Outstanding Christmas program

Keaton and Hayden's school had their ninth annual Christmas program last night that was completely enjoyed by everyone. The parents are so blessed to have such beautiful, talented children. However, the true blessings to us all, parents and students, are the phenomenal teachers and the dedicated staff, teaching our children so much about learning, life and love.


Keaton's class:













Headed onto the stage:

















Santa rappin':

















The whole school:













Quite the singer:

















Twinkle toes:

















Ms. Jamie and the students sing:













Hmmmmm...I did pretty good on that one:

















Such a beauty:













Our little Christmas stars shone brightly:

My camera broke

This picture has nothing to do with the fact that my camera broke yesterday. However, it does show our goofy oldest daughter in Colorado trying to be funny. I think she succeeded.

I also think we should add this picture to her college applications. At least they would know she has a sense of humor.

Happy Birthday Diney

We had a wonderful Mexican meal today to celebrate Diney's birthday. I won't say how old she is because a true southern lady, as herself, never reveals her age.

We had a very "interesting" looking birthday cake that Sutton picked out and bought last night. I giggled when I saw it and Jimmy said it looked like a funeral spray. Diney, of course, said it was beautiful because Sutton chose it. Obviously, love is blind.

Happy birthday Diney! We hope your itches go away soon.

Pssst...I know the first things you scratched when you got in the car! Jimmy said to tell you that if you'd scratched those at the table, we might have gotten better service.

Innate differences

As I was dressing this morning in my bathroom, I eavesdropped while the children were wrestling in our room. Snow White had just ended and I guess that last lovey-dovey scene just got the best of my little angels. Reagan was whooping up on Keaton a bit while Hayden and Landon were more equally matched.

What a difference gender makes in the same activity.

Girls: (amid gales of uncontrollable laughter, fits of giggles and some feigned concern)

"Ouch! That kinda hurt!"
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Watch my arm!"
"Wait! Wait! I can't stop laughing!"
"Okay, just a minute...where's my earring?"
"Wow! That was mean!"
"You're not being very nice!"
"That was fun! Let's do it again!"

Boys: (amid uncontrollable screams, spurts of tears and bouts of obvious rage)

"You bit me!"
"Don't burp in my ear! That's just gross!"
"Bubba, you soooooooo MEAN! I gonna HIT you!"
"Landon just tooted on my arm!"
"I tell Mom!...Mom! Bubba kicked me in my face!!"
"I'm gonna punch you HARD!"
"I'm never ever gonna play with you...NEVER EVER!"
"That was fun! Let's do it again!"

No wonder parenting can be so difficult.

My other wonderfully frugal daughter

Thankfully, Sutton is not the only penny-pincher in the family.

Reagan really wanted a pair of Nike Shox tennis shoes when school started. "All" of her friends were getting them and since she was going to middle school where "everyone" would have them, they were a necessary addition to her back-to-school wardrobe.

I considered it...until I saw the price. $129.99 for a pair of tennis shoes she would most likely outgrow in a few months?! I don't think so. She settled without complaint for a pair of regular Adidas on clearance at Academy for 20 bucks.

Yesterday she came bounding into the house after school. "Mom, you are going to be soooooooooo proud of me," she squealed.

"I'm already proud of you, Rea," I assured her.

"I know, but you are really going to be proud of me for this," she pulled out a pair of pink Shox in near perfect condition.








"Where did you get those?" I stuttered.

"Well, I've been watching them in the girls' athletics Lost and Found for over a month now and no one has come forward to claim them. I talked to the coach and she said they were going to take the whole box of stuff to Goodwill next week and I better take what I want. So I took these!" she displayed her new shoes in front of her much like an 11 year-old Price is Right model.

Jimmy came in, and with the skepticism necessary in all fathers I know of, remarked, "I hope you spray them or something to get rid of the heeby-jeebies."

Ever gullible and always curious, Reagan's head snapped back as she pushed Dad for an immediate explanation, "Heeby-jeebies? What are those and how can I get rid of them?!"

We all snickered and assured her that the stench emanating from her pre-pubescent feet would surely kill anything unusual those shoes harbored.

She picked out the perfect shirt to match her "new" tennis shoes this morning and as she left for school I reminded her, "Now don't go and advertise to all your buddies how you got your shoes."

"Oh, don't worry Mom. I'm not going to say a word. Besides, there's another pair I've had my eye on for a while that I'm going to snag later today. I can't let perfectly good "fancy" tennis shoes go to waste!"

I need to add that Reagan is the child who found me a pair of $166 jeans at Ross last week on the clearance rack for $9.99. She makes me so proud.

Ahhhhhhhhh...We're cheap but we're happy.

Daddy's home

Jimmy came home yesterday after being gone, off and on, for about a month. We took Hayden and Keaton lunch at their school and ate with them so they could see Daddy soon after his plane arrived.

Landon rested on Jimmy yesterday afternoon and played outside with Daddy and his Bubba. We had a big roast dinner and the brothers hovered over Dad as he worked in his office. The boys later took a bubble bath and laughed for almost an hour.

Landon went to Jimmy last night before bed and said, "Daddy, I'm so glad you're home." He's a stutterer and usually struggles to get his words just right. That statement came out smooth as silk.

Labels

As I was ironing clothes in the laundry room, I overheard the following conversation between Keaton, Hayden, and Landon while they ate breakfast:

Hayden: "Landon, now that you are three years old, when the baby comes you will be a big brother."

Landon: "Yes, I gonna be a big brover wike you, Bubba."

Hayden: "Well, actually I will be the biggest brother. You will only be the big brother because I'm bigger than you. You understand, Landon?"

Landon: "Yes, I be a big brover wike you, Bubba."

Hayden (frustrated): "No Landon!"

Keaton (interrupting): "See Landon, Hayden is older so he'll be the biggest brother. You are younger so your the big brother. Kinda like me! Sutton's the biggest sister, Reagan's the big sister, so I'm the bigger....um, well, actually I'm the big....ummmm...Oh, never mind! Sometimes my life stinks!"

Choir caroling

Reagan's choir held their holiday concert last night. The music was lovely as was our favorite little singer.

















Dry throat?

















This is serious business.

Banquet babes

The volleyball banquet was a success. As predicted, Sutton looked beautiful and had a great time even if Mom wasn't there (or maybe because Mom wasn't there...hmmm.)

They had dinner, awards and dancing. Several of the varsity players moved the party to another player's home later that evening. Sutton stayed long enough to enjoy some time with her teammates, yet was home by her curfew.

Aren't they all pretty girls?

My dear sweet boy

You are truly a blessing to me. Because the others are gone so much, we spend a lot of time alone just loving each other. We sing and dance and laugh each day, we tickle and read, rock and talk. We go places and explore the world. We stay at home and snuggle, enjoying every minute.

You are learning so much and branching out to others, a pill often hard for me to swallow as I watch you walk away from me. I know it's time and I know it's important, yet I mourn the loss of your baby-ness and am hesitant of your newfound independence.

You have made such an impact on your siblings. Your sisters adore you and allow you to get away with so much just because of your charm and good looks. Your brother has a healthy respect for your power because nothing he does gets past you, as you don't tolerate any injustice from him. You two can fight like tigers but you can also play for hours, running and chasing and falling on the floor in fits of laughter; some of my favorite memories of my two boys.

You are three years old today and as I look at you through the tears I am fighting, I see a healthy, happy, vibrant child who makes me so happy to be his mother and incredibly thankful to God for bestowing upon me such an honor.

Happy Birthday Landon. I love you.

Mommy

Birthday continues

We had birthday cake yesterday after church and lunch.

















Of course Landon could do nothing without competing with big brother for the limelight. We did stop Hayden from blowing out those candles and force him to stand back as the actual birthday boy completed the task. It's hard to forfeit the spotlight when you are used to being center stage, but Hayden is learning.












The anticipation was overwhelming...

















...yet worth the wait.

The doctor is in

Last night after the Rainforest Cafe 3rd birthday celebration, we had our own little party. "Over the Hedge" was the theme Landon chose because of all the animals in the movie. I bought masks of the movie characters and the kids decided to role play. Quite a lovely group:













Present opening followed and Landon jumped right in with big brother (still in his mask) carefully monitoring little brother's every move.


















He got a toy laptop, a hairy ball, some books, and bath toys. His eyes lit up, however, when he opened his present containing a toddler-sized doctor's lab coat, complete with all the doctor supplies a three-year old physician could possibly need. There was no looking back after that. In fact, several presents were left unopened as so much attention was paid to healing the entire household:



















Introducing "Doctor Landon." So far he has given us all shots, checked and rechecked and re-rechecked our heartbeats, and cured us all from a multitude of ailments. His father and I are so proud.

Jungle jubilee

We had a big night tonight as we begin the, I'm sure, several day celebration of Landon's 3rd birthday. We went to Rainforest Cafe for his "big" party including family only. I'm taking a break from an over-the-top shindig this year.

The little birthday boy is all into animals so going to such an amazing place was a fun experience for him. He was a little unsure about the gorillas and the alligator as was his big "brave" brother who, as you can see in the last picture, was also afraid of the frog. Who knew?

Dollar dilemma

(Yeah! We have school! Not a snow day as the kids had ardently wished; I'm trying really hard not to gloat.)

Today is Dollar Day again for Keaton and Hayden; if they take a dollar, they don't have to wear their uniforms. It's amazing how exciting this is to kids who usually don't care a thing about clothes.

I got all their "regular" duds ironed last night and ready to go for after breakfast this morning. So while they ate their muffins, I reminded them of the big day.

"Hurry and finish so you can get dressed. Remember you get to wear regular clothes today!"

Keaton: "Yeah! I can't wait. And um, Mom, I have my own dollar this time."

Mom: "Keaton, I will give you a dollar, it's okay."

Keaton: "No really, it's fine."

(I wonder what is going on?)

Hayden: "I'll use my own dollar too."

Mom: "Hayden, you don't have a dollar. I'll give you one."

Hayden: "A real dollar that's green and paper?!"

Mom (digging through the garage sale change as I never have cash.): "No, I'll give you ten dimes in a baggy."

Hayden (disappointed): "Oh."

Mom: "What's wrong with change? It's just like cash, spends the same."

Hayden (sighing): "Okay, I just wanted green money this time, that's all."

So our little money man later left with his baggy of dimes, finally convinced after several more minutes of discussion that "green" money and ten dimes will get him the same Dollar Day results.

However, for future reference, I think I'll get a stash of petty cash for subsequent Dollar Days. Maybe there's some unwritten kindergarten boy rule about baggies of change I'm unaware of.


My cuties in their carefully picked-out attire.

















The obligatory baby-brother-included picture (so he doesn't cry.) And believe me, he checks the blog to make sure he's there.