Trouble....

So, I went out for a bit the other night with a girl friend. I left you home with Daddy right after dinner, it was almost bedtime. When I returned home, I found these notes and dollars on the kitchen counter.   Here's the story, through Daddy's eyes.

After playing a few rounds of chess with Dad, he told you to go upstairs and brush your teeth. He would follow shortly to tuck you in.  Before he got upstairs, he heard lots of laughter and giggling. As he came into the bathroom, he saw that you had squirted the entire tube of toothpaste into both sinks, decorating the entire sink bowl. How kind of you!

You both thought this was hilarious, while he was speechless. Mommy knows better than to turn you loose in the bathroom, without some supervision, even if it's just within ear shot. How quickly he learned.

He made you clean it up. Which you begrudgingly did. But more than that, he attemped to teach you a lesson about "waste" and how much things cost. After it was cleaned up (using at least a full roll of paper towels and a larger mess to get it cleaned up), he asked you to write me a note explaining what happened.  Hence the first note below.

"Mom, Cole and JD made a mess in the bathroom with toothpaste"

This note was followed by a second note by JD - because he wasn't ready to stop writing.  Blame shifting is the best isn't it?  Not only that, he thought he would throw in a derogatory comment for safe measure.  Is Cole really UGLE?

He then made you go into your wallets and ante up $2.00 each, to cover the cost of the toothpaste. I now have $4.00, ready for our next grocery run, so you can purchase the new tubes of toothpaste that you used for your "art" project.

I love these little escapades.  Especially when it's Daddy that gets to deal with them! Too bad he didn't get a photo of your project - that would have completed the story....

 

 

Words for my Boys

Some words I copied from someone wise. You are a little young for these now but as you grow up, I will remind you about ALL of these things, as best as I can!

I love you.

1. Play a sport.  It will teach you how to win honorably, lose gracefully, respect authority, work with others, manage your time... and stay out of trouble. And maybe even throw or catch.

2. You will set the tone for the sexual relationship, so don't take something away from her that you can't give back.

3. Use careful aim when you pee. Somebody's got to clean that up, you know.

4. Save money when you're young because you're going to need it someday.

5. Allow me to introduce you to the dishwasher, oven, washing machine, iron, vacuum, mop and broom. Now please go use them.

6. Pray and be a spiritual leader.

7. Don't ever be a bully and don't ever start a fight, but if some idiot clocks you, please defend yourself.

8. Your knowledge and education is something that nobody can take away from you.

9. Treat women kindly. Forever is a long time to live alone and it's even longer to live with somebody
who hates your guts.

10. Take pride in your appearance.

11. Be strong and tender at the same time.

12. A woman can do everything that you can do. This includes her having a successful career
and you changing diapers at 3 A.M. Mutual respect is the key to a good relationship.

13. "Yes ma'am" and "yes sir" still go a long way.

14. The reason that they're called "private parts" is because they're "private". Please do not scratch them in public.

15. Peer pressure is a scary thing. Be a good leader and others will follow.

16. Bringing her flowers for no reason is always a good idea.

17. It is better to be kind than to be right.

18. A sense of humor goes a long way in the healing process.

19. Please choose your spouse wisely. My daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for me
spending time with you and my grandchildren.

20. Remember to call your mother because I might be missing you.
 

Champs Behavior

JD, you came home and made this for your teacher. Apparently she asked you to make this for your classroom. The rules for "champ behavior" are:

No talking in fire drill
Walk single file line and be quiet
Lock down, Quiet, lock door, sit criss cross applesauce
No running

Your spelling is my favorite part!

Mustaches....

This is how I put you on the bus this morning. What a character you are. I just love you to pieces. Your bus driver was totally cracked up too.

Love,
Mommy

The wonder of Christmas

Tis the season....

Well, we did a quick trip to the beach to see the Northside Park light show that we all love. We were there for only 12 hours, squeezed into a week night. Although you guys were a bit out of sorts, it was worth it!

One of the best parts of going there is seeing Santa. But neither of you were interested? Not sure why. But you passed on sitting on his lap, much to my dismay.

I sure hope we see him again sometime soon so you have a chance to sit and tell him what you want.

Here are a few pictures from our quick overnight adventure.

Tree decorating

What fun.

Christmas Traditions!

Well, Christmas is coming!

We have some made some fun family traditions here that make the season so much fun. You guys make it so much more magical! The elves arrived right after Thanksgiving so they have been here about a week. It was a fun day when they came - of course, your excitement was off the charts. You have lots of questions this year about them. Your biggest question is why do they look different than our other friends elves. Well, when I was a kid, we were the only ones that had Elves visit at Christmas. Now days, there are so many other families lucky enough to have them too (Thanks to Elf on the Shelf). So, it would only make sense that our Elves look a little older because THEY ARE older. They have been coming to us since I was a baby - so naturally, they are getting up there in age. These other elves are younger - Santa has a new set of Elves coming out these days. That explains it, right?

I'm not sure that the elves are helping much on the "behavior" front. Although when you remember, you're on your best behavior but you need a lot of reminders! Right COLE? Hopefully you won't have a stocking full of COAL on Christmas. Perhaps Santa needs to have a personal word with you before this is all said and done? We're working on it right little man?



Our Christmas book basket is out too. You got to pick your first book yesterday, December 1. You alternate days opening a book each day. All of the books are Christmas books. We all love this tradition - guaranteed good books and daily reading time. Sometimes it's a fight (of course) over who gets to open that day but otherwise, it's a hit.




When I was going through the books to wrap this year, there were about half of them that you have grown out of. It breaks my heart to cycle these out but time to move on to "big kid" books. I gave these away to a family with smaller children. I know they will enjoy them all as much as you guys did. I sure will miss them.

 

Our new advent calendar that I made for you this year, has little cards in each day. Some are activities to do together at home, others are charity related. 

 

 

The first one for Dec 1 was to "Read Twas the Night Before Christmas". 

 

 

As it happens, our TTNBC book is one that Mimi gave you guys a few years ago. And it's a recorded voice book that she is reading. It's one of my most treasured gifts that she has ever given to you and you love it too.  So, we changed the batteries that had run out since last year and off you went.  You both layed down together and listened to Mimi read you the book. 

 

 

We have a lot of decorating to finish up today, including the tree. You are very excited, JD, to help with the tree and get all of the ornaments out. For the first time, I think you are remembering old ornaments from years past and this is becoming more fun for you.  I love that. We'll do the tree as a family today - and enjoy each and every ornament as it comes out of the box and goes on the tree.  And then, our next advent calendar card:

 



We'll fit that in somewhere between football games....right Daddy?

 

Love, Mommy

Crossbow

Your latest creation, a crossbow out of paper, duct tape and elastic...

The biggest issue is that you were using it to shoot beads ALL OVER the house. We are now on a bead hunt.

Donuts for Dad

This week is donuts for Dad at school. JD, you are really excited!

Dowwnus for Dads, yume to eit!
Donuts for Dads, yummy to eat!