Getting ready for Halloween

We love cookie pops! Arden had her first one tonight! I got them Halloween ones as a treat, Stratton picked the pumpkin and Arden got a mummy. She licked the icing off hers and then gave it back to me!

I think she liked it . . . just a little.

They also got a Halloween goody bag, and Stratton also got a new costume. I gave in and bought him the ugly Power Ranger costume he wanted. I figured it only cost me $20, and there won't be many more years where I can be a hero with something that cost $20. . . I hear way too many stories from the people I work with about all their kids want are gadgets that cost $500! I was right, he said it was the best costume ever, and it was the best day ever. . . I can't wait to see how he feels about actual Halloween day!

Bitter Sweet

This week I packed the bottles away. It's the offical end to Arden being a "baby". It's been a rough couple of weeks for me realizing how fast my kids are growing.

We had Stratton's Parent Teacher Conference last week, and the teacher told us great things. I'm amazed at how much he is learning! I feel like he talks "big" now, too. He's always had a pretty extensive vocabulary, but I have really noticed a difference in words he uses to describe things and his imagination has kicked up some of the eleborate stories he tells. They also told us that he is right where he needs to be in all the areas that they test them in. And she said his art skills are really good. He even made a pattern with shapes and colors and most of the kids didn't get that! Most of all I was proud to hear that he is well behaved, and other than some issues with sharing and controlling his emotions when he gets really upset (typical for a four year old) she said she rarely has any problems with him!

Arden has pretty much digressed in the talking department. I feel like Stratton was more vocal than she is at 13 months. But she seems think about things more, she does things with intent and is much better at things that take dexerity and concentration. It amazes me how she works at puzzles and blocks, Stratton has never been interested in puzzles or things like that. She is already good at holding a crayon and she seems to really enjoy coloring and drawing.

I am so thankful that my kids are growing and learning and are healthy and happy! But it sure is hard sometimes when those little milestones come and go. I'm trying so hard to be present and enjoy those moments, I know they aren't going to slow down anytime soon!

Family day @ Pebbles farm

A great defeat. (For me at least)

This was the day I have been dreading since he was born.

Look at this picture. Notice anything?? (Other than he is  excited about some stickers) Do you see the pride in this kid’s eyes? He had just won a great battle.

Honestly, I wasn’t “in it- to win it” on this particular morning, and he knew it- and when the underdog senses weakness (or tiredness in my case) that is when they make their move! You probably didn’t even noticed that Stratton’s clothes don’t match- but they don’t.

And it Just. Drives. Me. Crazy!

This is how it went down. I laid his clothes out on the ottoman in the living room like I do every morning. (Stratton is now really good about dressing himself if I lay the clothes out.) I am in the bathroom getting ready when he storms in and throws his blue jeans at me and says “I want to wear Pants, not jeans!”- (Apparently we need to re-visit what “pants” are) then he tells me he wants to wear shorts with his new wolf shirt, to which I tell him it’s too cool to wear shorts. He’s alright with that but he’s not giving in to wearing jeans, he would rather wear “comfy pants”. Then he rushes to his room and pulls out a pair of navy and bright blue and white track pants (mainly because I hadn’t folded and put away laundry and there wasn’t much else in the drawer. . . ) and tells me he wants to wear them. His shirt is dark grey, with some white and neon green. Not going to happen. So, I tell him that the wolf shirt and navy pants didn’t match and he would either need to pick another shirt, or just wear the jeans. His answer: “But Momma, why do I HAVE to match??”

Touché.

I weighed my options at this point. I thought about how I would explain to a 4 year old (male, at that) about the rules of matching and the importance of an outfit coordinating and how we should look our best, but let’s get real. That would have been a waste of breath and time, and it was about 5 minutes till we needed to walk out the door. Then I thought about just lying. I could tell him that it’s in the bible (You know over in the first chapter of Paul) that usually works. So, I had to pick; A.) Let him win (and wear clashing clothes) B.) Make him wear what I wanted, which would take time picking something new out, and probably result in a meltdown and would make us late for school, and that would make me late for work or C.) Tell him a blatant lie that I’m sure I would be forced to deal with at a later time when some smart kid tells him there is no book of Paul (not to mention, the obvious: lying is never a good strategy).

So, I LET him win.. . . Sometimes the underdog wins.

A sick free week and relaxing weekend

Things are looking up. We didn’t go to the doctor last week with either kid! I bet they miss us : ) It was a pretty low key week! (I almost hate to say something like that in fear of jinxing things!) I’ve had a cold and the crud but I went to the doctor yesterday morning and got a Decadron shot and meds and feel much better today! Jarrod either pulled a muscle (or maybe has a kidney stone??) and he was moving slow this weekend, but he seems to be getting better everyday.

Stratton got to go to his first book fair at school. He thought that was really cool. Arden continues to bite kids at school and I’m researching possible baby boot camps. Miss attitude is actually had a better week. I think the teething must be getting a little better. Stratton went grocery shopping with me and for the first time didn’t ask for a toy or throw a fit when he didn’t get something he wanted. Gotta celebrate the small victories!

Friday night we tried to do a family movie night, Stratton and Jarrod rented the Disney movie Brave. Stratton like the movie ok, I mean the parts he actually watched. . .he was devastated when we told him we rented it (Redbox) and had to take it back! Haha! Jarrod and I have seen one adult movie in the past year probably, and guess which movie he rented for us to watch that night after the kids were in bed?? Yep. (I thought it was funny- Jarrod not so much) We didn’t feel like staying up late to watch it again. So movie night was pretty much a flop. I  guess we will have to revisit it again when we have another free Friday night in the future. . .whenever that will be!!

We spent most of the weekend in Searcy, we had Margie’s birthday Saturday night. Stratton and Archer got to play Saturday and almost all day Sunday. They are so funny. I just love watching them interact, it’s so cute to listen to them talk to each other.

Stratton decorated Nan’s envelope- No help! I think he got the holidays covered!

Arden liked the cake!

I found the cutest Red Wolves treats at Full Sun when I was birthday shopping. . .

Yummy!

We don’t have too much going on this week- for once. The Red Wolves game is tonight, but me and the kids are staying home since it’s a school night and it doesn’t start till 7pm. {Happy Anniversary to us!} We have our first “Parent Teacher Conference” Thursday night! And then Stratton is out of school on Friday and Jarrod is supposed to be off too, so I think I will play hooky as well! The weather is getting cooler and it finally feels like fall! We are looking forward to some family fun this weekend. Maybe a trip to the pumpkin patch!

Stratton’s Pre-K School Picture

I’m so proud of this picture! He’s smiling!!

The school photographer, Mr. Terry Smith, is an elder at our church and our good friend Tara’s dad. He does an awesome job! I was SHOCKED when I pulled his pictures out of his bag Friday night! I was not expecting them to be very good, since Stratton NEVER smiles. I almost didn’t order pictures (you have to order before hand) but I’m glad I did!! I can’t believe he is old enough to start school pictures! He looks so big in it!

And. . . .She’s off!

Arden is walking with no help! She’s been taking steps and will walk for a good 6 or 7 steps regularly, for almost a month, but hasn’t just really taken off yet. . . until now!  I guess we noticed Friday night she was getting braver and braver and something must have just “clicked”. She is a pro now!

Not the greatest picture, but she’s rarely still : )

Getting in her favorite drawer.

Of course she is still crawling some. It’s faster, so depending on how fast she needs to get somewhere will determine her method of transportation!

So proud of our “toddler”!