5 Minute Friday - On Forgetting

1. Write for 5 minutes flat without editing your voice.

2. Link back up at www.thegypsymama.com and invite others to join in.

3. Post a comment for the five minuter who linked up before you.

I have looked forward to this ALL week!

READY AND GO:

I never ever want to forget the birth of babies. Both were so different yet they had similarities. Cade's was such a traumatic birth and Colin's wasn't yet it was still scary.
I never want to forget the first time I was able to hold Cade in my arms. He was three months old and still so tiny but finally I got to hold him - all of him - not just his hand.

Forgetting is sometimes so easy to do and sometimes we want to forget certain things in our life. Yet those certain things have made us who we are today.

I never want to forget the sweet words that Colin says all day long. I always want to remember him saying WADAH and R You? I never want to forget Cade saying Chickalay and Yogrit. It makes my heart smile.

I never want to forget how I felt when I married my husband. How I thought the day might have been ruined by the weather, but it was perfect.

I never want to forget the beauty of our every day life, even when things don't always seem so beautiful at the time. Remembering is one of the best things in life, especially the wonderful, sweet, happy times.

STOP, STOP, STOP:

This five minute Friday was one of my favorites. I hope you all enjoy and join! Have a wonderful Friday, Friends!

Another FANTASTIC Day!

We have had another FANTASTIC day of Summer Break! Today, we got up and decided to go to lunch at Chick-a-lay (this is what Cade calls it). The boys had a wonderful time, running and playing in the play area until I spotted blood and had a complete and total freak out. They had to close down the play area after that and clean it twice!

I know most of us have little children. Do you have any idea how happy balloons make them? I mean seriously, it is the small things. Both of my boys had a ball with these balloons this afternoon.
After, playing with their balloons and coming home. Colin was EXHAUSTED and went right down for a two hour nap. It was the perfect time for Cade and I to have some quality time. So we read one of our favorite books together.
If you haven't read the Llama Llama books, you seriously should. Both of my boys LOVE them! We have all of them so far and read them at least twice a day! So much fun and so many laughs. They also do a great job introducing new vocabulary to our little guys!

Then we watched two of our favorite Leap Frog videos together.
Cade loves Adventure to the Moon and so do I. It counts by 2's, 5's, and 10's. Math Circus starts to introduce addition and subtraction which we have been working on as well. I guess my point is if you don't have them they are really cute and educational. Colin loves the Letter Factory so we always get to watch that one too!

AND finally, while Colin napped, Cade played his DSi with his Sock Monkey and his "Sucking" Pillow!
Now we are just waiting for Daddy to get home so we can jump in the pool while he grills out dinner for us!

Wordless Wednesday (Before the Pool)

The boys had a great time today! I always love Colin's hair after spraying him with sunscreen!

Summer Break

Summer Break officially started for us on Monday! However, I had a doctors appointment so I decided that Tuesday would be our official start date. Tuesdays are speech days so we just stayed around the house and played in the pool. BUT when it was time to get ready for speech, I was able to dress the boys in anything I wanted! I was so excited! I haven't been able to dress Colin in too many cute things because Baby School just destroys everything I send them - and when I say destroy I mean destroy to the point that I can't get the stains out no matter how hard I try!

So, yesterday I dressed both boys in Boden! It was so much fun and they looked so cute.
Today we are headed out to the pool for the afternoon. I know they will both have so much fun and I can't wait for them to run, play, and take an awesome nap this afternoon!

Graduation

This weekend we traveled to Atlanta to see my cousin, Kyer, graduate from highschool. I remember when Kyer was born and that makes me feel really old! It was supposed to be a big surprise that my aunt and uncle had a baby and it WAS! I was 12 and I was visiting my dad for the summer in Clarksville, TN. My mom and grandparents came to visit my uncle in Nashville so they came and picked me up so I could see them as well. As I was walking to the apartment building I looked in my uncle's car and asked why in the world did he have a carseat in there. My mother told me it was because my aunt was keeping her nephew (her sister's son). I walked up to the door and noticed a HUGE blue bow on the door. I told my mother right then and there that we were at the wrong door because these people obviously just had a baby. She said No it was the right door and there was no baby there. I opened the door to find A BABY! My new cousin that I had waited forever for and I was, get this, SPEECHLESS! There have only been a few times this has happened to me and that happens to be one of them! I loved him from the moment I saw him. I spent the rest of the summer getting to know him.

Now, he is almost 18 years old and he graduated this weekend! Amazing how fast time flies by. I am sure my aunt and uncle feel the same way!

My grandmother requested a picture of all four grandchildren together, so here we are - oldest to youngest!
TJ, Lane, Kyer, and Ally
And just because I couldn't leave this picture out! My cute, cute boys with Kyer!

It's time for - FIVE MINUTE FRIDAY!

1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.
2. Link back to www.thegypsymama.com and invite others to join in.
3. Go buck wild with encouragement for the five minuter who linked up before you.

WHEN SEASONS CHANGE...

READY AND GO:

When seasons change I seem to notice that my babies are growing up faster than I want to admit. That even though I think the months of January and February drag and drag they really don't. They fly by. I notice that with each change of the season I am starting to become more and more like my mother. That my life is changing all for the better. That my boys are learning to be better people. When seasons change, I also wonder how did I become almost 30? How did it happen so quickly? How did I become the step mother of a 15 year old? When seasons change, I realize that is all for the best although it might not seem like it at the time. But the best part of seasons changing, at least today, is that summer breaks and I get to spend TWO whole months with my sweet boys. What could be better than that?

STOP!!!

Last Day of Pre-K

I know it is Wordless Wednesday but today was my baby's last day of Pre-K. I am super happy for him but I am also sad because it means he is growing up so fast. Faster than I would like to admit. It seems like this year flew by and if this year flew by then the rest of the years are going to fly by as well. Well that makes me a little sad - ok a whole lot sad.

Today, at his Pre-K program his class some songs and they all received a little certificate from the teacher. He was so proud of himself! I took a few pictures, although it was kind of hard to get them. You know, how much five year olds love the camera when they are with their friends!
Cade also had to say goodbye to two of his friends this year. Logan who is moving to New York and Grace who is moving to Louisiana. He knew Logan was moving but I hadn't yet told him that Grace was moving far away too. So when his teacher called Grace up and said "I sure am going to miss my Grace!" Cade shouts out in front of everyone, "WHY?" So of course she told him that Grace was moving. I was so hoping the three amigos would go to Kindergarten together.

Cade getting his award from his teacher.
The Three Amigos - Grace, Cade, and Addison
Cade and Addison have been together since Baby School. Grace joined them a year and half later when Cade was getting ready to leave for Pre-K Sped. They all reunited in Pre-K this year. I am so glad they did!

Amazing Sleeper!

Colin is such an amazing sleeper. At first I wasn't so sure, but as he got older I figured out he was just AMAZING with sleeping! Much better than Cade was for sure. We put Colin on a schedule when he was an infant. Ok, maybe I should restate that - Baby School put Colin on schedule. He takes a nap everyday at the same time, he eats at the same time every single day, and he goes to bed at the same time every single night!

Last night he was ready for bed, but wanted his "ook". So we let him take it to bed with him. I went back to check on him about ten minutes later and this what I found...
This just melted my heart! I love my sweet boy so very much!

22 Months

2 Months from now I will be saying: "Happy 2nd Birthday!" I can't even begin to believe that!

Oh Colin! You are growing up so fast! So fast that I am almost afraid to blink because I might miss something that you have done!
Weight: 30 lbs
Clothes: 18/24 Months Shorts and 2T shirts
Shoes: Size 6.5
Diapers: Size 5
Words: A WHOLE LOT - You are even talking in sentences!
Favorite Foods: Macaroni and Cheese, Pizza, Gummies (Fruit Snacks), and Crackers
Favorite Things: Play at Beach, Take a Bath, Play in Wadah (Pool), and Play with Mommy & Daddy
Favorite Animals: Dogs & Monkeys

Today when we went to the zoo you could have stayed and looked at the monkeys forever! You LOVE them and every single morning when your daddy gets you dressed for Baby School, you request your doggie shirts or your monkey shirts. I have all intentions of getting you an elephant shirt too! I think you will love that one too. You just love animals!
Colin you make our days so happy! Even if you are going through some tough times aka the Terrible Two's came early to our house! You smile and laugh more than you throw those silly tantrums! You love life and you love your family. You run to us in mornings and the afternoons. We love you so much, Colin!

Terrific Kid

My baby, oops, I mean my big boy was nominated as a Terrific Kid for the last nine weeks of Pre-K. We had our ceremony at school to honor them on Friday. I was so proud of him! My mother and Larry were both able to attend and Cade was so excited about that. I guess that is what happens when you work in the same building that your son goes to school at - he is just way more excited to see someone he doesn't see every single day!

Cade and Brynn going up with Ms. Sumner to receive their award!
Cade and Brynn after getting their awards!
Grammy and Cade
Mommy, Daddy, and Cade

The weekend is HERE!

Imagine me jumping around my kitchen singing this over and over again!
Well, actually I didn't do that - I was excited but I didn't actually jump and sing because

1. I am EXHAUSTED from two sick boys.
2. I am EXHAUSTED from work.
3. I am EXHAUSTED because the weekend looks way busier than the week actually did.

I thought the weekends were supposed to be relaxing. Oh yea, I forgot I am teacher and I don't get to relax on the weekends until May 20th at 4:00pm! Not only do I get to relax on the weekends I also get to relax during the week with my two sweet boys! We will most definitely be spending most of our sweet days of summer relaxing at the pool, at the beach, and yes even in the comforts of our home!

Five Minute Friday: Motherhood Should Come With...

For five minutes flat. The rules are easy.

1. Write your heart out for five minutes and show us what you’ve got.
2. Tell your readers you’re linking up here and invite them to play along.
3. And most importantly, go visit, read, and encourage the fellow five-minuter who linked up right before you.

I have time this week to do five minute Friday from thegypsymama. I posted the rules above!

This weeks topic:

Motherhood Should Come With…

READY, SET, GOOOOOOO:

Motherhood should come with a big flat manual that tells you exactly what to do! It should explain to you that your heart will be ripped out of her chest multiple times in one single day. It should explain to you that even though said heart is being ripped out of your chest it is worth every single minute of the pain and heartbreak because the rewards and benefits far out weigh that pain and heartbreak!

That manual should really explain that flexibility is KEY! And even though you don't think you have it, you have patience that you never knew existed!

After my week, I also think motherhood should come with a shield - a BIG ONE that guards you from all the throw up! Motherhood should come with a big huge sign that says this will be the greatest thing you have ever done in your whole entire life!

STOP!!!

NOW - it is YOUR turn!

Go over to www.thegypsymama.com and link up your Five Minute Friday!

She's Going The Distance

It's Monday!

There are only 13 days of school left and Cade and I are both home today. My sweet boy is sick with some kind of nasty stomach bug. He has been vomiting and having diarrhea since yesterday afternoon. I thought for sure it would be gone by now but it is still lingering around and making him feel awful.

Since this is going on and I have a few minutes. I thought I would be a smart cookie and post our Easter pictures that I never got around to posting. Yes, I am way behind and I am starting to wonder how most people stay ahead of the game especially if they are working outside the home. I feel like I am doing good most days just keeping my head above water.

So here are our Easter Pictures!

The Easter Bunny stopped by and left these!
A BALL! YAY!
He LOVED his basket this year!
Back from the beach and ready for Easter Dinner at Grammy's House.
Mommy and the Boys
Daddy and the Boys. (It is the best I could get)
Family Shot minus Marissa (she was with her mom this year for Easter)
Grammy and the boys.
Can't believe how much my baby has grown in a year!