James' "perfect" Birthday!

It is hard to believe that my baby...my tiny little "Peanut" turned three on Friday.  It is crazy how the time just keeps flying by with no regard for my (not always silent) wishes for it to slow down...even just a little.

This special day has been a favorite topic of conversation for Jake and James.  They loved asking how many more weeks and days until James would finally be three.  Then on Thursday night, minutes before bed, I sat on the floor snuggling with my baby boy.  Maybe James could sense me trying to soak up those last few moments of his twoness because he looked up and announced that the next day he would be three!  I don't remember the exact words that came out of my mouth, but I know I didn't do a very good job of hiding my bitter sweet emotions.

It is funny how excited I am to see them learn, and grow, and change...and yet there is nothing that breaks my heart or make me cry faster (and yes, I am bawling while typing this at 35 weeks pregnant) than thinking about how quickly it happens.

I felt terrible when he laid his head on my chest and said, "Mommy, I don't ever want to turn three."

"Oh, Honey, why not!?" Even though I knew it was totally my fault, and immediately felt guilty that I had likely contributed to a life long Peter Pan complex (that he would no doubt have to seek therapy for later in life)...but, then again, I never claimed perfection at this whole mommy thing.

"Because I want to be your baby forever!"  I squeezed him tightly and quickly tried to undo the permanent damage, I had just caused.

The good news for him is he doesn't really get a choice on that one.  None of them do.  And as I explained to him that night, and as I have told Jacob countless times before, they will ALWAYS be my babies.  And after that little life lesson, James went to bed happy and once again excited for his day!

I was slightly (okay, VERY) unprepared for James birthday.  I had planned up until Thanksgiving, and that was as far as I got.  But the flip side to his birthday falling the day after Thanksgiving, this year, meant that Arthur was home, and a day with Daddy was just what our little boy wanted.

After a big birthday breakfast, Daddy and James went on a special shopping trip.  I consider this a selfless act of love, since I know how much Daddy tries to avoid large crowds.  But there is little this Daddy won't do for his boys, so I shouldn't have been surprised that he braved Black Friday so the Birthday Boy could pick out a couple new toys.  Once they got home, it was a James day.  Jake did a great job letting James take the lead, and even understood that James might not want to share his new loot right away...and while those are presents that cannot be wrapped, my heart smiled watching Jake giving his little brother such sincere gifts from his 5 year old heart.

So here is a "perfect" day according to James

1) Playing  Hot Wheels with Jake

2) Building Lego's with Daddy (and Jake)

3) A little crafting

4) Dinner at Chick-f-la (complete with time in the fun area)

5) Family Movie night with Hot Chocolate and "Poporn"

While I hope to squeeze in a little birthday party before Little Sister arrives, I know that James had a great day!  And it brings me happiness that so many of his "favorites" are regular parts of his childhood.  I also love that the day had so little to do with things, but instead was filled with quality time together creating beautiful memories as a family.  And the best part about this birthday was that Daddy was here for the whole thing!

We love you Jamie Boy!  As one of your favorite bedtime stories says, "You're a gift sent from God up above.  Perfectly, delightfully created in love!"

Halloween Wrap Up!

Jake's costume is just one example of how much cooler Dad is than Mom!  Jake never would have come home with Power Ranger Mega Force costume if he had gone shopping with me, but he loved it!  And even though he could hardly see a thing with that mask on, he stayed committed to his "character," and never took it off.  He just marched [blindly] down the street, often getting way ahead of the group, intensely focused on getting his next "treat."

A glimpse of his sweet face :-)

James, on the other hand, was a little less committed to his "look."  We weren't even to the first house before I was wearing his cowboy hat.  His little legs kept up pretty well, especially with all the stairs leading up to each door, but in the end James was the one who ended up calling our night.  

"I want to go lay down in my own bed," he told his Daddy as he laid his head down on Arthur's shoulder.

Last time I saw a cowboy this tired, it was my Jacob Williamest when I was pregnant with James.  Crazy how time flies!)

And that is just what he did. :-)

Halloween Morning Homeschool Style

I, like probably every other homeschool mom, get lots of questions about "socialization" opportunities for our boys.  While this is not something that I have ever lost sleep about, I know that these questions are generally coming from an honest place of love and concern.  So I thought this Halloween breakfast is a great example of some homeschool "socialization" and fun!

I cannot take credit for this fun bash.  We are lucky enough to be in a ward with many other families who have also decided to homeschool this year.  And one of the other moms planned this fun Halloween pumpkin pancake breakfast, complete with chocolate chips and whip cream.

And I can't forget the banana ghosts and the pumpkin mandarins another mom contributed!  I love all the cute and creative ideas other moms come up with!

So we mixed some themed food with lots of good friends...

And some spooky crafts for a fabulous start to our Halloween Holiday!

(we are still waiting for James glue to dry)

Jake was so busy playing that he never got downstairs for crafts.

I guess this could be considered a homeschool version of a class party. 

The Boys' Pumpkin!

Just before bedtime last night, Arthur made the alarming observations that we had not carved our pumpkin!  I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but somehow we made it to the night before Halloween without carving our pumpkin.
I, of course felt terrible, and went to bed stressing about how we were going to fit it in today.  Between a Halloween breakfast with friends (pictures to follow) and violin practice filling our afternoon, I was feeling a little nervous.  But I was determined that we would have our beautiful pumpkin transformed into a jack-o-lantern before Halloween night.

And so we did!  And I am happy to report that it was a real "we" experience this year (minus Daddy, who was at work), with all little hands on deck...or should I say, in the pumpkin?

No one was shy about pumpkin guts this year!

Jake and James miraculously agreed on a pattern...

Then Jake and I took care of the pattern transfer (while James diligently painted his little pumpkin)...

When it came to handing little pumpkin carving knives to my boys, I did get a little nervous that someone (more than likely, me) would need to get stitches before we had completed carving our creation.  But they were both carefully committed to the task at hand.  So other than a few squabbles over who's turn it was and a fall from the bench, things went very smoothly.

I think we may even graduate to each boy carving his own pumpkin next year.  :-)

PS Due to weather, Trick-or Treating has been postponed until tomorrow evening.  So costume and jack-o-lantern photos have been too.

Halloween crafting 2013!

If you follow this blog (or if you have known me longer than 5 minutes), you may have figured out that my favorite part of a holiday is making kid/family crafts.  Of course there is the obvious "fun factor" of getting out the paints and spending creative time as a family.  But I think I am driven to the craft isles of Michel's and Hobby Lobby, with a deeper purpose.  I am in love with, and perhaps slightly obsessed with, the idea of making "permanent" memories (this also explains my obsession with photography).  

This year, as I pulled out the Halloween box, the memories of past Halloweens filled my mind.  Then, as the boys helped me place each craft around the house, we were able to share the stories of when each one was made.  It is precious the things they remember, and the excitement they have at looking at  the masterpieces they made when they were "little."   Our house is far from the spookiest and you would probably never see anyone on HGTV trying to steal our ideas, but when I overhear the boys showing off our decorations and proudly sharing their stories, I feel great that my little plan is working. 

And now for the photo documentation of Halloween crafting 2013. :-)

James took the "H" and the "A"

Daddy took the first "L"

Jake took the last "E" and the "N"

And I got the "O" and an "E"

As for that extra "L" and "W," well, Miss Laura Barlow took care of those!
This year, James also painted a spider and Jake added a "pumpkin graveyard" painting to our collection!

Playing at the Pumpkin Patch

There are few mistakes as grievous, in the eyes of a five year old, as loading him into a car, driving for an hour, and getting him all excited for a fun day with friends at the pumpkin patch only to get there and realize that the day is a bust because, somehow, Mommy and Daddy both forgot their wallets.  Needless to say, our drive home was filled with lots of disappointment and tears.  And while James took it much better than his brother, 3 weeks later, neither one will quite let us forget it.
However, as promised, we did return to the pumpkin patch (with adequate funds) and had a great (and slightly frigid) afternoon, complete with selecting the "perfect" pumpkin.

Due to the cold wet weather, there were several things that we opted out of (aka Mommy and Daddy vetoed playing tractors in wet sand), but Jake still had a great time showing Daddy around!  And James had a great time participating in many of the activities he had been to little for just a year a go.

(yes, I am still finding stay corn kernels throughout the house and in my car)

Daddy even got cotton candy and kettle corn to share.  But if I had to pick my favorite part of the day, it would be that this year we were able to go as a complete family...and we even got a picture to prove it.

Jake's "Kindergarten" Pictures

  

The end of September marked 5 and a half for our oldest boy!  I know mommies say it all the time, but time sure does fly!  And even though we are homeschooling, I can't help but become nostalgic that our Jacob William is old enough that he could be joining the "big kids" on the school bus each day.

Each morning, as we hear the rumble of the school bus pull up in front, I am grateful to see this face looking back at me, from across the counter, as I make breakfast.  And each afternoon, when we see the kids arrive home, I reflect on all the things we have been able to do together that day.  I know homeschool isn't for everyone, but it definitely for us.

Jake, it is a blessing to learn and grow with you each day!  I love you more than you could ever imagine!