Brandon & Tyler's Big Dilemma

I have officially welcomed Fall--our house is now decorated for Halloween! And that means Bryan & I are busy pulling pranks on the kids and each other with all the scary things we've accumulated over the years. Case in point: (turn music off at bottom of the blog)

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Unfortunately, I missed the exact moment I was trying to capture on film. Here's the aftermath:

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Happy Fall Y'All!

A New Rollercoaster Freak is Born

Last weekend I took the kids to Nana & Pops' for the weekend. Bryan had to work and I had an important date with my favorite rollercoaster--Kings Dominion's Volcano. Every year the company Bryan & I work for "rents out" Kings Dominion, and we get very cheap tickets for the day (pretty much an unlimited supply). So we do what everyone else does, and drag Nana & Pops along to help watch the younger kids.

The older the kids get, the more fun these theme parks become. Here's Nick and Brandon taking a nice little drive in a green Corvette (sorry for the grainy-quality.) One drives like his Mom, and one drives like his Dad. You guess which one is which (turn off the music at the bottom of the blog first):

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Unfortunately (or fortunately) I was having way too much fun to keep snapping pictures and taking video. Brandon is finally tall enough to go on most of the large roller-coasters and thrill rides, so he & I jetted off to get our fill of fun. I have always been a roller-coaster junkie, and I am so very happy that Brandon is just as crazy as I am. He even begged to go on one of the very few rides that I don't really like to ride, just because it scares the hell out of me due to the sheer height. Of course, we did it--because I couldn't be shown up by my 7-year-old boy.

The weather was perfect, the kids had a blast, and we all left with a smile that afternoon.

I would like to sincerely thank Nana & Pops (and Brad!) for coming with us and helping to keep an eye on the boys! I would never brave a theme park like that on my own with those three monsters!

Happy Anniversary

I don't have a letter, peom, or any creative way to simply say "I Love You" to the man who has been putting up with me for the eight years that we've been married.

Here's a few pictures of our wedding day. (Note that this was just as digital photography was getting started in the world, so the pictures are a little grainy.)

I have no regrets!

Learning the Hard Way

So Bryan was doing man-things for supper outside (making fire and cooking meat on it), all the while sternly reminding the kids to stop kicking and throwing balls around the grill, stay away from the grill, don't touch the grill it's hot, etc... Baby Monkey decided, as usual, to buck Daddy's instructions and touched the grill when Bryan turned his back for a second. It's not nearly as bad as it sounds, or as it could have been--he recoiled immediately with just minor burns across three of his fingers.


Seems like he inherited his stubborness from his Daddy, and has to learn things the hard way like his Mommy.

Labor Day Weekend

Yeah, sorry--haven't posted much lately. I have good intentions, but I get sidetracked by reading everyone else's stuff and by the time I'm done, it's time to go to bed. Can't help it. Love my blogroll.

Sooo, there actually has been quite a lot going on around the Wrenn nest. (like that?--my attempt at keeping within some sort of family theme here.) (Oh, and because I feel so strung out on caffeine and lack of sleep due to the whirlwind of two boys in soccer, working long days, husband on shiftwork, parents in town from Texas, Labor Day weekend shenanigans, potty-training, and elementary school starting again, this post might be a little random. Try to keep up.)

My parents flew in from Texas for Labor Day weekend. With them came about 15 pounds of fresh Gulf shrimp. They were magnificent and fabulous. And more than we could eat ourselves, so we had a few people over to help eat and drink all our beer. Here are said shrimp after we already dug in:

Here is Brian (yes, Brian with an "I" as opposed to Bryan with a "Y") eating at the kids' table:

Here's some of the piggies eating shrimp--some are neighbors, some are friends, and some are family:

We'd like to thank my parents for the shrimp & baby-sitting, and Bryan's parents & grandma for the tables, chairs, and fixins (deviled eggs, bread, homemade oriental cole-slaw salad that everyone loved, and macaroni salad). And thanks to the neighbors for drinking all the beer. We normally reserve that special honor for my sister, who will drink every beer in our fridge in one night by herself. But that has nothing to do with this post and we don't hold a grudge. Really.

I forgot to mention that the first night my parents were here, the men decided to cook on the grill (after drinking a lot of beer.) And my Mom let the kids help with the cooking. Disaster?

(turn the music off at the bottom of the blog for these videos)

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The meat was slightly well-done and the corn had a little too much salt & pepper. Other than that, it was pretty darned good!

Tyler started Kindergarten on Tuesday (and Brandon started second grade.)

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My parents had a late flight out, so my Mom actually got come with us as we followed Tyler & Brandon to school in the daycare van (no school bus this year.) Tyler was very excited, a little scared and a little anxious (so was his Daddy):

So we had a busy, but good and fun Labor Day weekend!

Loki is Home

We brought Loki home today. Actually, Bryan went and picked him up first thing this morning without me--I was at work. We got the call from the vet last night that he was ready, and I didn't want him staying in a strange place any longer than he had to. And when I got home from work today, he was on the nightstand on my side of the bed. He always slept on my side of the bed.

We haven't bought a real urn for him yet. He is in a plain, white, tall rectangular box right now. On the back is a poem that brings tears to my eyes. The Rainbow Bridge.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

--Author unknown

Months ago I thought we would spread his ashes on one of his favorite beaches. I am not ready. I can't let go.