Easter~2014

This Easter was chilly and rainy, but we made the most of it, and it actually ended up being a very nice day.

We celebrated the day at our house this year, thankfully. It was so nice not to have to go to three different places. I feel like we spend more time in the car than celebrating when we have to go here, there, and everywhere. My boys were able to take it easy and be in their own element this holiday, and I was a happy mama.

We only boiled & dyed one dozen eggs this year, and the only reason I did that was so the boys could decorate them.  We filled plastic eggs with candy and hid those.  Much easier and the kids would rather eat candy than boiled eggs anyway.

After we had lunch, the guys all went out and hid the eggs while Jubal, Gentry, and Gabriel stayed inside.  Jubal is at an age where he loves it.  Gentry caught on, and Gabriel wasn't very cooperative yet.  He'll get it, though.

Gentry was the first to return with his loot.  He was more interested in the candy inside than finding anymore eggs.

There's "that" smile again.

Just for the record, my boys were dressed a lot better than this but they ended up in a ditch full of water before we even ate lunch.  So, we just threw them on some warm fleece pants, a t-shirt, and some flip flops since their tennis shoes were soaked. ;)

Jubal racked up since he was really the only one really looking.  His bucket was overflowing.  When Gentry saw it he tried to rob him.  Ha!!

Do you know how hard it is to get a picture where every child is looking at the camera AND smiling?!  We did the best we could. :)

After our family left, Adam & Michelle came over with Michelle's girls and we hid eggs again.  I'm just happy all the kids had a good time.  It didn't take long after everyone was gone for us to take a nap.  I was afraid falling asleep at 5:00 in the afternoon would be disastrous, but we were all back in bed at our normal hours.

This was the best Easter with our boys and I'm already looking forward to next year, good Lord willing. :)

Easter 2011 // Easter 2012 // Easter 2013

Class Party

From the pictures my boys' teachers sent me yesterday, the boys look like they enjoyed the little Easter party they had at school after their naps. I remember when I was little how I looked forward to class parties at school. Maybe that's why I still get excited for them when I know they're having one. :)

Here's some pictures their teachers sent me yesterday.

Gentry's class was the first to wake from their naps, so they had their party before Jubal's class did.  Ms. Ashley sent me this pic with the caption, "About to chow down Easter bunny style!" ;)

As you can see, Gentry still had bed head. Ha!

From the looks of the pictures Mrs. Diane sent me, Jubal's class had fun munching out on all of their goodies, too.

I'm happy my boys have a little school they can go to where they're loved and I feel they're safe.  It's a Christian based school, too, which makes me even happier. :)

Easter Party Goodies

I think I get more excited about holiday school parties than my boys do at this point. Although when Jubal woke up this morning and saw all of the goodies, he was all, "WOW!!!"

It's so much fun to do these things for my babies. These are things I always dreamed of doing when/if I ever became a mom. I'm so thankful to be able to do them.

First up, the bunny/race car twinkie cakes.

A friend of mine posted this to her Facebook timeline.  I thought the idea was so cute, and had to make them for my boys.  They're so fun.  They're simple to make, too.  I like that the kids have different goodies all wrapped up in one.  Peeps, twinkie cakes, pretzels, and marshmallows.  Just adorable.

Next up were the miniature Reese cup bird nests.

My sister-in-law gave me this idea.  She was making sugar eggs for her grands and this was the treat she was putting inside her eggs.  When I saw them, I knew I had to make some, too.

I think Jubal was more excited about these than the bunny race cars.  Before school, I had to make some extra ones because he and Gentry both had to have some.  There was no negotiating with them about waiting until their party at school, either.  They wanted them right then.  Ha!

This is actually the first year I've gotten to do it for Gentry, too, since he's in a "big boy" room now.  I really enjoy being able to do it for them both.  I hope one day they will remember these little things I did just because I love them so much. :)

Previous Easter treats: 2012 // 2013  

Duck Face

Over the weekend, we took the boys to McDonalds for supper. We had to pull ahead to wait for our food and while we were waiting, Larson turned to the boys in the backseat and told them to give him a duck face.

Boy, did they!  Ha! ;)

I, in general, loathe the duck face.  So many girls on Facebook ruin their selfies pictures by making this awful face. 

I must say, though, that these two little duck faces are quite cute.

School Days 4.9.14

I haven't done an update for school in about a month, so I guess I'll do one now. I enjoy getting to keep up with my boys' days at school. I'm thankful for their teachers who make me feel very included.

Jubal doesn't have long before he starts "real" school and will move to his new school. I won't get to keep up with him as much anymore.

Gentry will soon move up to K-2 and begin learning even more than he already has. He's getting to be such a good talker. I'm glad to be able to communicate with him with words and sentences.

We'll start with Gentry.  These pictures were taken while his class was having a little dance party.  Looks like a lot of fun to me.  Notice "that" smile again.  Ha! 

His teachers boast on him all the time about how well he cleans up after himself.  They tell me when the children are told to clean up that Gentry is the only one that immediately starts picking up toys and putting them where they go.  If you know me, you know that this makes me very proud. :)

Jubal continues to excel, too.  His teacher said if she had a classroom full of Jubal's she would be set.

It's been a little rainy lately and the kids all wanted a recess, so Mrs. Diane let them go out under the sheltered walkway to color with chalk.  Jubal told her he was drawing a turtle.  Nice turtle, Jubal Man. ;)

Also, I expressed a little anxiety about Jubal going to a new school and being around new kids.  I just always want him to be confident and be a leader, not a follower.  Mrs. Diane sent me this picture with a little message stating that this little boy was new at GCA and Jubal was the first one to befriend him.

She told me I had no reason to worry because Jubal was always the one to make new friends quickly and to also make new students feel more comfortable.  So proud of my big boy!

I could not have hand-picked two more wonderful, caring, kind, and smart little boys.  God knew exactly what he was doing when he blessed me with these two sweet little boys.  I'm so thankful to be their mama! :)

Mama's Boys

We eat supper with my mama every Friday night, or try to at least. Some Fridays I just want to go home after a long week at work and do nothing--not even eat. Ha!

Anyway, last night at Mama's, we went outside after we finished eating to enjoy the nice evening weather. The boys were running around playing and I asked Gentry if I could take his picture. At first he said, "No!", but then I acted sad and asked again and this is what I got...

He posed!  My boy pulled his little knees together, folded his hands in his lap, and said, "Cheese!"  Of course, I got that squinty little face he's been making lately.  I love it, too! :)

Jubal then wanted in on the picture taking.  He had spilled a whole cup of bbq sauce in his lap at supper.  "It was an accident, Mama.", he said.  So we let that accident go.  Bless it!

I ended up getting a really cute picture of them both, though.  These boys are my heart & soul.  I can't imagine what my life would be like now without them.

I'm one very lucky mama!  My heart & my arms are full. <3

My Very Own Bullpup

These are some pictures we took of Jubal with the GES mascot the day we registered him for Pre-K. I forgot to post them on the registration post, so I'll share them here. 

He will become a Bullpup in the fall.

He'll be going to the same elementary school his daddy & I both attended.  Some people aren't cut out for small town living, but I'm thankful to be from and to still live in mine. :)