What Grandpas Are Good For

Kat Got Tatted

Remember this post from way back in April 2010? I finally got my tattoo! My sister and I both got one on Friday night! :)



Yes, it hurt. I ain't gonna lie. Mine only took 3 minutes, thank goodness. I don't think I could have lasted longer. I got the chinese symbol meaning "mother"...and yes, it does mean mother. I verified with a Chinese co-worker. Angela got a tribal phoenix. (btw - the reddish pic was one that Landon took...with his finger over the flash)

Q&A with Landon

Landon: Mommy, why do we have two holes in our nose instead of just one big one?
Me: Ummm, I'm not sure. Because that's how God made us?

Note to self: google the anatomy of a nose.

A Day of Sun

It was a beautiful sunny weekend in North Carolina. We took advantage of it by staying outside as much as possible.

M&Ms, what M&Ms?

My Little Gamer

Christopher has introduced Landon to the wonderful world of video games. Landon has become addicted to playing "Burnout: Paradise City", a racing game.

I Did It!!!

Another Landon-ism

Me: Landon, you have to stop being so bossy or you're not going to have any friends.

Landon: Well, I guess I'm not going to have any friends because I'm not going to stop being bossy.

Love

In honor of Valentine's Day, the day to celebrate love, I wanted to post some words from one of my favorite children's book, "I Love You, Little One" by Nancy Tafuri.

"I love you as the stars love you, constant and bright above you, giving you joy and peace and wonder. I love you as the stars love you, forever and ever and always."

I hope yours is a day full of love.

3 Things That Carter Ate Today

1. A chunk of blue play-dough (I think there's still some stuck in his teeth)
2. A finger-full of baby chest rub
3. And a good dollop of J&J baby lotion

School Decision

Remember my breakdown over elementary school? Well, I have learned a lesson this past week - don't judge a book by its cover. Remember my base school choice, Reedy Creek? I was totally against it. Bad test scores. Yeah, well I went to tour it. and....I LOVED IT!!! I figured there was no gaurantee that Landon would be getting into our year-round alternate (Adams) so I better take a look at Reedy Creek. The Christian private school was def our favorite. It's just pricey. Also, I really don't want my boys coming out of school feeling as if they are entitled, rich kids. And believe it or not, Adams didn't give me warm & fuzzies after I went to their open house, after all of the hype I had heard about the school. It just felt so big and impersonal. Reedy Creek gave me a personal tour and took a lot of time showing me around, allowing me to meet much of the staff, and answer my MANY questions. Many of the teachers have been there 10-15 years and were awesome. I was very impressed with the staff. I asked about the lower test scores and was told that their scores were brought down by Special Ed and ESL (English Second Language) kids. They have to take the same tests and are held to the same standards as everyone else. It's a very diverse school (meaning, it's not all white kids), which is similar to the daycare Landon goes to now. It felt small and personal and like home. I just feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. He is guaranteed to get into this school, so no lottery. He is on one schedule, so no worrying about what track he needs to be on and then the lottery to get on that. I already know his schedule and don't have to wait until the beginning of the summer to find that out. Whew...I feel much better. I promise there will be more melt-downs. I cried when I looked at his school supply list. But at least this is one thing that I don't have to worry over.

What You Looking At?

9 Years

Yesterday (02.09.11), Christopher and I celebrated our 9-year anniversary. We always celebrate with the traditional anniversary gift, which is pottery for year 9. Christopher gave me a beautiful wall pocket - I have been collecting these over the years and have them hanging on my kitchen wall, and a beautiful hand-written poem. I gave him an orchid pot, and also a few potted orchids...we have a few of these around the house as well. (click here to see what we gave each other years 1-8)

We went to dinner at a Japanese steakhouse, with boys in tow. It wasn't a romantic evening by far (as the boys were not on their best behavior and Christopher ended the night with a lap-full of soup), but it is our life at year 9. We'll look back at that night one day, laugh and miss the chaos.

It's been a wonderful and love-filled 9 years.

Playin' with Play-dough

My boys had some fun making "ice cream" and Carter learned to say cheese for pictures (although it seems that Landon forgot how to).

Messy Eater

Carter is starting to sit at the table in his booster (opposed to sitting in a high chair), drink out of an open cup (at school, I haven't gotten that brave at home!) and use a spoon. Independance can be a little messy.

Missing Keys

Monday night, I remember Carter lifting my car keys out of my purse. Then Landon took them from him, Carter cried, I told him to give them back. Then I got distracted putting away dishes, etc. Fast forward to this morning. I am grabbing my lunch bag, my coffee, my purse, my coat, my keys. My keys? Now where are my keys? Uh-oh. So for 40 minutes, I thought like an 18-month old. I looked in the dishwasher, in the fridge, in the trash can, under the kitchen table, in the bottom kitchen drawers, in potted plants...with no luck. I finally found my spare and went to work. After work, Christopher texted me and told me that he found them on the kids' table in the living room. While still in the car I mentioned losing my keys to Landon, and he replied without hesitation that they were on his red table. Hmmmmph, should have asked him earlier.

VT vs NCSU

Last week Christopher, Landon and I went to NCSU to watch our Hokies play a little b-ball. Carter Bear stayed with Ms Amy and got really spoiled with loving. Landon loved the game and was obsessed with Mrs. Wolf. :)


Like father, like son.




Landon and I got a little distracted the last half and played a few games of Angry Birds on Daddy's phone.


The Hokies represented in Raleigh. At the end, however, Landon said "awwww man, I wanted the Wolfpack to win". Don't worry, Christopher and I got him straightened out pretty quickly.

How Do You Know When Your Noodles Are Ready?

Even More Landon Funnies

While playing in his bed (during rest time), I heard him say "Awwwwww, you got my Christmas clothes all dirty. Great. How'd you like it if I got your Christmas clothes all dirty?"

L: Mommy, why don't we have anyone with dark skin in our family?
Me: Well...God made us with light skin.
L: Some families have light skin and some families have dark skin?
Me: That's right.
L: I hope God gives us a little baby girl with brown skin.
Me: speechless

Mommy, I still love you...even when you whip me.

Landon and Carter were in the backseat of the car. We were in a drive-thru and Carter was mad because I hadn't given him any food, so I gave him the receipt. Of course, he threw that in the floor. Landon said to Carter, "I am not giving that back to you Carter, because you don't deserve it".

Looking at the pictures on our indoor weather center, I told him that tomorrow will be sunny (pointing to the sun) with a few clouds (pointing to the clouds). Landon says to me "Mommy, that's called partly cloudy".

Vocab Explosion

I remember Landon's vocab exploding around 18 months, and Carter is right on track. He is picking up so many words and repeating everything. I think one of his favorites is NO! Here's a video of a few of his little tricks and words.

More Random Cuteness

Carter giving some loves to Hokie


Landon looking so stylish in his Daddy's soccer socks (he requested to wear my ladybug slipper socks with the big red balls on the back, but I couldn't find them)


Sweet little Carter Bear in the shower (all 3 of my boys were in the shower but Christopher forbade me to post those pics!)

Sunday Geocaching

It was a beautiful day on Sunday, so the boys and I set off geocaching.

While Landon and Christopher were trudging through the woods looking for the cache (which they found), Carter and I had a little photo shoot.

M-I-C-K-E-Y

Carter has picked up this little tune and sings it anytime he sees Mickey Mouse. He'll just start singing it, and I'll have to look around to find Mickey. It may be on TV, Landon's cup, a fork, or in a magazine. If you ask him about Mickey, this is what he says...