Bedtime Stories

So, Monday night as I was tucking Will in ONE LAST TIME and giving him my FINAL hug, he lays this one on me:

"Mommy, I wish you were a blanket, or a pillow.
I wish you were a couch so I could lay on you.
I wish you were a toy so I could play with you.
I wish you were a stuffed animal so I could sleep with you.
I wish you were a book so I could hold you."

And then, I melted, right there where I was kneeling, at his bedside, into a big pile of mommy mush.

ps -- in case this isn't original and he is plagiarizing some book he's reading at school (which is entirely possible) don't tell me...I don't want to know!

John's Latest Obsession

John wants pretty much anything and everything Will has...his latest obsession is Will's backpack.

From the minute Will and I pick John up from daycare, he begins grunting/pointing/reaching/SCREAMING for it.  It has gotten to the point we have to hide it in the evenings and I have to hide it in the car when I pick the boys up in the afternoon.

If he sees it he DEMANDS it is put on him, and then he marches around the house like he has some little agenda to see to...

He really is cute.

School Notes...

All kids at some point get notes sent home from the teachers...some are good...some are not so good.  

Last week, Will received two notes in his backpack.

NOTE 1:

We received a note that Will didn't finish his 'center assignment on time' so I sent a message in his school folder to the teacher, to see what that meant exactly (i.e. was Will acting up in class and not working hard etc).  This is the note we got back from his teachers.

 

And I have to say, this is a pretty true statement.  Will takes WAAAAY to much pride in the detail of his coloring assignments.  And when we got the heart wreath that this note was referring to, I could totally see his little imagination at work, very deliberate coloring patterns, and precision scissor work cutting out all the pieces etc.  

I love our little perfectionist :)

NOTE 2:

Now, apparently our little Will has been perfecting something else...his social skills.

Check out this note his 'friend' Kensley stuffed in his backpack that she 'made just for Will'!

Yes, this is officially his first love letter, at F.O.U.R. years old.

I'm slightly nervous.....

Like Father, LIke SonS

One major bonus about having a mother in law (Rosie!) who never threw away her son's Batman tees? 

You can get pictures like this...

Johnny Football...For Real

Someone got a super duper surprise in the mail last week.

You know you have someone special in your life (Cheryl and Nick Castjohn!) when they also care about your kiddos...well apparently Cheryl found this football hat and of course, thought of John. 

We ABSOLUTELY L.O.V.E. it!!!!

I especially love how it accentuates his chubby cheeks...

And double chin!

Thank you Cheryl!!!!

John's 1 Year Photos!

A few weeks ago we had John's photos taken to commemorate him turning ONE.

Well...as most things go with him, there were smiles, giggles, tears, and...wait for it...crying LOL!

Enjoy our little turkey's photos!!!

Things started out swimmingly...

I may be a TAD biased, but I just love his eyes!

 I love these three photos...

The balloon is going...

Going...

Gone!

 Ah yes, then we started crying...

What you can't see in this picture is Johnny sobbing hysterically!

Then things got a BIT better...

And then worse LOL!

But in the end, we ended on a happy note :)

Here's a great picture of John's "duck tail" as Will calls it...at some point we must cut the mullet, but I haven't found the courage yet!  

And I wonder why my back is always hurting....I could probably rent him out to The Woodlands Cross Fit...he's like a 25lb kettle bell!

Once Johnny's photos were all done and he was buys eating puffs...Will had his turn.

Of course, everything Will does involves his crazy imagination, which this time, involved role playing his new favorite villain, Darth Vader!

Happy one year photos John!

Happy Valentine's Day!

From our boys!

John -vs- Ash Wednesday

So a few days ago I posted John's first art work, a 4 fingered hand print made into a polar bear.  I'm pretty sure the white paint from that fifth finger that never made it on to the paper, ended up on the face/hair of his teacher! 

Well....

Fast forward to Ash Wednesday.  John, Will, Nana Rosie, and I all met up at the 4 o'clock service.  Everything went fairly smoothly until we ran out of snacks and it was time to head up the aisle.  

Well...

Let's just say John let the alter server know he did not approve of strange ash covered thumbs in his space!  He hollered SO LOUDLY and tried his best to wriggle away!!!!  We actually left the service immediately following!

See below for the feeble, smeared, off centered Ash Wednesday cross attempt on his forehead/temple!

Of course once we were home, he was all smiles :)

Clothing Swap

So, I am pretty sure it is a baby's right of passage to, at some point, try on shoes that are way too big...mom's shoes, dad's shoes, and now....big brother's shoes.  Funny thing is, Will's shoes look awfully proportionate to John's fabulously plump body!  

What I never thought could happen would be something a bit opposite...a NEARLY five year old Will, wearing John's 18-24 month sized pants.  That's right.  Pulled Up.  Zipped. Buttoned.  With room to grow (in the waist).  I've heard of hand-me-downs.  There MAY be a time in my boys' lives where John does some hand-me-upping!!!

 And in case you don't believe me!

Swim Will Swim!

Will has started swim lessons...he is going to be spending LOTS of time in water during his childhood whether it's the community pool, or Lake Michigan :)...so we figured it was time to get him swimming (not to mention the fact that he is almost 5)!

We signed him up with Dylan (of course) and his first lesson was Tuesday and he did a FABULOUS JOB!  We are so proud of how hard he tried and how well he listened to his instructor.

Here he is 'swimming'...

Here he is 'floating'...
**FYI, I realize in this clip it sounds like I am crying/hyperventilating when the instructor let's go of him, but I am actually giggling to myself haha!

Go Will GO!

Mud Matters

This weekend...it rained...a LOT.

So of course, Will had to don his rain gear and head out to "Dinosaur Woods" for some good old fashioned puddle stomping...and boy did he stomp!

When puddles weren't enough, he headed to the lake which is fed by a little creek...

And...

He...

Stomped...

Some...

More!

Now I have no idea what this kid's obsession is with mud, water, and, well, muddy water...but I have a sneaking suspicion it is from my side of the blood line :)

 Here I am (on right) with my sister Emily...circa sometime in the early '80s...

 Again, here I am getting down and dirty (on right).

Notice the hair, caked fully with mud and LORD knows what else (we were back behind out barn in the horse pasture).  I love it!