The Barber Shop

This week we took Landy to the barber shop.  It wasn't his first haircut.  Puddin' did those honors.  But, he was getting a little ragged around the edges, thus, we ended up at the barber shop.  It was such a neat little place!  The big boys loved it; Landon, not so much.

The before shot.  It's hard to tell he needed a haircut here.

Such a neat barber shop!

Ohhh, you know, just reading a few magazines while waiting on my name to be called.

His barber did such a good job!  Landon, however, was not impressed!

Trying to convince him of how handsome he looks!

Obviously still a little traumatized, but look at my big boy!!!!

Donors Choose project

UPDATE:  MY PROJECT WAS FULLY FUNDED IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES TONIGHT!  WOW!  THE POWER OF THE INTERNET!!!!  THANK YOU!!!!!

I like to do Donor's Choose projects to earn extra goodies for my class, and since a teacher's work never stops in the summer, I've created one for audio books of chapter books that I read aloud to my students each year!  I already have the chapter books, and while I LOVE reading out loud to my kids, sometimes I need to multi-task! : )

The awesome part of it is, I am ALMOST to my goal!  I only need about $3, and with the dollar match this week, that's only a teeny-tiny donation.  So, if you'd like to help my upcoming kiddos (did I mention I'm only teaching Reading next year...that's around 60 kids!), just click the link below.  We'd really appreciate your help!

THANKS FRIENDS!!!

All About Those (Audio) Books 

Give to my classroom by July 5, 2015 and your donation will be doubled thanks to DonorsChoose.org. Just enter the code SPARK on the payment page and you'll be matched dollar for dollar (up to $100). 

If you chip in to help my students, you'll get awesome photos and our heartfelt thanks. 

Thanks so much, 

P.S. If you know anyone who may want to help my classroom, please pass this along! 

VBS - Journey Off the Map

Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."  Isaiah 30:21

Whew...what a week!  Eli participated in his very first VBS this year, Journey Off the Map!  Wesley and I taught Eli's class, 4 year old boys, (entering kindergarten) and man, they are exhausting!  We studied Daniel, and learned about obeying God, even in the unexpected.  It was a lot of fun, and sweet memories for our family to do this together.

Eli's favorite part of VBS was music time!  These are the four year olds at music; obviously there were a lot more girls than boys.

Fathers Day

Father's Day was special this year.  We were able to celebrate with all the dads in our life.  We're so grateful for all these guys and what they do for us: how they love us, serve, and point us to Jesus.

We began the day in Destin, and celebrated Daddy and Pops.

We went to church with Ginny, Pops, and Katie, and everyone was very brave and stayed in their own classrooms in the nursery with minimal tears!  Then, we came back home for lunch before hoping in the car and heading north.

We made a pit stop to visit with Puddin'.  We also got to check on him after his surgery from Friday (and he was doing just fine!).

Nana had gotten a few of our favorite Rolens treats, and I had one final 30th celebration.

After that, we made it the rest of the way back home and gave Daddy his gifts.  It was the perfect way to end our vacation stint at the beach.

Landon - 15 month check-up

Landy Cakes, you had your 15 month wellness check-up this week!  Well or sick, you freak out at the doctor.  Look at this pitiful face!

Everything checked out well!  We are so grateful for your good health.  After the past few months, it is not something we take for granted.

You got two shots, and the world nearly ended, but once Mommy picked you back up everything was ok.  : )

Stats:

Height:  30.5" 18th percentile

Weight: 20 lbs 12 oz 17th percentile

Head:  19.5" 99th percentile

In other words, your a small guy with a big head! ; )

Landon - 15 months

Landon boy, you are getting bigger and more full of personality by the day.  We are so happy for our time at home with you this summer!  You are so fun, and we love you so, so much!

Firsts:  Scrapped knees (you're tough though!)

News headlines:  Gas is about $2.48/gallon, Prince William and Kate announce the name Princess Charlotte, FIFA president resigns, Duggar Family media controversy, and Bruce Jenner lights up pop culture.

Milestones:  You are running everywhere.  New teeth popping up.  You like to play peek a boo.  I think you're on a growth spurt.  You are a hungry boy lately.

Measurements: Size 4 diapers, (Your12 mth clothes are getting tight.  We'll be packing these up soon.) 18 mth clothes, size 4 shoe, and I'm guessing you're probably getting close to 25 lbs.

Like Mommy: You always have a cup.

Like Daddy:  You are VERY active and don't like to sit down.  You are both happiest outside.

Like Eli:  You love fruit!

Favorite Toys:  You absolutely LOVE Eli's chair.  You bully him out of it anytime he sits in it.  Being the loving brother/peace-maker that he is, he usually lets you have it.  You LOVE balls too.  Your Fisher Price toy/birthday present that plays music and sings is still a favorite.  You love to clap and dance to it.

Sounds: Mama (not very often), dada, nana, bye bye, uh-oh, awww, hey,  daw-dee (doggie), thank you (which is hysterical to listen to you say), diaper, boo-boo, ball, more.  We love to ask you questions because you answer nearly every one with "/uh-uh/" (sound for no).  Example:  "Landon, are you going to be a good boy in Sunday School?" /uh-uh/

Challenges:  You are strong-willed and opinionated (yet still a sweet boy)!  You climb everything.  You are also SO SCARED of the baby monitor in Mommy and Daddy's room.  It stays on all the time, and a lot of times you can hear noises/voices from other parts of the house.  Nothing frowns your little lips faster!

Our Days:  It's summer!!  You're sleeping SO much better lately--through the night nearly every night!  You have been eating SO well too.  We are trying to stick to our schedule.  You take either a short mid-morning nap (about 30 minutes) and an afternoon nap of 1-1.5 hrs, or you take a long early afternoon nap (2-2.5 hrs) right after lunch.  We all stay up a little later in the summer, but we are trying to have you to bed by 9:30.  I'm still feeding you at bedtime, and sometimes one other time during the day.  We have been going for lots of walks and taking almost daily trips to the park.

Funny/Favorite Moments:

Mommy's favorite-  Hearing you and Eli laugh together.

Daddy's favorite-Picking you up on your last day of school, knowing we have all summer together.

Nicknames: Landy, Landon/Landy boy

Upcoming Events: We have a beach trip coming up that we're all very much looking forward to!

Soccer Camp

This week Eli participated in soccer camp.  It was his third summer to do it, and he had such a great time!  His buddy, Abigail, who's done soccer with him the past two years, wasn't able to do soccer camp this year.  Though we missed her, it was still a lot of fun!

We arrived early each day so that Eli and Daddy could warm up together.

Eli's late birthday was definitely evident with this bunch.  He wasn't old enough to move to the 5 year old group yet, and it was very clear.  Like I told Coach Beth though, we were there two years ago, and even some last year.  

Coach Beth was so patient with everyone and had some really fun games!

Eli's favorite game was the dragon game.  Here he is as the sleeping dragon, protecting his egg (the ball).

Uhh-oh!  The dragon is awake!

Raawwwwwwrrr!

Someone forgot that he wasn't supposed to use his hands.

While Eli loved his coaches, this picture sums up how he felt about the other kids.  If you'll notice from the other pictures, you don't see a lot of the other kids.  That's because they kept running off.  Notice the look Eli's giving the other boys.

On the last morning of camp, there were several stray showers, so we ended up in the school's gym.  We played a surfer/crab game that involved the parents.  Eli and I had lots of fun.  He's too quick for me!

Daddy played the robots game.

Friday's practice ended with awards from his two coaches.

They were awesome!

Through conversations with the male coach, we learned he's actually in the "company" (as he called his league) with the royal family.  He told his stories about playing soccer with Prince William and table tennis with Kate Middleton.  He told us how they're very nice and very normal.  He also said he'd seen Harry playing basketball and that he wasn't very good at it.  haha!  : )

So proud of our little soccer guy!

I love summer and that Wesley and I are both able to do these types of things with Eli!

Soccer camp 2014

Soccer Camp 2013