Just Sayin'

There are a bunch of pictures and events I still need to upload but I wanted to record these before I forget...

Marshall: "Mom, does Hudson have a neck?  Will his chin always be right on his chest?"  (See picture, above.)

While coaxing Coen to aim IN the toilet: "Mom! See that drop?" he said proudly, pointing to the back of the seat "That my's!!" (mine)  And THIS is why I mop up urine every day.  Sigh.

Coen and Marshall love collecting sticks and playing with them.  Coen doesn't say the /s/ at the beginning of words and kind of says the /t/ as /d/ which has lead to all kinds of funny sentences, as you can imagine.  Me:  "You lost your...OH! Your stick."  Or Coen, crying, "Mooom, Marsh hit me with his  ______."  Me:  "HE WHAT?!"  Or coming back from a walk with Dad "Mom!!  I found a BIG _____."   I kid you not.  So inappropriate, I know.

John and I frequently stop at a gas station down the street called QT (Quik Trip) to grab a Diet Coke and we always fill up there, too.  One day a couple weeks ago we were down in Independence at Costco and Coen pointed across the street at a QT and said incredulously, "Mom.  How dat Diet Coke place get all a way ober here??"  It was so funny because A) they're ALL over and B) he associates it not as a gas station, but as a Diet Coke place!!  Hilarious.

Earlier this Spring while waiting in the car riders line at school, Coen would count our family members on his hands, then play with them.  "This is Daddy, this is Marshall, etc." and continue acting out little conversations with each other.  It was so cute listening in.

I took Coen to a preschool screening test for him to be a peer model in a class with children with disabilities.  One of the "tests" was asking him if he knew what pictures of various objects were.  When the teacher asked him what the clothes hanger was he answered "bow, it shoot arrows!"  I was not in the room while she tested him, but as soon as she showed me the pictures she had shown him, I knew just what she was going to say.  I about busted up laughing.  That's my BOY!!  She did say that when she asked him to point out the hanger from the other objects, he knew which it was.  Oh, Coen!

Marshall was supposed to be cleaning his room.  He proposed that he clean half and then I clean half, because that's how I nurse Hudson.  First one side, then the other.

In bed one night Coen told me he was going to be a Mommy someday.  I said "Oh, what will your kids' names be?"  "Jaxyn and Kameryn," he replied.  (Some friends of ours.)

Marshall: "Mom, it looks like you're having another baby."  "Thanks, Marsh, thanks a lot."

I love my kids :D

I'm the proud Momma of a SECOND GRADER!!!

On Thursday I went up to the school to eat lunch with Marshall.   

 Coen thought it was pretty cool and grown up to eat at Marshall's school.  I let him pack our lunches in a little monkey backpack.

 One of his best smiles!!

Marshall has made a lot of friends at Fox Hill this year.  Lizzie, Hadley, J.D. and Marshall.  He chose Lizzie and J.D. to eat with us at the parent table.

At his desk, looking much more confident than the first day.

 

Marshall and his teacher, Ms Capell.  Isn't she cute?!

 For his last lunch I found these cute printables on Pinterest.

As well as this idea.

 

Coming out of school for the last time as a first grader!

 When he got home I had this banner waiting.

 I made him close his eyes while I positioned him to see it for the first time.

Then he got to run and break through it.

 But it just came un-taped on one side.

 I also put together these summer fun baskets complete with swim goggles, squirt noodles, dive sticks, splash balls, and a splash ball slingshot, crazy straws, and other fun pool things!

 When we got inside I had one more surprise - Rootbeer Floats!!

YUM!!

Thank you, Pinterest, for inspiring me to be a fun Mom!!

Hello from Hudson

Hudson wouldn't stop waving his little arm.  It just kept going and going!

Marshall's Video

Marshall came home from school one day to show us what he'd learned:

 His friend told him it was called "sassy." 

Coen's Video

Coen loooooves to show off how strong he is.  I think it's hilarious how he strains so hard his face turns red.

Preparing for Summer

Marshall was home sick from school the last 2 days.  It gave me a taste of what summer break will be like - INSANE!!!  In an effort to establish a schedule, I've been wracking my brain to come up with some kind of rewards system for doing "school" each day.

When I was younger my mom made fake money and for every worksheet done, page read, or physical activity done, we earned money.  At the end of the week we exchanged it for real money to spend on things like treats from the ice cream truck, money for arts & crafts at Aspen Grove, or spending money when we spent weeks at a time in Vegas with my Dad & Sarah.

I've been trying to come up with something similar but wasn't sure how it was all going to come together as far as what assignments were worth how many points and would money even be a motivator?

Enter Pinterest!!  The other night I was wasting hours on there nursing Hudson while browsing and came across my answer: Summer Points!!  This blog even had lists of ideas for points and rewards, summer review skills by grade, and a list of chores kids can do by age.  I used some of her ideas and some of my own.

It took me a good part of today to put together but brainstorming activities, goals, and rewards was so fun, not to mention assembling the rewards charts!  I'm even going to make one for me, as one blog suggested, so your kids can see you setting an example.  Plus, Moms need rewards too!!  I'll post a pic of mine too, once I make it.

Marshall's Chart:

He has ways to earn points (in yellow) in 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 point increments.  I made him a book with daily point logs where he'll write down his points earned and activities each day.  After dinner we'll add them up, then write the amount of points in the boxes on the poster, where we'll keep a running total.  He'll get a reward at 75 points (his own box of popsicles), 200 points (a book at Barnes), 350 points (date night with Mom or Dad), 500 points (an education toy or game), and the grand prize at 800 points is a trip to the new Legoland Discovery Center downtown!!

Coen's Chart:

Coen will earn points in 1, 2, and 5 point increments and will put stickers in a square on the grid as he goes.  His rewards are the same, but lower in points than Marshall's. 

I'm no longer dreading summer and now I can hardly wait for it to start!!  Marshall is totally excited and John loves this plan!

Three more weeks of school!!!

Interview with Hudson

Everyone is always asking how Marshall and Coen like their baby brother, but what about what Hudson thinks of them??

Bike Ridin'

 I got this Skuut balance bike for Marshall when he was about 2 1/2 in the hopes of him going straight from it to a 2 wheeler.

 

He's always been my cautious child though, and by "my" I mean just like me.  He was reluctant to ride with training wheels and it didn't help that the ones on his bike kept flipping up no matter how many times John adjusted them.

 Last summer John and I tried and tried to teach him to ride with the training wheels but he would get scared or angry and give up in a fit of stubbornness. 

Well finally he mastered them a few weeks ago!  Then he started hanging out after school with some boys that live in our complex and they ride bikes around the sidewalk outside our building.  Marshall wanted to ride with them so he decided to try riding without the training wheels. 

John worked with him some in the morning  a couple weeks ago and once again, Marshall gave up in frustration.  He came inside to tell me about it.  We talked for a bit and I told him he could have the training wheels put back on, but first I wanted to see him ride without them.  

We went down to the tennis courts where they had been practicing and after a few minutes of showing me how he rides with John holding on, he was ready for him to let go and ride on his own!

He did so well and by the end he was thanking me for encouraging him.  I love this sweet side of him!  He also said he was glad he didn't give up!!

Marshall, I'm so proud of you for working at something that didn't come easy!  Congratulations, big guy!!

 As for Coen, there's no doubt in my mind that if we had the right size 2 wheeler, he would be just as good as Marshall.  He's fearless.  Watching him on the balance bike scares me to death!!  I had to come inside after a few minutes of watching because with 2 boys on bikes, accidents are bound to happen and I cringe watching Coen weave right and left for fun....

 ...with no feet on the ground!!  Even though that's the nature of this bike.  I can just see a broken arm and skinned knee coming our way soon :/

Oh boys, BE CAREFUL!!!