Letters Make Words

Kenny has caught onto the next big step in reading after learning letter sounds. He understands that letters are put together to make words. This may seem simple to most of us, but trust me, I teach first grade and is not as simple as it seems. Anyway, he was sitting on the floor with his markers, and the next thing I knew, he brought me a paper filled with words. What really surprised me was when he read each word. He wrote cat, hat, mat, pop, stop, and a few other words. His letters were clear and easy to read. I was so proud of him.

Of course, he also colored on himself.

A Sunbeam No More

Being the first Sunday of the new year, all the new classes started. Nathan is not two yet, so he stayed in the junior nursery. When I picked up Nathan, his new teacher gushed about how sweet he was. He also learned to whistle during nursery today.
Kenny had a great time in Primary. He isn't a little Sunbeam anymore. He moved up the CTR 5. I almost cried when I went into the Primary room and saw him sitting up so nicely with his little tie and dress shoes. When we picked him up he was so excited. He got a CTR (Choose The Right) ring. He said he learned all the teacher's rules. He learned a new song. He was giddy with excitement over his day.
I am so grateful to see him excited. He had a hard time in Primary last year. Moving from nursery to Primary was a hard adjustment. I hope this excitement continues.

(As per request) The Muffin Story

So this blog is also our family journal (it is much easier than handwriting it out.) One thing I do not want to forget is a story that will be used to torture the future potential spouse of my son Kenny.

WARNING: This is a potty training story, so do not continue reading if you are going to be offended.

About two week before Christmas, the choir was practicing for the Christmas program. I am the director, so I was up there on the stage of the chapel doing my thing. The boys where playing around with the other children. I turned around and I noticed something on the floor by the front row pew. I asked Kenny, "Sweetie, what is that?" He responded, "A muffin." Okay. I thought...maybe one of the parents brought a snack for their kids. But I looked a little closer and realized what I was looking at. I asked again, "Kenny, what is that?" To which he responded(shrugging his shoulders and talking out the side of his mouth, "Well...it's probably just my poop." Yes, his accident had fallen out onto the chapel floor.

I can laugh about this now, but at the time I was certain that this was the lowest Mommy moment of all time. Maybe it is...but if it gets any lower, don't tell me...I don't want to know.

Polar Express 3D

Please keep in mind that for Christmas last year Kenny got the Polar Express movie. Combine that with his obsession with trains, and I have seen or listened to this movie at least 200 times throughout the last year. So, when we were invited to go with my brother and his wife's family to see the 3D version I was excited strictly because I liked the company we were with. Seeing this movie yet again was not high on my priority list. But this movie in 3D is completely different than the regular version. I felt like I was watching it for the first time. Kenny was absolutely enthralled. As soon as the movie started he said, "Whoa. These glasses make it big!" He did not move for the rest of the time. When my brother leaned over to ask him if he liked it, Kenny said, "Shhh. Be quiet." And he "shhh'ed" anyone else who spoke during the movie. Nathan didn't like to wear the glasses, but he was very involved watching the slightly blurry version. We all had a great time.

On another note, both Daddy and I are both getting colds. The boys were up to their normal mischievousness this morning (dumping hamster food on the floor and pouring water on the floor). Daddy pulled Kenny aside and explained that he was not feeling well and needed him to be extra good. He was an angel for the rest of the day. He helped with everything. And when I came home from work, he ran up to me, hugged me, and said, "Mommy, I was a good boy today. And I'm going to help you too." He is such a sweet little guy!

Interesting Things Happen When Small Ones Are Afoot

As I was collecting dishes from around the house, I noticed a glass on my husband's night stand. I picked it up and saw that the cup was about 1/2 full of water and contained several handfuls of water logged caramel popcorn. Now, I could ask myself, "Why did the boys put popcorn in the water?" but I already know the answer.

Because they could.

I have come to believe this simple phrase is the answer to all why questions concerning children. Logic does not play any role whatsoever in the decision making process of children. (Sometimes the same rings true for adults.) And once this simple truth is accepted, life becomes a bit easier.

Another example, several weeks ago I opened the fruit drawer in the fridge to find 3 apples, with one bite taken out of each one.

Just tonight, Kenny and Nathan were playing in the shower. I stepped into the hall to grab new towels and heard an odd whooshing noise. I returned to find the walls, shower curtain, and both boys covered in shaving foam. I am talking head to toe foam. (Little Kenny got a fake shaving kit for Christmas that had a can of blueberry scented foam.)

On a side note, Kenny is having issues lately with sibling rivalry. I have come to this conclusion based on several piece of evidence.
1. The other day we were playing with Kenny, tickling and saying we should just eat him for breakfast, when he yelled out, "Kenny's not food. Nathan's food. Eat him."
2. Two days ago, the boys and I were playing in the toy room and Kenny had all the little metal magnetic trains. When Nathan decided he wanted to play trains, I asked Kenny to please share a few with him. Kenny said, "Mama, put Nathan outside. I don't want him anymore."

They sure keep life interesting!

Back to the Grind

I started back to school on Tuesday. It is always hard for me to go back. I enjoy my job, but I hate getting a taste of the stay-at-home mom thing I really want to do, and then going back to teaching. Of course my group of 17 little munchkins returned in fine form...full of stories. I had the hardest time getting them to stop telling each other the stories long enough to get much done. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

I started a new workout routine (part of the New Years thing). I got a DVD with 6 different 20 minute yoga routines. I was very skeptical about yoga stuff, but after giving it a try I realized that yoga hurts. And since hurt means gain in workout world, I'll wait a few weeks to unleash my full judgment on yoga.
(This is what I hope to look like post-yoga.)

Ringing In The New Year

So, we stated our New Year with a bout of stomach flu! What a great start. Fortunately, so far only little Kenny and my mother have been affected. However, Kenny seems to have a knack for throwing up everywhere but the toilet and/or bowl. He hit the toy room carpet a few times, his bed, the bathroom rug, and the couch. After he messed up his bedding and while it was being washed, we asked him if he would like to have his Thomas fleece that was on Nathan's bed. He said, "No. Nathan can use my blanket until he gets his own." So sweet.

At church on New Years Day, a friend of mine's baby tugged on my leg while I was holding Nathan. Nathan pointed his finger at her and said, "No! Bad baby!" I was so surprised until later that day when I overheard Kenny say the same thing to Nathan. Now I know where he got that phrase.

So, resolutions...same as every year.
Get skinny
Have rock hard abs
Become independently wealthy without working for it
Have a happy and healthy family

You never know...I think this is my year!