Mommy Journals

I started journaling with the boys. Each one has a spiral and we write notes back and forth to each other. After we write in it, we will put it under the persons pillow and then we just keep swapping back and forth. Wyatt's first few entries were like, "I want to go to Great Wolf Lodge," or "When we can we go to Build a Bear?" or "I like swimming." I had to tell him it was a place for us to discuss things or tell special things to each other- not what's on our wish list!! After a few days, he got really good!! I teared up most nights as I went to read his entries!! Here is a small sample of his cuteness!

To say I will treasure this journal forever is an understatement!! 

Game Day w/ Wyatt

Two Tuesdays a month, our school district has early release days, where the kids get out at 2:00. Grant likes to get together with one of his friends on those afternoons, and sometimes Wyatt does too. But today, Wyatt didn't want a friend to come play, he just wanted to play with me. How could I say no to that?!? While Grant and his buddy were downstairs playing, we gathered a huge stack of board games, brought them to the table and chairs in my room, shut the door and played board games for 2 hours!! What fun we had! I'm pretty sure board games is one of Wyatt's love languages!!!

I guess Millie attended our game party too, but she was too busy staring at the window glaring at the rabbits in our yard.

Grant and Mommy Special Time

For a few years now, Grant and I have what we call "our special night." It's when I tuck them in to bed. Grant waits for Wyatt to fall asleep, then Grant quietly sneaks out of their room and meets me downstairs to snuggle up and watch a show together. We started this when Levi was deployed because I felt like I never got any one on one time with Grant. He was in kindergarten and I always had extra time with Wyatt by myself at home, but never had Grant just alone with me. It was a way for us to make special time together without leaving the house! To this day, Wyatt doesn't know we do this, which is think is what makes it all the more special for Grant!! I cherish that time with him so very very much! 

A Special Dinner

When I picked the boys up from school, Grant ran to me, whispered in my ear and said, "Wyatt and I are going to make a restaurant for you and dad for dinner tonight." I smiled so big but I had to remind him that Levi was out of town. So he said, "Well we will make dinner just for you!" He came right home and started preparing everything. I told him that Mimi had already made dinner for us that night, so he didn't actually need to cook anything. But he still made the effort to make up a menu, take our order, serve us our drinks, plate our food, and serve us dinner. It was so so sweet!!! He even made dinner for him and Wyatt so I didn't need to do that either!!

I just love that big kid so very very much!!!

Dates with Grant

Every other Saturday, Grant and I serve at church. We attend the 4:00 service and then serve at the 5:30 service. I teach in the 3rd-5th grade class and Grant helps in the nursery. Which he totally loves by the way!! He loves working with little babies and toddlers- its so cute! We usually get a chance to go out to dinner alone afterwards, since Levi and Wyatt aren't serving. It's been special for he and I to have those moments together and just talk about things and enjoy each others company. Alone time with Grant is a rarity, so I eat up every second I can get! Who wouldn't want some special time with this handsome fella?!?

Snuggling Thumb Sucker

Wyatt is 6 years old and loves to snuggle just as much now as he did when he was a newborn! He still fits so perfectly on the shoulder, or lap, or in my arms. His snuggles are just so precious, because he usually whispers sweet things like, "I just love you so much" or "You're the best mommy." I just can't get enough of this sweet little guy!

Mommy Moment

I got to Grant's school today a few minutes earlier than usual. Wyatt and I were sitting on the bench outside the art room. About 2 minutes later, their class came out of art! We saw Grant and Wyatt said "Hi Bubba!" His art teacher came over and said, "You must be Wyatt!" She smiled and said Grant just told her the sweetest sentiment in class a few minutes ago. He told her, "My brother will be in kindergarten next year. You will meet him next year. We have such a great relationship, probably better than any other brothers." She loved hearing that because normally she hears brothers/sisters bash their siblings and it just made my heart so happy to hear him talk so sweetly about his little brother! The best part is that they really do have a special relationship and I am forever thankful that God gave them to each other!

Lucky Mama

Another year I am so very very thankful to be this boys' mom!! It's the best job in the whole wide world and I can't imagine doing anything other than being their mom! Thankful God has chosen to entrust their little live into my hands! I will never take it for granted!

Mommy Moment

Power Rangers have become the new Star Wars. They have had a mild obsession this summer! Lots of our conversations and play has revolved around Power Rangers. So one evening, walking out of a store, I look at the clouds and what do I see- a cloud in the shape of a zord. Really, that was the first thing I saw!! And almost at the exact same time, the boys both shouted out, "That looks like the T-Rex zord!" Just goes to show we all have had Power Rangers on the brain!

See, it really did look like a zord!!!

Mommy Moments

Wyatt always wears a baseball hat when we play baseball. On this evening, as we were playing, Grant told Wyatt that real Royals players wear hats just like that. Wyatt said, "I think I know a Royals player who wears a hat like this...uh, Michael Jordan?"  Clearly, we have some learning about sports to do....

While shopping at Hobby Lobby for teacher gifts, we had to browse down the model aisle as usual. Wyatt blurts out, "Hey, its dad!"  Sure enough, the man on the box looks EXACTLY like him!!

Morning Snuggles

For as long as Wyatt has been out of his crib, going on three+ years now, he wakes up and comes to my bed and hops in. Most of the time, he's barely awake and stumbles under the covers. Some days he's been awake a while before he comes in and has some silly story or joke to tell me as he walks in my room. But what doesn't change is that he comes in bed, finds his little niche on my shoulder, sticks his lovey behind his head and his thumb in his mouth. Sometimes the snuggles last ten seconds as he proclaims, "I'm hungry," or "Can I watch a show now?" or Grant comes in and jumps on the bed and the calmness is gone. Some days they can last for 15-20 minutes. Obviously, most days I've been awake for quite a while, either laying in bed watching the news or taking a shower, but I always make sure to be laying in bed around 7:00, which is almost to the minute of when he wakes up, so we can start our morning off with snuggles. Because honestly, can you think of a better way to start your day??

 One morning, I got to snuggle BOTH boys!!!

I love these precious moments more than I can even describe. Wyatt has the most sensitive and nurturing little heart. He oftenntime strokes my cheek or pats my arm. And he has this way of "ooooohing," almost like a cat purring. I know one of these morning, it will just stop. He will head downstairs without even telling he's awake. I never know when this snuggle will be my last snuggle, so I'm soaking in every one I can!!!

Date Night with Grant

Grant and I had a very special opportunity to go in a fun date! Wyatt was spending the night at Mimi and PawPaw's, because the next day, I would be attending an all day field trip with Grant, so Wyatt was going to go to work with Mimi. So we took the chance to go do something special once we dropped him off. We headed to the movie theater and bought two tickets to Monkey Kingdom and a big bag of popcorn and candy!! We were so excited when the movie began and we were the ONLY two people in the theater!!! We were able to talk, laugh, be silly, and do whatever we pleased!!! The movie was adorable and was made just for Grant, I think! I mean, a movie about monkeys doing silly things?? That's pretty much Grant in a nutshell!! Special times with my special boy!!!

Generations of Toothless

I found a stack of old photos the other day and I was looking through them, only to notice one of them was from the day I lost BOTH my top teeth!! This just so happened to be a few days after Grant just lost both his top teeth!! I loved the comparison! I don't always see any resemblance between Grant and myself, nor Grant and Levi. Most people see resemblance between him and Levi, but I don't think I've ever heard anyone say he looks like me! Although in these pictures, I can see it!! My picture was probably taken almost exactly 27 years prior, as I'm pretty sure I lost both my teeth on my 7th birthday! 

The day Grant lost his last top tooth!

 The day I lost both my top teeth!

 Comparison picture!! 

Usually Grant has a much squintier-eyed smile like I do in my picture, but this one was a "smile for me" picture and he never does a true smile when I say that! But its still enough for me to see the resemblance between me and him!!! And I love that!!

Date with Wyatt

Wyatt and I find ourselves having quite a bit of time alone together. We have every Tuesday and Thursday morning, as well as MWF between 8:30-8:55 together. But we don't always spend our time doing extra special things. Sure, we play school games. We make a Target run, or a trip to the grocery store. Or I run places I need to go, because bringing just Wyatt with me is never a chore. But I'm trying to be more intentional in spending some of our time as special time. I know he's perfectly happy playing school games or doing art projects or running errands with me. But sometimes, saying "Yes" to something I normally say "No" to can mean alot! 

One morning after taking Grant to school, we were walking home and Wyatt asked what we are going to do today. I said, "How about we go on a date?" His response was, "YEEEEAAAAH!" So we hopped in the car and went to Einstein Bros. for bagels. He perfectly chose our table- the one with the pink "tulips" (even though they are roses!) because those are my favorite flowers. We gobbled up our bagels and chatted away the morning! 

Of course, afterwards he wanted to go to Toys R Us and pick out a new toy. Typical of our dates, and not something I'm trying to encourage. Now that the weather is nicer I'm hoping more of our dates can be outside activities. But its hard to argue with love languages!!  Luckily, the Imaginext toy he picked out was on clearance. He then helped me do a little bit of shopping, which he's always so encouraging about! I  mean, Grant would never in a million years be beneficial in helping me shop for a purse, but Wyatt was my personal shopper!! Love that kind little heart he has!!

Next school year, we will find ourselves with even more time together, and I'm so looking forward to all those special moments as well!!

(And let it be known that Grant and I also had a date on Monday when he was off school, but we both forgot to take a single picture!! We  went to Target where he (I) bought him and Wyatt a Bionicle. Then we went to the Treasure Shop where he picked out a Beanie Baby and an adorable Polar Bear Mom and Baby figurine as his souvenir for his treasure shelf. He really can be a sentimental sweetie given the right situation! I need to be even more intentional with my special time with him, since alone time with him is almost impossible. Once Levi returns, I see alot more dates in our future!!!)