The short ones

Stephen got to talk to his Grandma on the phone the other night. He pressed his ear so close to the phone and his eyes lit up. Yay for Grandma phone calls!

The boys getting ready for the day. They chase each other in circles through the kitchen, dining room and living room nearly every morning. I love how full of life the mornings are with their running around.

When did it become such a big deal to celebrate the 100th day of the school year?

Wyatt counted out paper clips and we used scotch tape to put them on his homework paper.

This is Wyatt in his "office". He refused breakfast the other morning because "I have to get to work, mom."

It's-Way-Past-Your-Bedtime-Photo-Shoot

Can't Stop Singing!

 Two of my friends are touring with Sesame Street's Can't Stop Singing. The show recently stopped in Kansas City and my friends hooked us up with a couple of tickets.

The boys were so excited to meet Elmo and Ernie.

Some of the characters came out to sing and dance in the lobby before the show.

Wyatt danced. Jack flat out refused to dance. I asked if he would bounce with me. His response?

"I don't bounce."

 My favorite is OSCAR!

Sick week

So everyone except Dad has been sick at our house. I came down with a nasty sinus infection. The boys were out of school for a week with fevers, John contracted the Flu B, Stephen had RSV and Mom has had one thing after another in the land of chasing colds. Here are the boys sharing some sofa time during their week home from school. Jack was quite upset when he realized he still had homework. He also let me know it wasn't fair because he never has "THAT MUCH" homework. He couldn't understand that it wasn't just homework, it was a week's worth of schoolwork - that his classmates kept working while he was sweating it out on the sofa playing wii, go fish or watching iCarly. Poor kid.

Audrey the Amaryllis

My father-in-law gave this amaryllis to me for Christmas. I gave it a little water and she took over the house. I would come home each day and be SHOCKED at how much she had grown. It got to the point where I thought she was going to kill us as we slept.

Audrey did not kill us and she was stunning when she bloomed.

School visit

I like to drop in for lunch with the boys when my schedule allows. The kinders can get rather rowdy.

The students are asked to help clean the tables after lunch. This was the first time I ever saw Jack participate. I have a few things for him to clean up at home!

I couldn't help sneaking into the Kinder room and taking a quick peek at Wyatt's desk. He didn't like that I was 'sneaking' on him and told me I had to ask his teacher if I wanted to sneak into his classroom.

Happy 2013!

It's never too late for Christmas!

Here we are waiting to see what Santa brought for us!

A first look at the new booty! BIKES!

The fella who takes such great care of us.

These boys will never be too big to get excited over trains.

And here little nephew Stephen gets in on the action.

This poor guy came down with RSV (a respiratory infection) just after Christmas. This involved coughing, fever and lots and lots of phlegm. He had to do breathing treatments every day (medicated steam through a face mask.) At his first follow up appointment the Dr. didn't like how low Stephen's oxygen level was and so he was sent via ambulance to Children's Mercy where he stayed over night. All is well now and thankfully the congestion has cleared up. He will be left with a bit of a rattley cough for a few more weeks but he is in MUCH better spirits.

Not really.

Wyatt started piano lessons this week. He nagged us about it until we got him set up. He has been very excited about his impending first lesson but I really think he only wanted the them because it is something Jack has that Wyat doesn't have - but we will see. John took Wy to his first practice as I was in rehearsal. John was pretty frustrated with the little guy as he was all over the piano bench and doing anything/everything except listening to his teacher. At the end of the lesson John took a picture for me but Wyatt refused to comply. How sweet and fun that his teacher laid out on the bench with little Wy for a first lesson photo op!

                                 

I asked Wyatt if he would play his piano lesson for me. He told me he forgot it. Then he had a brilliant idea! "We can ask my teacher to come over to our house every day to help me play my piano lesson! We could give him a snack!"

I picked up the boys from school and we were on our way to pick up my little nephew Stephen. My visor was down because the sun was in my eyes. Jack saw my little cd holder on the back of the visor. "What is that cd that looks like a baseball?" he asked. "Well, that is a cd of the Rosary. It is a bunch of Hail Marys and Our Fathers. Do you want to hear it?" I asked.

"Uh...Not really" was Jack's reply.

The 2nd graders led mass this Friday. Jack was a petitioner again. I asked him how the kids are assigned their duties for mass. He said his teacher had him assigned to do one of the readings “but I am too uncomfortable to be a reader. I will be comfortable to be a reader when I am in 4th grade.”

John took Wyatt to a birthday party this weekend for one of his classmates. John and the fellas arrived a bit early and John says that when Wyatt’s friend showed up, Wy started to run off but turned and waved a little “I love you” hand sign at John and then sprinted off.

I love going through the boys' Friday folders each weekend. The teachers send home the work the students have done throughout the week and there are always a few gems waiting there for me. Jack wrote a prayer in his computer class. His teacher thought it was good enough that she showed it to the principal and she wrote him a note! Then I found this lovely Christmas tree in Jack' folder and here is an Advent wreath made by little Wy.

                 

The kids had a snow day on their last day of school before Christmas break. Unfortunately this was the day their Christmast parties were scheduled. Their snacks and crafts have been rescheduled. Wyatt's class made bells out of paper plates. Wyatt insists his in not a bell but an Elf hat.

                                                          

And finally if you are looking for a good read you should pick up The Miraculous Journey of Edward Toulane. I have read the book before but I thought we I would read it to the boys this Christmas. Jack's favortie part was when Edward got fixed after his accident in the diner. Wyatt says his favorite part was the end. We can't tell you why because we don't want to spoil it for you! We hope you will put this on your "books to read" list and let us know what you think!