More school adventures

Professional Walker! :)

Had to wear her little pink ring during the walk today. In this picture she said, "Hey mom! Take a picture of my cute ring!"

Jacob's cheese and ham inspired by my mom telling me that I used to love having gingerbread shaped food in my lunch growing up. Cute! So the first day he had ham and cheese cut with the letter J. :) I'm a dork and I love this fun stuff.

My cute little walkers :)

New Book

This is the next little chapter book we're going to read together. I'm so excited!!

First Day of Kindergarten!!!

He's so cute :) He wanted every shot to include his new Transformers Lunch Box

School is close by so we will be walking to school in the mornings and walking home on the days that the weather is good. (will that ever happen here in Texas?:) The walk is 20 minutes each way. Sooner or later I'll add a jogging stroller into the mix...so I can get a little more exercise than a leisurely walk with the kiddos. I love the time we have to walk together.

Cheesy smile. Jacob marched right into the classroom, put his backpack in the cute lockers that look like he's in a high school, then sat right down. He was so ready to get started.

Then, he got right to work! I had to practically beg him to say goodbye to me :) That's better than the alternative that's for sure. No tears, no screaming. Awesome.

After school he was so excited to tell me all about this fun thing they do in the gym called "P.E." Cute right?!!

Later when Jacob and I had what he calls our "ABC Date" he started our learning session by laying out all the ground rules for us if we're going to be on the "green paw coyote team". I think that has something to do with being a good student at school. He was so excited while talking about it and I was cracking up. He told me the rules, which must have some resemblance of the real ones but I can't be sure... :) At least this is what he got out of it...

Rule #1 Don't touch anything.

Rule # 2 Do not eat.

Rule #3 Don't do anything else.

Rule #4 Don't kill anyone.

(seriously? how did he get that one)

OK, so those rules sound like a prison. He was very stern and told them to me over and over until I wrote them on a sticky note and drew a green paw on the top. Its was hilarious. I swear he had a blast at school yesterday! hehe. He said it was a long day and he loved it.

At the end of the day when I was tucking him in he was so cute and asked if dad was going to give him another Father's blessing before his 2nd day of school. So sweet. One of the moments that I wish would just last forever.

ps..just looked it up...its .7 miles to the school.

well hello

So, I started using Project Life so I've been a little more diligent about taking pictures daily, or at least every time we're clean :) haha. So this is a funny shot from yesterday.

Mommy & Jacob Date Night Movie...

Jacob talking about his map :)

Reading

I have a sweet friend in Colorado that one time casually spoke about how she loves reading Chapter Books each night to her kiddos. The book she was reading at that time was The Tale of Despereaux. I remember thinking she was amazing and inspirational for soooo many reasons, but this one quickly topped the list. She helped me to have to courage to attempt reading chapter books with my kiddos.

We just started reading The Boxcar Children. Its a cute little chapter book by Gertrude Chandler Warner that was first published in 1942. One of my favorite Grade School Teachers Mrs. Brinks used to read this book aloud to us each day at school. She had cute little voices for each of the characters in the book. This book was magical to me because of the magic that Mrs. Brinks created when she read to our class. I won't be doing voices while reading...but I am having a blast! This is waaaaay better than Dr. Seuss but I still have Fancy Nancy on the top of the list :) We read 50 pages the first day! Lexi ducked out around page 30 but Jacob was fascinated with story and loved the adventures!

Happy Sunday :)

j

Mommy & Jacob Date

These are pictures of Jacob explaining how to get to Target and the Soda place with the map he drew for us to follow. Just like Jacob :)

This is his first experience with the "Red Blear Float" That's cute, I didn't correct his cute name. He's growing so fast...I like his silly names.

My cute boy and I had Soda Floats (Root Beer Floats:) then went school supplies shopping! It was so fun just me and him. He's such a big boy. Its so fun to see his transformation over the past few months as we prepare for school and he's so stinkin excited for Kindergarden. More updates and pictures soon...he starts school on Aug. 22! :)

oh what they say

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU STOP!?!"

I know better then to say things like that to Jacob. He needs things said straight, not a venting/angry command like the one above. No sarcasm, just give it to him straight. haha. He put me straight.....

My son held up two fingers and in a very serious and sweet tone said, "Two mom, I think my ears require to be told twice".

Fighting hard to keep a straight face, Game Face, "Next time son, I will be asking you once and I expect you to only need to hear me once. Do you understand?"

Then I made him repeat the "new rule" for his ears...blah blah. It was pretty darn funny.

"yes mom", then he shoots me a make me melt smile and runs off to play.

***

"I missed you Jacob!"

"Me too!! I need to hold your hand mom. I love you"

I hope my little boy is like this forever.

a flat.

On my way to a playdate at the Mall today a nice man flagged me down to tell me I have a flat.

Awesome.

So I pulled over and, well, yes....a flat.

Super.

I headed over to drop off the car for the diagnosis and the kiddos and I walked to QT for water and donuts...It was FREAKIN 100 degrees outside. ugh. Then with waters in hand...we walked a few minutes to Taco Bueno for lunch.

Yum.

Then my sweet friend Caryn met us for lunch then drove us to the Mall to play!

What a Doll!

Gotta love randomly spending $120 on a new tire...but having a blast with friends all the while!

Dr. Visit

My poor baby looked so nervous waiting for the Dr. today. :( She looked so small and fragile in her little Patient Gown. She's totally healthy...just a visit for shots and to check on little bumps she has. No biggie, but my poor baby was nervous. :( Looking at her in this little gown makes my heart ache for the poor mothers out there that have children suffering with illnesses. My heart sends a prayer for them today. No mom should have to see their child cry from pain. May God be with them.

silly

I said, "Don't even think about it Jacob!"

Jacob said, "Don't worry mom, I don't think before I do anything"

"Mom, are you enjoying the worst day ever? I AM NOT!" -jacob

I said, "Its chicken day!"

"Yay, Pinchin Day, Pinchin Day, Pinchin Day!!!" -Lexi

Pinching...haha....get it?!

Sports Park Fun

We love playing in the water! My kiddos are at The.Perfect.Age. to play so nicely while I just sit back (close by:) and read a book or talk to girlfriends. I. love. it. The Sports Park with the playground and water are the closest park to my house....could it get any better?!

Here are some fun pictures of our adventures....

Someday I'll bring my real camera everywhere...not just my phone. lol.

Tradition!

In the Moss Family (my maiden name) we have a fun tradition of having Jello on the 4th of July. I seriously think its the ONLY time of the year that we have jello. I wouldn't exactly call us a green jello Mormon family but in the Moss House my mother made special efforts to keep traditions and the magic of holidays alive and big part of our growing family...Even Making Jello! Now, as our large family is growing little families of our own...we've all kept up this tradition.

I love my family. I love the special effort my parents (mommy:) took to make each holiday special in our home. Thank you mother for this Holiday OCD that is now forever in my heart.

Above are pictures of the kiddos and I shopping for our 4th of July goods...hotdogs, chips, and Jello! Fun stuff :) This year my crazy kiddos needed jello in a plastic cup...the large wine glasses from last year BARELY survived the jello excitement.

4th of July Fun

On our way to fireworks in Plano Texas

Silly Avery's :)

Just Another Silly Video

For those of you loved ones that never get to see our silliness...this is for you! We're caaaraazy!

What's new in the zoo

Hanging by a thread...and he still won't pull it out. Gross.

Lost his first tooth!

According to Lexi, "The fairies took Jacob's tooth! He lost it, they took it from him!"

They are a little confused about how the Tooth Fairy works, but its hilarious!

He placed the little tooth under his pillow and everything. Cute.

His tooth was loose for over a week but insisted that it will fall out on its own. Funny. Since he was right...I have a feeling he will never pull out a tooth...he's all nat.ur.al. Fun stuff.

Next month is his 6 mo. check up...yay! Now my little tooth grinder is getting his big boy teeth! Yay! So...now i have to get that tooth grinding thing under control. ugh.

***

The little beavers crack me up. Yesterday the kids built a DAM out of the items in my bedroom. They called it their hideout. Made with clothes, books, bed linens...fab.

So when I finished my fast mom shower...I heard the wonderful sounds of children playing and saying, "Look mom, its our Damn Hideout". Lexi, "Damn Hideout, Damn Hideout!!"

Awesome.

***

This morning....I gave Jacob an angry face (more of a playful angry face...that said, hey don't do that punk...) and he said to me, "Don't look toward me with that ugly face mom!" OK.

***

My princess had a stuffy nose this morning. She dutifully walked her butt into the bathroom and started blowing her nose. Such a girl. I headed to the bathroom to give her some positive 'good job' attention with a loving tap on her head. Then asked how she was doing. She said,

"I'm flushing my nose mom" Cute.

So my potty mouth child now has a potty nose too. Lovely.

Lex

"Mommy your dinner smells tasty"

Thanks princess :)

Spinach and Feta Pasta from www.ourbestbites.com

And I doubled the garlic and mushrooms ;) That's how we Avery's roll. Next time I'll be adding sliced pepperoni. (Like the kind you put on a pizza) Try it next time in your favorite Pasta dish....Delish!

Lex

At the Dallas Zoo on Friday we went to the Butterfly Exhibit. It was just beautiful...amazing wild flowers, white picket fences, little water features...and real butterflies everywhere. It was just magical. It was small and UBER hot outside...but the exhibit was still just magical. It felt like when you stepped into the mesh tent housing the butterflies, you stepped into another magical world where everything is rainbows and butterflies. :) You wanted to whisper and walk slowly...maybe I was the only person in this little butterfly world...but it was amazing. :D Actually, my mom was totally in my butterfly fairytale with me. lol.

Lexi and Jacob were looking at caterpillar cocoons in specimen case and Lexi said, "The caterpillars are changing their outfits mom" Cutie. Such a girl thing to say.

***

Lexi was playing with water in her room...not allowed. But since Sunday seems to be the FREE-FOR-ALL-MESS-UP-YOUR-ROOM-AND-TAKE-THE-TOYS-ALL-OVER-THE-HOUSE-Day...then she thought that it was ok. So I asked her to get the water out of her room and her response was, "I want flowers to grow on the carpet!" Me too princess, me too.

Gangsta Flashback

Julie age 18

Heath age 24

Aren't we just the sweetest. Ugly camera phone got a bad shot...but this night at the bowling alley in 2003 was a night to remember!

Take a look at Heath's cute little facial hair and my red acrylic tips. haha! back in the day...

smart

"Mom, have I always been this smart? I think in heaven I was this smart too. I was born this way."

Yes son.