Bragging on my Boy

Happy Tuesday Friends!!!

The main reason I started this blog was to document our life while Jim was deployed and so our family could read and see how the boys are growing! However, I haven't done such a good job at it. Mom fail. Well, that all changes today. I'm going to do a much better job of this. I know in the years to come I'll appreciate being able to look back and see what all we were doing during these early years of our lives :-)

Today while I was out running errands I heard my phone go off and I knew it was an email notification. When I opened up my email I noticed that it was from Elijah's teacher at school. My first reaction was {uh oh what has he done?} -- but, after opening the email and reading what she had to say I couldn't help but be so proud of my sweet boy.

Elijah is one of the youngest in his 1st grade class. He is a July birthday so, while most of the the kids in his class are 7 he is still 6 {a young 6}. Last year, in Kindergarten he struggled in a few areas and we were somewhat concerned but, later in the year everything seemed to just 'click' for him :)

Now, that he is in 1st grade he has done really well!! He works hard and he actually loves school and school work. I pray that this 'love' for school will continue through out his school years.

I want to share with you all this email that his teacher sent:

I wanted to take a moment and tell you how pleased I am with Elijah’s progress. He is moving along quite well. For such a little young guy he is doing great. His reading is getting better and better. He comprehends everything very well and he has a good math sense about him. We just need to work on the writing to go with this (but even that is improving too). I am so excited!!!!

This email left me in tears. I am so, so proud of my boy!!!

I can't wait til he gets home and give him a big, big hug :-)

{my sweet boy}

Monday

My boy isn't feeling good. He has fever and an ear infection. He was throwing up last night too :( he has been cuddling with me this morning, which I love. Of course he has his hat on :)

In other news, we no longer have a computer at home. Boo. Jim has our MAC desktop at the studio and we sold our laptop which is why I haven't blogged in a while. I'm doing this from my phone. I'm really wanting an iPad :) I think I would love the ease of it and the portability!!!

On Saturday, we had john daniels party. It was so much fun!!! We had a bounce house and the kids loved it!! My sweet friend kristen helped me make the train cake...if I van figure our how to add another pic ill post it :)
It was so much fun making it. Now I really wanna have my own bakery :)

I'll post tomorrow about Easter :)

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Wordless wednesday

Elijah dressed as Cat in the Hat on Friday for a costume contest. He looked so cute :)
Major props to my mom for helping me with the costume!!!

My boy is growing up way too fast...

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

books, running, oh my!!!

yeah, i know its a lame title but, i couldn't think of anything! ha!

a couple of days ago i wrote about

wanting to read more in 2011.

i love to read and i really should make more time for it.

i find when i have book that keeps me interested i watch less t.v. =)

a blog friend, BlueEyedBride, posted about her reading list last year and a couple of the books

caught my eye.

1. James Patterson's Swimsuit

2. Kristin Hannah's Firefly Lane

Saturday night I started Swimsuit and i'm already hooked and already a third of the way through it!! It is so good. It's different than any thing i've ever read.

it's suspenseful and i love it.

my goals for 2011 are to read 2 books a month.

to me this seems very attainable.

one of my favorite things is curling up on the couch or in my favorite chair with a cup of coffee and reading a book.

another thing id like to achieve in 2011 is to lose about 15 lbs.

some may say i don't need to lose that much...

some might say i do. ha.

i definitely I DO!!!

i love to run.

love. it.

it is a great stress reliever.

but, for some reason i'm not dropping the weight.

very frustrating.

i eat a pretty clean diet.

maybe i'm eating too many carbs at night, who knows?

if you have any tips, advice, etc. i'm all ears.

in other news, elijah started back to school today.

i'm gonna miss him during the day but, i'm glad to be back in a routine =)

he was excited to go after some coercing and comforting.

i think he was more thrilled that he got to wear his new backpack.

i got it for a steal on PB Kids!!!

i was going to go to the gym this a.m. but, john daniel has a cough that just won't quit!!!

so, i'm gonna hit up hobby lobby to look for some great deals!!!

A Precious Moment

Last night when i was putting Elijah to bed we got to talking about how we 'hear' Jesus when He talks to us.

I told him that He speaks to us in many different ways.

I also told him that mommy and daddy spend time with Jesus each day and that helps for us to hear his voice a little more clearly.

I said...Jesus lives in my heart.

He said...he doesn't live in mine, though.

i simply said: do you want to ask Jesus into your heart now?

i explained to him what he would be doing b/c i wanted him to be clear and truly know what it meant...(in 5 year old terms)

he looked at me with the biggest grin on his face and said -- YES!!!

so, i had the honor of walking my 5 year old son through the Sinner's Prayer and He accepted Jesus into his heart last night!!!

elijah ran and got his daddy and told him =)

it was such a sweet and special moment for all of us!!!

right now, i'm at a loss for words {which doesn't happen often}

i'm blessed beyond belief with this precious boy!!!

I am so thankful for the innocence and forgiveness of children!

they see things with such a different perspective!!

such a special, special time for our little family =)

ALL ABOARD!!

Today is

Polar Express

day at Elijah's school and they get to wear their favorite Christmas pajamas to school.

how fun is that?

he was super excited.

He came and woke ME up this morning all dressed in his pjs and ready to go =)

they will be watching the movie while

enjoying HOT chocolate and popcorn.

I can't wait to hear all about it!!

Here is my boy right before he walked out the door...

Thank you Jesus for blessing us with this precious child!!

Happy Thursday!!

my lil pirate!

this picture just makes me smile =)

isn't he the cutest??

this was taken at my in-laws on thanksgiving...

elijah (a.k.a. Will or Jack Sparrow - Pirates of the Caribbean)

he loves all things pirates...

and that stick is his 'sword' - ha!!

i love watching him 'play' pirates!

i can just see his little mind stirring with what to do next.

i love his imagination & i appreciate the fact that he is not easily entertained by the t.v...

he would rather be playing outside!!!

in other news...tonight i am trying a new recipe

asian veggie lettuce wraps (you can put chicken in them if you want to)

if the recipe is good...i'll share it on here!!!

conversations

i should write down each day the many different conversations that i have with my boys...

here's a couple of them over the last few weeks:

Elijah: "mommy, i need to go read my bible"

Me: "why do you NEED to?"

Elijah: "i just need to"

Me: (thinking) hmm...wonder what this is all about

(still don't know why he needed to)

*************

Elijah: "mommy, can i take my toys with me to heaven?"

Me: "oh buddy, you won't need those toys in heaven and it's going to be a long time before you go to heaven."

Elijah: "i'm going to heaven tomorrow"

Me: "how do you know you are going tomorrow?"

Elijah: "Jesus told me!"

Me: (thinking) did jesus really tell him that?

my heart skipped a few beats too.

***********

i know there are more and i just can't think of them right now!

i'm off to finish cleaning and getting ready for Thanksgiving!!!

Field Trip

today was a fun day and one that i had been looking forward to for a while.

why?

well...i was able to be a chaperone for a field trip with Elijah's class.

i love being one of the room mom's and being able to do these fun things =)

we went to a place called Steed Dairy Farm.

they had a corn maze, hay rides, petting zoo, farmer jim who told us all about the cows =)

they had a big slide and a jumping pillow...i wish i had one of these things in my back yard.

it looked like so much fun!!

i took a lot of pics so i hope you stick with me during this post =)

this is a pic i took while on the hay ride....that is the corn maze in the distance.

my sweet boy =)

waiting to get on the jumping pillow =)

and here he goes....

i love this shot...

his facial expression is hilarious here...

milking a 'cow'

look at that face...trying to race back up to the slide AGAIN!!

taking a much needed water break

heading into the corn maze...

the other pics for the corn maze didn't turn out great =(

this was a lot of fun for the kids...they had to pump the water to move the rubber duck across...

his face cracks me up!

sweetness...

we had such a GREAT time =)

i love spending time with boy...

in other news...

i promise to not be so MIA with blogging.

i'm going to do better =)

5 years ago today...

our lives changed forever.

elijah was born.

here he is just a few hours old =)

already sucking his thumb -- love it!

i love this picture -- so snuggly and warm

i remember taking this picture

daddy loving his firstborn son

...priceless

the grandparents & new daddy looking on

elijah was a pretty easy baby

(as easy as it can be for new parents)

yes, we were sleep deprived but he only cried if he was hungry or sleepy!!!

we were so blessed!!

and here our boy is 5 years later...

this child has my heart.

he is my pride & joy.

he was such a HUGE help to me when jim was deployed.

he was a trooper.

he is definitely ALL boy =)

he loves his brother to pieces.

he is 90 to nothing ALL day long...

ask anybody & they will tell you.

it's so hard for me to believe that he is 5!!!

elijah,

i love you more than my words or actions could ever express.

you are a joy & a delight.

you are always making us laugh.

i love to hear you sing along with me at nighttime...especially the worship songs.

i love your fun little personality.

the lord has amazing things planned for you sweet boy!!!

follow jesus and keep your eyes on HIM!!!

happy 5th birthday elijah!!!

MILESTONE

good sunday morning to all of you :o)

i'm sure right now most of you are at church and then off to lunch with your family.

we still haven't found a church we really 'gel' with.

{it WILL happen}

we are BELIEVING!!!

fyi -- my new favorite word is {believe}!!!

love it.

anyhoo....the reason for this post:

a milestone.

my 4 year old.

the cutest 4 year old EVER.

this morning he took his FIRST shower.

and

HE LOVED IT!!!

seriously, he took about a 30 minute shower.

he bathed himself.

he brushed his teeth while he was in there.

ahem.....

he also used the bathroom while he was in there.

{no comment}

his daddy told him it was okay....:o)

he thought that was the best thing ever.

we literally had to drag him out.

also, i needed to trim his hair.

well,

things didn't go as planned.

end result:

lots of hair on the bathroom floor.

hair EVERYWHERE!!

tears b/c he was itching.

hence......the shower!!!

with this new 'do' elijah looks like my dad did when he was a kid!!

wow.

it's so amazing to see your parents in your very own children.

God is good.

being a parent is the BEST thing in the world.

i may or may not have mentioned several times while the whole family was in the bathroom for the haircut & shower how great it would be to have a Canon Rebel.

i'm just sayin'....

FUN AT THE PARK

one morning about a week ago i took the boys for fun at the park.

it was about 900 in the morning and they needed to burn some energy :)

i knew elijah would have a blast but, i wasn't quite sure about john daniel. for all you friends in bloggerland who i've never met, john daniel, is super attached to me. at times it drives me bonkers that he won't go to anyone else but, i love that he wants just to be with me. i am savoring this time because i know all to soon it will be gone.

we had such a good time this particular morning.

we went about 900ish so the weather was perfect.

elijah took off on his own leaving me and john daniel in the dust & trying to catch up. ha!

they both had a ball {and i did too} :)

i've posted quite a few pictures -- they were all so cute i just HAD to post them all :)

ENJOY!!

elijah's 'cheese' face :)

is he cute or what?

look at that pose? - ha!!

i'm thinking he could be a child model?!?!!

{make mommy & daddy some money...ha!ha!}

loving the 'oversized' hat ;)

there is nothing like watching your boys playing together :)

too cute for words...

sweet john daniel

he LOVED the swinging

he is also loving that he can walk...

cutie-patootie :)

checking out his {1st} gumball!

AREN'T THESE BOYS THE CUTEST THINGS EVER!?!?!

TELL ME...WHAT ARE YOUR ENERGY-RELEASING ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR LITTLE ONES?