Thank God for Kids

"If it weren't for kids have you ever thought
There wouldn't be no Santa Clause
Look what the store just brought
Thank God for kids

We'd all live in a quiet house
Without Big Bird or a Mickey Mouse
And Kool-aid on the couch
Thank God for kids

Thank God for kids there's magic for a while
A special kind of sunshine in a smile
Did you ever stop to think, or wonder why?
The dearest thing to Heaven is a child

A 'Daddy how does this thing fly?'
A hundred other where's and why's
I really don't know but I try
Thank God for kids

When I look down in those trustin' eyes
That look to me, I realize
It's love that I can't buy
Thank God for kids

Thank God for kids there's magic for a while
A special kind of sunshine in a smile
Did you ever stop to think, or wonder why?
The dearest thing to Heaven is a child

When you get down on your knees tonight
To thank the Lord for his guiding light
And pray they turn out right
Thank God for kids
Hmmm, thank God for kids"

I heard this song the other day while listening to the Christmas station at work.  I had never heard it before but fell in love with the lyrics.  While it is not among the most common of Christmas songs it sure fits the meaning of season in my world.  And I know I thank God everyday for my kids and for everyone that is special to me.

The first year Chase made it all the way to Santa, he even eeked out a smile!

Chase and Chameleon

Chase brought a friend home from school last week, Chameleon, he is the classroom traveling (stuffed) animal (thank goodness) and he comes home, along with his book, with each child for a week.  The mission; take pictures of them doing special things together and write in the traveling journal.  Here is what Chase and Chameleon were up to.

Playing race cars

Reading



Goodnight hugs

Defender of the Goal

We recently attended Carter's soccer awards dinner and his achievement, "Best Defender of the Goal".  He loves playing defense and goalie even though at this level there are no  "official" posisitons.  I can't wait for Spring and new season to see how much the boys grow and improve.  But stay tuned basketball is coming soon!

Trick or treat, smell my feet...

give me something good to eat, if you don’t I don’t care I’ll pull down your underwear. 

This has been going around our house all week.  Chase’s version was even better, “smell my feet and if you don’t I pull down you underwear”.  I was terrified I would be the parent standing at the end of the curb as my unruly children recited it at every doorstep.  But, from what I can tell and by the amount of candy now filling our “candy bucket” in the pantry I guess they stuck with the more polite, trick or treat followed by a gracious thank you, which they were instructed to say loud enough that we could hear from the curb.


Here is the story of our Halloween

Once upon a time there was a brave knight

  

He was noble, valiant and fearless in battle, but he could not survive in his world without his ferocious green dragon by his side

The dragon was courageous and wildly ornery in his ways

  
But together they rescued the beautiful princess and lived happily ever after. 

THE END

The Great Pumpkins

It’s pumpkin pickin time so we made our annual trip to Johnson Farms Pumpkin Patch, it has sort of become a tradition for us.  It is the perfect place for picking perfect pumpkins, say that three times fast!  The boys love to hop on the hayride and hit the fields in search of their “great pumpkins”.  This year Carter was challenged (by Aunt Melissa) to find the BIGGEST pumpkin (thanks for that by the way) and of course Carter never wants to lose a challenge so his mission for the day, “find a pumpkin as big as the house” (pay backs are hell).  I love watching the boys run through the field in search of their pumpkins, it is always fun and interesting to see what they find.  I am always a little worried as when the times comes to head to the oversized scale, especially this year with the “largest pumpkin ever” in our wheel barrel.

But wait, there’s more, lots more, moon bounce, train rides, discovery barn, corm maze and pig races, that’s right what pumpkin patch would not be complete without pig races.  The biggest hit at least for my biggest boy is the pumpkin launcher.  I mean doesn’t every successful grown man love to see pumpkins shot miles into the air just to watch them smash into slitherins.

Of course, I took pictures, here are few, okay a bunch of my favs.

Look how much we've grown (typical poses)

Carter's favorite animal of the day, baby chicks

Chase's favorite, the big sheep

Faces with Ema Glenda

Train ride, actually Chase bailed before the actual ride began

Somewhere in the corn maze

Our fearless leader

In search of his great pumpkin

Looking for the "biggest" one

Pumpkin seat

Little Mr. Fix-It

Chase loves to play with his tools!

Drill

Wrench



Saw

And of coarse, every Mr. Fix-it needs his head light!

Go Sharks!

Carter’s soccer skills are much improved from the Spring, he has better control over the ball and is definitely more aggressive, in a good sports playing kind of way. He really loves to play, but even more he loves to win. Officially they don’t keep score until they reach 2nd grade but ask any of the boys playing and they can tell you every time. It must be a boy thing.

In A Fog

Literally, one day a week or so ago you could barely see to the end of the street because of the thick fog. As we were approaching the school to drop Carter off that morning, Chase very seriously from the backseat says, “Carter no go to school”. When I asked why he said, “the school is smoky, maybe on fire”. I will admit I was a bit confused at first and then I realized he had mistaken the fog for smoke and thought that it was coming from the school. I was actually quite impressed that was so observant and also pleased that he was worried about his brother walking into a potentially burning building. On the other hand it is no easy task explain fog to a two year old.

Everything I Know I Learned In Kindergarten…

Carter told me the other night, as we enjoyed one of our many conversations while cuddling before bed, that if a girl has on a skirt you should not look up it because they don’t like that. Very profound and very true. He also told me that he saw a 3rd grader peeing on a tree on the playground and that it was also not a good idea because he got in big trouble. I am so glad I spending good money to send him to full day kindergarten to learn these very important lessons.

I don't have any pics of him looking up girls skirts so here is one from the KC Sporting game we went to last weekend.

Everybody Poops...

And now so does Chase.  We have been trying to potty train him for a few weeks and while he had the peeing thing down he flat out refused to poop.  He knew when he had to go because he would announce it before and he went and let us know when he was done but for whatever reason he was afraid to go in the potty.  We are those parents that use bribes, judge if you like, but it usually works.  We tried everthing from candy to toys to outings, etc. but all he wanted to do was "poopy in my diaper".  We still have a way to go until he is officially ":potty trained" but this was a huge step in the right direction.

P.S. I know one day he will not be happy that i shared this with the world, but that's just what mommies do. 

POOP ALERT, PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

Lunch Lesson Learned

Be very clear when giving directions to your 5 year old.

One day last week Carter took his lunch to school, when he came home I unpacked his lunch bag and noticed it was empty.  I asked if he had eaten everything.  He said he didn't have time to eat it all so he just threw it away. I told him if he didn't have time to eat it all to put what was uneaten back into his lunch bag and bring it home.

Result, last night when I opened his lunch bag I found a half drunk juice box and a half eaten cup of applesauce, AND a big mess.

As I unpacked the bag with a confused look on my face, Nate begins to giggle and then I realized, he did exactly what I had asked.

Well, chalk it up to another lesson learned and another good laugh.

Kindergarten...Enjoy the Ride

I started this post last week, but am just now getting around to finishing it.

How is it possible that you, my Carter, are in kindergarten? It almost feels like a dream, but it is true. We bought your school supplies, picked out your backpack and another new pair of shoes, I filled out all the forms and attended the meetings, but it didn’t seem real until yesterday. I took your little hand in mine and we walked side by side into a whole new (big) world called kindergarten.

You were so very excited; actually you have been for months, you could not wait to meet new friends, use your new pencils and explore your cubby. I watched as you met your teacher, Mrs. Lane, and found your seat at the miniature tables scattered around the room. Dozens more just like you were there with their moms and dads taking pictures. You seemed to grow up in that instant, no longer a baby, toddler or even preschooler but a grade schooler (Did I mention that just typing that makes me feel old). I noticed other moms like me who had said goodbye about ten times before actually leaving the room. No tears were shed by you, as expected and only a few by me as I left the parking lot already wondering how your day would go. I will admit it was a long day for me, five o’clock couldn’t have come fast enough. I could not wait to get home and hear all about your amazing day. I hoped it would meet your expectations and be everything you had wanted it to.

You welcomed me with a hug and we talked about your day. Your favorite part was lunch, not because you got to eat but because you got to pick out, on your own, just what you wanted, just like a grown up.

And growing up you are. I am sure this year is going to fly by just like the last 5 and half before it, and since I cannot make it stop, although I might try, I will just have to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Carter at his table

Ice Cream to celebrate a GREAT first day

Colorful Colorado

We could not have been more ready to head for cooler weather on our annual trip to Arrowhead mountain.  The boys were so excited and even survived the 12 plus hour trip with flying colors (thank you Jesus for the DVD player and headphones).  By my calculations I took about 500 pictures and while it is hard for me to pick just few to share (of the cutest kids in the world) I did my best.

The whole family

I guess he wanted to make sure we were still behind him

Yes, I know how cute I am

Throwing rocks



The boys loves sticks, finding them, throwing them, hitting things with them,

the list goes on.



Fishing, right before the storm rolled in, including hail



Climbing mountains, can you see us?



Hiking and a picnic



Hanging on the deck



Diggin for worms



Feeding the fish



Hot cocoa mustache



A boat ride in the black canyon with Gma Glenda and Papa Terry

Carter making a new friend with the Captian



Chase enjoying the boat ride



A day trip to Crested Butte



Campfires



I take a photo every year of each of the boys sitting on this log

so I can see how they have grown (too much, make it stop)



Thanks for spending the day with us Gma and Papa



 Remember I only have about 478 more pictures I can share!