It's Color Time!

Two of the three coloring during morning "school" time.

Today's Conversations With the Littles...

Approximately two seconds after I tucked the big boys into bed tonight, they started calling for us. When Isaac got in there approximately three seconds after I tucked them into bed, Jason's tears were flowing.

Isaac: Why are you crying, Jason?

Jay: These are the tears left over from last night's bad dream.

For the record, the bad dream he had was two nights ago and he was fine last night and all day today. There was much more discussion between the two of them, and Jason was quite content before he went off to sleep.

~~~

While sitting in the living room this afternoon, Shawn randomly started bouncing up and down and waving his arms.

Me: Shawn, what are you doing?

Shawn: I'm getting my grove on, mom.

Okie dokie then.

~~~

I found Jack back in the hamper eating who knows what while playing a supposed to be hidden LeapPad.

Me: What are you doing, Jack?

Jack (shocked): Oh! I found you!

Way to play it cool, kid.

Cute Boy Saturday - Jason's Experiment

We did this last weekend, but I just finally got it uploaded. :)

To see the video of Jason's experiment, go here: http://youtu.be/VTSRRSRL0_4 

For a better explanation of what's going on, go here.

Friday Five

Jason went to the salon today and got a "spikey hair" hair cut. He was so, so worried about it, but he went and did it! I am so proud of him! He also looks pretty darn cute.  :)

~~~

Jack spent this evening playing with a balloon. It was hilarious to watch him joyfully tossing it up in the air and then jumping up to get it. I can't help but smile about it even now.

~~~

One of Shawn's favorite thing to do lately is to talk into the microphone on the phone and have daddy record him. He laughs and laughs when he hears himself played back. I am fairly certain he could record himself and listen to it all night long.

~~~

Yesterday, Jack refused to take his nap. He made it to about 6:30 before I found him like this. LOL.

He was out cold! Too funny!

~~~

I continue to be amazed by these clever creatures I've been so fortunate to have in my life. They are so smart and funny! How'd I get so lucky to be their mom? :)

Conversations With 6 Year Olds

"Mom!" he called from the other room.

His voice sounded distressed, so of course it got my attention. I shot out of my chair and headed for his room.

"Mom! I need help!" he yelled.

I ran into the room, panting. "What is it?" I asked breathlessly.

"Mom! I need you to scratch my foot."

"You called me in here to scratch your foot? I'm not scratching your foot! Do it yourself!"

"Oh come on, mom. Pleeeeeaaaseeee?" he pleaded.

"No!"

"Just a little?"

"No."

"Mom," he said with a sad, disappointed tone. "That does not help me, you know."

This boy...sigh.

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

On today's episode of "Where Will We Find Him," Jack has a new hang out...

He managed to nab a LeapPad that I thought I hid while he was at it. At least he's learning while he hiding?

He Makes Me Laugh

And I love him so!



Jack finally moved his stuffed friends fr the mantle. Now they're on the couch, and he likes to climb right into the middle of them and hang out. ;) It's pretty cute to see!

Just Like School?

The boys found out today that it isn't always fun and games during the summer when your mommy is a teacher.

Boy were they bummed!

While I'm not interested in teaching them next year's curriculum, I do want to keep what they've learned this year fresh in their minds. So today after breakfast, we sat down to read our books, practice our sight words, and write a few sentences about what they read. I told them we'll do that and some math work every week day this summer.

"Just like school?" Jason asked.

He didn't believe me when I told them that no, it wasn't going to be "just like school."

"But, mom, I don't want to do work right now!" Shawn exclaimed. (He wasn't kidding, either. Apparently he likes learning from his teacher better than he likes practicing with me!)

We finished our practice and then went about the rest of the day. I had to laugh, though, when I heard Jason after we came in from playing outside say, "That was the best recess ever!"

Um, Ok. Maybe it's a little like school. :)

He Insists

I have no idea why.

For the past several nights, Jack has insisted the stuffed animals must go on the mantle. We take them down, he puts them back up there. It's too funny!

Cute Big Boy Saturday - Celebration!

Yesterday, we decided to take the boys out to celebrate the end of Kinder. We loaded everyone up and told them we were going on an adventure. They were so excited when we pulled up to Yogurtland!

Jason's giving me a gummy worm grin and a thumbs up!
I think that means he likes our idea to celebrate.

Shawn gives the place a thumbs up, too!

Jack thought the place deserved a double high five. ;)

We couldn't get Jack to eat an yogurt, but he
was very interested in playing the spoon drum, aka table. lol

A gummy worm free smile! Yay!

Shawn cracks me up. He didn't want the yogurt.
but he sure did like the toppings.

I was there, too.
We're so proud of all you've accomplished this year, Shawn!

We're also proud of all you've accomplished this year, Jason!

We were on the way home from yogurt, and I got the crazy idea to take the boys to Toys R Us to get a toy to celebrate the end of kinder and all of their hard work. If you can believe it, the boys have never been.  Their minds were BLOWN.

BLOWN.

It was totally awesome!

They didn't ask for everything they saw. Both the boys had something in mind when we went in, and that's what they stuck to. Even Jack, who the big boys thought should also get a toy, was super well behaved. I was so proud!

Here they are with their new toys...

Jason chose a police car.

Jack chose a Paw Patrol fire truck/figure set.

Shawn chose a Woody and Jessie figure set.

It was a pretty awesome day. :)

Friday Five

Jack cracks me up. His latest antics were to get his shoes, put them on, and declare "vamanos!" Oh, and he gets very annoyed when you don't vamanos when he thinks you and he should.

~~~

Dare I hope that this potty training thing might actually happen? I had the goal of working on PTing him during spring break, but we all got sick and it didn't happen. I took him when I thought it would be about time for him to go, but I was definitely not consistent or pushing the matter at all. So when Jack came to get me to take him to the bathroom and actually went potty, I was floored. Go Jack! He's told me several times that he needed to go. They haven't all been productive, so to speak, but it is a HUGE shift in the right direction!

~~~

While hanging a picture on the wall for Jason, "Make sure to make it straight. It drives me crazy when things are crooked."

Um...

~~~

Shawn's sensitivity toward others is so sweet. He feels it when others are sad or upset. When one of the other boys cries that "hurt" cry, Shawn will cry right along with them. Tonight, Shawn told me he didn't feel well. I gave him some Advil and let him use me as his human pillow for a while until the medicine took affect.
 
"How do you feel, Shawn?" I asked.

"I don't feel good, mommy. How do you feel?"

"I feel sad because you don't feel good." That made him tear up!

"Don't feel sad, mommy!"

Is that not the sweetest? Here he is feeling horrible, and he's worried about me being sad. Makes my heart melt.

~~~

Lastly, there is this picture...

End of the school year slurberts! :)
What a great way to start summer vacation!

Kinder Is in the Books!

Today was the last day of Kindergarten! Oh my goodness, how fast this year went. I'm fairly certain it was just yesterday that I was nervously walking the dynamic duo into their Kinder class and meeting their teacher for the first time.

Then, BAM.

Now we officially have two first graders!

I am so proud of how well the boys did this year! It was a rough start, especially for Shawn, but by the end of the year our boys were meeting and exceeding Kinder expectations!

Jason - 5 advanced categories!

Shawn - Look at the growth he's made this year!!!

With the end of the year upon us, it was time for the boys to create their thank you gift for their teacher. The boys created a "What will Mrs. D do this summer?" book.

Jason drew the front cover: It's a yellow umbrella, a
sand castle, and a crab at the beach.

Shawn's work started the book...

I love u.
u r the best tejr (teacher).
Love Shawn

I asked Shawn to draw his favorite thing he did this year:
"Shawn's favorite thing to do this year was painting."

You will reed (read) a book.
In the picture she is holding a blue buc (book).

"You will go to a show. Shawn suggests Sesame Street Live."
Shawn drew Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Elmo, and Ernie on a stage.

"You will do work" (very astute of him!)
He drew her holding a paper that says "I love you"
as she goes to school.

"You will play with your friends, a ball, and a car."
Shawn drew five of his friends, the ball, and a car.

"You will woch (watch) television."
She's watching Sesame Street on the TV.

"You will sing a song."
I LOVE that he made her mouth open so she can sing.
He chose "Oh say can you see..." as the song. ;)

Then it was Jason's work...

Thank you for being my techer (teacher).
I liked when you ritid (writed - wrote) yor (your) name.
Love Jason.

Jason's favorite thing this year was dancing to the
Alphabet Boogie!

"You will draw a picchr (picture)."
I love how he made her green with the HUGE pencil!
She's drawing on a canvas.

"You will hang out in the grass with a cup of juice."
How cute is that flower? She has on red shoes, too.

"You will eat strowberes (strawberries)."
He illustrated she'd eat by drawing an
arrow from the strawberry in her hand to her mouth.

"You will go on vacashon (vacation) at the beach."
She's standing on the sand and there is a fish in the water.

"You will go on a drive to somewhere fun."
Notice the black wind streaks behind her.
Their teacher must be a speed demon! :)

"You will play with her (your) iPad."

Shawn drew the picture on the back cover. :)

For their teacher's actual present, we bought little gifts/gift cards to go along with their ideas for her summer. I think it came out pretty cute!



The completed book                

The gifts

It has been such a great year of growth for these two!