Raising Two ADVENTURERS to Love Jesus

Raising Two ADVENTURERS to Love Jesus

Monday, December 22, 2014

Daddy is thirty-two...

We had such a fun time creating a little homemade family birthday party for Daddy!  We did this last year and the boys enjoyed it so much.  Honestly, we did as well.  We love family time at home.  We feel like making memories while they are young is truly a special gift.
Dylan made him a HUGE card!  
 Caleb decorated it, too!
 We had party props and party poppers.  Dinner was tacos, rice, and cheese dip-per Daddy's request.  Then, yellow cake with chocolate icing for dessert!
 We also got all dressed up that weekend to go to a wedding.  I think our dates were the most handsome dates there!
We love you Daddy!  We love you more today than yesterday but not as much as tomorrow!

November Wrap-up

Caleb went with me to vote at the beginning of November.  He told me he was going to vote for cars and asked me if I voted for cars.  He told me Daddy would vote for cars.  
 Spending time with their Daddy Vell on Veteran's Day.
 Caleb is an out of control sleeper.  Daddy caught this one morning before he went to work.
 We managed to sneak away for the weekend to go to the LSU game.  I had on 2 pair of thermals and lots of layers.  We actually stayed warm.  Probably because of all the yelling, jumping, and screaming.  So glad we got the BOOT back!
 Mrs. Workman let Dylan come to her Pre-K 3 class and read to them.  What a great thing!
 Dylan was the only one in Taekwondo class one afternoon and he got some one-on-one instruction from Mr. Baez.  It was great for him!
 Playing outside in November.  My favorite tree in the yard is finally changing colors!
 We enjoyed a trip to the Nature Center and a trolley ride around downtown!
 Dylan went on his first duck hunt!
 November 30
He loved it!
 Daddy was prepared with ear plugs and snacks!
 His very own tiny little waders!
 Watching the ducks circle. 
What a great November!  Caleb also had an X-ray of his collarbone.  It is healing nicely.  He no longer has to wear his brace, but we do have to be careful for 3 more weeks.  Yikes!

Our Little Reader


Dylan has been real into spelling any word that he notices.  EVERYTHING.  Cereal boxes, store fronts, stickers, basically just anything where he notices letters.  He also has been pretty great at beginning letter sounds.  He has been asking me to help him read.  We started out by reviewing letter sounds on his chalkboard easel, then blending sounds together.  
November 13, 2014
Dylan read his first book! 
"Mat"
Book 1 in the BOB series for Beginning Readers
 We "face-timed" all the grandparents and Aunt Carole.  I also took video of the BIG milestone! We are soooooo very proud of our sweet 5 year old boy who loves to learn and eager to try anything new!
Here he is reading to me! Heart. Explodes. 

Happy Thanskgiving 2014!

Making turkey cookies, a tradition we started two years ago!
 The finished product!
Thanksgiving morning family selfie!
We had a great Thanksgiving Day in Amagon, AR with my Mom's extended family.
I am so thankful for my boys.  God has truly blessed us. 
 All of my parents grandSONS!
Thankful for Sis being here this year and of course for our Daddy Vell! 
Loving on their Poppy!
 Riding "country style" in Uncle Wayne's truck to his house!
 We all really enjoyed their thankful tree this year.  Caleb was old enough to really participate, and Dylan wrote on his leaves this year.  

Like a Rhinestone Cowboy

November 9, 2014
Dylan loves everything about Cowboys.  He has loved everything about cowboys for over a year now.  He has become buddies with one of the men at our church, because Mr. John is a "REAL" cowboy.  Mr. John and Mrs. Anita invited us to their farm to ride the horses.  We have been trying to coordinate this afternoon for a long time and it finally happened!  Dylan got to ride Sha-nay-nay.  She was very gentle, and he LOVED it!

 Caleb didn't make it around the circle once.  He wanted to try it, but it didn't seem to be his favorite thing. 
 Mr. John and Mrs. Anita took us out for a ride around the farm in the ranger and we got to see all of Mr. John's cows and watch him feed them. 
 They got real close when that food started coming! 
It was a great afternoon and we are so appreciative that the Ott family shared their home with us for the afternoon, so our little cowboy could feel like the REAL DEAL!


Friday, November 28, 2014

The BOO is on us this Halloween!

We were Boo'ed in a big way Halloween morning.  The boys were playing so well in Caleb's bedroom.  They were pretending that under Caleb's bed was their Ninja Turtle's lair.  I was in the kitchen working on Halloween costumes.  I heard a very loud thud, and a horrible cry.  Caleb had fallen over his safety bed rail and onto the floor.  He was in horrible pain.  His face was as white as a ghost.  I immediately called Jonathan.  He came home from work.  Caleb would not even lift his head up off of the pillow by himself.  I called and made a doctor's appt for as early as possible.  He perked up a bit, but went to play with his baseball bat and couldn't lift his arm.  The story is: They were playing "trip each other" on the bed, and Caleb got "tripped" over the rail to the floor.  Dylan was so worried about him.  I dropped him off to Aunt Carole at her work and Caleb and I went to see Dr. Herbert.  After lots of tears and an x-ray, we learned that Caleb had a cracked collarbone. (left side) Our first broken bone.  I should have asked for the x-ray as a souvenir.  A picture of bones seems to go with Halloween, right?!?  This is the brace he wore for 3 weeks.  He wore it happily really.  I think it helped it not hurt.  The pain from a broken collarbone is no joke.  Bless my sweet baby.  He was a brave boy. 
We went to pick Dylan up and they had a little Halloween party going on at her office.  Caleb ate suckers and played a bit.  
 Dylan helped set up all of the games and then enjoyed playing them.  He is getting so big!
After a nap in which he woke up from the pain, we watched a movie.  They loved Air Bud: Beach Volleyball edition.
I did manage to get Caleb in his costume for a few pictures, but you can totally tell he didn't feel well at all.  
Sir Dylan the knight. and the fire-breathing dragon.  
Oh, and he hated the sweatsuit.  Still refuses to wear it for whatever reason.  Who knows.   Maybe it brings back bad memories of this day when he broke his collarbone. 
 Dylan is always ready for some action. 
My little dragon and his only smile of the afternoon.
Dylan's fall carnival at CAC happened to be on Halloween this year.  Caleb only wanted me and I was working the carnival, so he came, too.  Even though all of his grandparents and his Aunt Carole offered to keep him at home.  He only wanted me.  Dylan had fun playing games. 
 Caleb even played a game or two.  It only lasted for a few minutes, but I was glad to see him smile.
He only woke up twice that first night, and once the next.  He started learning how to not use that left arm.  He did great at compensating.  He was a trooper.  After 3 weeks, we had another x-ray that showed it is healing nicely.  He no longer has to wear the brace, but we have to be careful for 3 more weeks.  No rough housing, trampolines.  And definitely no more monkeys jumping on the bed.
Sincerely,
"The Mommy who was happy to see Halloween end"