"All About Me"

It's been a while since I have embarrassed myself via blog, so here it goes.

I have been a Primary (Children's church) teacher many a time, I have also worked daycare many a year, worked in residential treatment, worked with youth groups, etc-I know kids.  The "best" part of working with small children is their complete honesty.  I have learned many fun facts about parents that I never needed to know.  Fun facts that their parents would die if they knew I knew.  You catch my drift?  So when my oldest became old enough to be in Primary and go to Preschool-I was nervous.  I was nervous about the obvious, but then a little more nervous about the unobvious. I wondered what "fun facts" that others would learn when totally taken out of context and coming out of the mouth of my four year old. You want an example? Sure! I was subbing for the music leader in Primary for a few weeks because she had a baby-I stood in the back while they did their opening prayer, activities etc.  During sharing time, the person up there asked the kids if they knew what a "trap" was.  Abram eagerly raised his hand and gave her details of how to make a "bear trap".  The instructions and details seemed to go on for a while.  Some of the teachers looked at me, to which I replied, "What? Didn't you know, us Raisors know how to trap us some bears?"

Then, Abram wrote a book.

Unfortunately, I do not have photoshop-so I can't write on the picture to point out specifics-so pay close attention...

Me: "Tell me about this page, and why is your name backwards?"
Abram: "That's me, and I turned into a squid, right by my favorite shape-a circle! And I just wanted to write it backwards."


















Me: "Tell me about this page."

Abram: "This is my family tree, there's me, Reese, you, Daddy, and Obi."

Me: "Why is Obi on the ground?"

Abram: "My teacher said dogs aren't aloud in the tree."

Abram: "Look! Those are my hands! They are my favorite color! Aqua-marine!"

What? Your 4 year old doesn't pay attention to the crayon names in the 64 box?



Me: "Did you cut that out yourself?"

Abram: "Yep!"

Me: "Awesome"

Just as a side note, I covered our address-well, because I don't know who all visits my blog.  This is a nice picture, because the funny thing is-our condo is khaki brown, with a blue door, and one window upstairs. Brilliant, if I do say so myself.

No, I wasn't bitter at all about why he thinks he is special....

This is my favorite page. I laughed and laughed over this.  If you didn't know us, and you saw this page where my son said "For fun my family likes to wrestle." And one of our family rules is "no biting", would you or would you not picture a family in the ring, standing on top of the ropes coming down with some WWF pose with vampire teeth shown?? Like, there is no biting in the ring? Just saying. 

 His teachers do not know us.

Honestly, what it looks like from his answers-he had his Daddy on his mind.  Kris wrestles with the boys, and sometimes Reese bites.  Although the theme we are going for is "No hitting" at the moment. "No biting" is always a positive.

I am thinking about ordering a wrestling shirt and wearing it when I volunteer for the class party.

Fall Soccer 2011

Just another change. We signed Abram up for soccer this year.  We have had a practice and their first practice/game was this past Saturday.  It's an awesome program.  Since this is a bunch of 4 and 5 year olds the set up is like so-the first half hour you do drills/games with your kid.  The second half the kids are divided up into teams of three players and they have games that the parents coach/ref.  Last Saturday went really well.  All of the stereotypical parents/kids are there.  My Mom came and helped out with Reese (SO grateful for that Mom) and at first Abram wanted to play with my Mom's phone more that do the drills-however, once we got started he was on fire!  And he really liked it.  Abram really likes his shin guards because he thinks they are like superhero gear-because they protect his legs.  I didn't get a lot of shots, because well...it's sorta hard to coach, ref, and take pictures at the same time.  He scored twice though-it was really cute. I ran to him for a high five, and he gave me a hug instead.  Thankfully my Mom got some action shots on her phone. So between the two of us we got some good pics.

At the end of each game the parents make a tunnel for the kids to run through.  For some reason Abram decided to look back through after going through.  Luckily he wasn't run over!  I am so proud of him.  He did excellent! As did this little guy..

who got to visit the concession stand a few times and hang with Nana during the game.

Labor Day 2011

My cousins and their families came down for Labor Day. I have said it before, but it cracks me up about how many pictures we use to have during their visits.....and now, between all of us, and all of our kids-we don't get as much as we'd like.  But we did get to go to the lake-my boys first time. I was pretty nervous, and Kris and Matt took the older kids to meet Richie and JJ at the lake, while the girls brought the little kiddos later on.  Unfortunately, they didn't have cameras-but Natalie told me that when they got there, Kris went running off the dock into the who-knows-how-deep-water, and Abram (with life jacket on) ran in right after him!  Before we got there they were jumping, jet skiing, and tubing. My kiddos LOVED it, and Abram couldn't get enough of the jet ski!  I almost had 5 heart attacks while we were there, because of my fearless husband and kids.  But we had a great time!

PRESCHOOL, PRESCHOOL!!!

Big changes for our family this year.  Good changes, but changes that makes me realize more and more my kids are getting bigger-and I can't make it stop.  Abram is going to preschool this year.  He LOVES it!  I am not going to lie, it was really hard to drop him off.  I guess it's because I stay home with my boys, and the thought of letting them into the big, wide world sorta thing.  It wore off after the first day-because he loves it so much.  He told me he misses me when he's there, but it's awesome. in fact, when we went to the "Meet the Teacher" day-he was playing and asked me, "Do you get to leave now?"

Nana bought him an apprpriate backpack. He goes two days a week, and then on Tuesdays, a few of us Moms from church are doing a co-op preschool where we switch each week, and do a lesson, etc. I don't think Abram has realized that doesn't mean "playdate" yet. But he adores being with his buddies from church too.

Reese, is not a fan of preschool-because: 1. He doesn't get to go. and 2. I think he gets bored without Abram around.  I mean, don't get me wrong-I am super fun and all....but not as fun as his brother I guess.  I forget that Reese doesn't know what it means to be an only child.....I think it freaks him out a little.

Tender Moments

......I have been slacking again.  But seriously, we have had a lot going on-mostly just trying to enjoy the last days of Summer before all of the changes start.  What changes you ask? Kris starting school (tomorrow) in addition to working full time, Abram starting preschool (tomorrow), being part of a co-op preschool in addition to other preschool (8, 3 &4 year olds in my tiny condo-we'll see how that turns out), Abram starting soccer, responsibilities at church, etc etc.  I do need to catch up, but I need to put moments of cuteness so that I don't forget.

Abram had soccer practice this past Saturday (could cry my eyes out that he is big enough to play, that he looks SO cute, and that he loves it). Anyways, we are on our way to soccer and the conversation goes:
Abram: "Mom...it's kind of different without Reese in the car...."
Me: "It is different, I miss Reese, but we'll see him when we get home."
Abram: "Mom, I miss him because I love him." (said as if he realized it for the first time)
Me: "I know you do honey, we'll see him when we get back and you can tell him all about it."

Soccer practice ends, we get back home-met by a very enthusiastic Reese who hugs me then moves to Abram.  Reese's chubby arms are wrapped around Abram..
Reese: "AAABRRRIIIN!!!"
Abram: "Hey Reese! I missed you, I was playing soccer!"
Reese: "SOOOCCCER????"
Abram: "Yes, soccer, Reese-you are squishing me, I can't breathe."
Reese let's go, follows him 5 steps grabs onto him for dear life again, "SOOOCCER!!"

Sweet boys.

Tonight Kris went to go and visit a couple of families from church.  Abram and Reese were playing together and dragging around their lego wagon, having a great time.  They were laughing and talking. I came out of the kitchen and looked at them. Abram said, "Mom, look-we're taking our kids...I mean pets, on a walk!" Giraffe and Elephant were in the wagon-the best part is when we go on family walks, the kids are in the wagon.

In a Few Years....

This will look a little different....

These pictures make me laugh. It's one of their favorite past times.  It usually involves a much bigger boy. In fact, the other day I had a church activity to go to after dinner.  We were cleaning up dinner and Abram was in a big rush saying, "It's almost time! It's alllllllmost time!" and I asked, "Almost time for what?" and he looked at me eyes wide and shining, "WRESTLING TIME! Right, Daddy?" Kris apparently unaware of what "time" it was gave a big grin and got on the floor. Within seconds 2 boys were running, wildly screaming and diving on him.  Gotta love those boys.





My Baby (Who's 4), and a Story

Soooo, I sent the check for preschool last week and signed Abram up for Fall soccer on Friday.  This is going to be a big year for him. I'm not going to lie, when I think about it I start to cry like a big baby get a wee bit emotional. I tried to convince him that when his birthday rolls around in October he should just be 4 again.  He told me he was done being 4, even when I tried to convince him otherwise.

And on another random note-Kris and I both spoke in Church today.  We tag teamed sitting with the kiddos. I spoke first and the kids did great. When I sat down they decided they needed to go to the bathroom. Upon coming back into the chapel and walking to our seat, Abram continues to walk up toward the stand/pulpit where Kris is speaking.
I whisper loudly: "Abram, our seat is here."
Thinking he just passed it by accident-to which he replies (with the "hold on a sec" finger in the air) loudly not whispering, "Just a second! I have to check on Daddy!! (who is mid-talk, speaking)"
Me: "Daddy is fine, come sit down."
Abram (waving both arms) "Hi Daddy!! Daddy!! I'm over here!!"
Kris nods as if a 4 year old could pick up on that aknowledgement.
Abram (still waving): "No, Daddy! Right here! Hi Daddy!"
Reese not whispering either: "I go potty! Pee in da potty! Mommy, PEE in da potty!!" (no, he is not potty trained-but he does like to play on the stool in the bathroom)

And just as a side note did I forget to mention that at that exact moment it seemed as if everything got very, very quiet. I don't know if it was just me thinking that, or if it really happened. But oh how it made my kids voices seemingly amplified...

Me (sweating): "C'mon guys, let's go back to the potty." (Hanging my head and walking out of the chapel, but totally grinning because seriously-my kid just waved at his Dad and tried to have a conversation while he was mid-talk. If it was someone else I would have been cracking up.) Oh, the joys of motherhood.