It took a lot of misses to get a hit!

This weekend I took the boys to a department photo studio for some quick brotherly love pics. There were so many bad pictures!! And the funniest part was which pictures they "enhanced" to put in highlight collages for me to buy!

It took this shot:

To get this one:

Took this picture:

Before we could get one of him seated:

Took this shot:

Before he'd look at the camera:

And it took these gems:

To get the WINNER!

(How cute is that though, yeah it's going on my wall!)

The photographer exclaimed, "Your boys move really fast don't they!?"

Um...yeah they do!

I know they are used to parents wanting to preserve EVERY memory of their precious snowflakes, but they looked SHOCKED I didn't want to pay an extra $80 for a cd with every image. Ha! I see these out takes every day, I went to them for a winner. Good thing I used a Groupon :)

 

Because you have my heart Mommy!

"Mommy, look what I'm drawing for you."

"I drew you a beayouuutiful flower...

because I you have my heart Mommy!"

 

I'm enjoying being his number one gal while I can.

The next day he said, "Mommy, I'm going to give the new friend at school, Penny, one of my pretend flowers too. She has my heart."

 

"Oh yeah, Ethan?" Trying to mask the sting in my voice.

 

"Oh don't worry Mommy, you still have my heart. I have lots of hearts."

Why it's better to watch the parade than be IN it

The boys have been so excited be IN the neighborhood parade with Ethan's school today. They practiced their waves all morning.

Then they waited on the float. And waited. And waited. Ohhhhh... because we're the second to last float in the parade!

Oh. And they have to THROW the candy instead of EAT it?!

Oops. I think they'll be happy being spectators again next year!

First Day of School 2013

Continuing our tradition of taking pictures of the first days of school (starting in 2012) and the last days of school (see 2013), today was another installment! Some call it the first day of school, others call it parents' happiest day of the year!

For Ethan and I, we were both excited but we didn't feel the unrestrained glee we did last year. This year was more eyes wide open combined with anticipation and hope for a great year. Now we know more of the ups and downs like never ending colds, learning fun new songs, hard work, and making new friends.

 

Ethan has grown so much more over the summer and we are both excited about another Montessori year with his beloved Mrs. Fraley!

 

 

 

And later, caught in the act of doing some work!

 

Last Day of Preschool 2012-2013

As you might remember, this fall we started a tradition of taking Ethan's picture on our backyard bench the first day of school. I was interested in seeing how much he grew physically over the past nine months so we did the same the last day of school too.

September 2012:

June 2013:

His first year of five mornings a week in Montessori had many lessons for all of us, and I grew to be a better mom at the same time he was growing to be a bigger boy!

I learned how to give him confidence by not doing for him what he is capable of doing, how to have a more structured morning to get two boys out by 8:00am every day, how to tell when to let go and when to step in and advocate for him (still polishing that one), and what roads have the fewest lights to lull Gavin into a nap so I may have quiet to pay bills (and blog)!

Here are the gifts he gave to his teacher Mrs. Fraley and her assistant Ms. Washington. He helped me pick and plant the herbs and we placed a gift card in each of their notes. I had plans of painting the pots together, but chose to hold on to some sanity instead. Oh and those cards are from a free template online, too bad he has the same teachers for the next few years because I would totally do this again next year!

I can't wait to learn what songs and moves he'll teach me this year!

 

 

 

 

Spot Ethan's Favorite Plaything?

Hint: He hasn't bored of it in 19 months

 

 

I'm NEVER this mom!

My boys must leave the house every day.

Must. Not. Be. Trapped. Inside.

I always find something. Today I took a page out of Chris's play book and for the first time we just splashed in the rain.

Gavin looks as surprised as I was.

Going with the water theme they pulled out the water beads.

Ethan was bummed when I said we had to go in and dry off...

But stoked when I (reluctantly) said we could do it again.

I can wait four more years to fulfill that promise right?

I'm pretty partial to dry clothes and avoiding mud.

Ohhhh... or maybe Daddy will be home the next rainy day...