to the Hopewell High School football game. My dear friend Rochelle got us tickets, because her awesome boyfriend Todd is a coach at Hopewell. Michael had fun cheering for Hopewell, and they beat Providence HS 41-13!

Saturday we had a typical morning at our house...lots of chores to get done! But no weddings. Michael was a trooper with the chores, he helped me iron clothes (ok he set up the ironing board) and helped Tod clean up both cars! Then we went to the pool for a few hours. Since Michael had such a good week, he got to pick where we went for dinner, so it was wings at Hickory Tavern for dinner.

On Sunday we cooked a big breakfast, with Micahel's help. Then we played a couple innings of whiffle ball in the back yard, then off to play on the lake with the Jost's and McKinnon's. We had lots of fun!

Tomorrow Tod and I will celebrate 13 years of wedded bliss! I'm not sure how we will celebrate since we have a 9 year old in tow. But I will be happy whatever we do. After 13 years I dont expect a big celebration dinner anymore, and that is just fine with me. I just thank God that we have made it 13 years, and we are still in love. gush...

Well...we knew it would happen sooner or later...Michael has Poison Ivy. In the very back of our yard, we have poison ivy growing like crazy, and apparently Michael found it! He has it on both legs. He has been a trooper trying not to itch, and today Tod is taking him to Barium Springs for a scheduled doctor appointment, so that works out!

We have been pluggin along, no issues. Last night I came home and the boys were working on putting together a pitching net. Hopefully it will get alot of use! School starts next week, and Michael will be riding the bus. He seems pretty happy about that!

We hope that everyone has a great school year!

Great week

On Tuesday morning my sister, Paul and the kids left for Wrightsville Beach. They left Mom here with us, which has been great! She has had time to hang with just us, and get to know Michael better. And she has been a wonderful babysitter! Tod has had alot of wedding consults in the evenings, so he will bring Michael home and leave before I get home, and Mom will stay with Michael.

I think it's been nice for her to see our new family function. I wish she lived closer so she could spend more time with us. Oh and I almost forgot, she also brought him a new game for his DS, Tony Hawk something. The Wii has also been a huge hit with Michael. She is spoiling us!!!

Yesterday Miss Melanie (from Barium Springs) came for her weekly visit, and when she walked in the door, Michael said "Miss Melanie, I have someone I want you to meet...this is my Grandma". Sweet boy...

Busy Weekend!

So Friday night we went to dinner with Kyle, Doug, Natalie and Kevin at Halcyon Restaurant in Uptown Charlotte...it was delish. They didnt have a kids menu, actually Michael was the only kid in the restaurant, and the service was slow, so we had to wait. But he was so good! I was very proud of him. He enjoyed meeting Aunt Kyle and Uncle Doug, and Aunt Kyle made him an adorable photo album with pictures of the family, so he could remember everyone! It was very sweet.

Very late Friday night/very early Saturday morning, my sister (Valerie) arrived with Paul, Zach, Erin, Drake and my Mom. So Saturday morning Michael got to meet more family. He and Drake hit it off right away, and had so much fun playing. We went shopping for school supplies, and while we were out, Grandma bought us (the Coles family) a Wii. Then Aunt Valerie bought Michael a pillow pet (the monkey)! That afternoon (in the heat of the day) we went to Panthers Fan Fest. We got to go in the studium, and watch the Panthers practice!

On Sunday we had a great day on Lake Norman! Tod made us a big breakfast, then we packed sandwiches and loaded onto the boat. We were out for over 6 hours! The kids got to swim and went tubing, we even got my Mom into a raft! We came home (sunburnt) and then had a cookout. Aunt Kyle, Uncle Doug, Brock and Kevin all came up and we grilled bugers and dogs. Then everyone went to the backyard and played wiffle ball. It was so wonderful having family at our house! Living 500+ miles from all of our family...well it doesnt happen often that I have a house full of family...it was really great!!!

School registration

This morning we took Michael to St. James elementary to register him for school. He is so very excited! I had to fill out lots of paperwork, we got to meet the principal, and we got a tour of the school. It's a very nice, and fairly new school. Michael said it is bigger than his previous school (Rock Springs elementary). This weekend we will go shopping for school supplies, and his first day is August 25!

Finally!

On Friday we got word that all of the DSS paperwork was in order, and Michael is now permanently in our home! So no more transition, back and forth to John and Marsha's house. That was good news! So now we work towards finalizing the adoption...which I am thinking will take a while...unfortunately.

We had a good weekend. Saturday morning Tod had a wedding at Latta Plantation, which we all went to. It was really nice, but so very very hot! Saturday afternoon I took Michael to see the Smurf movie, then shopping for some school clothes, while Tod had another wedding. And I still cannot get the Smurf song out of my head lalalalalalalalalalalalala.

Yesterday we went to church and brunch with the Militello's, and when we got home the boys did some work around the house. It was so cute to see Tod and Michael working on putting a kick stand on Tod's bike. Michael was so proud of himself and Tod is really good about teaching him how to use the tools, and the names of the tools.

Cute story, while we were at brunch yesterday, Lexi said "Christina, what does Michael call you". I said "Well sometimes he calls us Tod and Christina, and sometimes he calls us Mom and Dad". She was fine with that answer, but Tod and I have said that if we referred to each other as Mom and Dad, he would probably call us that more often. I think we will work on that this week.

Big weekend coming up, lots of family coming to town! I know they are excited to meet Michael.

We will post new pictures on the website soon...I promise!