Sunday, March 31, 2013

FIVE!

Hard to believe Xavier is five years old already!  How quickly those years have gone by!
 
 
The birthday boy with his Jake and the Neverland Pirates birthday cake.
 
 Scooter!

 
A REAL tool set!

 
A festive little partier :)

 
Mobi Go games!

 
A new bike!


Xavier enjoyed the day immensely and is very excited about being 5 years old now!


"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." ~Oprah Winfrey

Hello!

Easton loves to say "Hello!" and talk on the phone...

Not sure who he's trying to call. (We unplugged the cord
from the wall since he was so intent on using the phone!)

"Mama, could you give me a minute!?"

"Okay, let me just write that down quick!"
 
He's such a silly little monkey! :)
 
 
"Today or any day that phone may ring and bring good news." ~Ethel Waters

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Tough Look

Xavier is in his second year of wrestling now.  He's improved a lot since last year and has developed what he calls his "tough look."

Xavier's "tough look"

Another "tough look" picture...also my favorite wrestling picture ever!

Xavier's first ever win at a Wrestling meet!

Writing his name on the "winner's sheet"

3rd place over all



People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.  ~Dale Carnegie
 
 




Saturday, January 12, 2013

A Box of Fun!

In the eyes of a child, one of the best parts of Christmas is the fun that can be had with the boxes. This year was no different as Easton and Xavier played for hours in, on, and around the box our Christmas tree came in. At one point Xavier actually said, "Mom, can I just have this box for Christmas?!" It's the simple pleasures in life that are the greatest!
 
 
 
No one will find me in here!
 
Peek!
 
I see you!
 
Goofballs
 
If pictures had sound, you would be able to hear
gigles from Easton on the box & Xavier inside the box!
 


Don't be fooled by Easton's small size...he can crack up Xavier easily!
 
Having a blast with the box!
 
One in the box, one on the box!
 
 
A box without hinges, key, or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid.
~J.R.R. Tolkien

Friday, January 11, 2013

Gramma's Tree

There's something magical about the great big old tree in Gramma & Papa's backyard.  If it could talk, I'm sure it would have MANY stories to tell...some would most likely even include stories about Mike, and possibly even some about Papa!  Well over Christmas break this big beautiful tree was blanketed with the most beautiful frost, making it even more magical, and the perfect scene out the window.

 
 
 
 
Climb a tree - it gets you closer to heaven. ~Author Unknown

Easton's 1st Haircut

On December 27, 2012, at the age of 1 year, Easton had his first haircut.  He was very concerned about it from the very beginning...

Easton wondering what's going on.
 
 
It's not too bad yet...
 
 
I don't like it!  Why are you guys doing this to me!?
 

What did I ever do to deserve this?!
 
 
Okay, I'll walk if you guys just stop cutting my hair!
 
 
My poor Bunkey!  Who knew a 1st Haircut could be such a traumatic experience!!  He was so upset he wouldn't even let me get an "after" picture...so I had to wait until a couple days later to capture how nice the haircut looked, even if he hated every moment of it!
 
Looking quite handsome with his new haircut!
 
Hopefully he doesn't need another haircut for quite awhile and forgets about how much he hated his first experience.   Maybe I should have tried giving him puppy chow to make it a little less traumatic since that was his FAVORITE treat over Christmas break! 
 
 
Hair is vitally personal to children. They weep vigorously when it is cut for the first time; no matter how it grows, bushy, straight or curly, they feel they are being shorn of a part of their personality. ~Charles Chaplin, My Autobiography, 1964

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Our 2012 in Review

The Lord blessed our family in so many ways in 2012! Here is our year in review:
 
Xavier is now 4 years old (he keeps reminding us he'll be 5 soon though!) and started Preschool this fall.  He is like a sponge soaking up everything he can from the world around him.  He learned how to ride his bike without training wheels this summer (in about 2 hours one afternoon) and recently started reading (sight words, using picture clues, etc), which makes this Mama want to cry!  He’s growing up way too fast!!!  Xavier also stayed busy with swimming lessons, Sunday School, and wrestling.  His favorite things to do are play any sports with Daddy and do “big jobs” with Papa Gary, Daddy and/or his backhoe, crane, and tractors.  He always has to be busy doing something! 

Easton is growing and learning by leaps and bounds as well.  He turned 1 in November and recently began walking.  He is more quiet/reserved than I remember his big brother being, but maybe that’s because he can’t get a word in edgewise with Xavier around! J   Easton now says “Mama,” “Dada,” "more," "uh oh" and sometimes there are resemblences of words like "down," and "thank you."    He also signs “more,” “all done,” and “Oh no!” (the latter is usually when he sees his big brother coming! Haha – just kidding!)  Some of his favorite things to do right now include eating, climbing up and down stairs, eating, eating, and climing on top of everything (including the kitchen table), eating, looking at books, eating, playing catch, eating, pushing buttons, eating, playing with his big brother, and did I mention eating?!  He is SUCH a good eater!  Easton insists on doing everything according to his terms and not a second sooner.  However, we joke around that God must want us to have more kids because he is an extremely good little boy for us!  The boys keep us on our toes, but we wouldn’t want it any other way!  They have their “brother” moments where they make each other cry, but they also laugh at jokes that only the two of them get while heaped on the floor together, which is priceless to see.  We have thoroughly enjoyed watching the bond strengthen and grow between our boys over the past year, and are excited to see what 2013 has in store for each of them and what they have in store for us as well.

Mike and I are half through our 7th year of teaching.  Mike teaches social science, and is the advisor for the freshman class, yearbook, and National Honor Society.  I am the Special Education Director and Elementary Special Education teacher.  We both enjoy our jobs and the students and staff we work with at our schools.

Another milestone this year was Mike turning the big 3-0 in August (with far more grace and dignity than I will in about a year and a half I might add)!  We enjoyed trips to Iowa, North Dakota, the Black Hills, and our Alma Mater – Black Hills State University (we figure it’s never too soon to start “encouraging” our boys to become future Yellow Jackets! J )

We enjoyed every minute of Easton’s first year of life and all of Xavier’s “firsts” that continue to come at break-neck speed.  We are so thankful for the many blessings God has bestowed upon us over the past year!  We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2013 filled with health, happiness, peace, and love!

 
Goodbye 2012...
Hello 2013!