My Favorite Boy.

Each night when Max goes to bed, he has to pick some cars, trucks, or trains to go with him. He settles into bed, turns on his "Flashlight Friend", and lines them all up. Then, he talks to them and pushes them around until his eyelids get too heavy. He's been going to bed cuddled up with some of his favorite vehicles for a long time now. It is one of the things I love the most about him. That, and the way his arms feel around my neck when I kiss him good night. Just like I tell him every night, "You are my favorite boy". He always responds, "You my favorite Mommy."

First Day of Spring

Happy First Day of Spring! I know that is a welcome phrase for most of the country after this awful winter. The kids were out playing with the neighbors in the driveway in shorts and t-shirts. It was a great afternoon.

I'm taking a line drawing class via creativebug.com. I created this line drawing a couple of weeks ago. I colored it tonight. If you need a little yellow in your house in honor of spring time, feel free to download it and print!

Download it here!

Rainbow Looming

Last summer my mom asked me if I had heard of a Rainbow Loom.  I said that I hadn't.  She told me to check it out, Charlotte would love it.  I went to Michael's and bought one for her.  I brought it home and we opened it and read the instructions to make the basic bracelet.  We worked on it together and successfully made a bracelet.  Then, she wanted to do it on her own.  That attempt was not so successful.   She ended up VERY frustrated and the loom sat in the box until New Year's.

On New Year's day we discovered whole channels on You Tube dedicated to Rainbow Looming.  I showed her how to pause and re-start a video so she could loom at her own pace.  She spend 4 straight hours that day rainbow looming.  It was a miracle.  The first time this child had EVER done something by herself for a half hour let alone 4 hours.

For the next month after that, she was completely addicted.  Looming 'til her fingers bled.  (Well not quite that much, but a lot).  However, there was also a side of the looming addiction that we didn't anticipate.  If something did not go quite right on a bracelet - MAJOR tantrums would ensue.  It got to the point that I had to restrict access to the loom for a couple of days to let her cool off.  If you follow me on instagram, you have seen what she looks like when things don't work out.



But, now, she is a Rainbow Loom master.  She makes mistakes, but now she can correct them herself.  She loomed so much that she broke the hook that comes with the loom and we upgraded to a metal crochet hook.  She spent all of her birthday money on new rubber bands.  She has invented her own "snake" bracelet.  She brings home from school orders that her friends on the bus have filled out, so they can have their own custom "snakes".



Again, I have had to restrict the time she spends after school to a half an hour.  But, this is because she would do it all evening if I would let her.  And we probably need to be doing things like learning to read better, practicing math fluency (still figuring out what that is!), and other kindergartener type things.



We even came up with a little tag for her creations when she passes them out to people.



I created a PDF you can dowload if you have a little rainbow loomer that wants their own tag too!  Just download here!  And, here's a version for any boy loomers out there: download here.

Picnics and Such

Last week, Charlotte found the blog books I made for years 2008, 2009, 2010. She sat down and shared them with Max. The sat there for a long time on the couch looking at all of the pictures together. Later, when they went to bed, I sat down and looked at them. They are amazing books. Books filled with the little things we did every day and the big things that only happened once. They are something that I treasure. After that night, I have been itching to sit down and starting logging our adventures - big and small - again.

Since I last posted, we've made a few changes to our way of life around here. I quit my part time job to spend all of my time at home. My brain is rotting away, but the stress in our house is gone. I learned that I just can't handle the stress that comes with working and having kids at home.

We also got a puppy back in August. A beautiful beagle pup that we named Hudson. (After Hudson Rd., the street our old house was on.) However, after keeping him for seven months, I had my fill of puppy hood. He was a pretty high maintenance pup and with two kids I just couldn't do it. So, we made the decision to ask Atlanta Beagle Rescue to help us find him a home. Luckily, the said they would. He was placed in a new home this past Sunday. While it has been pretty sad, overall, our house is much more peaceful. I was really worried about the kids, but they have hardly mentioned him.



Charlotte is doing great in Kindergarten. She is reading to us every night. She comes home happy every day. She asked to ride the bus home from school, so in September I signed her up to do that. Everyday, Max and I walk down to the bus stop and wait for her. She has 3 baby teeth missing from her mouth, with 3 big teeth growing in right behind them.

Max is going to school 3 mornings a week. He doesn't cry anymore when it's time to go and walks in happily. His favorite days, though, are still the days that he stays home with me. He likes to wear his PJs until 10 AM and drive his toy vehicles around the rooms. I'm pretty happy to stay in my PJs until 10AM and relax with him.

Every day when he gets home from school he always asks to have a picnic. He runs to his room and grabs his "comfy blankie" while I make his sandwich. Then, he watches a show while he eats. This little routine makes him SO happy.