I hate the words "SHUT-UP"!

Samuel had been coming home and acting strange in the afternoons. It had been going on for about a week or more. I had assumed it was him getting used to his new teacher. His other teacher had taken her maternity leave. After a few rough afternoons, I found out that he was sitting next to a bully. This bully named J.T. was telling him to shut-up! I knew worse things could be said....so...I sat on this information for one more day. When he got off the bus again and I asked if it was any better he just said "It's weird he just tells me to shut-up, but Nicholas can talk...He gets off at the second stop and then I get to talk again!" OH NO NO NO!!!
Mama don't play that game. Of course I took care of it with the school and he is not being bothered anymore and he is acting better in the afternoons too. How could you say shut-up to such a sweet child anyhow.

Nicholas the Writer

I loved watching the boys learn to read and write since starting Kindegarten. Nicholas has always been interested in drawing and writing letters. As he has learned these writing skills he expresses himself more and more on paper. I have found him time after time sitting at the table staring at a piece of paper with a pencil in hand. He already knows how to let the imagination flow. I like to think he gets that talent from me. I have always enjoyed reading and writing. I wanted to share a few thoughts. The first is a letter to his dad. He writes...Dear Daddy, I love you because you take me to places. I like you too! You are cool. I love you. You are the best daddy. I love you so much. Love, Nicholas.

The second is the story. It reads..There was a man who makes a cake on Valentines day. It did not look good because it had frogs all over the cake. And it had a spider on it. It was cool too!

I hope he will always enjoy this art and continue to excercise this talent.

Disney World & Cruise

So I have to admit it...we are Disney fanatics! We just returned from our vacation. I must say that I love vacations. I really enjoy the opportunity to get away with the family. This is the second year that everyone on Caleb's family went on a Disney cruise together. They are the best!!!! It is the best way to get 20+ people together. It's nice to be able to see everyone throughout the day and then come back together for a nice 4 course meal and then follow it up with a broadway style show. While on our trip Samuel lost his other front tooth one morning in the hotel. The boys were wrestling on white linen bed. Check out his new picture! I have really gotten a kick out of seeing his two front teeth gone. :) Just thought I would share some pictures of our trip!

Toothless Sammy Pie

Samuel has been walking around for a good two weeks with jacked up looking teeth. He has had 3 loose for quite some time. This week each night I would sit on him and try my hardest to get that loose tooth out (most of the time he thought it was funny)! At dinner tonight, Caleb came up with a plan that we would tie floss to his tooth....and rather than slam a door.....we would have the monster truck pull it out! And yes...we have success. Please see the following video.
You know on Monday I had an aggrevating day. Have you ever heard the phrase..."A mother is only as happy as her saddest child!" I have thought about that saying alot this week. I feel like I sometimes find myself in this category. I must say though....it is nights like these that I know "A mother is as happy as her happiest child!!!" Enjoy the footage. (Oh and you may want to mute my music playlist at the bottom of my blog if you can't hear the video that well!)

Julia Bug Turned 4!

Our little Julia turned 4 on January the 5th! I chose that date because that was her great-grandfathers birthday. Yeah I like c-sections for that reason...for the most part you can pick a birthday. She woke up the morning of her birthday and made two changes. I had been talking to her for a few months about giving her sippy cup up on her birthday. That morning she didn't even ask! WOW. Then at the end of her day she went to sleep with no snuggles. Caleb and I have always failed at establishing boundaries for bedtime. Our kids still get snuggles for longer periods than we like....most of the time it is until they fall asleep. They also wake up during the night and climb into bed with us. It works most nights. Well she said that night she was 4 now and didn't need them anymore. So I had to post a picture of own sleeping beauty. We are so proud of her. Birthdays in our home almost always turn into more than a "day" affair. Julia had a fun filled weekend packed with a couple family get-togethers. I have posted a pic of her giving her dad a "marry kiss" as she calls it at the end of a slow-dance they shared. The day of her actual birthday we went to Jump-n-party for some fun with her cousins. I can't believe it my baby is 4!

New Year - New Things!

Have you seen this before? I just used it for the first time. One is located about 1 mile from my home. I love it. Here I was standing outside of a gas station and renting a movie for $1! My neice Alyssa and I were just laughing our heads off! I think people thought we were strange. If you go to Red Box website ahead of time you are eligible to get your first rental free! Anyhow....new year and new things to do. Happy New Year!