Ten

1. We had an insane wind storm here on Monday. Justin even found a giant trampoline blown up into a tree about a block from our house.

As for our own property, we’re pretty sure that our freshly-planted dahlias perished after being whipped around all day by 50mph gusts. Much to Justin’s disappointment, the ugly, dying tree in our front yard did not come crashing down atop Justin’s vintage 1993 Nissan, which would have answered his prayers for 1) the eyesore of a tree to be gone, and 2) a new vehicle. Instead, the tree simply lost a few more limbs, making it that much uglier.

2. A tragedy has occurred at Costco, my friends. For all you fellow Diet-Coke-from-the-tap addicts, please know that your next visit to the Costco concession may leave you a bit disoriented and grief-stricken, as I certainly was last night. Where I once enjoyed my heavenly-tasting, bottomless Diet Coke off the tap for just fifty-nine cents has now been infected by Pepsi. I bring this horrific news to your attention so you won't freeze at the concession register, money in hand, with your mouth open in total shock, wondering exactly what alternate universe you have stumbled into. I'm sure the clerks at our Costco are still making fun of my reaction.

3. Kendry has recently developed an interest in "helping" with household tasks. If I get the broom out, he wants to use it too. The other night I was wiping down a door in the house and he promptly crawled over, picked up a washcloth on the floor beside me and started wiping the door with me. But his favorite chore is helping with the laundry. Here is proof this kiddo is being trained in the proper manner:

No comments from the peanut gallery on my son's obviously too small pajamas. The little sprout grows out of a pair each week!

4. I’m fairly certain the LC Valley holds the record for the most vehicles painted camouflage per capita. Do you suppose there is a category for that in the Guinness Book of World Records? And I’m not just talking pickup trucks either; I think I’ve even seen a camo PT Cruiser. Its embarrassing really.

5. Repeat after me: Never store cookie dough in your refrigerator to be made into cookies at a later date! Sure, we mean well when we say: "Oh, I'll just save this little bit of dough to make some fresh cookies when my in-laws arrive this weekend." But let's be honest - that dough would be lucky to survive 24 hours in this cookie dough junkie's fridge. So tonight I will be using said dough to bake exactly TWO delicious chocolate chip cookies in anticipation for my in-laws' arrival.

6. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

7. We have been blessed to make it through the first 51 weeks of Kendry's life without an incident of illness. Oh sure, he started out with a little jaundice and had a few minor sniffles here and there, along with the occasional teething fever, but otherwise he has been an extremely healthy baby. No ear infections, sinus infections, or flu. No swine flu or pink eye either, even though both hit a few of Kendry's daycare peers. No sir, my tough little man got his immune system from his mommy. Ain't nuthin gonna take our antibodies down! Except for the hand, mouth and foot disease, that is. 'The cattle disease?' you ask. No, this is a human virus that apparently spreads just as easily as a cold, and is treated pretty much the same way, with plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, and Tylenol when needed. So Kendry's 52nd week of life was a little rough as he started out with a fever on Monday (which Mommy thought was just due to teething), followed by the breakout of little ulcers in his mouth, thanks to the virus. After a few days of very little food intake, he now appears to be making a full recovery just in time for his 1st birthday bash. I told you he was one tough cookie.

Wait - did someone say 'cookie'?

8. My "I Believe" statement from last Friday appears to have worked. Earlier this week they were predicting rain for Kendry's birthday; today they are predicting sunshine. Hooray!

9. Happy Birthday to my sis, Stephanie, and my brother-in-law, Jeff! I will be kind and not announce to everyone just how old you are turning this year; but I will point out that you are both older than me.

10. While Justin worked in the yard last Sunday afternoon, in preparation for the birthday BBQ, Kendry and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and headed down to Swallows Nest Park. The playground at this park is designed especially for toddlers, complete with a black, cushioned mat that covers the ground around the play structure, making it level and soft(er) for the still-unsteady toddlers. Being currently fascinated with stairs, Kendry went up and down the stairs at least twenty times before I finally had to show him there was more to the play structure than just stairs.

I snapped a few photos as he played, hoping to catch a monumental “1 Year Old” photo, and then realized that I definitely should have cut his hair before this photo op. YIKES!