Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Sweet Smell of Summer
Yesterday we got our new backyard pool out and had some fun in the sun. When it was time to go inside for lunch, I wrapped Chloe up in a towel and held her on my lap. I reveled in the warmth of her sunkissed little body, bent my head into her shining hair and breathed in the sweet smell of summer. There is nothing like the smell of a child warm from the sun and damp from the water. Innocence and sunscreen, happiness and freedom all wrapped up in one smell. I think it is probably one of my very favorite smells in the whole entire world.
More Funnies
Matthew was being a wise guy this morning and I said, "Don't be a smart alec."
Evan: "Can I be a smart alec? I want to be the smartest alec there ever was!"
Poor Evan had a pretty bad bike wreck the other night. It was his first trip around the block on his new bike and he lost control going down a pretty big hill. When I got to him, he said, "This bike is just too fast! Can't you slow it down?" I explained to him that that would be what his brakes were for.
As I was cleaning up his wounds, he was getting slightly hysterical so I told him to calm down. He said, "I can't. I am literally terrified!"
Chloe chowed down on some chips and pretty spicy queso at dinner tonight. As a result her cheeks turned bright red. I was a little concerned because they were still very red even on the way home. In her usual fashion she was narrating the ride home in song:
"Oh, I'm so excited and I'm so happy and my cheeks are still red, but that's just the deeeeeaaaal."
Evan: "Can I be a smart alec? I want to be the smartest alec there ever was!"
Poor Evan had a pretty bad bike wreck the other night. It was his first trip around the block on his new bike and he lost control going down a pretty big hill. When I got to him, he said, "This bike is just too fast! Can't you slow it down?" I explained to him that that would be what his brakes were for.
As I was cleaning up his wounds, he was getting slightly hysterical so I told him to calm down. He said, "I can't. I am literally terrified!"
Chloe chowed down on some chips and pretty spicy queso at dinner tonight. As a result her cheeks turned bright red. I was a little concerned because they were still very red even on the way home. In her usual fashion she was narrating the ride home in song:
"Oh, I'm so excited and I'm so happy and my cheeks are still red, but that's just the deeeeeaaaal."
Friday, May 27, 2011
Some Chloe Cuteness
Chloe is so funny! Remember all those Evanisms I used to post? Well, Chloe is just as full of them, but I can't seem to remember them long enough to get them on the blog. I did jot a few down yesterday, however.
Yesterday evening we were all waiting on Matthew to finish mowing the yard (and starving). Chloe was asking for something, anything, to eat and I was trying to hold her off so she wouldn't spoil her dinner.
Me: I want you to wait until dinner, so you will eat your dinner.
Chloe: What are we eating?
Me: Macaroni and meat.
Chloe: I like meat! What kind of meat?
Me: Steak.
Chloe: MMMMM! I LOVE snake meat!!
A little while later, Chloe had disappeared. I yelled for her and she came running out of the pantry.
Me: What are you doing?
Chloe: Eating doughnuts.
Me: Well, that's what I thought because your mouth is covered in sugar.
Chloe: That's because doughnuts are covered in sugar.
Me: That's right, they are.
Chloe: I know! Because I'm super smart and super strong (puts arms up to show muscles).
Chloe is going through a phase where she is scared of everything. Gone are her daredevil days. On our first trip to Dollywood this year we were shocked to discover she was terrified of all but the little baby rides. She was even afraid on the carousel, which has been her favorite since she was a little tiny baby! We figure this will probably transfer over to the ocean and pool this year as well. The other night she asked to ride her tricycle and then promptly hopped off and announced she was too scared. She is also afraid at night a lot. She had trouble going to sleep and often wakes multiple times at night. She also has nightmares and wakes up crying and screaming. I've discovered she talks in her sleep quite a bit as she is often not even awake when I go up to comfort her. I hate that she is so afraid, but the topics of her nightmares are somewhat amusing. Here are a few...
Matthew wouldn't give her a chocolate cupcake.
Oliver was sitting in her chair.
Her granddaddy wouldn't give her a sucker.
and this morning we heard her yell out..."Give me back my toothbrush!"
Do you see a common theme? I am so thankful that she has nothing else to have nightmares about.
This morning Matthew asked her how her night was and she said she was "mad, "angery", and "gumpy" all night long".
Even though I really hate that she is having all of these fears and am disappointed that it looks like she won't be having as much fun this summer as I thought as a result of them, it is pretty cute to hear her say "I am so "scarwerd."
Yesterday when the Schwan's man came, she wanted ice cream. I was looking through the book to find the ice cream we wanted and she said, "Vanilla ice cream for Chloe- bug, please.", and then folded her little hands under her chin, gave him an angelic smile, tilted her head, and batted her eyelashes at him. I swear, we are in so much trouble. Where does she learn this stuff? I certainly don't flirt like that!
Another favorite of mine about her right now is she LOVES to sing and dance. She will often narrate whatever is happening in song, so our lives are like one big musical. "Oh, I'm standing beside my momma while she gets my clothes on so we can go outsiiiiiiiide!" That type of thing.
She can be a real handful! She knows what she wants and goes after it. She is much more aggressive than Evan ever was at this age. But, she is also really sweet when she wants to be. She snuggles and gives kisses and hugs. She asks me to rock her occasionally at night and I just soak it up because I know those days are very, very limited. She is growing so fast, I can hardly believe it. Last night, she was snuggling on the couch with me and I was stroking her hair which is getting so long and I thought back to how I used to wonder if she would EVER have any hair. It just goes by so fast! I can't believe she is almost 3 and will go to preschool next year.
Yesterday evening we were all waiting on Matthew to finish mowing the yard (and starving). Chloe was asking for something, anything, to eat and I was trying to hold her off so she wouldn't spoil her dinner.
Me: I want you to wait until dinner, so you will eat your dinner.
Chloe: What are we eating?
Me: Macaroni and meat.
Chloe: I like meat! What kind of meat?
Me: Steak.
Chloe: MMMMM! I LOVE snake meat!!
A little while later, Chloe had disappeared. I yelled for her and she came running out of the pantry.
Me: What are you doing?
Chloe: Eating doughnuts.
Me: Well, that's what I thought because your mouth is covered in sugar.
Chloe: That's because doughnuts are covered in sugar.
Me: That's right, they are.
Chloe: I know! Because I'm super smart and super strong (puts arms up to show muscles).
Chloe is going through a phase where she is scared of everything. Gone are her daredevil days. On our first trip to Dollywood this year we were shocked to discover she was terrified of all but the little baby rides. She was even afraid on the carousel, which has been her favorite since she was a little tiny baby! We figure this will probably transfer over to the ocean and pool this year as well. The other night she asked to ride her tricycle and then promptly hopped off and announced she was too scared. She is also afraid at night a lot. She had trouble going to sleep and often wakes multiple times at night. She also has nightmares and wakes up crying and screaming. I've discovered she talks in her sleep quite a bit as she is often not even awake when I go up to comfort her. I hate that she is so afraid, but the topics of her nightmares are somewhat amusing. Here are a few...
Matthew wouldn't give her a chocolate cupcake.
Oliver was sitting in her chair.
Her granddaddy wouldn't give her a sucker.
and this morning we heard her yell out..."Give me back my toothbrush!"
Do you see a common theme? I am so thankful that she has nothing else to have nightmares about.
This morning Matthew asked her how her night was and she said she was "mad, "angery", and "gumpy" all night long".
Even though I really hate that she is having all of these fears and am disappointed that it looks like she won't be having as much fun this summer as I thought as a result of them, it is pretty cute to hear her say "I am so "scarwerd."
Yesterday when the Schwan's man came, she wanted ice cream. I was looking through the book to find the ice cream we wanted and she said, "Vanilla ice cream for Chloe- bug, please.", and then folded her little hands under her chin, gave him an angelic smile, tilted her head, and batted her eyelashes at him. I swear, we are in so much trouble. Where does she learn this stuff? I certainly don't flirt like that!
Another favorite of mine about her right now is she LOVES to sing and dance. She will often narrate whatever is happening in song, so our lives are like one big musical. "Oh, I'm standing beside my momma while she gets my clothes on so we can go outsiiiiiiiide!" That type of thing.
She can be a real handful! She knows what she wants and goes after it. She is much more aggressive than Evan ever was at this age. But, she is also really sweet when she wants to be. She snuggles and gives kisses and hugs. She asks me to rock her occasionally at night and I just soak it up because I know those days are very, very limited. She is growing so fast, I can hardly believe it. Last night, she was snuggling on the couch with me and I was stroking her hair which is getting so long and I thought back to how I used to wonder if she would EVER have any hair. It just goes by so fast! I can't believe she is almost 3 and will go to preschool next year.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
First Grade Here We Come!
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| You've Got a Friend in Me |
Well, it's official. Evan is a first grader. That is so hard to believe! I am not nearly as sad as I thought I would be to see him graduate kindergarten. He has had the most wonderful year I could ever ask for. He has absolutely loved school. His teacher has truly been a blessing and his class was just the sweetest class ever. We've been amazed by all he has learned. I didn't cry at graduation. It was truly a happy time. (I did cry right before graduation when I discovered the scrapbook full of pictures, artwork, poems, etc that his teacher had made for him in his backpack, however.) I am both excited and nervous for what next year will hold. I know he will continue to learn and grow, but it is hard to imagine a better year than what we've had.
Evan's class sang "You've Got a Friend in Me" and Evan and Carson stood side by side with their arms around each other. I couldn't get many pictures and I'm afraid my video has a big guy's head in it (the paparazzi parents were CRAZY!), but it was adorable. I am so grateful Evan has had such a wonderful year and made such great friends. I wish he could keep his entire class together, but I know he can't. It will be sad to say goodbye to some friends, but fun to make new ones as well.
Evan has been moping around for days about the end of kindergarten. He does not want school to be over. (I wonder how many years that will last.) He wants to stay in Ms. Fedor's class and see his friends everyday. We will have to have some playdates or Evan will go into deep depression, ha!
Congratulations, Evan! I am so proud of you!!
Evan and Zach: Friends Since Birth
Evan and Zach: May 24, 2005 (or maybe the 25th, I lost track of time. It was a rough delivery).
(I would never post this picture if this were not a private blog. It had been a REALLY long night. And a very rough delivery. And I had preeclampsia so I was retaining ALOT of fluid. Yes, I really didn't even feel well enough to shower or change out of my hospital gown. It was rough. If it tells you anything, Leigh had had a c-section and walked to my room to see me, but I couldn't get out of the chair (or off my doughnut pillow).)
Anyhow.
Evan and Zach were born side by side in the hospital. Leigh and I were both teaching at the same school at the time. We had both been out on bedrest. I was sent to the hospital to be induced on a Monday afternoon. As the nurse was hooking up my pitocin I saw Leigh's mom in the hallway. Turns out she'd been there since that morning. The nurse said we could race. I was sure she would win, but I was wrong (unfortunately for her). Both Evan and Zach took their own sweet time, but Evan beat Zach by an hour or two and several pounds. So, you see Evan and Zach have been friends since birth.
Evan and Zach: May 23, 2011
They celebrated their birthdays together with their class on the last day of school. Zach and Evan (and Leigh and I) will always be special friends. It was fun to tell their class the story of how they were born side by side.
Happy Birthday, special boys!
Dear Evan
Dear Evan,
Today is your sixth birthday. It is almost hard for me to remember how very tiny you were when I first saw your little face six years ago. I cannot remember what my life was like before you were in it, but it also feels like the last six years have gone by in the blink of an eye. You were an answered prayer for me six years ago. I was blessed beyond measure when God chose me to be your mommy. You were truly a dream come true. But, in all those years of praying for a baby and dreaming and wishing of being a mommy I never really imagined what it would be like to watch that baby grow up.
Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes I get sad to see you grow so fast. Sometimes I miss the little baby, toddler, and preschooler that you were. Sometimes I worry that I am not doing enough, not teaching you enough, not disciplining enough. I worry about your safety and your health. I worry about the person you will turn out to be. It is hard to let you go a little more everyday. To have a little less control over those things. To have to trust that you will be safe without me. To have to believe that you will make good decisions. It's hurt a little to watch you fall in love with your teacher. For you to ask to walk to school with friends instead of me. To watch you run into my room in the afternoon only to grab your toys and then run off to play. Yes, sometimes watching my baby grow up has been very, very hard. I somewhat expected that. I expected it to hurt to watch you grow away from me and to become your own person.
What I didn't expect as much is how absolutely wonderful it would feel! How truly amazing it would be to watch you turn into this little person. You've taken many steps off on your own this year. You started kindergarten, made new friends all on your own, and played baseball for the first time. I still remember how nervous I was on your first day of school, how hard it was to let go of your hand and leave you there in that big school. But, I didn't need to worry. You have been absolutely awesome this year! You have made us so proud with your excellent behavior. We were so pleased when you made a new best friend (and we discovered you had excellent taste in friends). We were amazed as you learned to read, add, subtract, and about a million other things. We were thrilled as you entered and placed in every "fair" this year. I've found my competitive spirit as I've watched you play baseball. Yes, watching you grow, even when it has been away from us, has been so exciting this year.
It is hard to believe how fast my "baby" is growing up. You are so tall, you come almost to my chin. You are so very smart, sometimes too smart for your own good. You are brave and independent. You are mature and responsible. You are everything I always hoped you would be and still so much more than I ever dreamed. You are just amazing. I love you so very much and I look forward to watching you grow every year. I can't wait to see the awesome person you turn out to be. I am so excited about all of the wonderful plans that God has for you. But, I'm not in too big of a hurry... you can stay my little boy for a while longer, please, because being your mommy is the most amazing and wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. I am so glad that it was in God's plan for me.
I hope you have an amazing 6th birthday, buddy!
Love,
Mommy
Today is your sixth birthday. It is almost hard for me to remember how very tiny you were when I first saw your little face six years ago. I cannot remember what my life was like before you were in it, but it also feels like the last six years have gone by in the blink of an eye. You were an answered prayer for me six years ago. I was blessed beyond measure when God chose me to be your mommy. You were truly a dream come true. But, in all those years of praying for a baby and dreaming and wishing of being a mommy I never really imagined what it would be like to watch that baby grow up.
Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes I get sad to see you grow so fast. Sometimes I miss the little baby, toddler, and preschooler that you were. Sometimes I worry that I am not doing enough, not teaching you enough, not disciplining enough. I worry about your safety and your health. I worry about the person you will turn out to be. It is hard to let you go a little more everyday. To have a little less control over those things. To have to trust that you will be safe without me. To have to believe that you will make good decisions. It's hurt a little to watch you fall in love with your teacher. For you to ask to walk to school with friends instead of me. To watch you run into my room in the afternoon only to grab your toys and then run off to play. Yes, sometimes watching my baby grow up has been very, very hard. I somewhat expected that. I expected it to hurt to watch you grow away from me and to become your own person.
What I didn't expect as much is how absolutely wonderful it would feel! How truly amazing it would be to watch you turn into this little person. You've taken many steps off on your own this year. You started kindergarten, made new friends all on your own, and played baseball for the first time. I still remember how nervous I was on your first day of school, how hard it was to let go of your hand and leave you there in that big school. But, I didn't need to worry. You have been absolutely awesome this year! You have made us so proud with your excellent behavior. We were so pleased when you made a new best friend (and we discovered you had excellent taste in friends). We were amazed as you learned to read, add, subtract, and about a million other things. We were thrilled as you entered and placed in every "fair" this year. I've found my competitive spirit as I've watched you play baseball. Yes, watching you grow, even when it has been away from us, has been so exciting this year.
It is hard to believe how fast my "baby" is growing up. You are so tall, you come almost to my chin. You are so very smart, sometimes too smart for your own good. You are brave and independent. You are mature and responsible. You are everything I always hoped you would be and still so much more than I ever dreamed. You are just amazing. I love you so very much and I look forward to watching you grow every year. I can't wait to see the awesome person you turn out to be. I am so excited about all of the wonderful plans that God has for you. But, I'm not in too big of a hurry... you can stay my little boy for a while longer, please, because being your mommy is the most amazing and wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. I am so glad that it was in God's plan for me.
I hope you have an amazing 6th birthday, buddy!
Love,
Mommy
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Evan's Super Sonic Sixth Birthday Party!
Today was Evan's 6th birthday party. We had it at our school this year, so it would be closer than our house for all of Evan's friends. It turned out to be the best party yet!
Evan wanted "Sonic the Hedgehog" as his theme this year. Turns out Sonic is really hard to find, but we did find some stuff online. Evan loved all his Sonic decorations, especially his banner!
We had lots of stuff set up for the kids to do, like this bouncy obstacle course...
Just Dance 2 on the Wii...
and basketball!
Evan was so excited to see his Sonic cake! Thanks Carly, it was delicious!
Make a wish, buddy!
Present time!
Evan specifically asked Chloe to get him this game and she was so EXCITED for him to open it. It was so sweet!
Pinata time!
CANDY!
Evan and all his friends...
This was the first year where basically every guest was Evan's friend instead of Mommy and Daddy's friends. We missed some of our friends who couldn't make it, but it was so awesome to see Evan with all of his friends. He is truly blessed with some wonderful friends and it fills my heart with joy to see him so happy.
Happy Birthday, Buddy! I hope it was everything you hoped for!
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