Kindness

In preschool every month they work on a character trait from the Bible. They talk about it in class everyday and then have more in depth in Chapel once a week. This month is kindness. When I ask Tyler about it he doesn't go into to much detail, but I am already seeing the fruits of it. The mornings can always be a little hectic. The boys usually do pretty well but I always have to ask a couple of times to really get them moving. The boys were up way early this morning, which usually means a disaster of the rest of the morning. However I would ask Tyler to get dressed and he went and got dressed. I reminded him to come upstairs to brush his teeth and up he came. I told him we couldn't finish his puzzle until after school and all I got was an "ok mommy". Wonderful morning. He has also been reminding Justin and I to say sorry when we raise our voice or when Justin says "bad words" when watching football. The boys think God Bless America is a bad word. He also reminded me today to adjust my attitude. Tyler still has his moments of bad attitudes, going crazy where he can't control himself, and other acts of disobedience, but must say he is having a great week over all. Life is good.

Nana Visits!

Nana came to visit for part of the week. The boys had a wonderful time with Nana doing new puzzles that Nana brought (they did them over and over again), reading books, and playing with her. Every morning they would argue over who would be the one that got to wake Nana up. When we got home from church on Thursday to find that Nana went back home the boys were very sad. We can never get enough Nana time in! Thanks for coming Nana!

First Day

Well it's here. It's something I had been dreading and was very bittersweet for sure. It came and it went, and I am in awe once again of how big my baby is. Tyler had his very first first day of school. When I got him from his room this morning his first words to me were "mom I don't want to go to preschool". Luckily the attitude turned around and he was excited to go. Since I was working this morning he spent a little while in my classroom before it was time to go. He kept asking when it would be time and when it finally was time I have never seen him get up so fast. When we got there he said a very quiet hi to his teacher and then asked me to stay for a little bit. As soon as I brought him over to the airplanes he was fine for me to go. I was so proud of how big he was being, I however shed a few tears. When Carter and I picked him (Carter was more excited than me to get him) I was told he had a great first day. Seeing him come out of his classroom cause a few more teary eyes on my part, but he told me he liked preschool and wanted to go back. I have heard bits about his day, but it comes at odd times. I am hoping we will be able to get into a routine where I can hear everyday detail and it will be that way to his very last first day of school. A mom can dream right?

Open House

Tyler had his open house to meet his new teacher yesterday. He was very excited to carry his school supplies in. When he got there he was very quiet. We went over and made his place mat that he would have snack off everyday. His teacher, Mrs. Obernessor, asked him about the different pictures and Tyler answered in a very quiet voice. Then we went and explored the room. He really liked that they had a lot of airplanes and helicopters. He didn't want to stop playing, but he also had his fingers in his mouth (a sign that he is nervous and overwhelmed). He knows some of the kids in his class so he said hi to them but mostly stayed by himself. By the time we left he still wouldn't speak to his teachers, but is very excited to come back.

That night when Tyler was telling Justin all about the open house Carter got very sad. When we asked Carter what was wrong he said he was going to miss Tyler when he was at school and then he started crying. So sweet! Tyler gave him a hug and told him he would miss him too. Tyler and Justin then left to get supplies to decorate Tyler's bucket that he will use as a backpack. It took Carter a while to come around but we eventually had a fun night of games, puzzles, and a popscile. Carter really felt better when Tyler came back with a special toy just for Carter. I can't get over how much I love seeing how good of friends they are.

Favorite Things

Just some of my favorite things that have been going on the past few days:

• Carter has always been a social guy. However now instead of just saying hello to everyone he knows, he also wants to know their name. Whenever we see anyone walking down the street, at the check out at the store, or even dogs running around the neighborhood he asks what their name is. The other day we had a repairman come over. Carter went and asked his name. The guy turned to him said his name was Joe and then right back on talking to me. Carter didn't even say his name back so I figured he got distracted. The moment Justin pulled into the driveway Carter runs to him and says "daddy Joe was here to fix the garage." I guess he was listening.
• Carter was having a major tantrum over nothing. We were trying to ignore it. Tyler yells from downstairs "mom Carter is still crying!". When I told him to ignore him Tyler yells back up "mom he is to loud I can't hear you.". Then a few minutes later "mom Carter is still crying I think he needs a cuddle." He then went to Carter and tried to convince him to come cuddle with me.
• At night when putting the boys to bed we let them play quietly in their room as long as they are not being destructive, staying in their room, and being quiet. We usually find Carter on the floor by a stack of books fast asleep. Other times we have found him halfway under his bed or even by the door. This one took the cake though. I guess Carter had to have his boots on before he could fall asleep.
• Speaking of boots, usually Tyler wants to wear his fire hat whenever we go out. At times he must also wear his coat and boots. Carter follows along with Tyler, but with his own little flair. We have been painting all weekend and had to have a quick run to Lowes. Carter was still in his pajamas and didn't want to get dressed. So into Lowes he wore his pj's, his Crocs (which we always wears on the wrong feet), his fire hat on backwards and his sunglasses. Styling dude.
• Like I said we have been busy painting all weekend. The boys were trying to help us finish putting the last outlet covers back on. Tyler, carrying around a screwdriver, announces "I need something to screw!"
• The boys have become very fond of Ray Charles. Tyler asks me whenever we get into the car to listen to the yellow c.d. (the Ray Charles c.d.). Yesterday he told me he knows two of the songs from it that he can sing along to. However they both have a favorite that they burst out into song at any given time "I Have a Woman". All of a sudden we will hear one of them start singing "I have a woman, way over town, she's good to me, oh yeah".
  

Date Night

On Wednesday night I had a date night with Tyler and Justin had a "dude night" with Carter. First Tyler and I went to get his haircut for school. I was so proud of him. He did not cry or even whine during the whole process. He would try to get his head away from the clippers a couple of times but once I reminded him he would sit straight up again. From there we headed to Red Robin, his choice, for dinner. He insisted that we sit on the same side of the booth and he loved that I let him eat as many fries as he wanted. After Red Robin we were going to go get Tyler's school supplies. He was so excited about this that he only ate two slices of his pizza.

When we got to the store he wanted me to pick out the supplies but he would put them in the cart. Then my favorite part of the night happened. We were walking down one of the aisles and Tyler says to me "Mommy I love you a whole lot" and gave me the biggest hug. Such a sweet heart he is. After grabbing a few more things we headed home to see Carter and daddy who had a fun dude night of pizza and loading the van with some stuff Justin would be bringing to the Stillmans the next day. I had a great time with my little man.

Sweet Heart

Just a quick little Tyler story that melted my heart. I was in a sad mood yesterday and Tyler could tell. He asked me what I was sad about (he was very concerned). I told him and his response to me was " you can pray to Jesus about that. Why don't you do that now ok?" I hope that is who he will turn to whenever he is sad.