5 years all ready

Can't believe you're 5!

My Isaac,

What can I say...I blinked and you turned five! This year has been so much fun. I've watched you go from a shy little guy to a brave one that makes friends easily. I love that you are so kind hearted and want to share everything with your brother. I wanted to make you a picture like Israels, with all of your "likes" but you have so many! And you seem to change them every week. How about we do your currents!?....

color: Red

Thing to do: play Angry Birds or Old Yeller with Scooter.

Food: pizza, nuggets, mac&cheese....to name a few

Hero: Daddy. You want to do everything he does!

Sport: You like them all!

I love you my little man. I am excited to see what year 5 is going to be like! I am sure more exciting than the last :)

Love, Mommy

Behind before I even started

I like to go back and read my old post from time to time. Tonight I went back to read about Isaac finishing up preschool and realized to my shock and horror I only wrote it on my head! Ha ha. So here it is 3 months late...

When Isaac started at VCA last year I didn't prepare him. The poor lil guy went in knowing how to count to 10, basic shapes, and sing his ABC's. He was the youngest in the class, and very shy. Mrs. Rhea and Mrs. McCulluen worked very hard and patiently with him and me. By the end of the year he knew how to write the alphabet and all the phonetic sounds, count to 100 and write his #'s, he knows shapes I've never heard of. There's so much he learned! Too much to list. As a mother, the most important thing he learned last year, to me,was confidence. It was so awesome to see him blossom from the shy guy to the confident little boy who said hello to everyone and could approach other kids.

Here are some pictures... The first one is a first and last day of school. Picture #2 is a collage of Isaac with his teachers, his class, and the end of year present from Mrs.Rhea. She wrote out words that described each student, she chose a different background that matched their personalities, and when she handed them out she would hug each student and say, "I love you". Anyone could see the kids loved her back. We couldn't have pictured a better first year for Isaac. We are blessed to be part of Veritas.

Ladies and Gentlemen...we have a kindergartner!

Whoa! We have a kindergartner! That's crazy! I have to admit this year went so much better than last.There were no tears as I dropped him off (maybe, one or two were shed on the way home but not at the actual school. Proud of myself for holding it together ha ha). There were a few reasons things went so much better.

 

1. This is our second year at VCA. We love it there! Isaac learned so much last year and we know he'll learn a ton this year.

 

2. We knew some of the parents and kids. It's always easier to go back to something familiar.

 

3. Isaac's teacher. Ok, I'll admit, I've only talked to her twice. But seriously, such a sweet patient lady. Not to mention she sent emails before school started. She all ready sent one about how the kids first day went! Can we say AHHH-MAZING! She likes to take pictures, she super organized, and she's funny. This is going to be a great year!

 

Ps. For any of our military friends or friends in the OKC area. If you're looking for a wonderful place to send your child. We highly recommend this school. www.vertiasclassical.com . A great education, caring staff and teachers, God centered. Love it, love it, love it!

 

Here's a few pictures

praying with Daddy after breakfast for the new school year

All cute in his uniform

He found his seat :)

A note from his teacher. She's so sweet! I love how much she cares.

some advice from a 30 year old mom

I went to the mall the other day. It was one of those unplanned trips. I usually don't like the mall. Mainly, because of the teenagers. They hang out in groups of 3 or more and don't seem to care about anyone but themselves. I figure one of these days I'm going to snap and mow over at least 5 of them with my sit and stand if they can't be a little courteous and move a few steps to let people pass. Seems I've gone on a bunny trail. I noticed the teenage girls were in "mom clothes". Seriously, Nike shorts and t-shirts, teased hair, and makeup. Let me tell you something little girls. I was in the same outfit. Well, kinda, my teased hair was the result of a 2 year old, and I was wearing makeup that was meant to enhance my beauty...not make it...but that's for another blog. Anywhoo, my point is, I was in my gym clothes because I didn't have time to run home and put them on. The gym has to be part of my day and I have to do errands around it. For Pete's sake put on a cute outfit. You have the time. Hurry! Not to far from now you'll wish you could ;)

For my fellow deployment mama's...can I get a "Amen"!?

I love my kids. They're awesome. They really are the biggest blessing and gift God has ever given me.

 Blessing #1 keeps remind me, "I'M THE MAN OF THE HOUSE WHILE DAD IS GONE!" aka "I want to do what I want to do, NOW!"

Blessing #2: Lets just say the other night he spilled popcorn all over my bed. I vacuumed it. As I went to put up the vacuum I come back in and there's baby powder all over the place, I clean it. It's quiet. Quiet is not good. He had unrolled all of the toilet paper.

Can I relate to this cartoon. Just a little bit :)

Grateful

When Isaac told me at the end of May that he was being deployed in June, I was mad. We had him here with us, but we didn't get to spend a lot of time together because he was upgrading. That means a lot of flying and studying. The silver lining was that he wouldn't leave until Oct. So, much for three whole months of him being ours unless there was a TDY or two.

However, since he's left my attitude has changed. There are positives. He only had to go for  4 months, since he got to go later. We'll be together for the holidays, and surprisingly this deployment is flying by so far.

Here are some things I am grateful for in no particular order...

An AWESOME support system...

*friends that ask me to lunch or randomly bring me dinner

*friends that watch my kids so I can go to Dr. appointments or get my nails done

* Friends that invite us to playdates

*A wonderful school for Isaac. Seriously, who gets an email from the grammar school principal telling your they are praying for your family everyday during deployment!?

*A church family that gets together to send my husband a care package

  

 Why Hello Romance!

* So, as sad as it is, Isaac is the romantic one. I am so grateful for him. I hate to admit it but when he is here I take him for granite. All the little things he does. Mowing the yard (that is friggin hard work), playing with the boys (such an amazing Dad), the talks, that he listens to my silly stories (yes, even my rants about reality tv shows), his hugs and kisses.

I know he is busy flying, I am grateful that he takes the time out of his busy schedule to pop a sweet letter in the mail every week, to send me flower and chocolates, to skype or face time on the days he doesn't fly, the emails he sends to remind me he is thinking about me, and the ring that is arriving in the mail in the next few weeks because I might have sent him an email with a direct link to a jewelery store and my ring size ha ha. He makes me feel so loved. I am so blessed to be his wife.

Family

How many families do you know say, "bring your two rambunctious boys and your dog and stay with us!" I can honestly say my sisters, bro, parents, in laws, and Aunts. They know they'll have to put up with my craziness that comes from me being extremely introverted but they still invite me and put up with me when I show up. Thank you guys!

 Quality time

I get to spend everyday with my boys. Yes, some days are hard but I wouldn't trade it for the world. The fact that Israel won't be without me for more than an hour makes me think he really loves me ;)

 Skype and Face Time

 Seriously, wish I could thank the people that created these in person. It's so great to be able to hear and see Isaac's face everyday. To know that even though he couldn't be here for our Birthday's, he could still be watching, listening, and interacting. Not missing our kids faces when they blow out their candles or open a present.

I'm sure I'll think of much more when I push the button to publish this blog. But I am truly grateful for everyone and everything!

Israel

Relly Baby,
         I swear I blinked and you became two. Where did this last year go!? You went from a crawling baby to a climbing, screaming, running two year old. You make everyday an adventure. From the time you open your eyes to the time you close them, I have to keep a very close eye on you. If I don't you might be on a counter, covered in mud or paint, running 1/2 way down the aisle in a store :) You keep me on my toes! I can't picture my life without you. It would be much much less adventurous. And since you have a mom whose motto has always been, "better safe than sorry" I need someone to make me realize it's ok to take risk! Just don't scare me too much this next year, and make sure I'm around to get you off of the things you climb up on when I turn my back for 10 sec. I love you little dinosaur!

                                                                                                                           Love,
                                                                                                                           Mom