Wisdom

I was able to go to Ella's class to help out for the first time today. I can't even express the many things that you can learn from this experience!



So I went today so curious about all of the kids in her class. Well do you know what I walked away with? My little red head did not get her art skills from her daddy. Meaning she got them from me, which is bad news for her. I came home and immediately told her father that he was to start tutoring our daughter in the arts.



And that wasn't even the worst of it. Do you know what my daughter did while the teacher was talking? She barked. That is right people, barked! Like a puppy. Her perfectly sweet teacher had to stop talking and use her full name to get her to stop barking.



I guess I should stop and tell you that Ella is usually a really great student. She is very compliant and has already vowed that she would never need to move her clip in kindergarten because she was so sure that she would never ever misbehave. She listens pretty intently and follows directions very thoroughly. Her last teacher thanked me daily for sharing her.



But despite all of this she barked. Luckily she is not my firstborn because if she had been I might of fainted dead away from embarrassment. But because she is the second born I just laughed and made a mental note to remind her not to bark in the classroom. You know, just to save the barking for the playground. I know I know, I am so wise now.

I Mean It

I feel like when I kiss Halle's neck over and over and over and over and watch her laugh and laugh and laugh, that these have to be the best days of my life. And I mean it too.

I feel like when Ella tells me all about her new friends and forgets their names and depends on me to remind her of their names (even though I have never met them) just so she can finish a story, that there is no way that life can get better than this. And I mean it too.

I feel like when Bryce hugs a sister and then chases her down a hallway screaming and laughing, that I am so blessed. And I mean it too.

I feel like when I kiss Ella's freckles and braid her hair for school, life is so grand. And I mean it too.

I feel like when they all still call me Mama, that I am the luckiest girl in the world. I love being Mama. And I mean it too.

And when their daddy kisses me...I know that I must be God's favorite.

Sharing

So yesterday Bryce came home from school and told me about a friend that he had told about Jesus.

He had told his friend to say that he believed in Jesus so that he could go to heaven. So we discussed the situation. And we talked about that and how you have to confess Jesus with your mouth and also believe in your heart and then you will be saved.

So Bryce responds with, "I believe. Do you believe Mom?"

"Yes Bryce I sure do."

And Bryce says "Well, then I'll see you in heaven!"

So hilarious and so so wonderful!

Ella

This picture just says summer to me. I am trying to enjoy in while it lasts. Soon enough it will be cold and I will be lugging jackets everywhere we go and dreaming of summer coming once again. So happy summer to all. Love, Us.

Popcorn

Tonight I was popping popcorn for the kids and I for Friday night Movie Night. I was standing in front of the microwave waiting for the popcorn and Halle looks at me with a huge smile. So I asked her what that smile was about and she asked me what the noise was. I told her it was the popcorn popping, "crazy." And she said "Oh (giggle giggle) I thought it was a toot."

What?! She is hilarious. Where does she get this stuff? Surely it is not from previous experience! Surely not!

Wolfie

Wolfie is back! For those of you who have no idea who Wolfie is, he is like a class pet in kindergarten. If your name gets drawn then you are the lucky one that gets to bring Wolfie home for one night and journal about your adventures with Wolfie and then return him the next day to his official home: kindergarten. Well of course Bryce did this two years ago and now it is Ella's turn to do it with her class.
I don't know if I have ever seen this girl so happy. It was like she won the lottery or something. She came out of her class yesterday with the biggest smile and was proudly wearing the Wolfie bag. She took such great care of Wolfie and included him in everything she did while he was here. But right before she went back to school I found her sitting by herself with tears in her eyes. At first I didn't even notice because she wasn't crying and she really isn't a big crier anyway. But then I noticed and asked her what was wrong at which point she burst into tears and explained how much she would miss Wolfie.
It really was the sweetest thing because she wasn't throwing a fit about it or anything she was just explaining to me how much she would miss him. So, I guess, needless to say we are very much looking forward to the next time Ella's name gets drawn to bring Wolfie home again. I am not sure if Wolfie has ever experienced that much love. So I am sure he is looking forward to it too.

A Buggy Party

Halle turned 3! So we celebrated. We had a little ladybug party at the park for her. Lots of ladybugs and flowers to celebrate our beautiful little girl. We played pin the spot on the ladybug and toss the ladybug in her home (flower pot). She opened presents and we ate cake. The kids got to beat the tar out of the ladybug pinata. (The whole pinata thing is such a strange tradition when you think about it.) Overall a fun time was had by all.

We love you Halle. You light up your lives with your smile. You have immeasurably blessed our family just by being a part of it.

First Day of School

So the first day of school came once again and surprise surprise we survived it. So first we took Bryce to school and met his teacher. His teacher seems very sweet and of course very capable. I wanted to sit her down and tell her how lucky she is to get to have my adorable boy in her class, but you know I thought that might be a little bit forward.

We examined his desk with him. Everything was so nice and new. I love all the new school supplies...I know I am weird like that. It was kind of hard to leave him there with all new faces. He didn't know a single soul in his class and he looked pretty nervous when I left him. But by the time I picked him up he said that it was fun and that he made a friend. His new friend sits right next to him. His name is Gavin and apparently Gavin has a really cool folder. Cooler than Bryce's. I asked Bryce what it was like and he told me that I need to come to school and check it out because it is that cool. I thought folders were just folders, but what do I know I am just a mom now. We went home and waited for Ella's turn. She changed oufits a couple of times. She finally ended up in this little get up. Whatever makes her happy right? I for one think it was an excellent choice. Great job Elle!

So we went to school which was actually a short day for her. It was more of a parent orientation than anything. She got to do a few things and the teachers talked to the parents. And when I said "Okay Ella are you ready to go." She looked up and said "That's it?"

She is so ready for this.

Watch out world here she comes!

We waited...

Well, we waited and we waited and we waited some more...and finally Bryce joined the "I lost a tooth" club. Poor kid had to wait literally years after some of the kids in his class lost their first tooth. He was so patient too. He finally had a loose tooth that was just kind of hanging there. It was all cockeyed and it kept bleeding when he would eat. Last night he let me yank on it and it came right out. He was so proud of himself and he said that it didn't even hurt. We put it under his pillow and the tooth fairy left three whole dollars. Before he went to bed he was telling me that the bigger the tooth the more the tooth fairy leaves you and he admitted that his tooth was tiny. He is so proud of that little space. Today he even went back and showed Mrs. Thompson, his first grade teacher. Who gave him a huge hug. (Love her!) So happy for my little man.

Back to School

Tomorrow is the first day of school. I am so not okay with it! I am not ready for it. I want to keep them with me. I want to protect them from the world. I want to cuddle with them for three hours in the morning if I want to. Ugghhh! Why does time go so quickly. I am not ready to have a second grader and a kindergartner. Not to mention that my baby is going to turn 3 in 2 days. I remember when they were just squishy sweet smelling babies. I WANT A SQUISHY SWEET SMELLING BABY! Ugghhhh! Tomorrow I am supposed to bravely march my kids down the street and leave them there. LEAVE THEM THERE PEOPLE! I want them to be squishy and rock them all day long instead because that would mean that I still had their whole little lives ahead of me.

Bryce is nervous and therefore I am so nervous for him. I am more nervous than if it was me going to school tomorrow. He is nervous about making new friends and meeting a new teacher. I wish my baby never had to be nervous. Pray for him with me tomorrow. He told me tonight that he might have diarrhea tomorrow because he is nervous. At least I have been warned right.

Ella is so excited. She can't wait to go and meet new friends and show off her skills. She makes new friends so easily. She was explaining that to me tonight, naming off examples of past friends that she made quickly. And therefore I am so excited for her. She got afternoon kinder and so I am super excited for the quiet afternoons. Also that schedule gives me a little bit of time with each of them when at least one or both siblings is gone. A little one on one is always good for everyone.

Halle is so excited for her birthday and talks about it whenever the other two talk about school. I am excited for her too. I can't wait to give her a special day.

Today we celebrated the last day of summer by going to the beach. What better way to celebrate summer right?! A fun time was had by all. I want to remember the girls screaming and running from the waves. And I want to remember Bryce boogie boarding in the small close to shore surf. I want to remember their cute little bodies covered in sand. I want to remember Mason standing on shore with Jarrod's boogie board with the leash on watching Fycey (Brycey in Mason talk) with such adoration and yearning to be out there in the water with him.

So tomorrow I will take them. Pray for me people. Pray hard! I don't want to be the only mom balling her eyes out, while her second grader has a diarrhea problem, while her kindergartner tries to make a mad dash to join the morning kinders (because she doesn't want to wait till 11:45 to start school), all the while trying to steal some ones squishy sweet smelling baby. I told you people-pray hard!

My Angels

We had a really great and much needed family day on Sunday. We got to go to the Angels Game. Bryce and Jarrod are huge Angels fans. Of course the girls and I are not as much, but we always think it is fun to go watch them.

I took the girls for a little walk during the game and we ended up in the back of the fountain at Angel stadium. I don't know if this is allowed, but we like to live on the edge. A band of rebels we are!

After the game the kids were able to run the bases too! It was so neat. They loved being down there and getting to take a lap around the field where the Angels play.

Like I said such a great day enjoying my four greatest blessings!

Names in the Sand