Car Conversation #431

Dixie (3) is having a conversation with her topless Ariel Barbie in the car on the way to the pool.

Ariel: "I don't wanna go swimming."

Dixie: "Why not, sweetie?"

Ariel: "Because I don't WANT to."

Dixie: "You WILL swim."

Hudson (5): "I wonder if rats have boogers."

Never a dull moment.

Permanent Kisses

I haven't really been documenting the funny things the kids say lately, but every once in awhile I hear something I don't ever want to forget!!!

Dixie got an owie and Hudson pipes in.

H: "Dixie let me kiss it."

D: "No."

H: "Fine, but my kisses make it heal."

Not even 10 minutes later, we are getting in the car. He picked up a piece of paper and proceeded to study it aloud.

H: "Hmm...ok this one says 'When Dixie grows up, she's going to be married to Hudson James." (He sees me) "I'm just kidding. I can't read."

D: giggles hysterically.

Speaking of Hudson and the power of kisses, he pretty much comes in every night after we've tucked him in, and between sobs he whimpers, "Mom. I wiped that kiss off! Can I please have another?" I can't leave the house without giving him like 17 smooches. It must be delivered just right. Heaven forbid I don't get both lips equally. "No. That was only the bottom lip!"

I've started telling him that when I kiss him with lipgloss on, it makes it permanent. That doesn't stop him from confirming, "Was that a permanent kiss?"

Photo cred: Dixie age 2.

Medieval Week

It's been a little over two months since we began homeschooling and I love it more daily.

Last week, the boys decided they wanted to learn about Knights! Because of their age, I decided to focus primarily on how one would become a knight and the chivalry/character traits of a knight. We'll touch on the crusades, Renaissance, and art later on in the older grades. With school almost over for the year, we focused on fun. Crafts, games and dress up! 

Lincoln loved learning that he is at the age when most boys would start working/training as a page. He decided he'd rather be the king (we took liberties) so Boone became the knight, with Hudson as his obedient squire.

We made a trip to the library to get books, searched online at images of armor and the outfits worn during the medieval period. Of course that sent us on an impromptu trip to Joann's Fabric to buy felt and yarn. (Any excuse for mommy to create something.) 

One evening we made chalices! We found these tiki goblets at the Dollar Tree and superglued on some gems. They loved it!

Another craft was creating catapults out of Popsicle sticks and rubber bands. Obviously we had to launch mini marshmallows.

Learning about the coat of arms, heraldry symbols and family crests was fun. They picked out the symbols they wanted to draw on their shields.

I had incorporated some medieval spelling words for Lincoln (first grade), and I was pleasantly surprised at how Boone (kindergarten) pushed himself to compete with his brother. He's such a hands on/visual learner while Lincoln can see the words in his head and remember everything! I love how I'm able to recognize their differences, and teach them accordingly.

Lastly, we hosted an "open house" for the grandparents to come see what they had learned, complete with dubbing ceremony. At the last minute, Hudson changed his mind and preferred to be dubbed "ninja" instead...so we did both. (A friend declared him a Kninja. I love that!)

We finished off the open house with pizza and The Court Jester. Danny Kaye at his best!

Staying Healthy and Speaking Britterish

Lincoln just informed me, "Mom, I don't want any mnms after dinner. I'll just have a banana. I want to stay healthy. Can you remind me of that next time I ask for sweets? I want to be super strong and healthy so I can run faster than Tanner. He runs like (spreads hands 6 inches apart) this much faster than me right now."

Boone immediately interjects, "Yeah. And also? Dixie speaks Britterish." ...Gibberish.

Summoning the Tooth Fairy?

Last night as he was getting tucked into bed, Boone discovered his first loose tooth! His first reaction was excitement, then worry, as I felt it. I imagine he's going to be just like his mama, wait until it falls out on its own. Wrong. This morning I was woken too early by a tapping on my shoulder, followed by whispers, "Mom, can Kristy and Collin come over and pull out my tooth today?" Collin is Lincoln's best friend (19 years his senior), who made Gillespie history and pulled Lincoln's first tooth, and again his second, just a few months later. He's sort of become a necessity in the dental extraction department.

Uh oh. Now I can hear him "helping Hudson" by instructing him how to get his own loose tooth. I'm hearing something about a Lego or a block? Maybe I should go intervene? They are trying to earn money so they can fund their juice stand business. Boone wants to buy cups. Brb.

Hudson Says...

"Moooooommm...Dixie got her slobbert  all over it!"

"We're perrrtending there is a robbert and we're catching bad guys."

I hope he never grows up.

Hotel Rule No. 1

Because when you get to a hotel, you're supposed to jump on the bed. It's the rules.

Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animal.

In all seriousness, "Mom, can we deck our hall with fallen jolly?" - Lincoln.

____________________________

Also, my in laws are cooler than yours. 

Boone tells Bible stories...Hudson corrects.

I absolutely love that my boys all share a room...right now. Most days it's a lot of fighting naps or one another, but some days we get these sweet bonding moments. Rebellious giggles knowing I've asked them to be quiet, or sneaking into each other's beds, making forts etc.

Right now I'm eves dropping on them in their beds as Boone (5) is telling his brothers the story of David and Goliath. Hudson (3) keeps interrupting with corrections: "No! He swinged the slingshot around and around like THIS! And then he CHOPPED his head off like this!" 

Boone just concluded with an impressively improvised song about a sling shot.  Hudson: "Wait, did Goliath get a big bleed on his forehead?" 

Johnny went in to read it directly from the Bible. Boone: "Oh! Goliath had a spear? Was it like Loki's stick?"

 I love my boys.

Happy 7th Birthday, Lincoln!

Lincoln!

Today you turn seven. SEVEN! That is so close to ten! When did this happen? I'm not ready for this! What a year it's been. 

Some highlights of six:

- You learned to ride a bike! Like, first try without training wheels, you took off! I'll tell you a little secret. Daddy turned to me with tears in his eyes and said "I'm just so proud of that kid! He picked it up so quickly!"

- You learned to read! I love hearing you sound out words without my help. 

- You lost your first tooth! Two teeth in fact. 

- We got a trampoline and you've mastered flips!

- You grew like three inches. Maybe more! Hardly gained any weight tho! Skinny man.

- You can't get enough LEGO...anything.

Those are just a few changes that come to mind. Some things haven't changed all that much, to my delight. You still love to snuggle, you kiss me goodbye in front of your friends at school, you like to dance with me and hold my hand. Your favorite foods are still spaghetti and cliff bars. 

Your most recognizable love language remains quality time. I enjoy our dates more than you know, and I apologize that they don't happen as often as we'd like.

Your dad and I could not be prouder of the young man you are becoming. Your awesome groove, you're attention to detail, and your goofy humor pail in comparison to your love for people. You are kind and generous. My heart swells when I watch you play with Dixie. You are gentle and she adores you. When you pick her up and she goes limp in her big brothers arms? It's her happy place. (Oh...You're still praying for another baby sister. Good luck on that one.)

Nothing makes me prouder than to be your mom. You bring vibrance and excitement to my days.

Lincoln, our first born son, Daddy and I pray for you every day. For your health, for wisdom, for a heart that loves Jesus. We pray for the girl you will eventually share your life with. We ask the Lord to guide your steps clearly, and we hope you always seek His will before your own.

Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it."

I am so lucky to be your mom. Let's see what your seventh year brings!

Love you, Lincoln Log.

Mommy 

Dinovember

I wish I could say this is an original idea, but alas, there are no more original ideas these days. It is, however an 11 month anticipation of magic and awe. 

My kids don't believe in Santa. We don't do the "Elf on a shelf" thing. Our goal in December, is to keep our focus on Jesus' birth and the celebration that comes from his life. 

Last year, my sister showed me a blog post about Dinovember and I knew we had to do it! Lincoln is turning 7 next week and I am clinging to his innocence and naivety as long as I can. To my surprise, Dinovember has made his eyes sparkle in wonder at the thought of their dinosaurs coming to life and getting into mischief while they are asleep. They were, after all, warned last Christmas.

November came, we all knew that something would happen, we just didn't know WHAT! To our surprise...

If you look closely, those naughty dinosaurs colored ON the table. I was expecting to hear whispers of "Oh no. Moms is going to be sooo upset!!" But instead, the following morning Boone immediately said with a smile "it's ok mom. I'll clean it up for them." 

Lincoln insisted that one of the dinosaurs tails looked different, so he must have frozen in a different position. I love that as a now SEVEN year old, he's so into this! He's star player in 1st grade and informed us that he's bringing the magic dinosaurs to show and tell.

They picked up some new surprise "cousins" along the way! 

Happy Halloween!

The bobbies caught the robber and there were some tears...but no shoes...and some denim cut-offs because mommy forgot the pants.

Just a few things I want to remember

I want to spend a day vacationing in Huddy Buddy's 3 year old brain. He blurts out the most off topic thoughts whenever there is a conversational lull. Here are a few I remembered to take down: (now, picture him putting up his fingers pressed together hand in a matter of fact "hold on" motion to prove his point. Now every three or four syllables, raise your voice like its forming a question)

- If a snake swallowed our ball, or licked our ball, we could just wipe it off. 

- I know that uncle Jason jumped out of an airplane with a "marachute." Then he just floated down. 

- If I gave a little bite of my marshmallow to a big giant, they might become nice giants and like it.

- "Nemo, chemo! That rhymes! Baseball faceball!!!  Faceball??"

_________________________

Lincoln (7) and Boone (5) bicker. Like, a lot. When they aren't wrestling it out, they are actually pretty funny to listen to:

Boone: "No! Lincoln you can't do that with the nerf bullets! It's against the law!"

Lincoln: (slow and somber, he's totally serious) "We don't have a law."

____________

Boone: "God knows everything. He knows how far England is"

Hudson: "And we could even run really really fast to it, and we'd be there."

Lincoln: "No. We'd have to fly."

Bone: "God could make people fly."

Hudson: "Only parachutes fly."

Stop packing, mom!

Kids, seriously. I'm trying to pack. I know I'm forgetting things. I need to tidy up, finish laundry, prep lunches, leave "I love you, I miss you" post-it notes around the house. But you want me to snuggle and play instead!! Oh wait! You will be fine if I leave the house a mess? If your clothes aren't picked out, ready to grab and go? If I don't remember to put a surprise "Look at the moon at the same time as me" note on your pillowcase? Your chubby little arms reach for me to "hold you, mama." To be present. I'm leaving soon, and with completely capable sitters. So let's soak up more snuggles, play trains and listen to Frozen again. Who cares if I forget something. San Diego does have a Target.

What's that stinkin' smell?

Hudson put on Papa's readers: "Hey! Do I look stinkin' cute? (Sniff sniff) Hmm...What's that stinkin' smell? Hee hee hee"

Oh and Boone just asked if he could take a graham cracker to hit the road. 

A three year old's family portrait.

Hudson asked me to draw him a family portrait. Apparently I did it wrong, so he showed me what he meant. #nailedit

I think he portrayed our personalities well on paper. Spot on.

First grade spelling fail!

I'm totally letting him turn this in!

All Before Eight AM...

"Mom when I grow up, I'm going to be a dinosaur. But not a mean one. Just a nice one. If there's only nice dinosaurs, they don't have teeth and they only have tongues. We can only lick you. We lick. Like this (demonstration). We can break our teeth out (tries). And when dad...um, daddy...my dad...your husband is gonna be a nice dinosaur, he's gonna be nice. Like a nice little one like me." - Hudson (3) wakes up like this.

>>>>>

"We made a sign for Mrs. P because it was her birthday. We sang to her and yelled 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY!' She was turning 60. That's cool that she's still alive when she's 60!" - Lincoln (6) on the Principal's birthday yesterday.

>>>>>

"You sir, are stuck." - muttered Hudson (3) to his underwear while trying to turn them right side out. 

To Boone, on your first day of school.

Boone, today was a milestone.

I knew going into this, you would have the hardest time adjusting. It took months, (years, even!) of attending church Sunday school, before you would walk in bravely, without tears and bribery from dad and me. All summer we've been talking, praying, preparing you for today. Kindergarten.

Luckily, you'd been placed with Lincoln's kindergarten teacher from last year. You've played in the classroom on "bring the family" days. You were so excited, bouncing down the hallway as we went to find your line. All month you've been assuring me how courageous you would be, knowing deep down, the fear that comes with making new friends, and strange surroundings. To say I was proud wouldn't adequately describe my emotion.

As I stepped away to escort Lincoln to his first grade line, where his friends were eagerly waving him over, dad said your eyes filled with tears and you buried them in your tiny palms. Consider his heart sunk. Daddy told me later he could relate all too well. I can too! You are just like me, sweet boy. As a little girl, I was so fearful of new environments. Even the regularity of Sunday school left me in tears. Every. Week. Sound familiar? Daddy introduced you to a sweet little boy, standing shyly by. Quickly we discovered "shy" was the wrong adjective. I hope that "chatty" will be your new best friend! 

As dad and I walked you to your classroom with the other students, I spied you taking deep breaths, trying to maintain your dignity. It was then, my heart broke, hugging you one last time before I left. As your mom, I want to protect you and keep you little, meanwhile desiring wholeheartedly for you to bloom and grow into the man God created you to be. It's a conundrum.

I'm sitting in the car, eagerly willing time to pass, to hear how many new friends you made. I have no doubt you came out of your shell. You are my shy, social, little man. Can't wait for our "first day of school date" this afternoon! 

Our prayer for you this year, is that you blossom both academically and most importantly spiritually. That you seek your strength and courage from Jesus. 

Our next memory verse: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord, your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9.

I love you,

Mom

We left in such a rush I didn't get to finish the sign!!! But you get the gist. ;)

Skinny Beast!!!

Everything he says is 10x cuter because of his chipmunk voice!