Reasons Why I Love My Boys

I am surrounded by boys in my house.  Even the cats are male!

But there are many reasons why I love them!

I love the little boys for their laughter.
I love how Colson always wakes up happy.
I love how Colson says "happy" when he is happy.
I love that Chris folds the laundry.
I love that Cannon enjoys hanging out with me.
I love how Cannon and Colson like to cook with me.
I love that Chris always leaves the light on for me when I get home late from work.
I love how independent Cannon is.
I love how Colson likes to do what Cannon does.
I love that the boys are starting to play together more.
I love how Chris always locks the door behind him when he leaves in the morning.
I love that Cannon enjoys reading.
I love how adventurous Colson is.
I love that Chris picks up the kids sometimes when I have late meetings.
I love the hugs and kisses I receive from all of the guys in the house.
I love how much both of the boys are learning so much every day.
I love how Chris cuddles with me when we watch movies.
I love how we can be spontaneous.
I love that we can all work together.
I love these boys!

Enjoying every moment.

Finally, A Tree

A cold December morning.
A busy tree farm.
Mud.
Lots of trees.
Yes, the big event of the day was getting our Christmas tree.
We go to the tree farm down the street from our house and as Cannon said, "That tree place is close to our house, we could have walked there."  Yes, Cannon. But it was too cold and there is no side walks and we would have had to carry our tree back!

I love the experience of going to a tree farm.  The people who work there are so extremely nice.  The older gentlemen love Cannon and Colson and this year, Cannon brought his new truck.  There were many conversations had over that new truck while we were there!

The boys loved watching the trees go through machine that puts the netting around them.
They loved watching the Gator hauling Christmas trees.
They loved seeing the train going around and around.
They loved looking at the tractors.
They loved the candy cane they both got after we paid for our tree.

And we also got to ride on the train, too!

Too much fun!

The tree is up and the lights are on. But that is as far as I got today.  Maybe tomorrow.

Enjoying Every Moment.  

Kindness

It's a stressful time of year and at school, the stress levels are (unfortunately) high.  Many of us have been talking about the things we can do to help build each other up.  (I've got the PTA on board for something next week!)

Today, my teammates brought me dinner for tonight.  They knew how busy I have been and on top of that, I am being observed the next two days.  Stressful in itself, but add a new grade level and especially new curriculum, I am maxed out.  I know it will be fine. I know I'm just going to be myself.  And I know things won't go perfect.  But I still WANT them to be perfect. :)

Anyway, tonight I didn't have to worry about what to make for dinner or even cooking it hardly.  I threw a yummy pizza in the oven, opened a bag of salad and we were ready to go.  They even thought of Cannon and Colson and got them a "Mini Murph"...a small pizza just the right size for the boys that they got to put the sauce, cheese and pepperoni on.  We finished it off with wonderful homemade cookies they provided, too!

My heart is full with caring and kindness from two wonderful teammates.

(Now I'm heading to think through my lessons for tomorrow and Friday!)

Enjoying every moment.

Miscellaneous Photos

Here are some various photos I took from today.

Cannon hiding in the coat closet this morning. 

Colson put on Cannon's shoes this morning over his jammies so he could go to the garage with Chris.

Cannon counting on his Advent Calendar.

  

Colson eating an apple tonight. He wanted to show me!

The Christmas book I read to Colson tonight. 

Enjoying every moment.

Hello Again, Buttercup!

Buttercup came home with Cannon for another visit tonight.  Buttercup is Teddy's cousin.  Teddy is the class mascot in Cannon's Early Kindergarten class.  When I visited Cannon today in class, he told me Buttercup was coming home with him.  (I love being able to sneak in and say hi to Cannon during the day!)

Buttercup sat with Cannon and watched Word World.  Then he had dinner with us and finally he got to help Cannon open Day 3 on his Advent Calendar.

Cannon drew a picture of himself with Buttercup watching Word World.  The picture was very detailed.  It included the TV stand and the big planter of branches next to the TV.  Cannon wrote on the paper:  Me and Buttercup.  We love to see how Cannon's drawings have improved.  He has also really learned how to sound out words as he is spelling and write down each sound he hears.

Cannon with Buttercup right after we got home. 

I found Buttercup's pants on the ground...we can't have a naked teddy bear in the house!  Cannon didn't realize they fell off and quickly put them back on. 

Cannon with Buttercup before opening his Advent Calendar.

Cannon working on his page for the class book about Buttercup.

Enjoying every moment.

Another Day, Please

An extra day would be nice, right!?

Today we were all up early.
Today Colson was feeling better.
Today Cannon asked to go to Claire's about 25 times.
Today Cannon spent the afternoon at Claire's!
Today I went to the library, the grocery store twice, JoAnne's, Goodwill to drop off bags, to Fred Meyer to pick up a Redbox movie.
Today I made lentil soup in the crockpot.
Today Chris worked on the Chevelle engine.
Today we watched the Seahawks win in overtime.
Today Colson made huge messes with toys constantly throughout the house.
Today I graded more papers.
Today it rained and rained and rained.
Today we read books and listed to Cannon read to us.
Today Chris and I watched a movie.

Enjoying every moment.

December 1st

December 1st already! One of my favorite months.

It also means the start of December Daily.  My recording of the special...and normal...things that take place during the month of December.

Cannon has been so excited about the Christmas season.  The decorations went up the day after Thanksgiving and from that day on, he's been asking when we are going to put our tree up, if we can get more colorful lights outside, when he can start opening his advent calendar, which day we go to Grandma and Grandpa's.

Today...this morning actually, Cannon was finally able to open Day 1 on his advent calendar and this evening he got to choose a book from the basket of Christmas books to unwrap.  He looked through the basket very carefully and then asked to sit on the stool to tear off the wrapping paper.  His words were, "I was hoping to open this one!"

I love the traditions this month brings.  They are important.
I love the excitement of the season.

Enjoying every moment.