Surprise Jack-It's Papa

Wednesday Papa flew in town for a meeting that "just had to take place asap" in Dallas so...since he was here he surprised Jack. We left the Pathfinder at Watters that morning, rode together, Papa drove the rental car to Watter, got Jack & headed home in the Pathfinder. We picked up the rental on our way home before heading out to the movies since there was a free babysitter at home. Jack was having snack with his friends and as soon as he saw Papa up he ran. When offered to stay and finish snack he rolled up his napkin to go and headed out. You know he is excited and wants to go play when he doesn't stop to say goodbye to EVERYONE at school on the way out.

Papa and Jack spent A LOT of time in his tent in the playroom. But when we arrived they were playing cowboys.
Since Papa isn't used to crawling in and out of a tent I let him use my back roller to loosen up his knots. The face looks painful...but no pain, no gain. It hurts but feels so good at the same time. Well worth the $20 from the PT.

After a trip to Garden Ridge Jack and Papa headed to the Allen Village for some playing, dinner, and shopping. They loved the play area in the shopping center. It was kinda misting but the weather was cool which is a nice change.

A good maze is always fun! Dinner proved to be a bit tricky but they managed to get some food, decorate the yard with the Garden Ridge buys, and were in bed when Nick and I got home from the movie.

Jack LOVES to make us liars. He has been waking up at 5:30 demanding shows/movies, milk, and a snack (breakfast). Well not sure if he didn't want to look bad in front of his Papa or just because Papa wore him out but we had to wake him up at 6:40 and he never once asked for TV....he only wanted to play with Papa in the playroom. Here he is helping Papa make his coffee.

Before we headed off to our schools we snapped a picture of them and their Halloween yard decorations.

What a great surprise! That afternoon on the way he kept telling Nick that he was going home to wake Papa up to play because he was napping on the couch with his Tiger blanket.....there were tears....but well worth the quality time before hand. Come back soon Papa (and bring Bebe next time!).

Random Package

Early this past week there was a package at the door. Mom had mentioned it but didn't say what was in it other than some tasty treats for Jack and a present from The Nolans. I wasn't sure why Papa didn't just bring it on Wednesday but that all made sense when Jack opened the package up.

"Wow-Coloring Books. Thanks Bebe and Papa. No Mama, don't take them...Papa sent them to me."
"Thanks Nolan Family...GEAUX TIGERS!"

"I knew Bebe would stick in something for me to eat. The Moon Pie was my favorite!"

Plano Hot Air Balloon Festival

Saturday I had planned for us to go to the Plano Hot Air Balloon Festival but I overslept and by the time Jack (who had fever AGAIN) and Nick got out and about the balloons had already launched so they got donuts instead. The Tigers were playing Saturday night so I knew that Sunday was our only other option. Big surprise- but we weren't ready to make it to the 7 AM launch so we did our Sunday Gymboree service, napped, and headed to the Festival Sunday evening. In all our years in Texas we've only ever watched the balloons from afar but were glad we chose to get up close and personal this year.

After a long walk from the cheap man's parking lot (on the way there were skydiving falling with flags above us-super cool) we headed straight for the food vendors.

Their sign said, "Caution: Rednecks having fun." and I tell you what.....that Cowboy Cheesesteak Burrito (Potatoes, onions, cheesesteak, and cheese all in a tortilla) was worth the $5 parking, $10 entry fee, and all the walking in the heat to get there.....but the balloons were the best by far.
Jack wouldn't taste the dinner....good thing because Nick and I really didn't want to have to split it in thirds. He stuck with the Gatorade that we brought in. Check out that moustache!
It was so neat for Jack to see the balloons filling up this close and personal. The sound didn't even bother him.

We talked about all that was happening, how, and his most favorite question-WHERE while waiting for the balloons to launch. In between Nick and I taking bites of course.

My boys

My angel

A great Sunday afternoon

Beauty

Jack's favorite

A student's father gave me his old digital camera (to have on tap for classroom pictures since Jack broke our small one). I brought it along because the big camera was low on battery, snapped this video, but realized when we got home that it must not tape sound. Oh well, so glad to have a decent camera to carry around (and for my classroom of course that is really why I asked) because the iPhone takes pictures but they don't always come out so great. Enjoy!

Can't wait to go back next year!

Happy Grandparents Day!

Happy Grandparents Day to Jack's wonderful Grandparents & Great Grandparents!

Here is a card he made at school this week for ya'll.
And he truly does love you each to the fullest.

Since there was only one you'll have to pretend this is him mailing the above card to each of you....but in reality he is mailing Papa's birthday card Saturday in the rain.

LOVE, JACK ANTHONY RELLE!

Fall Divine Consign

So in the mess of Back to School you know me...I managed to not only find the time to sell stuff, but to buy stuff too. The night of "Back to School" when the kids meet their teacher and drop off their supplies I was all but pushing the last family out the door to head to Divine Consign for the early entry perk for consigners. Karen met me there after her Back to School event and as exhausted as we were....we managed to get in some good deals.

She's expecting another girl in November so for her the choices were greater at finding good deals on cute, quality stuff....but I too was able to get a few things and combined with the sale stuff I bought last season Jack is set for the Fall/Winter.

My goal is always to get a coat. This super cute Gap peacoat has a hood that is wool lined. I know they probably only wore it a few times, as Jack will too since it doesn't get that cold often...which makes the price even better.

This cute sweater and vest was too cute to pass on. Especially since they can be worn together, the vest can be worn alone, or

the sweater can be worn alone. 3 outfits in one!
I just couldn't pass on this cute bargain. A BabyStyle hat with the scarf attached. He might not ever wear it....but for $1.50 it was worth the chance.

Before I even went shopping Nick was dropping off our items to sell and knew that the Little Tikes adjustable basketball goal was on my "wish list" for items to look for at the Divine Consign this Fall. As he was walking in he saw a parent from our "Work" that was headed to drop off this one off, he offered to buy it, brought it home that night, and paid them at the Back to School Night. I didn't have to push and shove to get one (it actually wasn't too crowded this year), deal with transporting it home, and they didn't loose the percentage to the company.

Here was my last minute, not needed, but so much fun (for the first few minutes) purchase. My justification was that a) Jack loves Handy Manny b) It was back to school time so I knew he would be sad and neglected a few more weeks by us, and c) he is going to be Handy Manny for Halloween so it was part of his costume. It was new in the box and he LOVES it!

No I'm not trying to say anything....I just LOVED this infant hat and gloves. At first I handed them over to Karen for Harper but kept thinking about how much I loved how sweet they were, soft they were, and that they were from NEXT (You know I like to think I'm party European) so I took them back. If I don't need them one day in the future they will be a perfect gift as they are in flawless condition. :)

In the end I made just over $46 (would have made more but they met the item limit before I input all my items to sell) which covered my new purchases. Looking forward to the Spring Sale....I love Divine Consign!

Home Sick

Jack is home sick today with Nick as he has more days, is not really full teacher when he is at school while recovering, and well.....has a teaching partner with no sub plans required. Jack woke up around 2:30 crying that he made a mess....we know he is OCD so told him we'd clean it in the morning til he started throwing up and realized what he was talking about. Carpet, Floor, and our bed.....fever and so staying home. I'm skipping PT which is against my beliefs but you can't call in the morning. Co-pay will come out of my budget, I'll bring food to apologize for doing this to them twice (other time was when the Pathfinder broke down), and trying to gain my composure (the tears have already come from being a bit, OK a lot unstable right now). So...keep us in your thoughts. It's rough here in the Relle Ward of the Red Cross! My poor babies (any myself). Work now without 7 o'clock PT but then a shower planning meeting this evening....Learn to say NO...And maybe more PT because I ran into a chair trying to get Jack off the carpet a minute ago when he started to throw up. AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Football Season

Aside from bottom pains and pre fever Jack we were all super excited in the Relle Clan for LSU Football Saturday Night.

"Touchdown!" Jack sported his daytime LSU gear for the Farmer's Market and lunch with Mom.
Then when we got home before our afternoon nap Jack helped me hang up our new LSU flag. Couldn't let the neighbors huge new OU flag be out and not hang ours in pride. And for the record....ours is bigger even if only by an inch. :)

Geaux Tigers!

For bedtime he chose his LSU football uniform. Here he is showing all his big muscles.

I mean can we say poser?!?! I should have known something was up that night because he was so hyped for LSU football and went to bed without any excuses to come out his room (no needing to pee, no Tiger on the blanket staring at him, and no random eviction of toys from his room to the hall). The next morning after both Nick and I didn't make it through the game (we promise we are true fans....Vicodin was Nick's poison, exhaustion was mine, and apparently germs were Jack's), was when the fever appeared, the boys slept, and I well.....did everything. Thank goodness for TIVO.

GO TIGERS!!!

LSU Flag Hanging-But Should Be Red Cross Flag

Nick has had a bump on his bum for a long time now. A few years ago I had him check at his yearly physical and the doctor told him it was a Calcium Deposit. So we left it be....well, of course on literally the day teachers report (not all summer we had off or before insurance started over on September 1st) the "Calcium Deposit" grew and was sore. He went to the family doctor who told him it was an infected cyst. Gave him antibiotics and sent him to a dermatologist surgeon who said that surgery would be strictly cosmetic....well in the end after 2 rounds of antibiotics the surgery wasn't cosmetic...it was the only way to get Nick some relief.

I dropped him off at McKinney Medical at 6:30 Friday morning, brought Jack back home to eat and dress him up as a fire man for Community Day at Watters, then headed back up to the hospital to be with Nick.

Pre Surgery. Our Principal Mike said that Nick looks like a sad Strawberry Shortcake here. :)
Post surgery. Feeling pretty good....til the throwing up started. We were there a bit longer because Nick's stomach didn't react to the meds very well so they kept an eye on him. Fill his scripts, got him lunch (which didn't stay with him long), and then it was sleep, pills, change gauze the rest of the Labor Day weekend.
You can't get these surgical boxers from just any old store. I have pictures of his wound if anyone would like to see them (I'll email-but I doubt my inbox will be filled with requests). It isn't like anything I have ever seen. The cyst was deeper and more infected than they thought so they had to leave the incision open so that it can drain. No swimming/bath for 10 days , drainage/bleeding requires often changing of the dressings, and in general....still a pain in the ass while healing.
Here are the beautiful flowers our friends from work (no longer allowed to put our district or school name in association with us in anyway, on any website-we watched a whole video on it prior to school starting). It added a nice ray of sunshine to the house this weekend when we were stuck inside.

And when it rains...it pours. Saturday Jack woke up with 103 temperatur which went up to 104. He slept the ENTIRE day. I'm talking collectively he was up for max an hour and a half only to take a few sips of Pedilyte and his Tylonel. It was just pitiful.

So patient 1 was in our room with the Lysol sprayer set for every 30 minutes to keep Jack's infection from his open wound.

While patient 2 was on the couch all day too weak to pick up his head to drink his nutrients.

I spent all day cleaning this house from top to bottom to rid us of the obvious infection that got Jackc sick and could make its way to Nick. Not the Labor Day Weekend I had planned, but then again....Expect the Unexpected.

I will return to work tomorrow unless one of the patients gets worse...otherwise, Nick and Jack will stay home to recoup for one more day before returning to work. It is important that I return because on top of all administration being out -one teammates father passed away this morning, another's husband has a serious medical problem and she is out til at least Wednesday, the one who has skin cancer last year will find out tomorrow if another spot removed Thursday was cancerous too, and another new teacher to the team will be out for some reason. I'm thinking that my voodoo doll needs to get put up above the entrance asap. Hopefully this is the worst of our bad luck this year....