last day of school

(so it's way late)

The last day of school came really quickly this year. I guess as we get a little bit busier each year the time passes faster. This year Chris and I saw so much grow in each of the boys. We feel really blessed to have each of the boys at schools that fit them each so well.

2 Corinthians 9:8-11

 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,

    giving to the needy in reckless abandon.

His right-living, right-giving ways

    never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

operation BIG boy

Sam will be 4 in just a few months and I've realized there's a BIG list of things I still do for him.

He needs to:

dress himself...can but won't

wipe his behind...can but won't

thumb sucking...ok speech therapist and dentist

puppy pants(a pillow pet)...the source of many a tantrum

buckle his seatbelt...can but won't

put on his shoes...does but stresses about how they feel

This parenting thing is tough! I know no one said it was easy but the 3's with Sam have be exhausting...don't get me wrong there are lots of joyful months too. Tanner was so hard at 2 but a breeze by 3 so I just thought I had the perfect child since Sam was an easy 2...NOPE!

So over the next few weeks OPERATION BIG BOY will be in mode. Next time you see same he will be dressing, wiping and buckling himself!!

{thankful for}

43. a Saturday with no plans

44. Sunday lunch at my parents

45. the boys teachers

46. a run on my lunch break

47. grace

48. worship time after dinner

49. a date night at Local...yummo

50. modern medicine

"spookiness" school

I haven't posted any of our "school" work in awhile bc my boys have major camera attitude. 

Sam said he wanted to do "SPOOKINESS SCHOOL" so "spookiness school" we did!

some SAM time

Mornings with this guy are lots of fun. I never know what to expect but I can be sure he'll make me laugh and that my house will be a mess. The other morning I realized he turned 3 and a half...I can't believe it when did that happen. So for now I am cherishing our sweet mornings. 

Sometimes our days get really busy and its hard to get the quality time with everyone but the time is passing quickly and I'm determined to make the most of it.

He has too many super-heros to carry around so he needs some wheels to push them around.

Sam has Pre-K 2 days a week. It starts an hour after Tanner's school but is right down the street. Most mornings we go to the park and swing...some days we run to Target or Starbucks.

Flexible...it's the name of the game! Some days Sam has to run to the office with me for  a minute...luckily it's loads of fun.

This boys loves some books...especially super-hero books.

Thankful for a sweet neighbor...who has like 10 nieces and nephews. The boys think her yard is an extension of ours.

Oh Yolo how we love you.

The neighbors again.

Loving super-heros still.

Painting a rocket ship he picked out at Hancocks.

This guy wakes up at 5:00am "hun-ree" so I have give choices to fix for himself. He can now get up and get his own cereal!

Smoothie eating machine

a beach date

A date with my 2 sweet boys in Seaside.

Eating dinner at Pickles...no surprise there!

Slushies at Frost Bites...pink lemonade, orange and watermelon!

Ahh yes...what better way to end the night than a tantrum? Where are his shoes you ask? He threw them at a lovely family passing by...luckily the dad said we have 3 boys and then guessed that Sam was 3.  They brought a babysitter...clearly they are smarter than me and their budget is bigger! Another family also passed and we also talked about the 3's...I did not know all of this because by 3 Tanner was great...18months-30months...not so much. Anyhoo when Sam finally decided to get up and walk...we passed the 2nd family getting in their car and their son was having a tantrum in the carseat. The mom was like see??? Then we talked about how many times we had each left Target empty handed due to major melt downs.

Overall...date night was SUPER!

last days of school

We have so blessed to send the boys to such amazing schools and more importantly to have truly amazing teachers! 

We love EUMK and SKF!

EUMK SENIOR K CLASS OF 2012

Taner has been at EUMK since he was 2.  He starting by going just 1 day a week over 4 years ago. I can not believe sweet Tanner's time as EUMK has ended. The school is so hands on, creative and small. One of the things that attracted me to it over 4 years ago was that it was a mix between Montessori and traditional. I also loved the options for days because so many of the other preschools you had to go 3-4 days.  We were able to ease into school and even do K part-time.
Tanner will be going to Westminster Academy next fall. 1st grade is 1/2 days so I feel so blessed to have one more year a theme with him!

1st Day of EUMK...the 2's

Today was Sam's last day ever at Special Kids and Families. I am so very sad not only is he going to be in Pre-K next year but he will no longer be next door to me on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at work. I have been very spoiled the last 2 years being able to read to him, eat lunch with him and give kisses anytime!

Last day at Special Kids Play, Do, Learn preschool.

That's his..."I graduated and I'm going to EUMK"...thumbs up! He is so exciting to be going to Tanner's school.

1st day of Special Kids Play, Do, Learn...16months

Super Man "Sam" Party

Super Sam turns 3!

We celebrated Sam's birthday Saturday morning with a SUPERHERO party. Turning 3 is such a fun age because they have so many ideas about their party! Sam wanted...cake, superhero capes, superman, a trampoline and balls. EASY! We had the party at the Special Kids and Families therapy center...best place to have a party. Chris and I with the help of Katie and Tanner (and the Phillips who kept Sam) went last night to set up the party...it was nice to wake up and have everything ready. Thanks to Pinterest it was easy to find a few Super Hero ideas.  

I think the party was a hit...at least it was for Sam and that's most important right?

Notice the family shirts?

Another Sam request...he wanted us all to dress up like Super Heros!!

BTW...how handsome is my husband! Such a lucky girl:)



lately

Lately...an ipad and iphone dump

Sam got a haircut after school today.  Both boys have 1/2 days on Thursdays so we met my dad to trim the boys up.  He has taken the boy to get haircuts for every single haircut they've had...male bonding time...sometimes mom even comes...I wonder if other kids have grandparents, parents and aunts at their haircuts! Oh he always picks up the tab because he's generous like that...thanks dad!!

We go to FUNCUTS...which I highly recommend for kiddos...indoor slide, train table, video games, movies...it ROCKS!  Sam is watching Scooby Doo Meets Batman below...not a fuss. Mr. Ray is the best with boys...he has hair eating dinosaurs, shark juice and balloons!

Lunch...yes my only choice was to eat the goldfish from Sam's school Easter eggs.

Tanner and Chris love to bike ride on the trails.  Chris is teaching Tanner that it is important to take care of his new nice bike...so he put him and Sam to work washing the muddy bikes. I was really impressed they were squeaky clean.

 In other news...MY CAR WAS FOUND...see it above it the rain boot and skateboard photo!!! Hallelujah...this was my prayer so we are very grateful.  We are taking it to the body shop Monday...the thief was not the best driver...he hit a thing or two so off to Joe Stewart it will go! I am so thankful to have it home, clean out and soon dent free.

sweet Sam is 3

Sweet Sam turns three!

you call me "my mommy"

you are a skateboarding machine

you think potty words are so funny

you are a mamas boy...big time

you love Super Heros

you are funny, funny, funny

you love to be read to: Berenstein Bears, Cat in the Hat, Superman, BumbleBee boy

you love broccoli, donuts, bananas, push-ups and cheetos

you love to sing

you love to wrestle Big D

you want mommy to sing the letter sound song all day

you like Daddy's Batman stories

you prefer to be naked

you will only wear Super Hero undies

you call Tanner...Tanner Buddy

you love and adore your brother

you recognize your ABC's

you know your birthday and address...Tanner taught you

you love Ms. Linda at PDL

you like to play Candyland, Memory, Zingo and Connect 4

you are always "hunry"

you love to play soccer, baseball and football

You are such a precious gift. Part of me is so sad you are three but I am enjoying bring your mom too much to be sad. You bring so much joy and laughter to our family. Being your "my mommy" is the greatest job!

date night with Sam

Me: Sam where do you want to go for dinner with Mommy and Daddy?

Sam: I want Cheetos from the gas station.

Um...who's been feeding my child gas station Cheetos???

Friday night, Tanner had his 1st "lock-in" at his Taekwondo school.  We dropped him off at 5 and did not have to pick up until 9. Chris and I thought about getting a sitter for Sam but quickly decided that Sam needed a little "date night" with us.  His next choice for dinner was spaghetti which sounded much better to me than Cheetos.  We headed to Dino's the best Italian restaurant in Memphis. I always get the eggplant...it's delicious! Next up was putt-putt UNTIL we realized we had misplaced Sam's "B".

Oh my...we looked all over...it was no where to be found. So fast forward to tonight...3 hours to get him to sleep.  It was really sad...I think he probably feels how I feel when Chris is out of town. I laid in bed with him for awhile telling superheros stories, singing the letter sounds song and acting as a human blanket.

Back to date night...my baby is too big! It was so much fun to listen to him...his funny stories, creative ideas and bossy britches:)

the Cheetos smile

my precious little date

spaghetti eating machine

After dinner we headed to the park, feed a few ducks, did some rock throwing and then headed to Yolo because all of that work worked up an appetite in our date.

fireman SAM

One of the perks of my job is always being right down the hall for all of the fun activities with Sam's class.  Sam loves firetrucks BUT seeing as he has been in an ambulance twice in the last few months he was terrified the "medics" were going to take him.