I Notice

I notice the smile from Colson when he wakes up.
I notice the warmer weather.
I notice there is a lot to be picked up around here!
I notice hot chocolate on Cannon's shirt.
I notice the interaction between Cannon and Colson.
I notice Colson always likes to take food off of Cannon's plate.
I notice the two kitties knocking things off the night stand.
I notice I have 19 new emails.
I notice my classroom looks neat and put together.
I notice my to do list for school is growing.
I notice how Cannon likes to be read to.
I notice Cannon peeing in the backyard!
I notice the laundry that needs to be put away.
I notice the plants need to be watered.
I notice Colson pointing out all of the big trucks he sees.
I notice how Cannon is easily entertained.
I notice the AC in the tree!
I notice how long it takes to load the motorhome.
I notice Colson loves to ride on the Radio Flyer.
I notice Cannon doesn't like to take naps.  (but he is sleeping!)
I notice how quite it is with both kids napping.
I notice how nice our bedroom looks when the bed is made.
I notice how Cannon wants to do everything on his own.
I notice books...lots of books.
I notice Colson standing on the coffee table!
I notice the toys of boys!
I notice the kitties cuddling together.
I notice Colson's spiky hair.
I notice how Cannon's loves bread!
I notice the weeds in the front of the house.
I notice the exercise equipment I need to get on.
I notice baskets of little boy shoes.

Enjoying every moment.

Early Kindergarten Orientation

Cannon had his Early Kindergarten orientation today!  He was very excited to meet his teacher, Ms. Jewel and see his room.

He found his seat.
He found his cubby, where he will put his coat and backpack.
He checked out the toys in the room.
He met some great new friends.
He got to play on the playground.
He was able to get on a school bus and sit in the seats!

I'm so excited for Cannon and I know it will be a great year!

Enjoying every moment!

Learning Patience

I love summer because I have the freedom to be home with the boys and for the most part, do what we please.  It just makes me smile thinking about each of them!

Well summer is over...I start back to school officially tomorrow.  And as I reflect on the summer, the days playing and being together, the one thing I have seen more of is patience.  From both boys (and me!).

Cannon is learning to become more patient with Colson when they are playing together.  He is learning to share, to trade toys and to take the time and show Colson how to do something.  I have seen the boys playing together more often instead of playing side by side.  I have seen Cannon guide Colson by the hand to things. I have also seen Cannon show patience when he is doing other things, like coloring, cutting, trying to put his helmet on by himself, and many other things that he 'insists' doing on his own!  I have seen Cannon be very patient for an almost 5 year old.

Colson is learning to be patient when he can't do something he wants to do, like put a toy together or get somewhere he wants to go.  I have seen him try and try again to put a trailer on the hitch of a toy truck.  I have seen Colson work hard to climb up to places where he couldn't before.  I have seen Colson be patient as he has watched and observed Cannon playing and then tries to copy exactly what he saw.  He is becoming more patient.

I love these two boys so much it makes my heart hurt just thinking about it!

Enjoying every moment.

The Weekend Lens

Colson lined up the trains.  He likes to play with these magnetic trains while he's upstairs.

Chris and Colson in the back of neighbor Dan's car.

Coming back from getting the mail.  Colson still in his jammies!

Colson was making funny faces.  I didn't really get a great picture.  (Cannon was still at Granny Joy's house)

Story time before bed.  Colson came to join the boys this evening.

Lots of curriculum for me to read.  I better get to it!

Working on Greg's boat.

Auntie Brenda got Cannon some window clings that you color.  Cannon was having fun with them tonight!

Enjoying every moment.

New Classroom

I've been working on my new classroom for the last month or so.  Moving rooms is great in a lot of ways but it also takes so much time to figure out where you want to put things.  And then setting up a new room...it's almost overwhelming!

But it's coming along.  Thanks to some help from a couple of friends, Chris, a lot of days hauling the kids up to the room and then a lot of late nights at school without the kids!

There is still much to be done, but I snapped a few photos today.  It's hard to see the detail, but at least it looks organized!

It's been exhausting getting it pulled together but some things have been fun to think through and create.  (Thank you Pinterest!)

Enjoying every moment.

Surgery for Colson

Colson had an out patient surgery today so he could be circumcised....finally!  He wasn't able to have the procedure done when he was just a week or so old.  So after he turned a year old, a save age to give a child anesthesia, we scheduled a date for surgery.

The surgery went well and the doctor accomplished what he needed to do.  Colson did great and the biggest issue we had was that he threw a fit when they put his identification bracelet on him!  He was groggy in recovery and slept a lot but after a couple of hours, we were headed home and Colson has been his normal self since!

Before surgery.  Waiting and playing. 

After surgery.

Headed home. 

 
Enjoying every moment.

Days To Remember

This is what I found one morning....four flippers from the kitchen drawer under the carpet.  This one is all Colson!

There was no wind outside to fly the kite so Cannon set the fan up in the hallway so he could fly the kite in the house.

The beauty of the small things that entertain a toddler.

Bubble gum ice cream.  Mmmmmmm. Good.

Riding the scooter down to get the mail.

And heading back from the mailbox.

Running with a kite streamer and having AC chase it = pure joy!

Swinging and swinging and swinging and swinging.  Loving it.

Swinging so high he's up in the sky.

These are the days to remember.

Enjoying every moment.

Here's the Scoop

Here's the scoop about what's going on...

Cannon had his last day of soccer.  He sure has improved--from last summer to this summer and from the start of the summer until currently.  He is kicking harder, dribbling better, more sure of himself, and seems to show some qualities of a leader and is having fun!

Colson is definitely a strong willed child!  For the most part, he is a great toddler who plays quietly by himself and also loves to play alongside Cannon.  He usually goes with the flow, however there are moments when he gets upset....and watch out!  He'll throw things, push things off the table (or where ever he is at) and yell and scream.  It's quite a sight.  Something we're hoping to curtail very quickly!

I love that books are a huge hit in our house.  There are baskets of books in almost every room of the house and we often just stop what we are doing and grab some books to read.

The classroom is coming along.  I've been spending a couple of hours almost daily this week or so getting things put together and will continue to do that until the start of school.  I'm working on putting up borders around bulletin boards, getting my calendar area organized, finishing the board that will have the targets for each subject, working on the reading area, laminating the helper chart, setting things out for table groups, preparing opening letters and paperwork, planning, etc.  Things get accomplished daily.  I figure the important things will get done!  The rest will come later...or not!

Chris has been hard at work each day on side projects and the jet boat.  Hard at work on the side projects because that money will pay for the upholstery on the jet boat!  The four seats and side panels are being upholstered and should be ready to go by the second week of September for Mardon.

The house kind of stays picked up.  The laundry is never caught up.  The bonus room is a mess with all of my school stuff.  Dinners are sometimes planned and sometimes not.  The car desperately needs to be vacuumed out.  I have 6 magazines to read, which may not happen any time soon since I am fully immersed in reading curriculum.  I guess that is all typical.  Life is happening!

Reading...

 Attempting the rock wall at the park.

Being an 'observer' at the park.

A cricket we found in the pool.

Last day of soccer!

Enjoying every moment.    

Saying Yes

Saying yes to one more story and one more song when putting Colson to bed.

Saying yes to cleaning out the garage and shed. Thank you Chris!

Saying yes to wheelbarrow rides for Cannon.

Saying yes to prioritizing my to do list for school.

Saying yes to letting some things go, both at school and at home. 

Saying yes to asking for help. 

Saying yes to family time. 

Saying yes to the last weeks of sleeping in. 

Saying yes to doing Insanity workouts.  Can you say sweat!! 

Saying yes to daily devotionals. 

Saying yes to relaxing.

Saying yes to positive thoughts. 

Saying yes to love, laughter and being together.

Currently

Currently I am...

listening to the cats play with each other; the fan in the hallway; the quietness of being up by myself at 10:30 pm.
loving what a kind boy Cannon is; Pinterest, reading magazines and blogs; reading books with the boys.
thinking about my LONG to do list before the first day of school; how I am really tired and need to go to bed.
needing a house keeper to clean the house (ha ha!); to finish putting up my bulletin boards; to start (and finish) some projects here at home before school starts.
wanting a babysitter so I can go up to school without kids; an assistant to help me with everything!

Enjoying every moment.

Enjoying the Small Things

The last few days I have been busier with school "stuff" and have hauled the kids up to my room a couple of times.  It's easy for me to get lost in all of the things that I need to do for the new year...setting up a new classroom and preparing for a new grade.

However I am also embracing the little moments that I have with Cannon and Colson during these last couple of weeks of summer.

We've spent time drawing.
I took the boys to see the goat at Shultz Farm.
Cannon's learning the in's and out's of typing on the computer.
Colson is becoming an expert at the little Radio Flyer.
We've made play dough and then played with it!
Cannon and I have played board games.
We've done a lot of reading and singing.
We went to the mall to play on the toys.
We watched a transfer truck dump rock when we were at the park.
We got frozen yogurt will lots of toppings.
The boys have gotten soaked in the pool.
We've played on the big toy.

I so love that I have the opportunity to spend my summer days with the boys.  I'm glad I get to enjoy these little things with them.

Enjoying every moment.