Wordless Wednesday

Goodbye, Hello

Today marked the end of the boys' school year.  I feel like every year goes faster and faster.  Other moms tried to warn me back when I was a harried mom of three children ages 3 and under that these boys would start growing and that I'd miss those little people pulling at my legs and throwing fits in stores.  I don't know that I miss all that fun stuff, but I sure do agree that life is flying by and my boys need to stop growing up so quickly.  

We celebrated with our 2nd Annual Jumping Off The Couches 'School's Out For Summer' Dance Party when the boys came home.  

Don't tell anyone, but I think I look forward to this tradition more than they do-hee-hee!  

Goodbye Kindergarten, Hello 1st Grade!

Goodbye 2nd Grade, Hello 3rd!

Goodbye 4th Grade, Hello 5th!

Our Last Kindergarten Program

Last week, Nathan had his end of the year kindergarten sharing program.  His school does not have a silly graduation ceremony.  [I mean, really, why do we get these kids' hopes up that they're graduating when they really have at least 12 more years ahead of them???]  Instead, the music teacher, the art teacher, the librarian, and the gym teacher all collaborate and have each kindergarten class share something special.

I love how the music teacher, Mrs. Farber, pulls literacy into the music room by incorporating a story with music.  She had every single student in Nathan's class on stage participating in the music that accompanied the story.  Very cool!

Then we had the opportunity to see Nathan's artwork displayed in the hallways and went back to his class for refreshments.  I absolutely LOVE his kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Hamilton, and her assistant, Mrs. Estes.  This is our second round of having them for kindergarten and also our last!  They put together a personalized memory book for each and every student that included pictures they drew of themselves at the beginning of the year and now, as well as photographs of the many special events throughout the year.  What a wonderful keepsake.

I cannot believe my baby is moving onto first grade within the next week!  Time sure does fly!

when i grow up...

Nathan: When I grow up, I want to be a police guy.

Us: Why?

Nathan: Because I will have a gun and can shoot deer.

Us: Nathan, you don't have to be a policeman to be a hunter.

Nathan: But I can handcuff the deer, too.

Um...okay...good point.

quote of the week

N: I love rock and roll, put another dime in the juicebox, baby....

Rock on, Joan Jett. 
Rock on.

meet the culprit...

This little man puts the capital G in Germs.

He may look cute and harmless,

but he has managed

to knock our entire family

down for the count

not once,

not twice,

but THREE times

in as many months this season

with strep.

Yes, he has been found out.

He will be our silent carrier no more.

finish your dinner, nathan...

...or put your shirt over your head,

stand up in your seat,

and slap your belly while doing a dance:

oh, to be 4 again...

Every day when I pick the boys up from the babysitter's house,
I ask each of them how their days were.

Nathan's version of a good day?

I didn't get in time out and I didn't pee my pants. I had a good day!

quote of the week

While waiting for the first (and unfortunately, the last) rocket launch in the backyard,
Nathan said, "I'm so excited, I'm going to pee my pants."

Really?!?

He's 4.

And no, I've never used this phrase before in my life.  Really.

quote of the week

About two months ago, when Mark was cleaning out our unfinished basement, he brought up a present for the boys....

a 4 foot long snake skin.

The boys, of course, thought this was pretty cool.

I, however, did not.

I decided that a 4 foot snake skin was reason enough to avoid the basement altogether. That meant sending Mark down to bring up decorations and sending Evan and/or Ryan down to get things out of the freezer. I know, I'm a great mom, aren't I?

Don't get bitten by any snakes while you're getting the frozen peas out for dinner, okay?

Fast forward to tonight. We decided to make s'mores by roasting marshmallows by the woodstove as an after dinner treat. I figured it's been a while since Mark discovered our snake skin and we haven't seen any more evidence that he's living in our basement, so I joined the boys and had some yummy s'mores. Who could turn down s'mores made with Carmello bars?

While we were down there, Mark turned off the lights to better set the mood and Ryan begged him to turn them back on.

R: Dad, I do NOT want to get bitten by that snake! He's going to get me!

Nathan turns to him with an 'are-you-kidding-me-look' and says:

Ryan, snakes can't open doors!

DUH!

I think my fears are subsiding, but I'm still going to be on high alert for any signs of snakes in the basement :)

happy birthday to nathan

Four years ago today, Nathan Mark was brought into this world an astonishing 6 1/2 weeks early [I was induced due to Rh complications]. I'll never forget the MFM doctor coming in to see me before delivery to tell me what I could expect with such an early preemie.

Well, Mr. Nathan is quite the scrappy fellow and blew her predictions right out of the water. He weighed in at a whopping 6 lbs. 2 oz.! He was the BIG kid on the NICU block for the ten days he had to spend there.

Who knew that he would steal our hearts with his big brown eyes and cheeseball smile?

Nathan, we love you and are so thankful that God placed you in our lives.
We don't know what we'd do without your sunshine :)

wordless wednesday

my little monster...

goggle boy strikes again....

Goggle Boy, in the hopes of going incognito, dons his basketball pajamas.

No one will ever discover me now. I blend right in with those 6-foot + tall basketball players.

However, his plan is foiled when he is noticed in the crowd by some discerning Phillies fans [a.k.a. Evan & Ryan]

Nice try, Goggle Boy.

Better luck next time!

adventures of goggle boy

Goggle Boy [a.k.a. Nathan] always begins his day
with a healthy breakfast of cereal and juice.
It is the most important meal of the day.

In only a matter of minutes,
Goggle Boy is dressed
and ready for a day of saving the world.

You know, leaping over buildings in a single bound....

Saving damsels in distress...

Always there when you call...

Ready and raring for a trip to the pool...

Strapped in [safety first, people] and smiling.

Ready to conquer the swimmies.

Never one to pass up an opportunity to be silly,

or go for an easy laugh,

Goggle Boy can morph into

Goofy Goggle Boy

in a flash.


Hills?

What hills?

Goggle Boy flies over hills without fear,

with the greatest of ease.

"Look, Mom, no hands!"

But alas, all these superhero duties

wear Goggle Boy out.

Or was it Goggle Boy's nemisis "Cat Nap???"

Tune in next week for the continuing saga of Goggle Boy! :)

wordless wednesday

Nathan's very first soccer game...glued to Mommy's leg.

quote of the week

From Nathan to me:

Oh, Babe. Mommy, you are my girlfriend.

what?

After we put the boys to bed the other night, I hear Nathan calling me from his bed...

N: Mom?

Me (a little irritated that he's still awake): What, Nathan?

N: I love you.

Me (feeling bad now that I was irritated): I love you, too. Good night.

N: Mom?

Me (thinking what could he possibly need now?): What?

N: I love you.

Me (thinking what a lovey dovey I have for a son): I love you, too. Now go to sleep. Good night.

N: Mom?

Me (irritation bubbling back to the surface now): What?

N: Chicken butt! Hee-hee-hee!

Me (and Mark) trying to stifle our own giggles.

What a stinker.

Where did fall go?

Oh, yeah....

It was filled with lots of family time and celebration....

My mom's 60th surprise birthday party....

It was a blast! We rented a tent and lucked out with the only comfortable, non-rainy Saturday night in October. I loved all the white lights and the fabric garland my sister made (you can see it in the tent). In the end, my mom was not surprised that we threw her a party, but I'm pretty sure she was surprised with how nice everything was and how many people came to celebrate! We had a great time dancing and our friends and family generously gave my parents moolah to contribute to their European trip to Madrid, Paris, and London.

Then, at the beginning of November....

my baby turned 3!!!

I cannot believe my youngest is three already!

And all Nathan wanted was a Superman party....
So, I sewed all the boys, my nieces, and nephews Superman capes and made a Superman cake. Apparently, though, the cake wasn't good enough for Nathan....he wanted a cake of Superman flying. You know, the quintessential Superman pose with the one right arm poised above the head. Good luck with that, Nathan....and that night, he had already picked out his next cake....hot wheels. We'll see :)

Finally, we had our annual Thanksgiving pie baking tradition held at my house this year. My grandmom, Betty, began this tradition when I was a little girl and my mom, my sisters, and I have continued it ever since. We usually make pumpkin, apple, lemon meringue, cherry, and coconut custard as our standards. Then we throw in a peach or blueberry or mincemeat pie for fun. This year and last were the first time the kids were really into it. I bought the kids their very own pint-sized silicone rolling pins [a bonus find at T.J.Maxx!] and they all wore their aprons. It was a lot of fun....

And then we celebrated Thanksgiving. It was just my parents, my sisters and brother and their spouses and families and us. It was a wonderful time together at my parents' house.

Now, onto Christmas....

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday