Long day

James was a huge help at yesterday's garage sale. He talked to everyone who came and even passed out some snacks. But it wore him out! He went for a quick ride in his wagon and fell asleep before he got more than 5 houses away!

T-Mobile. America's First Nationwide 4G Network.

Clearing out the clutter...

Also known as having a garage sale to get rid of everything that we don't want to move to Charlotte! Tomorrow is our neighborhood's summer garage sale - so tonight I attempted to get organized for it. I really did try, but all I managed to do was make sangria for me and my neighbors... which is important - so its good that I have my priorities in order!

Before John left for Charlotte, he helped my bring down the foosball table that we are hoping to sell tomorrow. In order to get it from the third floor to the first floor - we have to take off the legs (which will be easier for someone to put in their car when they buy it. See, I'm being positive!) which puts the table at the perfect height for James. He had such a great time spinning the little men and knocking the ball around - he even added his own animals to join in on the fun.

What? No, I'm not changing the score..

He is going to be very disappointed when it leaves the living room tomorrow morning!

Happy Father's Day

On John's last weekend at home, it is a happy coincidence that it is also Father's Day. Since we had lots of fun outdoor plans, of course it stormed all day. Its a good thing we have had lots of practice coming up with impromptu actives. Hopefully Charlotte will cooperate with our outdoor personalities more than Cleveland does! We ended up lounging in our pjs and then heading to the mall just to get out (Gap is having an awesome sale FYI).

John and I have completely unintentionally fallen into the typical Father/Mother roles - he is the "fun" parent that James will rough house with all day and I am the one he runs to when he needs comfort. These last few days are being filled thoroughly up with fun and rough housing - lots of ball throwing and going to the park. And of course his favorite activity, being thrown around. I don't know why all kids love this - but it never fails. And since its been constant the past few days, every time he gets picked up he starts giggling because he thinks he is getting thrown... so of course we must oblige.

I'm not going to lie, even though I'm going to miss John more than I can describe - I'm a little excited that I will become the "fun" parent for a few weeks :) It's a small consolation but I will take what I can get! If nothing else, I will get a good arm workout daily with all the James throwing I will be doing.

Well, its official - half of our belongings are all packed and on their way to Charlotte. John starts his new job two weeks from Tuesday and I think the reality that James and I will be left behind until the house sells is starting to set in. I don't know what is going through James' mind when he sees all the boxes and furniture gone - but I know he realizes that something is going on. It will be a hard transition on all of us but it will be totally worth it. At least that's what I keep chanting to myself! Another huge development is the obviously our house is officially up for sale - which translate to we have to be constantly cleaning. I would like to think for having a toddler, two full time working parents and a zoo all living under one roof - we live in a pretty clean house. But it is anything but in "showing condition". At least James is taking this step in stride. He has come to grow a strange attachment to the vacuum cleaner. Whenever John or I get it out, he is right there ready to push and help!

The bright side is that when the house is being shown, we have to go find something to do - and right now, before John leaves - it has been great. We go to the park, get ice cream or head to the book store. Its the perfect excuse to get out of the house and have family time :)

And its never a sad day when we come home with a few books or ice cream - it helps make the home selling adventure a little more tolerable!

Mr. Independent

Now that James can do most things without help, he does not want any help... with anything - unless its holding a popsicle but that's just so he can savor it without exerting extra energy and I can't blame him for that! Most times its adorable and fun to watch him try and tackle something - other times John calls him the dictator. I prefer Mr. Independent. But when he tells the dogs "quiet" over and over and over again (even if they are sleeping) or refuses to allow us to put on his shoes, which in turn makes us 15 minutes late in the morning, I have a hard time disagreeing with John's term of endearment.

But on those days, where it starts out a struggle, I do the only thing I know how - dress him up in an outfit that I know he will embarrass him in 15 years and take many many pictures.

That's right, there is a lion on his bum :) Take that Mr. Independent!