Sunday, November 7, 2010

Thankful- Nov 5,6,7

How about a thankful weekend?

Friday was our last home football game and Senior night. Mendy has become a dear friend and confidant over the past few years and her son Colton is an awesome guy. Carter and Ethan love Colton and he is so good with them. When we moved here I worried about making good friends that would help me feel like Malvern was truly a home for us. Mendy is one of the first true friends I have made. She is an amazing single mom and a courageous and strong independent woman. I am truly grateful to call her one of my best friends.

Saturday...a lazy Saturday! I was able to sleep in a little bit and then spent the day cleaning a little and crafting a little and most of all watching and listening the boys interact with one another. It was a true luxury to be able to just stay home for the first time in months and to just relax. I am thankful for the little everyday moments I was able to capture and savor. Moments like these:

Hot Chai Tea Latte

Jess bought me this hot tea maker a few years ago for my birthday. It has become one of my favorite gifts. In the fall it is so nice to have the time to fix a Chai Tea Latte and to savor how good it is. I have yet to master the recipe well enough to rival Starbucks, but it is still really good.

Puzzle Working

Ethan got this puzzle out of Carter's closet and started working it. Not long after he started working it, Carter showed up. Instead of arguing and hogging the puzzle, Ethan quietly moved over and let Carter in to help him work it. They worked quietly and diligently until they had it worked. I love that they can be so sweet and cooperative with one another.

Caramel Apples

Last weekend Grandma Nita gave us some caramel apple wraps and two apples. I remember making caramel apples as a little girl with Mama and I am thankful she continued the tradition with the boys. I wanted to wait until we had time to make and enjoy them, so after Ethan had asked for a snack for the four hundred thirty-seventh time I got them out and made them. They loved them and I know that Carter ate all of his. Ethan I'm not so sure. I know he ate all the caramel off, but he may have thrown the apple away. He is sneaky like that.

Trampoline Football

It was a little cool in the morning, but by mid morning it had warmed up enough that I sent both boys outside. They wanted to jump on the trampoline, so they got on and began sweeping the leaves and acorns off. I ended up using the leaf blower to blow most of the leaves off and then used it to play with the boys. They loved having the blower blow up their sweat pants legs and shirts, then they figured out that the balls on the trampoline could be blown up in the air too. After I got off the trampoline they played trampoline football for a while and luckily no one got mad or injured. I am definitely thankful for that, because it is rare that they don't hurt one another. On another note, I have no idea how they play trampoline football and I'm not sure they do either. The rules for these made up games change every time they play them...usually thanks to Carter. After trampoline football was over they got off and tried to sneak into the house, but I swiftly sent them back out. Ethan got out his dump truck and began loading it with acorns. The next time I looked out they were shelling the acorns and when I asked them about it they said they were doing it for the squirrels. I ended up giving them a nutcracker, they were using their fingernails and teeth...Gross. They shelled acorns for over thirty minutes and then placed them on the table on the back deck. I hope our lazy squirrels appreciate their efforts.

Sunday we got up and even made it to Sunday school. The extra hour of sleep that we got may have helped us wake up a little easier or maybe it was the fact that we stayed home Saturday, but whatever the reason we made it! Both boys were so excited to be back in Sunday school and Jess and I really enjoyed the young adult class too. It felt great to be in class with people we consider friends and family. We are so very thankful to have found this church when we moved to Malvern. It has truly become a home and a family for us which is a blessing considering that our immediate family is over two hours away. The church is full of wonderful and loving people and we are so grateful that they love us and especially the boys so much.

Not only is the church full of beautiful, loving people, but it is also one of the most beautiful churches I have ever been in. This window is just one of the many stained glass windows in the church. It is gorgeous! Sitting is church is a treat when you are surrounded by such beauty.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Thankful- Nov 4th

We started a fire Tuesday evening and have been able to keep hot coals going up through this evening. I enjoy coming home to a warm house. We have gas heat, but there is nothing more warm and cozy than a nice, hot fire in the fireplace. I have been known, for years....too many to count, to stand directly in front of the fire for a long time in order to warm up. Long enough that other people in the room eventually ask or tell me to move and quit blocking the heat.

I'm so thankful for a warm fire and a warm home as the colder weather starts to move in. I am also thankful that my father-in-law has the time and energy to cut up trees for wood and that Jess has time to split it. Bring on the cold weather...I'm good as long as I have my warm, toasty fire!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Thankful- Nov 3rd

I am so thankful that Carter is able to read so well. He doesn't necessarily love reading, not as much as he loves math anyway, but he is still a really good reader.




Tonight we sat down and read "Mr. Putter and Tabby Stir the Soup". It is a small "chapter" book with about 40 pages written by Cynthia Rylant. We had read it last night together with me reading a page and him reading the next page. Tonight he read the whole thing by himself. He had very little trouble with even the more difficult words such as "ingredients", 'macaroni", "neighbors", and "interesting". I find this amazing! He has come a long way with his reading. He is more confident and does not frustrate as easily as he has in the past. I am so very proud of how hard he is working to learn to read well and I am so thankful that he is learning the skills to decode those harder words. Way to go, Carter!!


Tomorrow I will let him take an Accelerated Reader test on the book. It is a 2.5 level book. Hopefully his comprehension skills will be as good as his reading skills!!

UPDATE 11/4/10: Carter took his AR test this morning before he walked down to his classroom. He made 100%....he has comprehension skills too. Woo Hoo!!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Thankful- Nov 2nd

I am so thankful for this little guy. He is such a laid back, easy going little man. He can melt your heart with his sweet little dimples, and toothy grin. He is a definite mama's boy and he uses that to his advantage. Because of all his cuteness he tends to get away with more than he should....shhh don't tell him and especially don't tell big brother!! He is becoming a little sneaky and is learning to use the cuteness to his advantage, little stink!!



He is also our little night owl. There are many nights that we go to bed and he will still be awake. Tonight was no exception. Daddy read to Ethan and then I tucked him in at 8:30. At 10:00 he was still wide awake playing in his bedroom. He can destroy his bed and bedroom at night when he is playing!! At about 10:15 he made an appearance in the living room and announced that he was thirsty and had to use the bathroom. He had already gotten a drink and used the bathroom at 8:30...sheesh! Procrastinator!!! Anyway after he got a drink and used the restroom, he then decided he wanted to be rocked to sleep. I didn't figure it would work, but I looked around a few minutes later and this is what I saw:

Awww. He is such a sweetie. I am so thankful for him!!

Monday, November 1, 2010

November 1st- Thankful

I hope to blog each day of November about one thing I am thankful for.


Today is the first day of basketball practice for Jess' girls. I am thankful that he has a job that he is so dedicated to. I am also thankful that the boys love being in the gym with him and that they love basketball so much. I enjoy being around his basketball girls, they are a good group of girls who are respectful and appreciative of Jess and me and they absolutely love the boys!



We impatiently wait each year for November to arrive so that our family can get back into the hurry, scurry, life of a basketball coach's family. It is a wild, crazy, and BUSY few months, but we love every minute of it.


Jess giving the girl's instructions

Carter and Ethan "practicing" on one end of the court while Jess coaches on the other.

Carter passing the ball off to Ethan. He is probably "coaching" Ethan too. Ethan will tolerate the "coaching"/bossing around for only a little while, then a fight will ensue.

Our favorite things about basketball season:

Jess- Winning....duh!

Carter- Riding the bus, playing one on one with the girls, and being waterboy

Ethan- Eating at the "session" stand, riding the bus, and did I mention...eating at the "session" stand??"

Me- Taking pictures of the game, watching Jess in his element...coaching, and cheering on the girls