Preschool Papers

These are some of the papers that came home today with my Preschoolers!

Gabe is working hard on writing his name. You can see Gabe's exact age at the bottom of my blog. At the time of this post he is 3 years, 6 months, 2 weeks and 2 days old!

Gideon made this today. He said, "This is you, Mama." ( I love how my sweet Southern Boy calls me Mama.) I think this is his best work yet! Gideon is 5 years, 5 months, 1 week and 4 days old!

...... so blessed.

A Day in the Life: Gideon

Gideon tells me all about what he did in preschool on Tuesday.



I'm going to miss these preschool days.

Some random things

Here is Thomas the Tank Engine. Gideon drew this and we sent in hoping to have it published in the magazine. We're not holding our breath on that though. I'm sure they get thousands of entries.

This is the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

This was in the lobby during October sometime. I thought it was so neat!! Cool idea.

Here are my two Monkey's under our tree. I took this on Sunday after church. This is the first time Gabe has ever worn a tie. Oh, and I scored that white sweater vest at the Goodwill on Friday!! Imagine, a white sweater with no stains at the Goodwill!

This week Gideon asked, "Momma, is Cantata the Spanish word for Choir?" Good question child, but no, it's not. :)

The North Carolina State Convention

We had a busy, but refreshing time at the Convention this week (click on red words for more info.) We left Sunday afternoon just after Rodney conducted a Graveside funeral service in the balmy 74 degree weather.

We arrived in time for Rodney to head over to Lawndale Baptist Church for some good preaching at the Pastor's conference. Monday we heard Alistair Begg during the Pastor's conference! That was a treat!!

Here's the convention center. We were on the 10th floor!

The NC Baptist Singers and Orchestra kicked off the convention Monday Evening. They were SO good!


The boys bring their own entertainment and sit in the meetings. Did you know, "There are 4.5 million lost people, a conservative estimate, in North Carolina," Read more on that here.


We had been through the exhibits and Gideon got a sticker, among other things. .. let's see, train whistles, lime sherbert, back scratchers, tootsie rolls, m & m's, misc candy, bags, pens, finger nail file, bandaids, literature and probably something I'm forgetting. Fun times.


We saw the Baptist Children's Home Reps that came to our church for the VBS closing program. They remembered us and we got to chat a bit with them.


That's the view from our room! We only walked to the mall once, and that was just in search of a quick meal.


Here's Gabe dragging the "things to keep you busy during the sessions" bag through the Exhibit hall.


Tuesday, NC BAM was handing out lime sherbet. While we were enjoying our sherbert Gideon saw a church Architects' display and asked me this, "Why do some churches not have pointy ends?" and "Where do they put their bell?." What will he think of next!! :)


Trying out the fancy chairs in the Hotel.



Gone is the 74 degree, balmy weather and in it's place is an email inbox full of flash flood warnings. It's good to be home. I missed my comfy bed and the feel of home. I'm so blessed.

The "Big City Park"

Once in a while we venture out to the "Big City."

Yesterday, a dental appointment necessitated our visit.

The boys and I got to spend about an hour and a half at the park. The very nice, big city park.

Gabe was being VERY adventurous here. He practically crawls up the wide, railed steps to the slide, yet he climbed this wall that was about 8 feet high. I really do think he is afraid of heights, so this was big!!



Commanding the ship.


At one point some other boy, that was a year or two older than the other kids, came and "took over" the playground. He was wielding a short stick and saying the place was his "rocket ship." They were fighting off some sort of enemy too. (I was gathering that this, probably 7 yr. old, played A LOT of video games.) Anyway, after a while of Gideon not cooperating and playing along with his game, the boy stood at the steps of the slide and looked up at Gideon, who was at the top, and said, "I'm going to Blow up your Rocket Ship." After hesitating only a second, Gideon replied, "I'm going to Blow up YOUR Rocket ship."

I almost cracked up on the spot!! You go Country boy!!

(I had been hanging back and not getting too involved to see how Gideon would handle it. I was so thrilled that he didn't give in to the pressure to play that boy's game and that he wasn't intimidated at all!)




Gabe took my camera, at one point, and started clicking. After deleting about 6 pictures of the mulch here's one he took. (finger and all)


After some instruction on where NOT to put your finger while snapping, he took this pic.

I now see what he was trying to capture. The three adorable little girls that he played with. I'm going to have to keep my eyes on this little boy!!


Ready, set ... Race.


What a fun day!!


Now, "I'm going to blow up your rocket ship." Heee heeee heee hooo hoooo hooo that kills me!

A Crazy Night at Church

Yeah, well, that's a weird title but so was my evening.

It started out fine. ... just like any Wednesday evening... except we were a little earlier than usual. The boys played a little on the damp playground before I called them into the fellowship hall for supper.

I scrubbed their grimy hands and faces and we got in line.

After convincing Gideon that he really did have to eat we headed to our table. I was carrying my spaghetti plate, my drink, Gabe's drink, plastic ware and napkins as we chose a table. About the time we got there Gabe lost his plate. A three foot radius of Spaghetti covered the floor, table and a bawling 3 year-old.

I set my plate, drink, Gabe's drink, forks and napkins down and proceeded to help poor Gabe. His shorts, sock and shoe were covered in red sauce. I stripped socks, and wiped him off with the napkins. Then I wrangled the farthest noodles into a smaller pile. I set off with his right "croc" to wash it in the bathroom sink. (Don't ya love washable shoes!! I was praising the Lord he was not wearing sneakers.)

Someone volunteered to get Gabe a new plate of food so I headed to the kitchen for something to clean with.

But before I left for the kitchen some folks just sat down at the end of our table. I was sure to warn them, "Join us at your own risk," I said, as I sped off for a cleaning rag.

About the time I arrived with huge, wet paper towel in hand I looked up to see the table filled and Overflowing with my full cup of Tea. Our poor friend, whom I had earlier warned, was mere inches from the waterfall of Southern Sweet Tea pouring over the edge of the table.

In disbelief I asked if he got wet! He said, "No." Whewwwww! So I used the aforementioned paper towel on the tea instead of the now sticky pile of noodles and plate and garlic bread that had landed practically under Gideon's chair.

So, I'm on my hands and knees working on this sticky mess when Gideon comes over to me, "Momma, I pooped myself." It was at this point that I cried out loud. No tears, more like the deep wailing sort of grief. You've got to be kidding!! So, I said, "Go back and sit in your chair. You're third in this line and there's spaghetti, garlic bread, sweet tea and ice cubes before you."

I finished cleaning the mess as someone graciously brought me the 55 gallon trashcan. Patience thin, face flaming, boys teetering and plates untouched I said, "We're going home." So, I rounded them up and took them to the van.

We got there (all the way across the cemetery) and Gabe announced that he had to go poo poo on the potty too. "Well, you might as well," I told him.

I got everyone changed and wiped and presentable again ... and only got poo under one fingernail.... which I scrubbed mercilessly and headed back to church.

We ate our now cold food in the almost desolate fellowship hall. Gideon still wanted to carry on his one-sided dinner conversation, but I stifled it and told him to eat because he had already missed Children's Choir practice.

I had to be thankful though because that was some of the best tasting spaghetti I've had in a while and I didn't have to cook it! ... at least I told myself that over and over until I could go from completely frustrated to thankful.

I'm happy to say that the boys had a good night at church with no other incidents. I did wait until 9:30 to come home from choir (which ends at 8:45) so they'd already be tucked in bed!!!

Did I mention that one of the ladies who cooked the spaghetti offered some to me to take home?? Oh, yes she did!!! I told her it was delicious, but I didn't care to see any spaghetti for a good long time. I think she understood! We had a good chuckle.

I love my sweet boys, but they do exhaust me!! I can't wait to "hit the sack." as my Daddy would say. Good night!

Coffee table, lolipops, children's choir and reading

Here's a great coffee table we found. This just speaks to me on so many levels.
First, as the Mother of two rambunctious boys.
Second, as a beautifully finished piece of furniture.

But, I didn't buy it because I had $12 left in the furniture budget for 2009.
I thought of robbing the boy's piggy banks... after all they'd love it!
Anyway, Hubby talked me out if it primarily with the argument, "We want that room to be a peaceful place... we don't need fooseball in the middle of it."

If it was up to me I'd put a ping- pong table under the carport...anyway.

Point taken. It's still a little sad. It really is just SO cool.

Huge lolipops from Daddy after waiting on a hospital visit.

Gideon sang in the Children's Choir Sunday. Flip - flop boy sang out even though he wasn't completely sure of all the words... as he told us later. He thought he was cool in his robe though... perhaps the only reason he was willing to sing!!

These two love to read. Actually I have three boys that are avid readers... well, One can Actually read. Gideon took this picture! We might have to get the boy a camera with some actual mega pixels soon! (he took this with my little camera) The boys have one of those kids cameras... which is really durable... but the quality is SO bad. Anyway, he just loves to take a picture. I refuse to post the one he took of me just after this one...

Gideon is 5 !!

He was just a few hours old here. (Before I even had a digital camera!!!... we bought our first when he was about 4 months old!!)



We've had a great day! Gideon chose where we would eat Sunday lunch... McDonalds! Then we came home and opened gifts, then we ate cake. The boys are playing with all the Birthday loot right now and later we are going to watch the new "Thomas" movie with popcorn.

Here's his reaction to .....




His Cake!! He chose Lightening McQueen. I tried to make the corner of the racetrack but I was too exhausted from the busy day to pipe it properly.



I think Gabe enjoyed it too!!


His favorite gift!! The new "Thomas the Tank" movie came out Sept 8th just 5 days before his big day!! Thankfully we were able to get one!! Monroe target was using rain checks!!



A squinting, happy boy!!


Handy Manny...



Gabe stole it right away!!


A happy boy and his Puppy. (Puppy sang "Happy Birthday" to Gideon after the family did!!)



Contentment.



What a precious 5 year old we have. Just before eating his cake he said, "Mom, Dad, Thank you for giving me such a nice surprise Birthday!" And then he came to me and wrapped his arms around my neck and gave a wet smacker on the cheek and said, "I love you Momma"

He says he'll always hug and kiss me even when he's taller than me..... and I'm going to hold him to it.

First Day of Preschool 2009

Yipeeee preschool is back in session!! Happy faces all around!

Today was back to school for the guys.

Don't forget to feed the dog first.

They were excited about their new back packs!

There's the "school" in between the boys!

This is Red Hill's first "Mother's Morning Out" program and it has been a good start.

The verdict is in:
Gideon said, "I don't want to go home!"
Did you like your teacher Miss Cindy, Gabe? "huh"

And so, we have a successful first day!!