Keagan turned TWO this past Saturday and we had a School Bus themed birthday party at our house! Here are some detailed close ups of decor (aka...sweat blood and tears!) It was lovely...hubby and I set up the night before the party so K could wake up and see his house transformed! He was so excited and just kept saying "me patty!" (my party)
Love him!!!

K

A note to my boys

I have had this recurrent thought in my head for almost 4 years. Spoke of it a few times with my husband and a really good friend. We had talks about our experiences in the past and how it made us who we are today, you know the rest. I didn't care, still don't care. I was angry with myself for making ignorant choices, kicking myself in the rear for even thinking for a minute that I knew it all. How little I knew. How little I knew . Repeat, repeat repeat. How I wish I could go back..whisper in my ear on so many occasions... "it doesn't matter". My babies....they matter. Oh my gosh, do they ever. I know some people say there really is no right time and you never really know when to start "planning" for a child, but I did. I wanted motherhood with all of my being. Hubby desired to be married a year before bringing a child in the world. I somehow convinced him that "technically" with 9 months of pregnancy it would be a year. I won that one. The second I found out Carter was growing in me something just clicked. I didn't have to wait till his birthday to fall head over heals in love with our child, it was instant. I wanted this child more than I wanted life itself. The day he was placed in my arms was the day I became born again. Him a child, I as  his mother. I live for these boys of mine. Breathe, eat, sleep, work...its all in the names of Carter and Keagan. My world.  I thank my husband from the bottom of my heart for these children.. And God...I am forever indebted. So this little snapshot that was floating around on Facebook struck me hard. I am glad I am not the only one who has had this thought. I promise you boys...as long as I am living,  I will live for you.  

Skipping the "books"

Man, we have been busy this week! Not necessarily with things we did, but things we chose to skip. All in the name of fun. I choose not to do any formal teaching with the boys this week (except for preschool story time and their science class) and left it in their hands. God provided the weather, I provided the time outdoors and with some subtle pushing the boys came up with some amazing outdoor play. I feel like in general I lean more towards Waldorf-style schooling with a mix of classical education for my type A personality. Its a lot easier to relax and let nature steer their curiosity when your actually out in it!

"Thank you for no rain"

Today was so nice outdoors. Nice indoors also, and well...all around nice. We are so ready for spring, as I am sure the whole world is. Its been a very long, cold, white winter around here. Keagan is learning to drive Carters gator these days, although multitasking the pedal and the steering wheel is still a bit foreign. My poor baby scratched his sweet face on the deck today while driving. Moments later when we were playing with our mud hole, Carter asked me to say a prayer for Keagan(my heart melts every single time he initiates prayers!) so we did, we prayed for K, we prayed for work, we prayed for mommy's ouchy belly, and as I asked Carter what else...he said "Thank you for no rain". So thank you God for a nice; very needed; day of spring and sweet words that come from sweet souls.

Is it spa time?

Disney's Frozen...NOT appropriate in my opinion

This might spark some controversy, but I am hoping not. Please remember that every parent is titled to their own beliefs and it is 100 percent OK if you do not agree with me.
I started hearing about Frozen when it came out of course...everybody was raving about it.  I had hoped to take Carter but the timing was never right. So when it became available to rent on cable..I selected buy right away. Prepared ourselves for a "movie night", got Carter so excited about this "frozen" snowman, made snacks, threw down pillows and blankets and the boys mattresses and got comfy. I was excited about maybe getting a  relax on the couch after dinner kinda night.  (Those never happen unless someone is sick around here!) 10 minutes; more or LESS; and the boys were up running around. I was asking myself why did I rent this, Michael was asking me why I didn't check the reviews. We took a break and resumed it later that evening and this time Carter sat for a bit...until I had to start covering his eyes and fast forwarding a good portion of the movie. That went over real well, let me tell ya. Carter wanted to know exactly what it was that he couldn't watch. The last part of the movie I cringed as her sister died and turned "frozen" and then a few moments later came back to life because of true love.
So, here it is. I disliked this movie due to the following
1) First and foremost, I believe this was not appropriate content for my 3 and under crowd. My fault here! I should have defiantly investigated this a little more before committing.
2) Violence. Its a Disney movie people! There is violence everywhere you look these days, can we not watch a quick movie without it being injected in their as well? I try very hard to minimize what my boys see...I know its a tough world out there, but it doesn't have to be. Violence and bullying does not have to be a part of life, we can change that. I know I am trying my best to do my part with my boys. So no... I was not pleased at all to see the amount of violence in this movie.
3) Snowman. This and this only was the reason why we wanted to view this movie. The cute, talking snowman. The boys thought he was adorable. He was! However...where was he??? I assumed he would be a major player in this movie...he wasn't..at least not as much as we would have liked.
4)Death. This is a biggie. We talk about heaven. We talk about God. We have once talked about what happens when someone dies and goes to heaven. ( quite some time ago when Carter asked me what a herse was that we had to stop for...I cringed by the way.) He is 3, I like the saying "keep them little" Its on autopilot in my head. He's too little in my opinion...We have been very, very lucky to not HAVE to discuss this. Childhood is innocence. So, the sister wakes up after being killed(Frozen) and life is back to normal. How unrealistic!!!!! What does this say to a child who believes in God and heaven??? Don't I wish we could be touched and come back to life...wouldn't that be just wonderful??? Its just not true. Its a lie...a lie they are telling my children and every other child out there. So when I do have this discussion with my boys, about heaven being our forever home..now they might question the truth behind it...all because of a story. I understand that at some point children realize that there is a difference between life and movies/shows, but at 3...my child might truly believe that this is real...(and mickey mouse, imagination movers..etc.) They are just so little.
I 100% put the blame on myself here...I should have checked. I just wanted to express my little opinion on this movie, that's all. Disney has put a nasty taste in my mouth.

Our Thursday

On Thursdays we take a little trip to mad science and do a preschool class. This week the boys learned about their senses..and what happens to your taste buds when you can not smell! We had a good hour of fun chaos as pop rocks fizzled into our mouth and cotton candy stuck to our fingers. Carter raised his hand to ask to see his pet, the chinchilla, but my shy little boy asked mommy to do it instead. I love how they interact so well in class...and Keagan amazed me yesterday as he sat and participated. Maybe because their was food involved?? Speaking of Keagan, the car seat picture cracks me up! It was gorgeous out, mommy had just put them back in the car seat after a trip to whole foods and K was chillin! Carter made me so proud yesterday when he went to the mens restroom(the ladies was closed for cleaning) and told me he "could do it myself" and that "mommy's not a boy and not allowed in." I peaked in and saw him using the mini urinal and the smile on his face when he saw me was precious. He was proud...I was proud.. my little man is growing up!