Turtles

In second grade we had to make an animal in art class out of pottery. I clearly remember making mine and have kept it all these years. I haven't been sentimental about a lot but somehow this turtle always made the cut.  Brent thinks it's the weirdest thing but it always makes me smile and I love it.

Today Colin brought home a pottery animal and I have I say I couldn't be prouder. He made a turtle - in second grade. 

I can't really explain to Brent why looking at clay turtles makes me tear up but it does. 

Colin's is on the left and mine is on the right. 

Cleaning

When I'm cleaning one room of the house...

 this is happening in another room.

 This time she can't blame her brothers, which she does a lot. Joel was in his room and Colin was at school. 

Birthday card

My birthday card from Colin read:

Happy birth 

You are the best mom ever

Colin

You love me and brighten my day every time

Colin

You can be very mean but you are still the best

Colin

I love you soo much my greatest mom ever.

I love love love love love you so much you kiss and hug and I love it

Colin

(The mean part made me laugh. When asked he said I'm mean when they don't listen and get in trouble. Guess I'm doing something right) 

Mother daughter tea

 Saturday I took Norah to hopefully the first of many tea parties.  Our church had their first mother/daughter tea and based on the amount of people there I hope its an annual thing. In fact they ran out of room before I could invite my own mom to it.  I love love love my boys but theres something special about doing girl stuff with my own sweet girl. 

Holly and Norah's favorite baby.  Baby Emy.  Or baby Emeline - and hearing Norah say Emeline is just priceless. 

 

 I wasn't sure how Norah would do but I think its safe to say she enjoyed herself. 

 And discussed fashion with her best friend.  "oh Emy I love your hair bow"

 "Oh Norah I love your necklace!"  haha I can't wait until they get old enough to have real conversations. 

 Norah has developed the cutest dimple.  I hope that always stays.  So adorable. 

Love my girl. 

Family pic

Hunting

Squirrels beware of getting into the bird feeder... Brent is coming after you with the boys marshmallow archery guns.

But I wonder how long it will take for him to realize that he's giving the squirrels marshmallows to eat and his plan is backfiring. 

Pretty Girl

Music Performance

 Colin had a music performance last night.  The second and fourth graders put it on together.  He's been excited for it and thankfully reminded me a few days before since I had forgotten all about it.  The school sent out an automated voice recording regarding the snow make up days about 10 minutes before the start of the performance.  It was very entertaining seeing everyone's phone ring and then the not so pleasant responses to the fact that we have to have saturday school. So ridiculous especially when we already have 3 extra days built into the school year.  Colin has basketball so we are missing one of those days at least.  Poor teachers and kids.

But the performance was adorable and fun to watch.

And love the fact that they sang "He's got the whole World in His Hands" in a public school.  Good for that music teacher.  I love how serious Colin is when he's up on stage singing. 

Until he sees us between songs and then he's all smiles and then trying not to smile. 

Character day

 Last night at dinner Colin informed us that today was character day at school where you dress like your favorite book character. He had decided to be Gandalf.  And he wanted me to make him a long grey robe and everything.  I didnt get to make a robe but I went out and got him a beard which satisfied him.  He didnt want to do davy crockett again because everyone still remembers that one. 

 I wanted to make Gandalf happen for him because I want him to keep reading books that are harder to read than the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Although that series has turned into a great one for Colin to spend hours reading so I do love them just want him to be challenged in his reading. 

And anything to create a love for reading I'm all in.  It was pouring down rain this morning so I loaded up the kids and drove Colin to school so his beard and hair wouldnt get wet.  The new principal opened the car door for him and of course loved his outfit. I had to yell to Colin to come back and get his backpack and the principal joked that the backpack was not essential today on character day.  I like her.

I did have to drive home and get the Hobbit book for Colin and drop it off by the office.  The kids that dress up get to read a part of the book to the class today. The person manning the front desk was glad to know what kid it was who was dressed as Gandalf.  They had been trying to guess when he walked by :) 

Toilet

The other mornng I woke up to big belly laughs.  Joel had once again made his way into our bed without us knowing.  He was sleeping and just laughing and laughing.  He woke up soon after and told me he had the funniest dream.  And with the big laughs I heard I'm sure it was funny.  He said it was about poop and then he asked me why toilet sounds like TOY-LET but we never let him play in it.  Why does it have the word toy in it if its not a toy.  He was then off and wanting breakfast and a drink but later that afternoon I kept thinking about the toy-let and almost glad Joel never shared the rest of his poop dream with me.  I can only imagine what fun he had had. 

Sleepovers

Colin has spent the past two nights at sleepovers. One for his friend who is moving in two weeks and another for a birthday party. On Friday I told him to pack his bag and to make sure he put pajamas in there since he usually sleeps in his underware at home. And sleeping in underware at a sleepover is unexceptable. So he went and had a blast at the first one and I picked him up in his basketball uniform. It was a busy day between basketball, Brent working a little, a going away party for friends, and the birthday party so we just left his bag in the back of the car. When he wanted to stay the night after the birthday party we just got his bag out and said goodbye. Well then this morning when Brent went to get him I get a text with this picture:

Poor guy had been wearing star wars jammies - neither of them matched and they were Joels.  They have two different matching sets of jammies and the both use the same pj drawer now.  So it is easy to see how he grabbed the wrong ones. Poor guy has been dressed like this twice. But the funny thing is that the father of his friend the second night asked him something like is that a little small on you?  To which Colin replied by pushing up his sleeves, popping his collar and saying "I can work with this."  hahahahahaha

He is incredibly tired today and I think a nap is in order but he's also hilarious.  I told him that all the snow will probably melt today and that was met with cries about the injustice of the melting snow and "why didnt you tell me last week it was all going to melt away?"  Part of me can't wait until he needs dental work done and gets that laughing gas and is a little loopy - be forwarned Colin I will film it.