Put Your Body On The Potty...

 *WARNING: Potty post! This is one of those "for my records" posts. Feel free to skip this one! haha

My sweet (but oh so stubborn) Ben has been officially potty-trained for about a month now! Can I get an Amen? It's about time!

I would like to thank Elmo and his super catchy "put your body on the potty" youtube video. I'd also like to thank Nana who gave Ben $20 and told him he could go to the toy store after he used the potty. (That boy looked at that 20 dollar bill for a week before he decided he would try to go potty.) Lastly, I'd like to thank Netflix on the iPad for entertaining Ben for 2 hours while he sat on the potty the day he decided to go!

Sweet Ben has been potty trained ever since he used it the first time! 

so proud of himself and excited about his new toys

singing "i put my body on the potty and let it flow" followed by "go me, go me!"

new toy!

Big Ben likes chillin in his undies.

Jude the Dude

Jude Walter Norman was born last night (September 12) at 11:57 p.m. weighing in at 8 pounds and 8 ounces. He is absolutely perfect! Kathryn is supermom and pushed that baby out without any drugs! Mom and baby are both doing well.

GranMartha kept my kiddos this morning for me so I could go meet my sweet nephew at the hospital. I am so in love with him already!!!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! We're so thankful for another precious addition to our family!

Great Dad's Birthday

Ryan, Jackson, & Ben went to the farm last weekend to celebrate Great Dad's birthday!

Happy Birthday, Great Dad! We love you!!!

Fun with the Fam

Papa John had to make a business trip to Houston recently, so Nana & Tia Leah tagged along to hang out with the munchkins. Tia Leah played non-stop with the boys the whole time she was here! We were all very sad for her to leave!

Thanks for coming to visit!!!

School

Ever since my 20 week ultrasound when we found out our July baby (Jackson) was going to be a boy, we knew we would "hold him back" a year in school. So Jackson is 5 now but won't start kindergarten until next year. We have chosen not to put our children in preschool for several reasons. One of which is I am a stay at home mom with a degree in early childhood education. Another is cost. I love having my kids home with me and spending our time learning and playing together! I don't think there is a right/wrong or good/bad choice here. Keeping our kids home just works well for our family. Anyways, now that Jackson is 5 we are going to do some more structured learning this year. Since I will probably blog about different activities we do throughout the year (and for my own records), I wanted to share what we will be using this school year.

Saxon Math K

Even though this is technically a kindergarten program, it is quite simple.  (When I taught 1st grade in NY we used Saxon 1. It was way too easy for my 1st graders.) There aren't any worksheets at all. The entire curriculum is hands-on. Perfect for my very active little boy! (I plan to let Ben play along with us as much as he wants!)

Handwriting Without Tears


This is a multi-sensory program that my boys will love! Jackson will have a workbook. Ben will not. They will both have fun building with the wood pieces, learning the fun songs, and making letters with playdough, shaving cream, salt, etc.!  (Note: if the workbook is too frustrating for Jackson, we will just put it aside and try again when he's a little older.)

Sonlight Core P4/5 with Grade K Readers












I could not be more excited about this program! It is all books! There is a handy parents guide to make my life easier. I really think my boys will love this. I plan to include Ben as much as he wants to be included. I think he'll be interested in reading the books with us but probably not in the extension activities. Jackson will eat this up!

I am super excited  to start this "school" journey with my kiddos. If anyone has used these programs and has advice or suggestions for me, please let me know! :-)

 Disclaimer: With a 5 year old, a 3 year old, and a 7 month old, our main priority is not academics. We strive to "train up our children in the way they should go." We are more concerned about teaching Godly character at this age. I am a big believer in learning through play. I also know that my boys NEED lots of outside/active time. (I just don't want you to think we plan to sit at the table for 8 hours a day!!!)

twenty-nine

We celebrated my 29th birthday earlier this month!

Pops & Ruby ready to party

my mom made this beautiful strawberry cake

She also made truffle pasta from Italy!

beyond blessed with these 3 munchkins

2 of my fave people ever. thanks for a great evening, mom & dad!

Picture Catch Up

Sugar Land Skeeters game with Sharon- so fun!

We love it when Aiden comes to visit his grandparents (dana & sheila). Aiden and Jackson share a love of angry birds (check out the shirts) and the wii!  They even took Jackson with them to the children's museum one day!

Our friend Roxanna has been coming over on Fridays this summer to play. It's amazing how much I can get done around the house when she's here! We will all be so sad when school starts!!!

Ruby's storytime :-)

We celebrated GranMartha's birthday. Check out Kathryn's pictures of the night.

these boys were ready for some bday cake!

Ruby, Addy, & Hallie at Erin's baby shower!

We have a plumbing problem.  Ryan decided he did not like the plumber's estimate of three thousand dollars, so he is fixing it himself! Buzz Lightyear is an excellent helper.

such strong boys working with their daddy

The boys were acting out the story of Daniel and the lions den. Jackson was the king wearing a royal robe (superhero cape). Ben was a mean soldier. I was Daniel. Ruby was a lion in the lions den. I was cracking up- they were so funny! I'll have to figure out how to put the video on here.

 

Last weekend Ryan, Ruby, and I got away to the Woodlands while the boys stayed with Pops & GranMartha!

We had VBS every day last week. Ruby and I helped with the 2nd & 3rd graders!

sending dad off to work with a smile!

We had fam dinner at Fuzzy's Tacos Friday night!