handprints

Now, I'll admit, I'm a sucker for pretty much any artwork that contains a hand print or foot print of my kiddoes! I love that it captures them at their particular age and size, and they are usually pretty cleverly done too. The MDO where my boys go is awesome, and they do a LOT with handprints. I think one reason I love them so much is because both as a classroom teacher and a mom, I'm just not brave enough to make messes like this...so I love it when their teachers do it!

These are a few of my favorites this year:

This makes me smile everytime I look at it. This one is from Thanksgiving...and although the handprint is cute enough, I LOVE what is written on it. It is SOOOO Jack. If you ever ask him "What was your favorite part?" or "what was the best food?" He will always respond with "All of it" or "Everyone" He just won't pick a favorite....we dont know if it's because he remembers the story of Jacob picking a favorite son and that being bad, or what....but he just won't do it....and I love his logical, literal reasoning behind it that his teachers captured on this artwork.
Sadly, his literal nature just doesn't allow for a very leafy "thankful" tree. :)

This was Wesley's Christmas present to us, and I LOVE it! They wrapped a little white handprint around the bottom of a glass candleholder, and then turned the fingers into snowmen. I can hardly stand the cuteness!
 

Also, in Jack's class this year they made handprint calendars for the parents, with a different handprint for each month (heart, Christmas tree, fish, etc) and it is so cute and clever. I can't wait to use it next year!!
Now that I think about it, I started out early loving handprints for my kids...and I think it all started the first time I decorated a Christmas tree with Josh's family. I loved the little wooden handprint ornaments Pops and Bertie made for their families on Hannah and Josh's first Christmases. I decided then and there that I would continue that tradition with my own kids someday...and I did....only without a jigsaw or wood....I used scissors and craft foam instead. :)

oops!

On Sunday (while daddy was out of town) the boys were helping me with laundry. My theory is that while Wesley was putting up his socks he must have whacked his head on one of the drawers.

I must say, I feel like I stayed fairly calm other than trying to be heard over all the screaming when I called Daddy to ask how to tell if we needed to get Wesley stitches.

We waited until Daddy got home and took a look at it since I couldnt give a good description of the booboo. There was too much bleeding and wiggling to tell how deep it was, and I didnt know what to say anyway...finally Daddy asked me in relation to the size of my yarn and I told him in relation to how many sheets of cardstock. Oh my....I dont understand the words dermis etc.

We took him to get stitched up...I was so thankful that Daddy was there to do most of the holding...that child is STRONG when he is upset! WHEW!

Afterwards we went to get icecream...which in my mind is mandatory with a situation like this!

He has been quite a trooper with this, and has been quite funny telling me several times a day "I have a bandage" or "where my bandaid?"

Hopefully he wont be permanently scarred from this, or else he will never help me with laundry again! I am just so thankful it wasn't worse...and I'm begging Daddy to keep dermabond on hand for these rough little boys!

Christmas Cookies!

I'm such a wimp...I know I am! Our house is usually in a state of some sort of disarray, so I usually stay away from anything that would ensure messes such as cooking with my kids or being overly crafty with them, but days like that make me regret my wimpiness.

We had so much fun AND had yummy cute snacks to show for it!

watching the cookies cooking

our workspace

working with the dough

cutting out the cookies

my floury boys

some of the decorated cookies. I made the gingerbread people to represent our family...can you tell who is who? Look at eye color and a little "extra" on one of the faces to tell the boys apart. :)

Bertie has a new friend!

Meet Catlina!

she's really shy, and hid almost the whole time we were there, but once Bertie extricated her from her hiding place, the boys were enamored!

I hadnt seen her yet the first night we were there and when I got up to check on Wesley during the night Catlina was slinking around and crossed my path during the night. Might have spooked me a little...but she seems like a sweet gentle cat...as long as I keep taking my zyrtec.

Fun at the Farm!

Uncle John and his family came to TN for a visit.

We hung out in Nashville and at Gracepointe Farm.

Here are a few of the cousins hanging out with John

Abby and I both noticed how these 2 kinda favor each other...I felt like I was looking into Wesley's eyes whenever I was looking at Esther. Cute Cute Cute!

The BIG KIDS!

out for a walk around the farm

look at my little Tigger :)

awww, the Henrys!

at this point there wasnt much at the farm in the way of furniture or entertainment...so we did a lot of lounging in folding chairs and the kids got to watch movies on the computer. They didnt seem to mind!

Mzee fixed up the trailer and we went for a hayride (without the hay) and it was sooooo fun!

look at tall those grandbabies...and that's less than HALF of the grandbabies on the Dudu side of the family!! 6 more live in GA!

Esther fell asleep while we were on our walk...Abby heard her snoring while they were walking!

we also went fishing....without hooks or worms....

more folding chairs and laptops. it's what you do when you're desperate!

I cant wait to see the farm now since they've moved a bunch of furniture there now!!

Bowling Fun!

Daddy had been working a lot of overtime lately, so we decided to have a fun family day!

We took BOTH boys bowling. I'm pretty sure this was one of Wesley's first times to get to bowl and not just sit in a stroller. He lasted for a little over half a game. It was quite cute and fun!

I can't believe he's strong enough to carry his own ball!

Zoo trips!

 A few weeks ago we went to the zoo with Auntie Bethany. I think Daddy is a little jealous because with all our visits to the zoo, he's never gotten to go with us. I'm still really trying to get comfortable with letting the boys loose in the amazingly awesome and terrifying play area....give me another year or 2 and maybe I'll be ok with letting Jack loose....maybe....

but all that aside we had some really fun visits and really look forward to many more!

Playdate anyone?