Stubborn Mispronounciation

Saturday night we took the kids to the Demolition Derby in McLouth. Booker was in hog heaven. He loved every minute of watching cars crash into each other, push each other into the ditch, and get hauled out by tractors. Right up his alley. Crashing cars is now the new fad in our house.

So, this morning on our drive to school Booker was in the back seat with two little matchbox cars, crashing them together, over and over again. Then he says, "Mom, the blue car pushed the black car in the dick." I chuckled under my breath and asked him, "What?" "The blue car just pushed the black car in the dick." I told him that the hole the cars were falling into was called a ditch. I was hoping that he would either correct himself or forget about this at school. I could just see the look of "What in the world?" on his teacher's face...

Fast forward to tonight on the way home from school, blue and black cars in hand. "Mom, watch this! The blue car is winning. It pushed the black car in the dick." "Booker, it is a ditch." "No it's not, it's a dick." "No, Booker, you are wrong. It is a ditch. It's just like witch, but ditch." "No, it's just like a hole cars fall into." Whatever Dusty Jr. Quit being so darn stubborn!

Booker's 1st Homework Assignment

At the ripe age of 3, it has already started. Booker now has a homework folder to be completed each week, along with a sound sack where he puts an object in the sack that starts with the letter of the week. So far so good; he enjoys doing homework. Now, only 18 more years to go!

Booker colored all of this by himself. The only thing I did was write in the boxes. He is so good at staying in the lines.

See it? B-O-O-K-E-R!!!
I asked him the questions and he told me the answers to fill in... cracks me up!

Homework for this week.

Bodey's 2-yr Stats

Bodey at 2 years
Weight ~ 32.4 pounds, 90th percentile
Height ~ 36 inches, 90th percentile
Head ~ 19 inches, 40th percentile

Just for comparison:

Booker at 2 years
Weight ~ 27 pounds, 40th percentile
Height ~ 34.5 inches, 60th percentile
Head ~ 19 inches, 40th percentile

It still just cracks me up how much different their body builds are. :)

Bodey's Basehor Birthday Bash

Hooray! He's officially 2!

The cake... before it melted!
Bodey didn't care what the cake looked like.

Think they wanted a piece?

Booker with a frog down his shirt!

Peyton

Reesie

Ava

Cooper

Garrett

Cody & Sarah

Ada

Cooper

Aidan

Kade

Winding down after the big party.

Happy 2nd Birthday Bodey!

Well, Bodey, now you are 2 years old. I know everyone says this, but I really can't believe how fast it's gone. I barely even remember you being a little baby. You are all of a sudden just a big boy. It's weird to think back of when I had you because Booker was only 17 months old. And when I looked at him I thought he was such a big kid. Now, when I look at you at 24 months old, I still just see you as my baby. You will never understand the amount of my heart that you fill. You are such a blessing. Every night now for 2 years I have gone into your room to peek at you sleeping, not realizing how much you are growing. Even though I'm sad that you are growing up so fast, I thank God that you are here, you are healthy, and you are mine. You amaze me every day. I just can't believe how smart you are. You are talking quite well, I think. Even though a lot of it is Bodey Language, a lot of it is perfectly clear. And it's not just words. You will blurt out full sentences! Some of my favorites are, "You wanna bite?" "I want chocolate milk momma." "I love you more momma (or Dusty)." "I make happy plate!" I smile more now in my life because of the things you and your brother do and say. Even the smallest things other people just don't get. I love that you give the best smootchy kisses EVER. I love that you will hug me and pat my back. I love your big cheesy smile that is so big your eyes are closed. I love how much you look up to your brother and try to do everything he does... already! And most of all, I love the little person you are becoming. Happy Birthday Bodey! I love you more than you will ever know.

Just a couple of weeks old

One year old

Two years old

Shopping Spree: Dave Ramsey Approved

Today I went to Walmart to pick up some last minute supplies for Bodey's birthday party. I had the boys dressed alike and strapped into the double cart. This girl with a little boy about the boys' age stopped me and asked if they were twins. Long story short we somehow ended up talking about kids clothes and she slipped in the fact that Children's Place was having their $2.99 summer clearance sale. Oooohhh, I was so there! So I took the kids home, put them down for their nap, and off I went. What did I find?

11 - shirts, many of them collared polo style
5 - pairs of shorts
2 - pairs of jeans
2 - pairs of PJs

And the grand total? Only $64 after tax! That, my friends, is a good deal. Cheaper than Walmart. Heck, it's even cheaper than Craigslist. I also printed off a 15% off coupon from the internet and averaged only $2.50 per item. Whooo Hoooo!! The way I see it is that I'm going to have to buy them a new summer wardrobe anyway, so why not do it for dirt cheap a year early?

Big=Good

Well, according to Booker, the bigger he gets, the better he gets. He doesn't drink out of a big boy cup, sleep in a big boy bed, go to the big boy classroom, or have big boy underwear. Nope, he has a good boy cup, sleeps in a good boy bed, goes to a good boy class, and has good boy underwear. Not too sure how he got the two confused, but that's how it is. Just ask him!

A Day Late, But Not a Dollar Short

I feel like Booker, Bodey and I have gained a lot today. I finally made the giant leap I have been meaning to take for a very long time. We went to church. I have always wanted church to be a part of my kids lives, but honestly, I've been quite intimidated to go. Why? I don't think that church should be a place you should feel intimidated. It should be the one place where you can be the most comfortable. So after several years of this being one of my top priorities of things to do, I got the subtle push I needed. My neighbor Cori mentioned that she was going to be going to West Side Family Church tonight and that I was welcome to join her. And it was time for me to shove aside all my excuses and just go for it. I was truly excited, but also very nervous. I just couldn't wait for the kids to go. I want it to be something that they enjoy, feel is part of their lives, and want to go back.

When we got there we got the kids signed in and off to their classrooms. Both of them just pranced right in their rooms like they've been there a million times before, never turning back and wondering why they were there or if mommy was following. That was a huge relief. So off Cori and I went, and I immediately felt comfortable. This church describes itself as "high energy contemporary." It doesn't matter what you wear, or even if you are a few minutes late for that matter. No one stares at you and no one keeps tabs. That's what I'm looking for and feel like I have found. I liked that the message was at my level. There was no reading Bible verses that I couldn't understand. I actually GOT what the minister was saying and took home some valuable thoughts and lessons. And, as for the kids, they loved it! Booker wants to go back tomorrow.

I have to admit that I realized something tonight. Like I said, I've always wanted God to be in my children's lives. What didn't dawn on me until tonight is that the way that is going to happen is through me. They aren't going to know anything about church or God if they've never been introduced. And whose responsibility is it to lead them? Mine. I feel guilty that I waited this long, but we have hopefully started a new tradition. Oh, and for the record, Dusty said he would go with us once a month!

On the Road

Here's a picture of all 5 of the kiddos in the back of the van. Notice how clean it is? That's because it's not my van, it's Cori's.