A note from J

Sometimes a mom needs a note like this. Sometimes they come at the perfect time. Sometimes they come out of the blue. Sometimes it really doesn't matter the reason, it's just nice to get an email like this from your husband to help put things in perspective when all you really want to do is pull your hair out.

This is from December 5th, which happened to be a Monday. I know we had a super busy weekend and I don't remember if that morning was chaotic or not. Either way, I had wanted to share it, but mostly for me, so I remember it. I love my husband for the little things!
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So I've been thinking about our kids a lot this morning. Why I'm not sure, but here's the gist...

Even though they can have their moments that drive us nuts, they are just the two best little kiddos a guy could ever ask for. Don't you just feel so blessed and lucky to have them? They're smart, funny, caring for others, love things like Christmas, sports, music, coloring, etc.

I feel extra lucky to share it all with you.

That's all, have a great day :)
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Sometimes it's the smallest notes that have the biggest impact on a person. Thanks, honey.

On the second day of writing...songs!

There were songs to sing! You sing, don't you? I do. Not when anyone is really around. Just my family. And in the car. I sing then too. My favorite songs to sing? Christmas songs. That's because they're not too long, you can understand them and there is a lot of repetition. Makes them easy!

Our kids got a chance to sing tonight. If you read this, then you know they're in choir at church. Tonight they had a chance to go to the nursing home that was very close to church. I went along to hear them because I have fond memories of singing there too.

They sang many of the ones we know-Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Joy to the World and Jingle Bells. The song they saved for the end-and the one all of the kids seemed to know the best-was Go Tell it on the Mountain. Loved it!

I like the not-so-classic classics too: Suzy Snowflake, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. Hearing the kids sing those are pretty funny! Christmas music is played through our house and in our car starting the day after Thanksgiving. We love listening to the carols and sing along all together. It really is "the most wonderful time of the year!"

On the first day of writing...Santa!

(If you read earlier in the week, you may have read this, to know that I am venturing on a "12 Days of Christmas" writing, inspired by the song. Here is day 1!)

There was Santa! Santa visits are a tradition for us. They were a tradition for me as a kid, too. I don't really remember specific visits, but I do remember sitting on Santa's lap. It was always something I did during the Christmas season and I loved it! Such is the tradition we have started with our kids. Today was our Santa visit for the year. We've found "The Santa" and we just love him! We get a few minutes of him interacting with the kids, asking questions, finding out what they want, giving hugs...all of those important things. They're much more comfortable with him than they were the first time we visited him. Just, well, take a look below...

Santa visit 2011-5 years old

 Santa visit 2010-4 years old

 Santa visit 2009-3 years old

 Santa visit 2008-2 years old...still a bit unsure but warming up slowly to Santa.

 Santa visit 2007-1 year old...this is when they placed the kids on the chair first, got them occupied with a book that played music and lit up. Then Santa came in from the front, talked with them a bit and snuggled up in front. A, always the one to study people, was VERY unsure at this visit. 

Santa visit 2006-5 months old...a visit after taking Christmas pictures that year. This Santa was very cranky and not super interactive. A cried and cried-red faced and shaking. Here she had calmed down a bit. And C, well, he looks as if he might jump out of Santa's arms at any moment!

Santa...the first day of the "12 Days of Christmas-writing style." Look for day 2 tomorrow!

The 12 Days of Christmas

You know the song, "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..." It's a good one. A classic standby. One you probably know all of the words too. I have become inspired by the song! Yes, it has inspired me to do some writing-the theme being Christmas. Get ready for 12 days of writing, focusing on Christmas things around our house, traditions we have in our families, foods we like to eat...those sort of things.

It feels good to be inspired by something! And to (hopefully) be writing every day!

Shrimp

Conversation in the car tonight:
A: What's for dinner? Are we going to a restaurant?
Me: No, we're going home for dinner.
J: We're going to have popcorn shrimp and dino chicken for dinner."
***I know, it's a really glamorous, healthy dinner, but it's what there was for tonight. No judging!***
--silence--singing to Christmas songs--then...
A: What's shrimp made of?
Me: What do you mean?
A: I mean, is it made from lobster?
Me: No.
A: Is it made from real live shrimp?
Me: Like...
A: Like the animal shrimp.
Me: What do you want the answer to be?
A: No.
Me: Then, no.
and that was the end of the conversation. Gotta love it.

If it's this cold, I want snow!

That's what I kept saying last week. Because who really wants to look at a bunch of brown yards, hibernating flowers and naked trees. With all of those things, it might as well snow, right? I got my wish last night. Of course we were outside playing in it today.

Our attempt at a snowman was worth it. The snow wasn't the sticky kind. More the light, kind of fluffy kind. You wouldn't have guesses that though, with all of the snow that stuck to the trees this morning. Nonetheless, we tried our best at a snowgirl. A was quite proud...and loved the fact that we got to eat the left-over Skittles.

Snow angels were made.

Chase and tackles ensued.

This was only the second time we had snow to play in this year. Last year at this time we had about 2 feet of snow on the ground! Crazy how things change in a year. We loved playing in the snow!

Early writing

(Finn McMissile-from Cars 2)

I have a different viewpoint. By this I mean I have the teacher's viewpoint. And by this I mean I have the teacher's viewpoint when it comes to my kids and how they are developing academically. I try not to analyze. It's a pretty hard thing NOT to do, being a primary teacher as they are in kindergarten. But really, I try.

(Twinkle! Twinkle! little star how I wonder what you are)

Most of the analyzing is good! We are (have been) very fortunate to have 2 five year olds who are on track or a little ahead of the curve when it comes to literacy. Reading this you might think, "Sure, she's one of those parents who thinks their child is a genius." Trust me...I'm not. I know those parents. The ones who think their child is absolutely brilliant and "Can't you just challenge them a little bit more? I think they're ready for the next level of books." I'm not that parent.

(Pilgrims lived in the world a long time ago)

Instead I sit in awe at the things my kids bring to me. I simply cannot believe that they already know that much about sounds, letters, words, etc. The notes I am brought in the morning or in the afternoon or even right before bed range from writing about school things (pilgrims was the topic this morning), family things (snuggling) or friends (a list). Every time I am completely astonished at what they know. Of course they come to us with, "How do you spell...?" And what's my answer? "Use the sounds that go with the letters you know!" Only an answer coming from a teacher, right? I mean who would really force their 5 year olds to sound out the words on their own. They're only 5! That would be me. And I think they're better off for it!

(Mom and Dad I hope I get to snuggle you every day)

As a parent you always hope your child succeeds in school. As a teacher who is a parent, you really hope your child succeeds in school. After all, what kind of judgement could come from a teacher's kid being behind? That's probably what I would be most afraid of, being the people pleaser I am. But here I sit, with two 5 year olds that, even in their earliest writing, show much promise for the kind of writers they can be. It's a pretty good feeling to know they love writing, even if it is a short note here and there. Those are sometimes the best!