I just don't understand how his mind works.

Me:  "RJ take your jammies off and get dressed.  Your clothes are on the end of the bed...the camouflage shorts and 'Dad's Wing Man' shirt."

RJ:  "You mean I'm going to dig my Dad up?"

Me:  "No, the 'Dad's Wing Man' shirt.  It means you are Daddy's buddy."

RJ:  "What Dad?"

Me:  "Your Dad."

RJ:  "Oh."

2 minutes go by...

RJ:  "Where is the wing man shirt?"

GOOD GRIEF!!! Is it me?  Is it RJ?  Is it all men?  I just don't understand how his mind works.  But, I DO love him to the moon and back!!!

RJ Funnies!

On our way home from school this afternoon...

RJ:  "Mommy, are there toys in Heaven?"

Me:  "I've never been to Heaven, but I bet there are."

RJ:  "Can you pray to God and see if there are toys?"

A few days ago, at dinner.

RJ:  "Grace, you need to eat your dinner."

Grace:  "You're not the boss of me!"

RJ:  "Well, I'm the bosses kid."

4 Year Old Interview

RJ - 4 Years Old

What is your favorite color?

Blue and green.

What is your favorite food?

Yogurt.

(He DOES love yogurt.  Especially with fruit and granola added.)

What is your favorite toy?

My backhoe-digger.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A policeman.

What is your favorite thing to do at school?

Play with trucks and cars.

How does it feel to be 4?

I feel like I want to stay with you guys.

(I promise, Buddy.  You don't have to move out just yet.)

RJ's Birthday {2014}

The Big 0-4!!!

This year's birthday theme was DINOSAURS!.  Another easy one.  Ordered a case of plastic dinosaurs from Dollar Tree and we are done!  

We had his party at a local playground that had a splash pad.  Unfortunately the day of the party, the splash pad stopped working, so they kids couldn't get wet.  Luckily the weather was still nice and there were two playgrounds for the kids to play on. 

Birthday Boy approves!

Big Sis enjoying her cupcake!

Waking up to presents and balloons.

Singing Happy Birthday!

Happy 4th Birthday, Arj!

Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you and we love you to the moon and back!!

[Photos may not be used without express permission from blog author]

3 Year Old Interview

RJ - 3 Years Old

What is your favorite color?  Green.

What is your favorite food?  Beans and rice.

What is your favorite toy?  Bull dozer and a dump truck.

How does it feel to be 3?  Grrrrreat!

Why?  Because my tummy feels better.

What is your favorite thing to do at school?  Play with trucks.

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A monster truck driver.

RJ's Birthday {2013}

As I was updating this blog, I realized that I never posted photos of RJ's birthday party last year.  FAIL!!  I posted Grace's party pics.  Four months after her birthday.  Ugh.  Sadly, I didn't put a lot of time into the blog last year.  So, RJ will get two birthday posts this year.  

Last year's theme was Monster Trucks.  Easy peasy!!  We had the party at a local playground, ordered a Monster Truck pull apart cake, had some pizzas delivered and he was the happiest birthday boy around.

Turning 3 was a big deal to our little man!  Happy birthday, Arj!  Mommy and Daddy love you to the moon and back!

6 Year Old Interview

I am trying to keep up with the tradition of interviewing the kids each year on the birthday to see how their likes and aspirations have changed.  I really love it and hope when they look back over the years it will make them smile.

GRACE - 6 years old

What is your favorite color?

Pink

What is your favorite food?

Spaghetti and meatballs

What is your favorite toy?

My leopard.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

An artist.

Why?

Because I get to use art tools.

What is your favorite thing to do at school?

The computer center.

How does it feel to be 6?

Big and important.

Grace's Birthday

Grace turned 6 in February!!

I can't believe SIX YEARS OLD!!

It seems like once your child turns six, they are no longer babies.  Five was tough for me, but six is way harder.  All of a sudden she can open the car door by herself, get her own clothes out of the closet and dress herself, do her own hair, buckle herself into her carseat, it often seems she doesn't need much of our help.  While I want this, as it is important for our children to become independent, it still hurts my heart a little.  I miss my tiny baby, yet I'm enjoying my big girl!

This year she wanted a Heart-themed birthday party with a face painter.  Ask and you shall receive, my Sweet!  We had the party at the Lake Pavilion in my parents neighborhood and hired two face painters.  It was a hit and she really enjoyed her day.

Happy, Happy Birthday, G-Bug!  We love you to the moon and back!!!

A Million Little Snowflakes

Grace had been practicing this song for her school program for weeks.  We would listen to the CD in the car on the way to school.  The song would play twice.  The first time someone would sing the words, then the second time just the instrumental version.  We were driving around on this particular day and she had the song down perfectly.  I pulled over to video tape her.  Listen carefully and you can hear RJ in the background making noises. He sounds like a puppy.  I also like how Grace yawns in the middle of the song.  Apparently, singing is hard work. 

Christmas 2013

This Christmas was kind of low key.  With Bryan being deployed, I couldn't get the big tree down, set up, and decorated all by myself, so I decided to use our white and silver tinsel tree.  I went with a red theme and I think it turned out cute.  The kids liked it, so that was all that mattered.  

It's always sad when Clyde and Clarence have to leave.

Bryan was able to watch the kids open their presents.  Gotta love technology!

Santa brought one more present.  A John Deere Gator.  Woohoo!! 

Deere Races

Its' ON!! 

 I'm dying over this picture.  I won the kid lottery with these two!!

Halloween Photo Shoot

I dressed the kids up a few weeks before Halloween to capture their cute little selves in their Halloween costumes.  Halloween night is always so hectic, especially on a school night like it was this year, that I don't get very good pictures.  

This year Grace asked to be a monarch butterfly.  She has been obsessed with them since her 4 year old class raised them from caterpillars.  We even have milk weed plants and have raised a few ourselves.

RJ asked to be a construction worker.  This was perfect because I didn't have to buy a thing.  He had everything he needed for his costumes.  Easy, peasy!!

***THESE IMAGES MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION FROM BLOG AUTHOR***

Now I lay me down to sleep...

Rainbow Hair

Grace came home from school so proud that she could read a book all by herself.  I love seeing her so confident!

Mars vs. Venus

On our way home from school today, Grace was explaining something to RJ about how Bryan has worked in many different places.  I only caught the last part of the conversation, but know that Grace had been talking for quite a while.  The entire time Grace was talking, RJ was sucking his thumb and staring directly ahead.  Once Grace finished her dissertation RJ looked over at her and said, "That was a lot of talking", then he resumed his thumb sucking and staring.

Men and women are wired so differently from the get go.  Even at ages 3 and 5, he is from Mars and she is from Venus.

Deep Thoughts, from RJ.

The other day the kids were eating dinner.  RJ turned to me, as he was at the end of his bowl of peas and says, "I'm at the end of my peas.  You know, my master peas!"

Earlier in the week I told the kids they could have a sleepover in RJ's bed.  With enthusiasm RJ blurts out, "YES!!  This is going to be so dramatic!!"

Gracism

We were at a friend's house today and the kids were playing dress-up.  While talking with my friend, I heard Grace calling my name from the bathroom.  I went in there to find sitting on the potty all dressed in a ball gown, veil, and jewels.  She looked at me and says, "Mommy, even the fanciest princesses have to go poop."

Yes, Grace.  I guess they do.

Kindergarten!!!

Thursday night was meet the teacher at Grace's new school.  I can't believe she's going to Kindergarten!!!  It was so hard to leave her preschool.  The teachers she's had have been so wonderful and nurturing.  We have been truly blessed to send her there.  Even though we are sad she's leaving her preschool, we are so excited to find out what lies ahead in the "big kid school".  

I love Grace's new teacher.  She's a 17 year veteran, but has kids close to Grace's age.  When we arrived, Grace had to go on a scavenger hunt to find items such as the garbage can, bathroom, book nook, etc. to familiarize herself with the classroom.  Brilliant!  This was a much needed icebreaker.  Once Grace completed the hunt, she got to pick out a book that she would like to read on Monday.  She chose a book about cats and kittens.  Her teacher also left a little brown bag at each desk.  Each bag had a sign on it that said "Do Not Open Until Sunday at Bedtime".  Genius!!  What a great way to pique the student's interest and get them excited about the first day of school.

Grace coloring her name tag like a rainbow.  

I may or may not have cried while she was completing her scavenger hunt.  However, I know it will all be good once she comes home and tells me about her day.  She's looking forward to her new adventure.  Plus, her preschool teacher gave me a bottle of champagne as a gift for being the Room Mom.  We are to toast Grace's first day of Kindergarten and celebrate what an amazing human being she is!  I have a feeling I'm going to crack that bad boy open first thing in the morning to make mimosas for breakfast.  I'm going to need it to calm my nerves!

Happy Birthday, Grace!!

Grace turned 5 years old this month. (meaning February...I'm still trying to catch up on my blogging.) It's so cliche, but it really does seem like she was born yesterday.  Our tiny, squeeky, little baby is growing up and becoming quite the lovely little lady.  She is such a sweet and gentle soul and I'm so lucky to be her Momma!!

I thought it would be fun to interview Grace this year.  I hope to do this every year, so we can look back and reflect on how much she has evolved.

Grace - 5 years old

What is your favorite color?  Pink.

What is your favorite food?  Ravioli.  (This is funny to me, because I honestly don't know when the last was that we had ravioli)

What is your favorite toy?  My puppy purse.

How does it feel to be 5?  It feels different than 4.

Why?  Because, it's bigger.  I grow bigger when I'm 5.

What is your favorite thing to do at school?  Making fans.  (This is another thing that makes me laugh.  EVERYDAY, for weeks now, she brings home paper that she has colored on and accordion folded into a fan.  Sometimes there are two or three of them.)

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A babysitter.


We threw her a rainbow birthday party, complete with a rainbow bounce house.  She had a blast!!

Valentine's Day

This year I took pictures of the kids and incorporated them into the Valentine's they were going to give to their classmates.  Here are a few of my favorites from our Valentine Session...

Forever in her cowgirl boots.

Making progress...

I'm making progress on getting caught up on my blogging.  I'm finally into the year 2013.  

These pics are from an afternoon at the playground in January.  This was the first time I saw Grace swing by herself.  Previously she 'needed' someone to push her.  She was reluctant to listen and learn from my instructions on pumping her legs to gain momentum on the swing, but her teachers at school were working with her.  Today I got to see her do it all by herself.  As an adult, you forget about these small achievements.  

RJ is king of the world!!

Monkey!