Santa

Every year, we meet Jesse & Reese to see Santa. This year the plan was to go to the new Allen mall, but it's all outside and it was 40 degrees and raining, so our plan changed and we went to Bass Pro Shops.

The kids were so excited - they ran all over looking at the reindeer, the fish, and BO was obsessed with this little puppet sticking out of Santa's shop and kept saying "stuck", "stuck". I wasn't sure how Bo would do with Santa this year because last year he screamed! I think it helped that Santa had a big bowl of candy canes next to him. In fact, if you look at this picture, I think it sums up my kids pretty well. Bo is focused on the candy, Darla is reading her list to Santa. She has organized her list this year and marked who's getting her what...Santa, Mom, Dad, Granddad, etc. If any kid deserves to be at the top of Santa's "good" list - it's my sweet Darla!!

A few things on Darla's list this year: Barbie Pet Vet Station, white tiger cub, Penelope Puppy, Pet Vet DS game, some other Barbie/vet puppy, Barbie & 3 Musketeers DVD, Harry Potter DVDs. She needs to add her two front teeth to that list!! She is really into animals more than dolls and even told us that she wants to be a dentist or a vet when she grows up.

On Bo's list - a train table, basketball goal, t-ball set, toys, and clothes. Darla likes to add things (that SHE likes too) to Bo's list when catalogs come in the mail.

After Santa, we went next door to Primo's to eat. Jesse & Darla sat at their own table while Bo & Reese were stuck with me & Cortney. After we ate, I realized I couldn't find our picture with Santa, so we went back inside BPS and luckily someone had turned it in.

A few of my FAVORITE things Bo is saying right now: "Steam up" - stand up. "People" is purple. "Doora" for Dora. "See-tan Claus" - Santa. "Icicle" - popsicle.

Happy Birthday Bo

Today my baby turned 2. It's such a cliche, but it's so true - they grow up soo fast! As soon as Bo woke up, we loaded up in the car and went to get "no-nuts" and sausage rolls because they are his favorite. He ate them in his chair while watching "Doo-Ra" and then we had to get dressed to go to Drew's party.

We had fun at Drew's - Granddad fed Bo a ton of chocolate cake and ice cream which kept his sugar high from the "no-nuts" going!! We left Darla there to play with Presley and then I get an email from Granddad that says "Tooth Fairy coming tonight".
I open it to see Darla's other front tooth is gone!!! We couldn't believe it! So she is officially toothless on the top.

We had Bo's party at Peter Piper Pizza. Daddy missed most of the OU game while we were at the party - poor planning on my part. Papaw definitely earned a gold star for coming to the party and missing the game!!! The kids had so much fun...Bo was running around crazy the whole time. I think they all ran out of tokens in the first 2 minutes, but luckily Uncle Andy & Nana kept everyone's cups full! Last year he cried really hard when we sang, but this year, he was so cute. He sat real still and made his "I'm trying not to smile face" where he cuts his eyes over to the side but then he started grinning ear to ear. And he even blew out both candles all by himself! He sat there and at his piece of cake for about 20 minutes - it was definitely the quietest/stillest moment of the day. Nanaw spent most of the party chasing him around, so I'm sure she was happy for the break too!!

We came home and opened presents - he got lots of good toys and clothes. Memaw gave him a card with her voice recorded in it and so did we, so he played with those things for almost a half hour. I think he was pooping his pants while he played with them which also explained why he was being so still, but it was so much fun to watch him open those and then sing with the songs.

Bo is such a funny little boy - tonight he and I laughed and laughed while he was in the bathtub just because he started laughing which made me laugh and then he'd get going. He is so busy - he hardly ever slows down. He hasn't been taking naps lately, and I really don't know how he gets through the whole day without being exhausted. He makes his Daddy & I tired, that's for sure! He loves to watch Dora right now - he gets up in our bed (which he calls "Bo's bed") and gets in my spot under the covers. It's pretty cute.

He can definitely say anything, and I do mean anything so you have to be very careful these days about what you say around him. He loves Darla so much - he will do anything she does or asks him to do. But he can be mean to her - hitting and pushing. He's really quick to say "Sorry Dar-wah". He went to Timeout this week @ school. When Brent went to pick him up he was sitting in the chair and started crying when he saw his Daddy, so he knows when he's doing right/wrong. At Amy's Tueday night, Anna came over to me and said "Bo just hit me." I said "Bo, no-no hit Anna" and he came walking towards me with his head and shoulders down showing how sorry he was. It was so funny - I was trying to keep a straight face.

I am trying to stop and remember every single moment that I can right now. This is the best age and Brent & I say all the time how we just want to enjoy it and take it all in. It goes by so fast!

Darla had a great week. She was selected for another "Hunt Hound Award" for Outstanding Behavior. They pick 2 students in each class each 6 weeks. She now has two dog tags for her collection - she got the same award in Kindergarten. She's doing such a great job in Ms. Garner's class, but we aren't really that surprised!! She & her Daddy went to Pumpkin Math Day on Friday and Brent said it was a lot of fun. They had to weigh, measure, count seeds, etc from their pumpkin. I think Brent made up a new Hunt Elementary song about the crossing guard to go with his "Mr. G-W" song.

Bo - we are so proud of you. You are such a sweet, good boy and we love you so much. Happy 2nd Birthday!!!

A Lot to Catch Up on

I am feeling a little like the worst mom ever tonight. Maybe it's because I'm working Mon-Wed this week so I'm off my normal schedule, but Bo's 2nd birhtday is in a couple of weeks and I don't have anything planned. No invitations, no party details, nothing. And it's Oct 5th and we still don't have Halloween costumes...I know that sounds like I have time, but every year we have our costumes by now.

And then I looked to see I haven't written an entry in over a month! Where does the time go? Darla lost one of her front teeth a few weeks ago. She went to Nanaw's for the weekend and I got a picture on my phone with the tooth missing. It wasn't even that loose so I was SHOCKED to see it gone! Nanaw said Bo kept trying to pull one of his teeth out so he could look like his sister. He will do ANYTHING she is doing. Luckily, she's always setting a great example so that can be a very good thing.

Darla was chosen as Star Student of her class last week. We made a poster about her and then she got to take her favorite book and toy to class. The kids all made her a book on the last day and I have to tell you, it's the funniest thing that she's ever brought home! To see what the kids wrote about her is just too much. For example "Darla, Galushins (congratulations) on being Star Student" or "I hope you aren't sick. I hope you don't have a fever. I hope you don't get sick?!?!?" I will keep it forever!

Bo has grown up so much in the last month. He can say ANYTHING now and repeats everything we say. It's so funny to see him use words/sentences the correct way. Like last night Darla took off running to the playroom and said "Bo, come on." And he took off after and said "OK, I'm coming". He also got a haircut this month and likes to pat his head and say "Haircut". He can tell you that Nanny & Papaw live in "Homak" (Oklahoma) and I love to hear him say the names of the kids in his class "Caro-wine, Brody, Camin (Camryn), Heidi, Miss Doora (Miss Vera)".

We also got rid of the bottle last weekend. I know it should have happened months ago but it didn't. Oh well. Bo has really been good about it. Last weekend on Sunday night he asked for juice at bedtime so I gave it to him and we haven't looked back. I hid all the bottles and when he asked for one I just said "we don't have any" and I know he didn't really believe me but he went along with it. He loves cranapple juice right now which is very confusing becuase he'll say [very clearly] "apple juice" but he wants cranapple, not apple so it can be quite a battle if you don't know what he wants. Even at the grocery store while your checking out, he'll see the juice and then say "apple juice" about 50 times.

I forgot just how much fun this age is where they do something new every single day and you actually SEE your kids learning/growing right in front of your eyes.

Monday was the first day of 1st Grade. We were really excited for Darla and this new chapter in her life. I feel like 1st grade is going to challenge her more than Kindergarten.

The morning started off pretty easy - the alarm went off at 6:30 and I woke Darla up at 6:45. Let me insert here how I wake her up...I walk in the room, turn on her TV, pat her on the back and say "Darla, time to get up". Unlike my childhood where my dad would walk in the room, turn on every light and say "Up and at 'em...let me see your feet on the floor." I swore I wouldn't do that to my child and so far, promise kept. Or, I would hear my mom's houseshoes coming down the tile hallway and I knew when the sound stopped she was on the carpet which meant she was almost to my room so I would jump out of bed right as she got there!

Darla got up, dressed pretty quickly, had cinnamon rolls and then started on her hair. We washed & dried it the night before but she wanted it super straight so we ironed it for the first day. We were all supposed to walk her to school but Bo was still asleep so Daddy decided to hang back with him. I wasn't about to let this day go without following her in the school to take pictures!

A few quick pics at the house and off we went. When we got there, Darla marched straight to the 1st Grade Hall and then walked that long hallway to Ms. Garner's room. She put her backpack in her locker and then to her desk. She was such a good sport about letting me take pictures while she put her stuff away. She sat down and started coloring a "welcome to first grade" picture and then I said, "Darla, can I get a picture of you & Ms. Garner". Darla gave me a "NOT NOW MOM" look, but luckily Ms. Garner (LOVE HER) understood the importance of this moment to me and said "Sure...come on Darla" so I got the pic. I know my days of getting these kind of pictures are limited, so I'm so grateful I got to sneak 'em in one more year!!!

When we went to pick her up that afternoon Brent asked - "how was 1st grade? Is it like Kindergarten?" Darla's response "No, it's not anything like Kindergarten. It's totally different."

And that was pretty much it. She's a first grader now. 6 years old and growing up too fast. This year wasn't as hard for me because I'm more excited for her than anything. I felt like Kindergarten was fun, but I think this year's she's going to learn so much.

I have to share Ms. Garner's note home today (Thursday - 4th day of school):
Darla is just precious. She loves learning. She has a thirst for knowledge that keeps her engaged all day. She is a model student and a lot of fun to work with.

Meet the Teacher

We met Darla's 1st grade teacher, Ms. Garner, on Friday night. I'd heard great things about her like she is the 1st grade coordinator and she got Teacher of the Year last year. I couldn't have been more excited when I met her. She seems like the most perfect 1st grade teacher EVER. I just wanted to sit down at a desk and be her student. Darla really seemed to like her too. And she's excited about some of the friends in her class so I think it's going to be a good year.

Brent told me a funny Darla story. This morning they went to McDonalds to get us breakfast. On the way back, they drove by the house across Murphy Rd that has all the baby horses. Brent said he asked Darla if she wanted one. Darla's mind started turning and she said they should find out if they have a daughter and if they did, then she would trade 2 of her baby dolls that she doesn't play with anymore for one of those little colts. She was NOT willing to let go of her Webkinz though!

I can't believe the summer is almost over. Today was our final "Swim Club" at Coco's house. We look forward to it every single Tuesday and I'm so sad that it's over. I have to say I love Swim Club so much because I get to spend a few hours each week with everyone and their kids. It's such a great time to see the kids' personalities and I always learn so much. Like today, Peyton told Amber & I that she no longer lives in Texas. I asked if she lives in Oklahoma or Louisiana and she said "no, we live in Muh-Kinney".

It's also so much fun to see the kids growing up right in front of us. Anna started off the summer very timid and by week 3 she was swimming all over the place and jumping off into the deep end. Mia and Bo defintely grew as swimmers this year - as of today, they both were pretty independent in their Swimmies. Mia didn't really like sharing her little jump ledge & towel with Bo, but she was a good sport! And then, poor Amy (but Amy it was all your fault), I think today every single girl (sorry Bo) mastered the cheer stunt. Jesse did one of the best toe touches EVER off the wall today, and Reese managed to keep her swim suit on most of the summer. Darla stayed in character most of the time (kitten, dolphin, unicorn, you name it) but was always my extra pair of eyes to keep a close watch on her little brother.

I just hope that when all the kids are teenagers they'll still hang out with us at Swim Club...

Cheer Camp

Darla did a Cheer Camp at Whistle Stop this summer. We went to watch the Pep Rally last week. Let's just say it was very entertaining but I'm not sure if the girls learned much this summer! Darla's favorite chant was "We're number one, can't be number two, we're gonna beat the whoopee out of you." I don't think the teacher has won many awards on creativity.