Focus Face

Each of my children make a certain 'focus face' when they are paying attention to something. Today we were sitting around the table doing homework and I caught both Stella and Thomas' focus face on video. Stella purses her lips like a little bunny and Thomas juts his jaw out and slides it to the side. So cute!

Hold Me Mama

Tony took this picture on his phone this morning. James has been having a tough week. That picture pretty much sums it up.

Hold me Mama.

Rock me.

Stay here Mama.

Hold me Mama.

See how his head is in that nook of my neck? Yeah, if he could stay there all day long, we would be all set.

Ugh.

School

He was all smiles! He wanted to carry his 'hunch' in all by himself.


He went straight to the craft table and started to play. Mama will be back to get you after lunch. Ok Mama.

Then, a phone call. He won't stop crying.

We tried it again and he cried. A lot.

I know we should keep trying. Stick it out. He will be ok. He will adjust to school. But...


I can't. He is my baby and I can not stand to see him cry and be upset. He can stay home another year and we will try again.

Neither of us were ready.

All I Want for Christmas....

Once upon a time, a brother and sister sat calmly and quietly watching a movie together.



About 2.2 seconds later, they began to wrestle and the baby brother drop kicked the sisters front tooth out.



For a couple weeks now, I had been teasing Stella that I hoped her other front tooth would come out by the holidays so she could sing, "All I Want for Christmas...". Well....



Today at school the other top tooth came out! A little early for the Christmas song;)

2007 (Preschool):


2008 (VPK):


2009 (Kindergarten):


2010 (1st Grade):


2011 (2nd Grade):

Second Grade!

And they are off....






Stella is beginning 2nd grade with a tooth that James knocked out. Thomas is beginning 2nd grade with a black eye from his younger brother. Who will James beat up with the twins at school??

Meet the Teacher

2007:


2008:


2009:

One was excited and one was not. Ha!
2010:
Write down 'get batteries' in my planner....check!
Forget to get batteries...check!
Send Tony to go get batteries...check!
Forget to take a single picture....yep, check!

2011:


We had 'Meet the Teacher' for James as well as the twins. He will be starting at the same preschool that the twins went to. When we went to James' classroom, the twins' old teacher came up and gave each of them a big hug. As I watched Thomas and Stella wrap their arms around her waist, I flash backed to the 2 year old version of Thomas and Stella wrapping their arms around her knees. How are the twins going into second grade?? And my baby going to school two mornings a week?? It all goes by too quickly.

Grandma Stella is back from Alaska....hence the cute shirts:) (and lots of other goodies too!!) We are so glad you are back safe and sound!

Lunches

Is anyone else as excited to begin packing lunches again? I may be exaggerating a bit but I am trying to get motivated again. Here is what I am loving now:

This recipe for mini lasagnas:



I am loving the mini's! I could look at her blog for hours;)I also pulled out my recipes for my mini granola cups.



On Thursdays and Fridays, I will have to pack three lunches (James is going to school!) and I think he will love the mini stuff.

I have always been asked about the boxes I use for the twins. I bought mine at Laptop Lunches and I love, love, love mine. If you go to their website, check out their current newsletter because there is a very familiar blog featured!!!

Back to School Thrifting

The twins are pretty much set with back to school clothes but I did want to run over to my favorite thrift store and just see if I could find anything since it is tax free shopping all weekend. It turned out to be such a good clothing day!

I did find this serving platter. I needed something this size.



I found some cool retro T-shirts for Thomas, some pj's for James and such pretty items for Stella. This is a Forever 21 dress. It come to her calves and has these little sleeves that sit off the shoulder. So pretty....and $1.49!



Stella picked out this tunic....love the ruffles at the bottom.



This dress is perfect for Stella. It is chocolate brown, soft and flowy. She loves it!



But the deal of the day was this little sweater I found for Stella. I thought she could wear it over the brown dress when it gets a bit cooler. Tags still on and it was only $1.49! Score!!!



Now to finish up on that mile long school supply list!

Thomas' Moves

Anyone who knows the twins, knows that Stella is the performer out of the two. However, this summer, the kiddos have put on "talent shows" at summer camp and Thomas participated in both. Take a look at my little man's moves: