February...

We are already in the middle of February! When did that happen? This is the first time January and February are passing without much notice for me...usually those cold, winter months short on sunshine drag endlessly by...not so this year! I can't seem to keep up with life whizzing by me! I guess I can chalk it up to Case being in school...I am constantly surprised how much that changes things!

Clayton and I have been working on his ABC book...each week we pick a different letter to learn about...what it sounds like and how to write it...then we do some schoolwork, I try to come up with fun crafts and foods to eat to go along with our letter. Here is Clayton hard at work on the letter G...

Gwen is growing up into a fine 2.5 year 0ld...with an independent streak a mile wide!!! She is totally into the color pink (or 'peent' as she says it)...I am convinced if you gave her pink castor oil she would gladly take it! She is loving princesses, her jewelry, and her new found friend, Olivia...

She is also loving books...

This big guy is getting so big...I am so proud of the young man he is growing into. His newest achievement is learning how to read. He is super smart and he is blowing me away with how many words he is remembering and already knows! Even all the crazy vowel rules that only work on some words he is plowing thru like a champ! He keeps losing teeth by the bucket load and the tooth fairy just may start living in our spare room...

Tobin is well, work is a bit slow...being winter and all. I am working on a number of projects (of course...that would be why time flies by!)...I guess the most time consuming and pleasurable for me is an internet scrapbooking class that I am taking. I make one scrapbook layout a day, every day for the month of February. I took this class in October and completed about half of my Italy scrapbook...if all goes well, I just might finish it by the end of the month! That would be awesome!

Well, I hope you have a warm and fabulous Wednesday!

Ciao a tutti!

Penguin Polka...

I think we have offically begun a new stage in life...our first Christmas Program! Case was so excited and has been practicing like crazy! It certainly paid off...at least for this very biased parent. Here is the whole kindergarten class (both AM and PM classes) with their hats before the program began...

Case was picked to dress up as a penguin...

Here is the class on stage...Case is the penguin in the front row on the right...

Singing their little hearts out...

And doin' the Penguin Polka...

The kids were wonderful...as all proud parents must say! I was totally THAT mom! I had my trusty camera and I made poor Tobin video tape the whole thing. I loved every minute of it! Gwen was in seventh heaven...she kept pointing at Case...I am not sure who had more fun, Case or Gwen! Clayton was sad he didn't get to join in, but his day will come!

Well, it seems I post many posts in one day, and then nothing for several...I will work on posting more consistently!

Have a wonderful day!

Ciao a tutti!

New Stage in Life...

I know...I know...Did I fall off the earth or something? No...just trying to get back into life and it certainly didn't slow down just because we were gone for 3 months. Upon arriving in the States, we (and I say 'we' figuratively, as I am the one that was in charge of these things) had to unpack, find where I placed all of our stuff (we luckily had people staying in our house while we were away), find and buy all new clothes for the kids as they had outgrown ALL of the clothes in their dressers, Case had a birthday, Gwen was potty trained, our Sunday School class need some attention as promotion Sunday was rapidly approaching, and lastly...and most importantly...Case started school...whew...I am tired just writing all of that...or maybe it is just lack of exercise in my fingers from lack of blogging...

The big day is finally here...Case's first day of Kindergarten! I am so amazed! Case has been looking forward to this day, and frankly, driving us nuts with his constant asking how long until school starts...hopefully he can retain this excitement in years to come! We had fun shopping for all the school supplies (I had a hard time convincing him that he didn't need a calculator), school clothes, and visiting the teacher. I am not sure where he has gotten his ideas of school, but he is prepared and excited for all the 'homework' that he is going to be getting...I just couldn't burst his bubble...I will let the teacher take care of that. I can just see him raising his hand and asking where is his homework for today...man, I love that kid!

Yesterday, we had our meet and greet for kindergarten. We went to the school, found our classroom, met the teacher, dropped off our supplies, filled out paperwork, found his locker, and just had a fun afternoon.

The only thing that took me by surprise is Clayton's reaction. About an hour before we were to go (it was only a half hour appointment), Clayton just started sobbing...'I'll miss you Case'...so then Case started sobbing...'I'll miss you Clayton'! It was the cutest thing! I have been enjoying watching their relationship grow closer and this is just another example that they really do like each other and want to spend time together...makes this moms heart happy!

Today, was the BIG day! The first real day of kindergarten! Case was SO excited! Here are all the kids in front of the school...I thought it might be cool to take this picture every year and see how big they are getting!

And here is the BIG boy at his desk...

Clayton was sad, but we avoided the waterworks. I think he really liked seeing where Case was going. It made him feel better. Gwen was just a bit confused, but liked the trip to the little girls' room. Me, I was proud, excited, relieved, happy, tired, and grateful that he seemed to already had a friend (one of the kids that he met yesterday sat right down next to him). We got home, I put the kids to bed for their naps, and realized it was QUIET!!!! I chose to ignore that and put on the radio!

I hope that you are all having a wonderful day!

and for old times sake...

Ciao a tutti!