The Day He Read "Big Red Barn"

Big Red Barn has always been a favorite book in this house.  First, it was Cooper's...then Austin's...and now we read it nightly to Grayson.  I can recite the entire book without even looking at it.  I remember when the book was fresh and new, with clean pages, crisp corners, a firm binding.  I remember reading it to Cooper over and over.  We would talk about the animals and what sounds they make, who else might live in the barn, and where all the animals go at night.  We started reading it before he could even talk, when he would just point to different images on the pages and make a little toddler "this?" sound, like he wanted to know the name of each item on those colored pages.

And then, in the blink of an eye, he is six (well, 6 3/4, if you ask him) and he is reading.  He picked up the book off of Grayson's table and began to read.  Word after word, page after page.  He read.  The boy who used to curl up in my lap, with a blankie under his arm, and listen to Mommy read Big Red Barn, read the same book on his own.  He needed help with a few words along the way, but he read.  Sure, we've practiced reading site words and beginning reader books throughout the year.  But this book is different.  This book holds a special place in this mama's heart.  This book has created memories.

05.18.2015

We Sneaked Away to the Zoo

Coop and Austin had an early afternoon dentist appointment, and well, instead of taking Cooper back to school, we sneaked away and went to the zoo!  It had rained earlier in the day, but luckily, by the time we arrived, the sky was clear and the zoo crowds were gone.  We basically had the entire zoo to ourselves.  Love it!

They have a new dinosaur exhibit, where you can ride a train and look at all of the dinosaurs scattered around the path.  They are motion activated, so as the train went by, the dinos would roar and move.  The boys were all over it!

A mama and her monkeys.

Checking out the alligators.  The boys thought it was hilarious that one alligator was completely asleep on top of another alligator, under the water.

We got a glimpse of a six-month old giraffe.  So cute!!

 

Coop leaned over to kiss my cheek, Austin followed.  I luckily had my phone in my hand and caught this sweet moment with my boys.

We had such a fun, fun day!  Looking forward to more fun outings over the summer with all THREE of my guys.

Watching the Rain from the Porch

Watching the rain from our front porch is one of my absolute favorite things to do.  Philip and Cooper are on a Y Guide campout this weekend, so after dinner, with heavy rain coming down, the little guys and I headed to the porch to watch the rain.  We sang songs, we talked about rain and where it comes from, what it feels like, we sat quietly and listened to the sounds around us.  I love these moments.

Alligator Gloves

These alligator gloves were mine when I was a little girl.  I loved them.  Adored them.  I look at them and remember wearing them, the string connecting the two mitten alligators strung through the arms of my jacket.  It's a genius idea really.  Why don't they make mittens like this anymore?  You could take off your mittens and they were still right there in your coat sleeves!  No dropping them in puddles or snow or losing only one.  Genius.  

I recently came across these gloves and Austin Buddy thought they were pretty awesome.  My boys may not play with my barbie dolls or the dance costumes I kept, but they sure love my alligator gloves!

01.28.2015

Boy Pockets

Even at the young age of 18 months, it's super cool to stuff things in your pockets. 

I found two tiny flashlights in Grayson's pockets as I was sorting clothes to wash.  I've learned to never wash anything with pockets without checking them first. I've found a huge range of things: army men, sticks, rocks, leaves, money-real and pretend, tiny cars, tools, rope, dog food, people food (I even found tiny carrot bits in my sweater pocket recently!  Thank you, Grayson.), legos...the list goes on and on.  It always makes me smile, though.  It's like their special little items for a particular moment, some treasures they just wanted to keep close for the day.  Oh these boys...

01.28.2015

This Number Three Boy of Mine...

This kid.  My Number Three.  My Little One.  "That Guy" as Austin calls him.  My, oh my, how he keeps me on my toes...

* Learned to open the bathroom door...grabbed the conditioner...and well, you can see what happened next.  (And tonight I ran out and purchased door knob covers so he can't open doors any longer.)

 * Just wanting to see the view of the room from on top of the table?

 

 * Trying to get a taste of the cookie dough.  (And, yes, I did grab my phone to take a picture before helping him off the rolling and completely unsafe car he was standing on...  Luckily, he climbed down on his own.)

 

* Trying to get his diaper off, while keeping his jammies on.

 * And, now, who needs jammies?!  (In fact, we've resorted to putting his zip-up jammies on backwards at night because too many mornings I found him totally naked, with a wet potty spot on the floor.  Yes, he stripped his clothes off and peed outside of his bed.  Oh.  Boy.)

* Mommies lipstick?  Sure, I'll just see what happens...

And these are just the moments when I quickly grab my phone before rescuing, grabbing, catching, or just staring with my jaw dropped.  I never know what I will find when I hear big brother call out, "Mom!  You may need to see this!"  Or "Mom!  Grayson is Mr. Mischief again!"  Or even Grayson himself, "Uh oh, Mama."  This boy.  Good thing he is cuddly and cute and still wants to be held the majority of the time.