Where to Begin

I am not even sure where to begin with this post.  We had a busy week and I think my brain turned into mush.  

I started jury duty on Tuesday.  They called groups of jurors for several trials and my name continued to not be called.  The commissioner came back in around 3pm to say there was only one trial left and if he didn't call your name, jury duty was over.  I was so hopeful, but of course I was called.  The trial was starting on Wednesday and I was lucky enough to be Juror #1...great.  That meant I would be a juror unless one of the attorneys didn't want me.  

 The entire process is pretty interesting.  It makes you realize how fortunate we are to have a judicial system like we do.  But it all became very surreal right before we headed into the courtroom (before we knew a thing about the case).  Another trial was ending and the mom of the defendant ran out screaming.  Her son got 18 years.  It wasn't until then that I started wondering what had I gotten myself into.  

As soon as we walked into the courtroom, I was a nervous wreck.  After looking around the room (seeing the defendant, the DA, the public defendant, and the judge), I felt like this was a case I didn't want to be on.  And sure enough,  I was right.  I was just completely shocked.  

We went through the nerve-wrecking process of jury selection.  Soon after I was asked all the questions I needed to answer, it began to sink in that I was most likely stuck on this case. 

The trial lasted until Friday.  I met some really nice people and some not so nice.  =)

It was certainly a diverse group of jurors.  But we all came together to reach a verdict and found the defendant guilty of aggravated sexual battery of a child (told you..horrible case to be on!!!!).  

A few things I learned:

1.  I am thankful for our judicial system

2.  So glad I don't have to pick out an outfit everyday to wear to work.  After the 1st day, I couldn't find     a thing to wear.  Glad to put my scrubs back on tomorrow!

3.  Very thankful I wasn't shot...seriously, it got a little scary in the courtroom.  

4.  So glad I wasn't on a sequestered jury...that would have been horrible.  (how in the world did the OJ jurors be away from their family for 10 months?!?!  I just don't get it)

5.  Very very very thankful I will not have jury duty for another 10 years!!!

But life went on throughout the week and we had an interesting Tuesday.  I had cleaned out Mason's ears the night before and I swear I thought I saw something in one of his ears.  He asked me, out of the blue, if he had rice in there.  Rice?!?!  Why would he think that unless he stuck rice in there.  I asked him a million times.  He would laugh and say no.  

Tuesday after school I asked him again if he had put rice in his ear and he started laughing again!!!  I told him he was going to be in so much trouble if he had put anything in there and was lying to me.  He then started to cry and said he did put it in there.  

Off to the doctor at 5:00 we went.  

And turns out he did NOT put rice in his ear.  I basically convinced him he did....how horrible is that?!?!?  Guess that is something I need to work on!

We headed home from the doctor and Brody must've been really hungry because he went right after the dog food.  I pulled every one of those kernels out of his mouth!!

Thursday morning I didn't have to be back in court until 11:00.  Of course I couldn't sleep in, but John did take the boys to school.  Once they were out the door, I drank a cup of coffee and watched the Today Show.  It's the small things. 

Winter reared its ugly head around the corner last week.  That means sweater time for Emma. 

We had a fun weekend celebrating the twins' first birthday party!  Stay tuned.  

Sunday Funday

This sweet little guy hands me things all day long.  His shoes, socks, toys, pacis, anything.  Well one night last week, he decided to bring me ALL of the DVDs that are upstairs.  I am literally laying under them.  

I caught Mason red-handed in the M&Ms.  I have had them sitting out in the kitchen since the baby shower and haven't looked at them since.  I heard a noise the other day and Mason quickly turned around with a mischievous look.  He had a mouthful of chocolate.  I went and checked the bowl and they were almost gone!!!  Definitely had to move it!

John and I headed to Oxford after work Friday.  We do make it to a lot of games but don't usually get to spend the night.  We have had the weekend planned for a while and had been looking forward to it.  

We had a nice dinner with friends Friday night on the square.  Bars and restaurants have all moved and changed names but it is still such a great town.  Nothing like it.  It had been a while since I had to wear a wristband...and we weren't even carded.  Oh how times have changed.  

Loved getting to spend some time with this guy.  

We made it to the Grove bright and early since it was an 11:20 am kickoff.  We were so happy to not have a night game FINALLY, but I think everyone quickly remembered why we've always hated them!   

It was nice that we were able to have breakfast before the game, and then come back for lunch after.  We had BBQ since we were playing the Hogs.  Now Mrs. Pat's daughter's tent went a little more festive with their food...who caters in a whole hog?!?

John and I headed home after the game.  We had such a fun time and I am so glad we were able to go. Hotty Toddy!!!

We had a fun family day Sunday.  Green Bay played at noon and Ben's parents had a party.  Mason is a Packers fan now, thanks to Ben, and he may even be more of a Chicago Bears hater.  I'm telling you, this kid doesn't forget anything.  

He loves being a Cheesehead. 

And he thought Brody should get in on the fun too.  

Mason got a kick out of Ben picking him up by his arms above the bar.  I don't know how many times they did it, but he had a giant smile on his face every time.  

We left there and headed to the park.  It was a nice day and we thought they would sleep hard if we wore them out.  =)

We came home and they attacked their Dad.   Great way to end a Sunday Funday.  

Today was Veteran's Day.  Mason wore his hat for "Hats off for our Veterans".  

And Brody sported it after school...backwards.   

Well I worked my only day of work this week today.  I have jury duty the rest of the week.  Oh joy.  Should be fun.  

Baby Shower

We had a fun Sunday celebrating Emily and Baby Davis.  There were several of us girls that had been getting together to plan and it has been a lot of fun.  

Of course I took several pictures...

 Opening lots of gifts. 

 Emily and her Memphis friends. 

Some of our sweet mommas. 

 Mrs. Gee, Emily, and Katie.  

Crazy how long we've been friends!  Their house was the only place I would spend the night at when I was younger.  

All of us hostesses with the Momma-to-be. 

One of the perks of having it at my house...I relaxed that night with a cup of coffee in one of the disposable cups with a Davis sleeve. 

Monday night I had to go to a CE course.  The perk was it was free and came with a delicious dinner that I didn't cook.  The downside of that was it lasted a little longer than I had hoped for.  

Mason's teacher is great at emailing us what they do during the week.  I just keep forgetting to post any pictures.  Their class got to talk to Firefighters and check out their firetruck.  Mason loved it....he is the one front and center cheesing it up.  

Last week at the pumpkin patch.  He talked about it all night. 

 His class before the pumpkin patch and Halloween party.  They made their ghost shirts with their footprint. 

And I got this picture of my sweet boys this morning.  They were in a good mood.  

So thankful we were blessed with these two.  

Halloween!!

Who doesn't love dressing up for Halloween?!  We sure used to!  

But now that it's all about the kiddos...it's even more fun to dress them up!  I guess I shouldv'e let Mason pick out what he wanted to be, but I had already bought a bunch of stuff for a minion from the movie Despicable Me.  I think he was leaning towards wanting to be Batman...but after some convincing, he decided a minion wasn't so bad.  This is the last year they will be matching I guess!

Practicing wearing this hat the morning of Halloween.

I'm a terrible Mom and took Brody for his 15 mo checkup/shots on Halloween.  It is impossible for me to plan when to take him with my schedule at work.  I have to see when patients cancel, etc.  So of course I had a couple of cancellations on Halloween and the doctor wasn't busy because who takes their kid there on Halloween?  I still haven't taken Mason for his 4 year checkup, but I didn't want him to miss his Halloween party at school!

Brody fell asleep the second we got in the car.  He slept in the waiting room and was still sleeping when I was trying to take him clothes off.  

Weight: 23lb 12oz

Height: 

Head: big

He is almost 3 lbs bigger than Mason but the same size length wise.  His head is still rather large (97% to be exact!!), but it has been this big from the beginning so the doc said no worries....he is just a kid with a big head.  =)

We were excited about Halloween in our neighborhood.  They usually set up a fire pit in our neighbor's driveway and everyone congregates there.  This year because of the nasty weather, everyone just trick-or-treated instead of getting together.  Oh well, I was just so glad it stopped raining for us to get out.  

Our minions ready to head out. 

Mason was big this year.  He told us numerous times that he wanted to go all by himself to the doors.  He did great, but there was definitely some trial and error.  I went through the whole, ring the doorbell, say trick-or-treat, and then thank you.  

Brody just followed along in the wagon.  It was his bedtime and he wasn't sure what in the world was going on.  

So he did great walking right up to the first house.  He didn't have to ring the doorbell because the wooden door was open with the glass door shut, so the man could see him coming.  He just wouldn't step back to let the guy open the door!  We were having to tell him to step back.  Then the man only gave him one peice of candy...I hadn't thought of this and knew that wouldn't go over well.  He didn't actually ask for more for himself, but he said, "Hey, what about candy for my baby brother Brody over there!"  I told him Brody didn't need any candy, tell the man thank you.  

Walking to the next house, I had to go over the whole, be happy with whatever you get and say thank you and walk away.  

Onto the next house...I thought we were more prepared, but I was wrong again.  He walked right up to the door, rang the doorbell....about FIVE times!!!!  He just kept ringing until he saw someone.  Of course I am yelling to stop but the damage was done.  =)

But after that, it went smoothly.  He did great and had a blast.  

This little guy wanted to stand up in the wagon the whole time.  

My mom and dad came over to hand out candy so we could all go trick-or-treating together, which was super nice.  When we got back, Brody and Mickey Mouse were dancing to the tv.

John and Mason went to a few more houses.  Mason decided to trick-or-treat at our house last. 

Ready to count his candy. 

The rest of the night, Mason counted (and ate) his candy and handed out candy to the rest of the trick-or-treaters.  I think that may have been his favorite part of the night.



Mason wanted to wear his glasses to school the next morning.  I did finally take them off of him after he showed his class.