4

"Linked" will be posted later.  I'm totally behind with this project.  I wrote last weeks post but I couldn't find one of the photos so I never posted.  :(  I will post this week.

James is 4!

How did this happen?  I'm always amazed at how much they have grown every year.  Time really does fly.  He really is such a little peanut though.  Look at this face:

Makes me ache for another one a little bit.
That was then and this is now:

Do you see that look in his eye?  This one is trouble.  :)

My dear baby James, you:
are mischievous
are loud (kind of like your mom)
outgoing (most of the time)
love Angry Birds, Star Wars, and anything on the Disney Channel
are currently boycotting pajamas
climb like a monkey
are so smart -- you are starting to read three letter words and write like a kindergartener - I'm having a hard time keeping up
have a best friend named Malik
hate bedtime
have a temper (uh oh, I think you got this from your mom too)
are small for your age, but walk like you are 10 feet tall
love to dance
love chocolate and are always asking for treats
LOVE milk -- almost like a baby, you still ask for milk every couple of hours and rarely drink anything else
would play the Wii, DS, or Leapster all day, every day if I let you
want to be just like your big brother
ARE LOVED.

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby boy!

(How much longer can I get away with calling him baby?)

Ummm. . . where did the last 9 months go?

He's officially done.  Done with kindergarten.  I feel like it was just yesterday that I was crying over school pencils in the shopping cart at Target.  Now I have a first grader.  Crazy.

First Day of School:

Last Day of School:

Some things that happened this year:
-- He finally hit 40 lbs.  It took awhile.
-- He has put forth a strong preference for Joe over Joseph.
-- He has gain so much independence.  (deep breath)
-- He met a great new best friend, Alex.
-- He participated in accelerated reader.
-- He got good grades.
-- He didn't miss any days of school.
-- He learned how to tell time.  (much to my chagrin -- I tell some white lies about time and now I can't)
-- He brought home 3 different girls' phone numbers.
-- His mother made it through the year without a nervous breakdown.  :)

*Sigh*  Hard to believe it's over.  He had a wonderful teacher so I hope he gets a great one next year as well.  Only one more year to go and I have to do this kindergarten thing all over again.

Linked 52: Looking In

So naturally I was doing this last minute.  I didn't take a new photo but pulled up two photos that I've taken within the last couple of weeks.  Nothing fancy.

Here I am looking in(to) the tunnel at the park.

It was a quick shot and my settings were off.  I still like catching my little monkey though.  He has become obsessed with the monkey bars.  I love to see how proud he looks when he shows me that he can go all the way across.

This one was taken on my vacation at Red Rocks Ampitheather.

I was looking in on a graduation.  Since we weren't really supposed to be there because an event was going on I thought I should focus on the tree.  :)  How cool would it have been to have your graduation there?


Be sure to check out these other ladies to see their take on "looking in":  Michelle, Stacey, Andrea, Tracey, Heather, Jenn, Jessica, Amanda, Kristin, Amanda, Sara, Tracy, Lesli, Janet, Naomi, Rhonda, Rose, Heidi, Kristi, and Jean

saying goodby to the bestie

Yesterday we had a sleepover.  It was the first time that one of the boys had someone sleepover that wasn't related to us in some way.  It was James' friend Malik.  It was an impromptu sleepover when we realized that it was the only night that would work for the boys to spend extra time together.  Malik is headed to Chicago for the summer.  I'm not exactly sure what James will do without him.

They have the sweetest friendship.  I always find it amazing when such little people can forge such strong bonds.  When James was getting dressed on Tuesday he said "I get to see Malik today" and was super excited.  I guess a 3 day weekend is a little to long for him.  When they leave each other at the end of the day the hug, sometimes do some sort of secret handshake, and (my favorite) say "goodbye, friend."  So sweet.  I love watching them together. 

 

 

Goodbye, friend.  We'll miss you.

Linked 52: Temptation

Temptation:  the act of tempting;  enticement or allurement

Right now (and maybe always) my biggest temptation has come from food.  I have a sweet tooth.  For that reason I try not to keep a lot of sweets in the house for fear of temptation.  I know, you're thinking - Carla, have you no willpower?  The answer is no.  No, I don't.  I like brownies and banana bread and stuff like that.  I'm not so into candy except for . . . . (wait for it) . . M&Ms.  ♥

I'm not too picky about my M&Ms -- peanut, pretzel, peanut butter, plain, mini . . . all delicious.  I do keep a small candy dish with M&Ms so I can grab a few (let's be honest, it's rarely just a few) pieces to satisfy my sweet tooth.  The kids also love them.  I'll fight them for the M&Ms.  No, seriously, I'll will.  And I'll win.  :)

Probably should stop buying them so they won't be taunting and tempting me from the bowl but it's probably not going to happen.  Heck, I went and bought 3 bags just so I could photograph them.  That's the excuse I'm using anyway.  :)

 

Be sure to check out these other ladies to see their take on "temptation":  Michelle, Stacey, Andrea, Tracey, Heather, Jenn, Jessica, Amanda, Kristin, Amanda, Sara, Tracy, Lesli, Janet, Naomi, Rhonda, Rose, Heidi, Kristi, and Jean

Linked 52: Anger

So I missed last week's "linked" so I was bound and determined not to miss this weeks.  The problem is that I'm on vacation and forgot to post before I left and I forgot what the theme was.  I had to go back and use a picture that I took a couple of months ago.

We were at a birthday party for one of the kids in Joe's class.  It was at a karate studio and they got to learn some moves.  Joe was supposed to make some sort of intimidating /angry face and this is what I got.

That's all I've got for now.  I will try to update the linked list next time.  This hotel internet is not quite as fast as I'd like it.

Be sure to check out these other ladies to see their take on "anger":  Michelle, Stacey, Andrea, Tracey, Heather, Jenn, Jessica, Amanda, Kristin, Amanda, Sara, Tracy, Lesli, Janet, Naomi, Rhonda, Rose, Heidi, Kristi, and Jean

linked 52: Mother

So when I was checking blog updates I saw a bunch of "linked" updates and was wondering why everyone posted them a day early.  Then I realized that it was Friday today.  It's been a long week.  :)

I usually post pictures of my kids but figured that I would go in a different direction because of the theme.

Me & my mom:

I'm pretty sure that I've always said I don't want to be like my mom.  I remember being in college and pushing the microwave buttons with my knuckle like my mom does (she has nails, I do not).  I stopped mid-push.  What was I doing?  From then on I knew it was all over.  My mother?  When did I become like my mother?  I was going to be my own person and I did not want to turn into my mother.

A funny thing happened as I've gotten older -- I changed my mind.  What's wrong with being like my mom?  Sure, she's not perfect, but that's great.  I think I turned out to be a pretty decent person so it helps me not fret so much about all the mistakes I make as a parent.  It gives me hope that I am not ruining my children.  :)

I didn't say I wanted to be exactly like her, but she's a pretty awesome person.  She's funny, loving, hard working, a great writer, a great friend, and one of the most generous people I know.  I She has helped me through so many difficult periods in my life -- she is my rock.  She has been there to share for some of the most joyous moments in my life.  It's important to me to make her proud.  Most importantly, she's the perfect mom for me and I'm blessed to have her.

I ♥ you mom!

Be sure to check out these other ladies to see their take on "Mother":  Michelle, Stacey, Andrea, Tracey, Heather, Jenn, Jessica, Amanda, Kristin, Amanda, Sara, Tracy, Lesli, Janet, Naomi, Rhonda, Rose, Heidi, Kristi, and Jean