Christmas 2016

It was a wonderful Christmas at the Beavers house!

We started our celebrations around Thanksgiving with the whole Beavers crew (Uncle Kenneth, Aunt Kristen and Bristol were here from Indiana). It was so wonderful to see all of the cousins together - they had the best time!

Next on our Christmas to-do was our annual visit with Santa Claus at the Pease's house.  Benjamin climbed right up into his lap without hesitation and told him he wanted a Buzz Lightyear.  Our visit also happened to be on Benjamin's birthday, so he got an extra candy cane :)  Sissy was a little less excited about the Big Guy, but after some thought and glances from the kitchen, she decided that she would sit in his lap if her cousins and her brother did, too. She happily told him about all of the Alena stuff she would like for Christmas!

We had lots of theater experiences with the kids this Christmas, as well.  We enjoyed Rudolph with Aunt Rachelle, Uncle Keith, Avery, Ady and the Karras family, and also took both kids to see The Nutcracker with Papa and VieVie.  They loved both!

On the 23rd, we went to Papa and VieVie's house to bake and decorate cookies for Santa. Vie got the kids adorable Christmas aprons and they had so much fun cutting the dough and decorating (and eating) the baked cookies. It was around this time that our fun was stumped just a bit because we discovered lice on the kids...not a fun way to go into Christmas, but after treating them both, doing 1000 loads of laundry and vacuuming everything I could possibly vacuum, we knocked it out.  Ick!  I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

We enjoyed a church service on Christmas Eve and then joined our Beavers family at Mimi & Grandbuddy's for our annual supper and Christmas celebration.  The kids had a blast, as always, and opened more presents than I could count. 

Santa came to visit, of course, and the kids were thrilled.  They were also excited to open Mama & Daddy's big gift to them because they found out that we're GOING TO DISNEY!  I don't know who's more excited - them, or Derek and me!  We headed to Winston-Salem that afternoon and had dinner with the Suttons at Uncle Ben and Aunt Sally's house. 

To finish it all up, we traveled home to Apex and went to see Moana, followed by dinner out - just our little family of four.  It was a fantastic holiday season full of good food, fun experiences, and so much special family time.  

And she loses another!

The very next day - Christmas Day - Madeline was having dinner at Aunt Sally & Uncle Ben's house and realized that her other bottom tooth was ready to come out.   So out it came, and under the pillow at our hotel it went.  Papa shared a silver dollar with Madeline from 1974 to celebrate.

The Tooth Fairy found us all the way in Winston-Salem, and left Madeline $5 more...this time in bills.  Lucky gal!

Madeline loses a tooth!

Right here on Christmas Eve, Madeline lost her very first tooth.  My first born will get double the love tonight with visits from Santa AND the Tooth Fairy. Growing up so fast!

.....And in the morning, she reached under her pillow to discover $5...in GOLD COINS!

Celebrating Benjamin's birthday

We celebrated Benjamin's 3rd birthday with family on his actual birthday this year - December 10th.  We had barbecue and all the sides and a delicious chocolate dump truck cake.  Benjamin enjoyed playing with his cousins and especially enjoyed the cake :)

It was a wonderful night of celebration, food, and family.

For Benjamin on his 3rd birthday

My baby boy,

This past year with you has been an adventure. 

You’re so strong willed, curious, and smart.  Your determination is admirable. If there is an obstacle, you figure out how to maneuver it on your own – whether it’s climbing or crawling, you’re going to find a way!  You love a good challenge…unless it’s a parent challenging your decision, and then you’re quick to let us know that that’s not the response you were looking for :)  This determination and strong will will take you far in life, precious one. 

You’re ALL BOY.  You climb, you play rough and tough, you leap off of things (much to my dismay), you hate to have your hair brushed, and you love to run around naked.  We have our hands full, and adore every single minute. 

You’re hilarious, Benjamin.  The things you say are funny, yes, but it’s your expressions and responses to those around you that leave us in stitches. You’re quite the ham and you rarely meet a stranger. You snow everyone you know with a smile, a cute glance, or a kiss blown in their direction. Such a charmer.

You’re kind. You give the best hugs and love and provide comfort and a quiet gentleness when the mood is somber.  I always look for my baby boy to offer a bright light on a gloomy day.

I am so lucky to be your mom.  I love life with you in it.  I can’t wait to see what kind of adventure year 3 has in store for us.

Happy birthday, sweet angel.

Love,

Mama

Fall!

We have had a fun, busy fall so far.  We've enjoyed trips to Pullen Park & Phillips Farm now that the weather is getting cooler, and Miss Madeline has discovered her love for cheerleading.  We signed her up for a cheer clinic at Holly Springs High School with Erin Ahearn, and she fell in love with it.  She is now requesting lessons in gymnastics.

Madeline is loving school this year!  She has literally cried on a Saturday because school was closed, and doesn't say goodbye to us in carpool - she dashes out of the car and into school to start her day!  She has made some sweet little friends and is learning how to spell words based on their sound.  We are so impressed with how quickly she is picking up on what she is learning in school!  She's still enjoying her ballet lessons on Tuesdays and has a ton of fun on Wednesdays and Fridays in after school with the Y.  Our baby is growing up so fast.  She's a big girl now - and so sassy.  Madeline is also officially done with pull-ups at night (and has been - I'm so late to the blog), and sits in a booster seat in the car with the seatbelt.

What Madeline is into these days:

• Full House tv show 
• Quesadillas 
• Sleeping Beauty (current favorite movie/book/princess)
• High heels & dressing up
• Lipstick
• Chewing gum
• Jewelry 

Benjamin is also really enjoying his preschool class.  He is learning a lot of new songs, including "Jesus Loves Me."  Our favorite part is instead of saying "for the Bible tells me so," he sings, "for the Michael tells me so."  He is such a ham and has the funniest little personality…and he is quite the talker/singer/dancer these days!  Our little man is potty trained and is in a toddler bed instead of a crib.  Unfortunately, our good sleeping boy has become a not-so-good sleeping boy.  He insists on us lying down with him at bedtime and more times than not he's in our bed at some point in the night.  I blame it on age and to tell the truth, it doesn't hurt my feelings to feel a snuggle in the middle of the night!

What Benjamin is into these days:

• Blaze and Paw Patrol
• Applesauce
• Trains
• Airplanes
• Cars
• His favorite books are "The Fish Book" and "Octopuses Garden"

Benjamin goes to preschool!

Good gracious, how much change and growing up can this mama take at one time?!

Sweet Benjamin started preschool today. He is in the Tuesday/Thursday 2's Flamingos class at Apex United Methodist Preschool.  Benjamin's teachers are Mrs. Karen and Mrs. Sue, who are fantastic.  There are 9 other children in the Flamingos class, including two friends we already know (Caleb Chilton and Brenner Mickey). Benjamin told me 100 times this morning that he wanted to go to school, got right out of the car in carpool and said "bye mommy."  He had a GREAT day (no potty accidents...yes, we started training right before school), experienced music class, brought snack for his class, and enjoyed Chick-Fil-A with Vie and Papa afterwards. He's already asking to go back!  What a great year it will be for our #1 boy.  

Madeline goes to Kindergarten

And just like that, our baby girl is in kindergarten.  Madeline began her journey in school on August 29 with staggered entry at Scotts Ridge Elementary. She enjoyed meeting the kindergarten teachers and new friends, as well as playing with neighborhood, church and preschool friends.  Her favorite activities from staggered entry were eating in the cafeteria, seeing the art room, and the gym (it has a big stage!). After a successful first day, we took her to Kabuki (her request) for dinner.  

On September 6, Madeline officially started full time at Scotts Ridge in Mrs. Bridges' class.  She sits at a double desk with a sweet new friend, Julianne, and said school was "the best" and "awesome!"   We are beyond thrilled that her first experience with big school has been so special and fun.  Our hope is that the rest of the year is just as magical.  Such a bittersweet time for her mama and daddy. It's hard to let go of "our baby" and send her out into the world, but we relish in the joy that she is so ready and eager to do so.  We're so proud!

This sweet little letter was read on the radio as she began school and it captured my feelings to a tee:

Dear World: I bequeath to you today one little girl ... in a crispy dress ... with two blue eyes ... and a happy laugh that ripples all day long and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I trust you'll treat her well. She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning ... and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine. Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Good Bye"... and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse. Now she'll learn to stand in line ... and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears to the sounds of school-bells ... and deadlines ... and she'll learn to giggle ... and gossip ... and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry. No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in a sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn to kiss lilac blossoms in the morning dew.  No, now she'll worry about important things. Like grades ... and which dress to wear ... and who's best friend is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes. For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and father and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ... which is only right. But, no longer will I be the smartest man in the whole world.  Today when that school bell rings for the first time ... she'll learn what it means to be a member of a group. With all it's privileges. And it's disadvantages too. She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud. Or kiss dogs. Or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms. Or even watch ants scurry across cracks in the summer sidewalk. Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to become a woman. So, World. I bequeath to you today one little girl ... in a crispy dress ... with two blue eyes and a happy laugh that ripples all day long ... and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I trust you'll treat her well.

Sweet Summer Time

What a fun few months its been!  We kicked off our summer vacations with a trip to Myrtle Beach with the Beavers crew. The cousins LOVED playing together on the beach and at the water park, and we tried Benjamin in a "big" bed for the first time.  This was successful...sort of.  But hey, you have to start somewhere!  Great, fun time with this fabulous family!

And, we just got back from our annual trip to DeBordieu with Vie and Papa.  I was able to go with the kids for the whole week this year, with Derek joining us on Tuesday.  We were so relaxed, as usual, with lots of home cooking and beach/pool time.  We love that little colony!

While we've been enjoying all of this vacation time, we've enjoyed some BIG kiddo milestones, too.  Though Benjamin has been entertaining "pee-pee-ing" in the potty, he pooped in the potty for the first time at DeBordieu.  AND, Madeline is officially swimming like a fish.  She's so brave and has come so far in such a little bit of time.  

It has been the best summer so far with our little blessings.  This time with them just gets sweeter and sweeter.