Growin' Up

We just got back from Cole's first grade musical performance.  He was just adorable and delightful, and he made me so proud.  He really looked at me the whole time he was singing up there, which just melted my little heart.  I was holding up heart hands for him between songs....Chad was totally laughing at me, but whatevs.  I loved every second of it!

 
It's good to see that Cole is comfortable in this kind of setting.  This video is a perfect demonstration of that...he was totally feelin' it.  Sometimes the lyrics just speak to a guy.  And I love how at the end of the song he mouths, "MOM!", and then uses hand signs to tell me to put the camera down and clap.  Hahaha...okay, Cole.   

The song is about growing up. . .



. . .And how apropos.  Cole is growing up so fast.  It seems like just yesterday that we were at his kindergarten performance.  How is it possible that he's going to be 8 this year?!   But then sometimes I am reminded of how he's still really a little boy even though he's super tall and talks like he's 12.  Just tonight when I was putting him to bed, he told me that he talks to Shell Shocker (his Pillow Pet) when he's feeling sad and crying because he doesn't want to ever move away from us and he's really going to miss his room.  I reassured him that this is not going to happen for several several several years, and by the time it comes around, he'll be excited and not sad to move out on his own.  I think I was reassuring myself that it's super far away too, although I KNOW I'm going to be sad when the time comes.  I love him.  A whole lot.  It's not for a long time....it's not for a long time....it's not for a long time....

I love you because:

I saw these super cute pictures for sale on another website, and I decided to make some for my boys.  (I am not opposed to borrowing someone else's creativity...does that make me a bad person?  An evil genius, perhaps.  That way I can pick my colors, my fonts, and my sizes....that's all I really want out of life.  AND save myself the twenty dollars plus shipping and handling....that's where the genius comes in!)  I made these in PS.  I already had the frames and dry erase markers...perfect!  The boys LOVE getting these little notes.  Caden calls them Valentines, so now that's what the rest of us call them too. 

Here is the one for Cole's room.  He is very excited when he comes home from school to see what my love note is for the day.

I also made a community Valentine for downstairs.  Since the little boys don't read yet, I read it to them often, and it gets updated throughout the day as they make good choices or do something cute.  Sometimes there's a note for Chad too, we can't leave Daddy out of the love fest!

♥ LOVE THESE VALENTINES! ♥

MARBLE (and camera) MANIA

Chase's wonderful preschool teachers came up with an incentive to help Chase make good choices while he's in class.  (He's especially challenged with this at craft time, as crafting is the last thing he wants to do 95% of the time.)  So...now he earns marbles when he makes the good choice to follow his teachers' directions without protesting or whining.  When he's accumulated 20 marbles, he earns a reward!  I LOVE THIS!  It's been just the inspiration and positive reinforcement that he's needed, rather than the negative consequences he was receiving from me when I would hear at the end of class that he didn't do a good job.  His chosen reward is a smoothy from Jamba Juice.   He's earned this TWO times!  Way to go, Chase Ryan!

Monday we went straight after school for the tasty treat after he earned his last 3 marbles.  (I know that it is entirely unnecessary for me to post my camera settings on my pictures, but it makes me feel like a real professional, even if I'm currently still operating at poser level.  After my camera class on Saturday, I find myself looking at other pictures and wondering what people had their cameras set to.   Feel free to make a little fun of me about this.)



TASTY GOODNESS!

And here is my artistic picture of Chase's special marbles that we keep for him at home to track his progress at school.  See my blurry foreground and background and my in-focus marbles?  I did that!  I told my camera what to do, and it did it.  I feel awesome about this.  I also feel awesome that Chase is really grooving on his marble/smoothy incentive program.  It is WONDERFUL!

Project Life - February Favorites

Cole was sick for a spell.


Then it was Chase's turn.

Fun with Harry the Bear.

Look who's going to be a good husband...doing housework in his underpants!

Carpet burn....ouchy!

We visited Gigi, the boys' Great Grandma, at her new home.

I was a Party Mom at Chase's Valentine's celebration.  (Yes, that's right...they call the parent volunteers "Party Moms."  I love it!)

Thursday + snow = no school!  We love Snow Days!

Art Docent Lesson!

Love notes when Chad was out of town.  (The answer to my question is Caden.)

Our new favorite thing - Pillow Pets. (Yes, I have one too.) The boys each named their own: Caden's is Folks&Frank, Chase's is Figaro, and Cole's is Shell Shocker. He also named mine for me, Snugimal...because it's an animal that you snuggle. (Pretty clever, if I do say so myself.)

Snow Bound (And Determined)

I've been in a bit of a blog slump lately; I just haven't felt inspired enough to sit down and make the magic happen via my weblog.  I think there's a reason for this; lately I've been in a bit of a personal slump with what my Shanna has been going through.  But I am happy to report that she is home from the hospital now, and I want to say a great big huge THANK YOU to my friends and family for all your prayers and support.  I appreciate it so much, and I know she does too.

In an effort to get over my blog slump, here are a few pictures from our adventure in the snow yesterday.  We decided spur of the moment to go play around.   It was cold and rainy, but the boys didn't mind.

Caden was having a bit of a hard time navigating through the deep snow, so Chad walked ahead of him to make big footprints that Caden could step in for better traction.  While Chad was doing this, he told me that his dad used to do this for him when he was little.  I can just picture little Chad in the snow following in his dad's foot steps.  I thought it was the cutest thing ever to watch Chad do for Caden what his dad used to do for him.  My little heart just melted.

Although I was freezing and wet, I was BOUND and DETERMINED not to be the first one to suggest that we head home.  Chad doesn't think I have much of an adventurous, pioneering spirit.  (What?  It's like he doesn't even know me.)  So there was no way I was going to let the kids outlast me.   Chase gave up the ghost before I was forced to crack.  That worked out nicely for me.

We loaded up the boys and then took a few shots of ourselves.  Look at that smiling, happy girl.   And no, that smile wasn't because we were just about to hop in the warm and dry truck.  I truly enjoy spending time with all my boys, even if and when we're cold and wet.  I love our little family outings!

I don't know if I'll go back and catch up on some of the blogging opportunities I've missed in the last few weeks.  We shall see.  But for now, it looks like the blogging slump might be over.

Honorable Hawk

I am so proud of Mr. Cole Robert for being chosen as one of this month's Honorable Hawks at his elementary school.  Every month recognition is given to students from each class that exemplify the attribute that is being focused on for the month; things like safety, kindness, school spirit, etc.  This month the focus was ACHIEVEMENT; and I could not be more proud of what Cole has achieved receiving this award.  It's kind of a big deal. 

Here is his certificate and bracelet!  He was so funny about this; he didn't even mention it to me, I just found this stuff in his backpack.  I said very excitedly, "COLE!  YOU GOT THE HONORABLE HAWK AWARD!", to which he casually replied, "I know."  This is so very Cole-esque; he is a pretty mellow little dude.  I don't think he gets this from me.

Immediately upon learning about this, we went straight to the store for celebratory treats.  Cole picked pizza for dinner, and chocolate ice cream, chocolate syrup, and chocolate sprinkles for dessert.  He does get this from me; we both share a deep love for all things chocolate!

Way to go, Cole!  We are crazy proud of our Honorable Hawk!

                      

Prayers For My Friend

It is with a hurting, yet hope-filled heart that I am asking my friends and family to pray for my Shanna.  A few days ago we learned some unhappy news, and she shared about it HERE.  You know how much I love my girl, and I really HATE that this is happening with a capital H-A-T-E!   But I know that she is going to be okay.  I also know that God loves us, and he hears our prayers, so please pray pray pray for my friend! 

LOVE you, Shanna, with a capital L-O-V-E!