Happy V Day

 Hope you had a happy Valentine's day.  Our was pretty good...full of slobbery kisses (mostly from the kids, we will lead you to believe), chocolate covered strawberries, yellow roses from Daddy and Hot Wheels Monster trucks (of course - it wouldn't be valentine's without them).  Roanin hand-made valentines for his classmates with a little help from mommy. 

 These were little felt bracelets for each member of his class (embroidered names only showed up for the teachers). 

 This little guy worked so hard cutting the felt hearts and arrow out...he was so proud and so excited to hand them out to his friends. 

 Valentine's party at his school.

 Cookies elicit this smile every time.

Little brother crashed the party...as did mommy (how can you not?).  Hope your day was full of love and kisses.

Christmas recap at the end of January...say WHAT?

Just what everyone is in the mood for at the end of January...a long post with lots of Christmas pictures!  Yippeeeee!  I live to serve, people, I live to serve. 

 Visiting our friends, the Fishers, at the Polar Express.

 The boys right before the big train ride.

 We said goodbye to our beautiful friends, the Condrons (we miss you guys!).

 Roanin's Christmas school party.

 What is Christmas without matching boys in bowties?  Is it me, or does Rex make for the classic little old fat man?

 I adore this picture. 

 Making gingerbread houses (Rexy translation: eating gingerbread houses and all the fixins...)

 The family on Christmas Eve.

 This is what 5:45 am looks like.  Not even a new jeep from Santa can jazz up those two.  Good grief.

 Trying out the new goods...

Hope you guys had a good holiday season.  My philosophy is if I am still attempting to eat the entire world like it is the holidays, it is not too late to be sending you holiday wishes. 

School Daze

I know we are like a month in...but here are the pictures from Roanin's first day at school. 

We stopped Mother's Day Out last December because the school we were at just wasn't working out anymore and we felt like we wanted a break.  So after about eight months of just chillin' at home, we sent our little man out into the world.  He has started two mornings a week at the Montessori school, which is turning out to be a perfect match for Roanin.  The approach to learning is awesome and really refreshing, and we are so happy so far.  He is mixed into a class with 3, 4, and 5 year olds and loves being able to learn with the big kids.  We love his new teacher, Ms. Julie, and her assistant, Ms. Tali. 

Bring on PTA meetings and school parties, preschool rocks. 

Pumpkin Party

Well...I know it is nerdy...but I have been waiting on pins and needles to be able to volunteer for some sort of homeroom mother type activity with Roanin's Mother's Day Out. Up until now, he has been a little too young to do any organized parties. This past week, the school attempted to throw a 2 year old pumpkin party...I wouldn't put heavy emphasis on the organized. I made "ghost-toast" for the class....I know, I know...the resemblance to Martha is uncanny.

I recruited Grandmom to come along and help out with Rexy. Please note the hand-made pumpkin shirts on the boys. Come on....you know I am crafty now.

Nothing like a ride on an indoor choo-choo to make a Halloween party complete.

My little Fatboy's view on the party....

This one will make it to the fridge door.

All that partying made room for snack.

Rex couldn't hang with the big boys.

Pumpkin Patch 2009

We visited the pumpkin patch at Roanin's school several weeks ago. Just like last year...I picked the HOTTEST, MOST HUMID, WINDIEST, SUNNIEST and STEAMIEST day on record. Picture this: me...in jeans and a long sleeve shirt...carrying a carseat with a 16 pounder inside....chasing a wild 2 year old around a thousand pumpkins trying to snap a picture. The real humor started when I took Rex out and tried to get a picture of the two of them. Cue the blazing sun, unbearable wind and baby who refuses to hold his head up. Nice. Two seconds after I got Rex out and got them set up (if you even consider this being set up...), Roanin proclaimed that he needed to poop. Please note the closest bathroom was like 2 miles away. Cue audience laughter.

Rex's viewpoint of the festivities.

Bring on the holidays...I am READY!

School's Out for Summer (or for 2 weeks)

Roanin has adjusted SO WELL to his Mother's Day Out he goes to once a week. He loves his teachers, and all the little kids in his class. Such a difference from the first time I took him when he projectile vomited on his teacher from sheer panic. His last day in the 18 month old class was last week, and we are officially moving into the 2 year old class when he returns from his 2 week break. Yahoo!! Bring on adulthood!The two angels who take such good care of him each day, Ms. Ann and Ms. Jerri. This was a buck-wild game of ring-around-the-rosie. Ahh...the memories.

His little class of cuties.

A favorite friend, Evie, and Roanin finding snacks in their backpacks after school.

You gotta give out kisses when you won't see someone for two whole weeks...

The Hunt

Roanin's Mother's Day Out put on an Easter egg hunt for the little ones the week before Easter. Both Shawn and I went to spectate (although upon returning home...I do have to admit that we sampled more than one of the finds.) Let the games begin...

"They actually hid eggs with candy in them for us out here! Don't ask me...let's just HUNT!!"

A quick hi-five to his favorite teacher, Ms. Ann.

After the hunt while the kids were lining up at the door, I caught Roanin slyly checking out everyone else's basket to see if their loot was as good as his.

He gets a little more bold with each glance.

I think he spies something he likes in Evie's basket. Thankfully, no robbery occurred.

Holding onto what can only be explained as a giant kid leash that allows them to take a group of ten 2-year-olds on an extended walk without sheer chaos. What is shocking, is that they all love it and actually hold on for dear life.