Week 7/52

Dearest Jackson & Colt,

Week 7 had its highs and its lows.  It started with class parties - a definite high!  The room moms for your classes are so creative and put a lot of effort into making your parties fun.  While I can't be at all of them, I do love it when pictures are shared with me -- like this one:

 Saturday morning couldn't come soon enough - because you were SO excited about your first soccer game, Colt!  Your game wasn't until 11:00 but I walked into the living room at 8:30 to find you already dressed!  Looks like a lot of your teammates were excited too!

 

 

As if it weren't already fun enough, you got to play against your buddy, Kohen.

Sunday was Valentine's day.  And I went the entire day and only took 1 picture.

THIS IS IT.

 Your hair was epic, dude!  I dropped you off at your grandparents' house like that too!  You boys spent the night with them while my amazing valentine cooked a fabulous dinner for the two of us!  Take note, gentlemen.  Handing your love a glass of wine and telling them to relax while you do all the cooking earns you major bonus points!!

You two stayed with Grandpa on Monday because it was a professional development day for teachers.  Y'all miss your friends when you aren't at school, which is why I think you only made it about 3 seconds at home before you asked to go to a friend's house. 

And that picture right there represents a new chapter in our lives.  It's a chapter of independence for you and unrest for us.  That little, blue dot is you as you pedal away.  A friend from school lives just down the street and we now allow you to bike down to his house alone.  The first time it happened, Dad walked back in the house and said, "I'm not ready for what just happened."  Luckily, his mom is understanding so she texts me, "Jax is here." once you arrive and I do the same for her when her darling is here with us.  

Tuesday started on a high note - this is you, Colt, getting your very first (last? Please!) cavity filled.  You are a dental rock-star, sir.  You got into that chair without a fuss and happily breathed in the good stuff while they drilled at your angry tooth.  This alone made me swell with pride because I was MUCH older before I stopped running away from the dentist.  (Remind me to tell you about the time that the dentist told Grandma to just take me home because he wasn't going to be able to get any work done.)  Everything was honky dory until they took the nitrous away and you immediately felt nauseous.  You got sick right there in that chair and had a tricky time recovering. 

 Grandpa saved the day by letting you stay with him for the rest of the day!  I rushed to get you after school and you fell asleep during the 7 minute ride home.  You remained asleep for the next 2 hours until I woke you up for dinner!  That procedure really kicked your butt and now I'm hesitant to allow you to have nitrous again.

 Everyone woke up fit and ready to go the next day so we finished the week strong.  

Now who do I have to talk to about making this 4-day-week concept more permanent?!

Week 6/52

Dearest Boys,

While my "photo-a-day" mission failed, I do have multiple pictures -- and stories -- from our week.

Saturday was a big deal!  Colt, you went to your very first soccer practice!  Parents were quick to notice that you're almost a full head taller than your teammates and inquire about your birthday.  You showed zero signs of being timid/shy/nervous and ran all over the field.

 

Saturday also happened to be your first soccer game with your new team, Jackson!  Someone snapped some shots for your team's facebook page and I got a kick (pun totally intended) out of your signature "tongue of determination"!

Your team won with a score of 2-0 and you scored one of those goals!!!!  We just had to celebrate with dinner out with the Fletchers.

The Vaughns were kind enough to host all the Stephamilies at their house for the Super Bowl on Sunday.  We tested the limits of their new couch as we watched my boyfriend the greatest quarterback in history win his second championship ring.

Later, we got down to business - the tooth brushing business.  Turns out, Colt, you have your first cavity : (  Dad, being the Sonicare believer that he is, bought you two your own expensive brushes so you can be like him (& hopefully we can avoid any more of those dental reports!).

Mother Nature has been in a fabulous mood lately and you, Jax, have wanted to play outside as much as possible.  Well, you've recently made friends with a new boy that lives just down the street and you often bike to his house or play outside together.  I didn't want to be the creepy, picture-taking mom to the new kid so I secretly snapped this one of y'all the other day.

Not long after that covert mission, his dad came over to tell him it was time to return home.  Since we'd never met the man, I didn't want to be rude so I had to invite him in.  And this is how our living room looked as we stood there making small talk.

  And that was the time I learned my lesson the hard, embarrassing way.  Listen to your wise mother, children:  If nothing else, keep your living room & guest bathroom clean.  Either that, or never answer your front door (probably what I'll do from now on).

Anyway...the week wrapped up with another soccer practice and you killed it, Colton!

How cute are you as you dribble around those cones?!  Precious!!

You were equally as precious one night at Jackson's soccer practice.  I was sitting in the car reading a book and you were getting out of the car to go play.  I said, "Have fun & be safe." and you replied with, "Keep reading but try not to get car sick." 

It's the little things, my funny boys!

Week 5/52

Dearest Jax & Colton,

I knew this week would be a-ok because we started it with ice cream for dinner.  Dad had to work late on Friday night, so we stopped by the frozen yogurt shop on the way to soccer practice. 

 Saturday had us back at the baseball fields after a 2 month hiatus.  Jax, you and about two dozen other little boys tried out for a brand new team.  The organization that you've played baseball with for your entire "career" has created a premiere team.  According to their website, this team is "for those seeking more advanced play than recreational baseball but not yet ready for select ball."  Considering that you're already committed to one select sport, we're thinking this could be the perfect fit for you.  And looks like we'll find out soon enough - because YOU MADE THE TEAM!  : ) 

 

The weekend weather was spectacular!  Grandma came over for a brisk walk and then cooled down by helping you, Colt, with a school project.

The Vaughns treated us to another yummy meal at their house on Monday night.

But you were hard at work the next night!  Colt, you wrote the names of each of your classmates on valentines and did a great job!

Another sign of a great week:  new shoes!  I think we might be the exception, but the way we do it is that y'all only own 3 or 4 pairs of shoes at any one time (not counting shoes for soccer/baseball).  Of those, one pair consists of tennis shoes and you wear them every day to school.  This lifestyle choice leads to shoes wearing out every few weeks so we literally buy new shoes about once a month.  This time, you picked out your first pair of Chuck Taylors!  Adorable.  And perfect for forcing us to teach you shoe-tying!

The week ended with a fun surprise!  Dad was your school's Watch D.O.G. (The Watch DOGS program stands for Dad Of Great Students.) for the day so he got to spend the entire day with you at school!  #jealousmommy