Sunday, September 26, 2010

Happy Fall!


We rocked Ryland’s world today when we showed him the attic and he helped Papa drag down all the Fall/Halloween decorations.  He was amazed.  He went up into the attic with Dustin and said “cool” about 50 times.  It’s crazy how amazed he can be at some things!  He had a good time helping with the decorations.  He said “Mama loves pumpkins”.  Tonight right before bath time he stared to pout and whine and I thought he was going to start crying for no reason…when I asked him why, in the whiniest voice ever he said “ I want the Happy Halloween”.  Maybe I should have waited to decorate until Halloween Eve, the poor kid has a long wait ahead of him.  Oh boy, this is only the beginning to the decorating madness that goes through Christmas!  When I pull the Christmas trees out the day after Thanksgiving, he will start asking for The Christmas!

Welcome Home Party

Ry's Welcome Home Party was a smashing success!  We had a ton of family and friends, great food & fun times!  Big thanks to all of our family that helped out so much - we love you!

Here are a few pics to share!





Ryland & his only first cousin (so far) Nyah

First time for face painting...of course he picked a unicorn!  What can ya do?

Dustin's Mom & Sister (and Deana's baby Chesney)


Wes the Cowboy



He opened the presents he got when we got back home.

Texas Boy!

First pair of boots!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Chandler's Senior Pictures

My little sister asked me to help her get ready for and go to her senior photo shoot last weekend. We had the most bizarre experience there and I had to share…

We arrive to a little town called Pilot Point and start the photo shoot. We’re there for a couple hours and have spoken to a lot of the “town’s people” during this time. I think we met the un-offical mayor who was so glad there was a photo shoot going on in an area of town that they had been re-modeling for a few years. Chand was off with the photographers and Leah and I were keeping an eye on all the paraphernalia. A few minutes later Leah got in the car to take a phone call and I walked out into the field to check on Chandler and see how she was looking (fab by the way). This man appears out of nowhere and screams “you’re gonna get shot!” What?? I turn around (I am the closest in proximity to this idiot) and say “Excuse me, what did you just say? Are you seriously threatening to shoot us?” This idiot turns out to be drunk, surprise, surprise and keeps on going. Everyone gathers around at this point and we tell the man that we are finished and leaving anyway. A few women come and try to get his drunkenness to go back inside the bar and stop bothering us. They apologize for his behavior.

I am FUMING at this point. You DO NOT threaten me or my family…are you serious? We are talking about what a crazy exchange that just was and were packing up the car when the idiot comes back. Again…are you serious? I’m done now…my adrenaline is through the roof…I want nothing more than to swing at this idiot. Him and I have words and I get right up in his face and we are screaming at each other. Something to the effect of “y’all need to leave – you’re gonna get shot” and “do you know who _______ ________ is?” (Can’t remember the name he was saying.) I was beyond pissed off and at the point where I was definitely going to hit a 50 year old man. I screamed back at him “Do you know who Cortney Stone is?” HILARIOUS, I know…but all I could think of while I was “in the moment”. I told him that since he was threatening us, I was going to get inside of the car and run him over. A lot of talk about calling the cops and one of the photographers stepping in-between us finally ended an escalating situation. I got in the car and drove my sisters out of there. My mom stayed with the photogs (I’m sure apologizing for me!) As soon as we were driving away, Chandler asked me if that is how I was in my teenage years. Yes, yes I was. Don’t threaten my family…that’s a serious offense in my book! I guess Chand is so much younger that she’s never seen me in action like that before. My brother sure has and I wish he had been there to see this first-hand. The whole way home my sisters, my mom and me were laughing, talking and throwing out crazy scenarios…like “Cort, what would you have done if you got thrown into jail?” “We’d have to tell Ry that his Mama is in the slammer!” “If we told Dustin you were in jail, he would just roll his eyes!”

Good times. Family memories. Never a dull moment around here… I know my family will laugh about this forever.

I’m over it…but whoever you are, Mr. Idiot in Pilot Point – you better watch what you say around me, I have no issue hitting an older man. Maybe I’m still not over it!!   :)

Love,

Cort

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Balance


Balance is a tricky thing. We are still really struggling to figure this whole thing out. I’m trying to figure out this whole “working mom” thing and feel like I am failing miserably at both. There is a lot going on around my office right now and it’s usually fun and exciting times! Now when I am working and putting in extra time, I feel so guilty for my family. It seems like anytime I am working from home, Ry asks me to play with him, do something, do anything. “Mama…why you always work?” Cuts you right in the heart. But then, when I stop working and try to do something with my family, I feel so guilty because I know there is this whole pile of work that I need to tackle. I’ve had the luxury of being able to focus on work for so many years that this is so much harder than I expected.


The good news is that I know I will get there. Millions of people juggle everything and WAY more than I do. I just need to get in my groove and figure this out.

Step 1 – today I got up really early and got a lot handled at the office while my boys were still asleep. Didn’t get the guilty feeling, because they are both passed out!

On the other hand…sorry house. You’re not in the top 2 of who I am letting down. I know I need to figure out how to balance life with you, too. I know you love being clean & tidy, but throw me a bone; I can only do so much! I’m just one woman…trying to figure this out. I will get to you as soon as I can!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Parenting

I never knew that parenting would consist of the following scenarios! 

Ryland in the bathroom brushing his teeth - "MAMA - come here, hurry, show you something".  He was flossing and found something good!  "Look, BIG meat - awesome!  See it."  Just what I wanted to see...thank you son!

Calling our bluffs..."Ry, do you want a shower or a bath tonight?"  Ryland "Hmmmm"...no answer for a long time.  "You choose or I will choose."  "OK, I get to pick - you get to have a shower outside with the hose!"  Dustin and I think we are being clever and that he will definitely decide bath or shower now!  HA!  Ryland's response - "YES!!!  Like a dog?  Cool!"  So Ry & Sadie got bathed outside in the backyard.  Parents 0 - Ryland 1...

Repeating what we say and using it back at us...Ry got into some kind of trouble, so I told him to go to his room.  He stomped off and said "You better check yourself, Mama - I'm mad!"

And my favorite thing that I never thought about...

Last night we ran over to CVS to get some cough syrup and as we were getting out of the car, Ryland said "WAIT!!!  Everybody big hug!"  Stone Family hug in the CVS parking lot...too cute!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Dancing + Singing

Ryland - dancing and singing...his fave things to do right now! Whenever we are in the car, he says "Music up, please Pop".

Spanish Lesson #1



Ry's favorite book right now is Skippyjon Jones.  He LOVES it when we read it to him and asks for it every night!  His favorite part is the words in Spanish and the Spanish accent we try to handle!