The Hug

Magan and the boys were going to meet me at lunch today, but had some errands, and I ended up eating by myself at our cafeteria. I called Magan later, and she said the boys were upset that I was unable to join them. But she was going to Target, so I said I would come over while they are there (just a short 5 minute walk from my building). It was not to hard to find them…went to toys and saw them in the baby section. Davis saw me first and starting pointing saying DaDa…DaDa.

Then Magan turned the buggy down the aisle I was on and Sam came running. He jumped into my arms and hugged me so tight. Even as I started to let go, he kept on hugging. Not the hug that says welcome home Dad, Come on let’s play…Not the hug that is a choke hold challenging Dad to a wrestling match…Not the hug that is more of just a quick required squeeze…But a hug that seemed to last forever, a hug with so much love I have to hold back tears because I love him so much, a little hug in Target that I will remember for a long time.

To be Eggs or Not to be Eggs

I don't love eggs myself now, but as a kid growing up I loved what we called "squish eggs" I gag a little thinking of eating them now. Scott doesn't like them either so we usually either eat a well done fried egg or scrambled eggs. The kids have only ever tried scrambled and they don't eat them very well. SO, I got up the other morning and made squish eggs(sunny side up) for them. I let Sam see it and pointed out that it looked like a sunshine. His little eyes and nose were stretched over the top of the counter to see what I was showing him. He appeared to love this idea, so I took his hand and put it on the fork and let him help me "Squish" the sunshine and make the eggs ready for eating. As we did this, he said "Oooo, somtin smells stinty," (something smells stinky) then he looked at the egg we had "squished" and said "Dats yuty mom" (That's yucky mom) I tried talking him into it and halved the egg into two bowls. I sat both boys in front of their eggs. Sam was squirming b/c he know I usually make him try at least one bite and he DID NOT want to. Then I put Davis in his seat. He loves to eat, so he took his spoon and dove right in. I watched for a reaction over by the stove were he couldn't see me. As soon as that egg entered his mouth, it came flying out and back into the bowl. He stuck his tongue out and started wiping it off with the wash rag while saying "Shew" and pushing the bowl far across the table. I got tickled and couldn't help laughing out loud. My next attempt was with the fried "well done" egg. I even put cheese on top of it. Sam was thrilled to see that I had made an alternative and that he didn't have to try the "stinky squish egg" He took one bite and that was it for him. He was finished. Davis fiddled around with it for a long time, which made me think the morning had been a success, at least for one child. When I went to get him down and see what he had eaten of his egg, all I saw was tiny little finger marks were he had tried his best to scrape the cheese off and eat it. :) Oh Well, better luck next time I try! Something that they loved to eat was Ice cream at the Bass Pro shop! I am going to throw some of those pictures on this post as well. John was with us too, but some how we only managed to get him in a video, not pictures sorry John. WHAT A PLACE!!! I had no idea what we were going to the Saturday that we went. That place was crazy and the boys loved it. If you haven't been yet you should go at least once to see it. I just had to add these pictures of Davis tearing into some corn. <

Shoutout to MawMaw

Cold Cold Weather...at least cold to us in Alabama. So I had to go get out my warm coat for a date night with Magan. I had my coat on and we were getting the boys ready to drop them off at a friends house. Well, Sam looked up at my "new" coat and noticed that I had a button that was broke (It had caught on something a while back, and riped a small hole). He told me "Uh Oh, your jacket is broke". I said "I know, but it's OK". He then said right away "I KNOW, you can take it to MawMaw, she can fix it. She can fix holes in socks and pants and your jacket." And it is true...through many a hole in our clothing, MawMaw has always come to the rescue. And the little guys notice as well. Thanks MawMaw. Love You.

Oh...and I may be bringing a jacket by...it has a small tear in it. :)

Things have been flying out of Sam's mouth lately! He is learning so quickly and saying a lot of things that are surprising to me. First of all, he was sitting in the back seat on the way to church and he said "SAM, MAS, SAM!" I turned to see what he was talking about and he had his THOMAS the train holder and he recognized that his name was at the end of Thomas, just backwards. He also drew on his doodle pad the other day and shouted "U" I looked to see if it really was and it was, this amazed me b/c we haven't spelled any words with u in them yet. Then he drew a line across it and proclaimed that it was now an A. I was blown away.


He also corrected me at the table while eating with friends. Scott went and got our drinks while I sat with the kids. When he came back and handed me my cup, I must have forgotten to say thank you. Sam jumped on top of that and reminded me "mooom, yous forgot to say tank you" While I am thinking of it, he still has a lot of trouble saying certain letters. I think it is adorable, but since Davis has NO trouble saying any letters I know it is something I need to work on with Sam. I don't want him to get picked on in school b/c he can't say some of the words right. I think it is so adorable when he is saying his prayers. He says at the end of each prayer "dod so dreat, dod so dood, dod so happy" He came up with the happy part all by himself. He also sings Jesus love me, and when it gets to "yes Jesus love me" he sings "Less Jesus loves me" I may have already wrote about this, but it is so cute I want to always remember it.

All of these things are signs that he is getting ready to learn more and be challenged in that way. It makes me sad when I think about the fact that he will be 4 in May and kindergarten in just around the corner. I am looking into letting him go to preschool 2 days a week in the Fall. I really thinks he needs to have a transition period before he is thrown into kindergarten. Oh, it is so hard to let go, so any advice or encouragement in this area would be appreciated.




A note about little Davis. He is so hilarious to me and Scott at the moment. He is so short but so growny at the same time. He plays so imaginatively and yes he did pretend to shoot me with his finger guns when he got mad at me the other day. He also had his first real haircut. I don't know what part of, DON'T CUT HIS CURLS OFF, a hairstylist doesn't understand, but they are GONE! I wanted to cry and did when it happened to Sam (that may have had something to do with my being 8 1/2 months pregnant when it happened to him). This time I held it together and was just thankful he sat in that seat all by himself and let that lady cut it. Sam still needs to sit with his dad to get his done, but he is doing better with being still and letting her mess with him.

In the picture at the top of the boys with one naked arm. Davis did it first and when I asked him if he liked it like that he said Uh, huh. I figured since he usually only swings that one arm when he runs, maybe he was freeing it up for the action.
This is one of the best shots I have of his curls. It doesn't even show them from the back :(

Bubbles

You may already do this with your kids, but I thought I would share something easy and fun to do with them.
I like to use this when I am trying to cook and everyone is in the kitchen under my feet.
I run water with bubbles in the sink and use the sprayer to make a lot of suds. Then I take a bowl and scoop the suds off the top for them to play with. They LOVE it and there is no mess. They might even partially clean something by accident. :)





Caution: Could tickle nose if brought in contact with one another :)



Hopefully, nontoxic! He has to taste EVERYTHING.

Dad's Number One

Magan probably wouldn't share this story, but it made me feel good at work yesterday morning. It was my first morning back at work in a while...I had several days off for Christmas then for New Years. Well while at home, Sam and Davis had gotten used to their Dad being there when they woke up, and Davis seeing Dad come in to get him in the morning.

Well on this Monday morning, Magan said that Davis starting crying for "DADA". So she went in to get him, and when he saw her, he laid his head back down and said "NOOOO". Magan, a little irritated, left and the process was repeated once more. On the third try it was time to leave, so Magan just had to finally get him out unhappy that it wasn't Dad. Yeah, I know, a little rotten, but sure makes a Dad feel good.

My little buddy Sam just makes every morning so precious. I wake up fairly early each morning and usually leave the house around 6. Well Sam has started waking around the same time in the mornings and comes into the kitchen while I am making my bfast. He always smiles and comes and gives me a big hug. This morning he told me "I like you Dada". So as I do each morning, I fix his bfast too, and put that with his Milk at the corner of the couch. Turn the TV to the Disney channel, give him a big hug and kiss, and tell him to take care of his Mom and Davis. I never knew how great 6:00am felt.

Sam's new favorite thing to say "No Way"
Davis' new thing that I like hearing him say "Ah-e-Ga-er" Alligator...and he will show you right where it is in his new book.

The Fireman and the Army man

Yes his shoes are on the wrong feet and he always wears the hat backwards.
About a week ago I got a call from a friend Sherry Pouncey. She invited me to drop in for a presale before she had her yard sale the next day. Sam went with me to look and while he was so quietly waiting for me, Sherry gave him a Fireman raincoat and hat. Little did I know that he became a real fireman at that moment and still is a week later. AT KOHL's
While we were there Sam also spotted the Fireman rain boots (that were pretty worn out) I told him I had to think buying those and he didn't complain putting them back. Later, after I saw how much he loved the coat and hat, I ran back to her house for the boots.
He was already in bed when I got them so I pu them in the kitchen for him to find the next morning. At about 6:00 the next morning I awoke to a little fireman hat peeking over my bed saying "I LOVE YOU MOMMA" and kissing me on the arm. I laughed a little and told him the same, the next sound I hear are BOOTS stomping around the living room, followed by Davis crying in his bed. Sam ran to my doorway and said "I just have loud boots mom" I couldn't help but laugh at him. All three pieces of his outfit go with him everywhere, and her ever hangs them on his bed at night and puts the boots on the floor beside them. He told me the first time he hung them up there that "That's how the fireman do it"
Lastly, he wore the coat to go out to eat on Sunday after church. On our way in there were 4 firetrucks parked outside of the restaurant and while inside one of them came to talk to Sam. As usual he ducked his head a little being bashful, but when the fireman said that he could come by and sit in his truck some time Sam's eyes lit up.
In the middle of our meal, there was a huge down pour of rain and Sam looked outside and while staring at the water he said "Good thing I got my rain coat" :)

On to army man, our little man Davis is so hilarious lately. He is only as tall as my knee but that little body sees a lot of action. The other night I heard him coming around the corner in full camo with his little arms tucked against his body and fists raised. He looked straight at me and Scott with a serious look on his face and opened fire :)
He may be small but he packs some real action in those little arms.

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At the McWain Center with Amy, Joseph, and David
They are hilarious on that floor with the trains! Boys and those transportation vehicles, I will never fully understand why they love them SO much!