Letters and sounds

Dear Spencer,

Today, you simply amazed us all. Even as I write this, I can't help but think back to this morning and wanting to squeeze your little cheeks and kiss your sweet face all over!

See, you still don't say much...Just shy of 3 years, we are lucky to understand a small handful of words. Communication has been frustrating...for both of us. I am always wondering if we are doing enough...teaching enough...and it's hard to know because there isn't a lot of verbal feedback.

But today...oh today...you were in love with Jenna's school project--the coconut tree with the alphabet on it. You hauled it all over the house. You hugged it. And you came over to me babbling and pointing at letters and such.

....and then I heard it. L. Clear as day. You said L.

But the most amazing thing, was that you were actually POINTING to L.

I thought maybe it was a fluke, so I asked another letter. Low and behold, you pointed correctly, and sounded it out. This continued, R, S, T, D, A...on and on. Daddy and I were gasping with each letter...You knew them...you KNOW the alphabet!

We were shocked! When did this happen? Have you known for a while and we just didn't realize?

Today, Mr. Spencer...you made me so proud. So happy. Elated. Thrilled.

You are learning...you're getting it...and someday, ONE DAY, you will talk and get it all out the way you just can't (or won't) right now. Today proved that.

Love you little my little alphabet man!

Love mom

Projects

Dear Jenna,

Today we worked on a project you have to complete for school tomorrow. It was a report on an author, and you chose Bill Martin, and the book Chicka, Chicka Boom Boom. Best part was, you needed a visual aid to go with it.

I really struggle with doing so much homework with you...I have to admit that. But I love when you have projects come up...it gets my brain working and I love to think of all the creative things we get to make together.

I loved seeing my vision with your touches...we made a coconut tree with a wrapping paper tube and pasted letters from magazines all up and down the trunk...and then we cut slits in the top of the tube and inserted tree leaves, each with a fact about Bill Martin.

I have to say it was pretty cute...and watching your excitement about it made me feel truly satisfied.

Love, mom

My little fashion models

Kids,

Today before church, you each wanted to model your Sunday best before church. Dad did a pep talk on how to do the runway walk, complete with wink and click at the end...very funny. :)

You each looked SO cute, all dressed up.

It amazes me how much you are growing...and how FAST. Just watching you each strut your stuff made me smile...I loved it!

Love, mom

Activities...

Dear Jenna and Kaden,

Today you had a busy day...a primary activity day AND two birthday parties to attend...

We dropped you both off...on your own...at your own activities...

We spent hours apart while you were with friends, celebrating, eating cake and having fun.

But today, little ones, it hit me.

You are growing up. You no longer need me to linger at your parties and activities the whole time. You can stand your ground and be okay by yourselves...

While there is a sense of sadness in this, knowing you are no longer so little, there is also a sense of pride. I am proud of you both...of who you are. I am proud you are growing and developing and really becoming your own individual people.

It is something truly amazing to me.

I love you both...

love mom

Excitement

Dear Kaden,

Today we went to a little birthday party for your friend. You played and had a great time with your little guy friends...

...and then it came time to open presents.

I don't think I will ever forget your face as you watched your friend open his gifts. You stood up, your jaw dropped to the ground, you clasped your hands over your mouth, and your eyes lit up! YOU WERE SO EXCITED.

It was the funniest, most wonderful thing to watch...

You have such a personality...and I love it!

Love mom

Sometimes, it's just love

Sometimes I have days, where at the end of the day, through the good and bad, it comes down to just loving you.

Today that's what I want you to know. That I love you. All of you. Lots.

I feel truly blessed you are in my life.

Love, mom

A cheerful disposition

Dear Kaden,

Today we went on a little trip to a town about an hour away, so I could pick up something I needed. You slept so nicely on the drive down...and when you woke up, you were happy and ready to go.

We ran my errand and then I took you and Spencer to lunch with me. After eating, we went to the playplace. You and Spencer both played so nicely. I was feeling like it was time to go, and without saying anything to you, you came right over to me and said you were ready, got your shoes on and snuggled up to me. There were some other moms there, who were just in awe at how good you were. My heart just swelled! I was so proud of you...

I know every time isn't this way...trust me....but this one time just made my day...

love you.

mom

Like a Young lady...

Dear Jenna,

You are such a funny little girl. One thing I love is your longing to speak like an adult. It makes for some pretty funny sounding conversations...

Today, Kaden was screaming...not a bad scream, but a high pitched scream...he was trying to get everyone to join in.

You started to get in on the fun, but then stopped abruptly and turned to him and said, "Kaden, you are screaming like a young lady!"

It made me laugh, really hard. :)

Love you silly girl.

mom

Gardeners

Kids,

Today, even though there was a chill in the air, you insisted on going to out water the sprouting flowers. I peeked out the window at one point to see you all digging...not taking the flowers out of the ground, but digging around them, looking so productive.

You stayed out there for a good, long while.

When I went out to talk to you about it, you all told me everything there was to know about your plants. :) It was very cute...

Love you, my little gardeners.

MOM

Eyes wide shut. :)

Spencer,

You can be such a happy little guy...and I absolutely love your cheerful squeals and funny looks.

But the one that takes the cake is your smile.

You love, LOVE when I take your picture. Without any prompting you pull this face...the one with the eyes tightly shut and the smile ear to ear.

And I snap a shot...which is immediately followed by you running up to me yelling "SEE, SEE".

I love it. And I love you...my little smiler.

mom

Beautiful

Dear Kaden,

Today I put on a cheap clearance maternity shirt I got the other day. It was a print I would not normally choose, but due to lack of funds and the frustration I have encountered shopping, I snatched every clearance shirt I could find in my size.

I was trying not to care what anyone thought of this shirt...and I think I had myself convinced that it didn't matter.

But as you saw me come down the stairs, you looked at me in awe and said, "mom, your shirt is SO beautiful."

I smiled and said, "you think it is?"

You came up close and admired it...and responded once again, "oh yes, mom...it is SO beautiful."

I realized then that it DID matter what people thought. Well, really it mattered what YOU thought. You thought it was beautiful. And you saying that very thing, made my feel so good that even if everyone else in the whole world hated it, I would wear it a million times over just because I know how much you love this shirt.

You made my day little man...you made me feel like a princess...and you made this $5 shirt feel like a million bucks.

Love, mom

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...

Kids,

Today was not a good day. Not for you. Not for me.

There is much of me that wanted to blame my terrible attitude on you guys...for all the wrongdoings and the fighting and the stress you caused. But after thinking about it for a while, I just couldn't. I couldn't blame you guys for living life...and having a bump in the road...the very same way I was today.

But even then, it didn't make things easier. At the end of the day, I was done...I needed a break.

I found myself running an errand, and wandering through Walmart picking up a few things. Somehow, I ended up walking through the toy aisle. I could just see your faces so clearly in my mind, smiling and so happy...I could picture what would make you THRILLED to play with...and picture you giggling about this and that. It made me miss you...the very people I was wanting so desperately to escape from for a few minutes.

I guess the moral of my story today is that when it is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder, it is true.

This I know.

I love you all. Even on the really bad days.

Love, mom

Shamrocks

Dear Kids,

Today is St. Patricks Day. In my efforts to get everyone out the door on time and to our respective places, we didn't get to celebrate a whole lot in the morning. But I made sure each of you had a 4 leaf clover drawn in green on your hands.

You were each so proud.

And nobody got pinched. :)

It was just a good day with you. The boys and I spent time at the park, and Jenna had a good day at school...and you all played the afternoon away in the backyard.

I just love these peaceful times...not PERFECT...but peaceful...

Love mom

After school...

Dear Jenna,

Lately, I have been trying to turn off the radio, avoid the cell phone, and focus my ears on you and the boys on our 20 minute ride home from school.

I have to say that they have become the most cherished 20 minutes of my day...

You chatter about everything that happened, about what's important to you, about silly jokes and people you care about. And the boys get involved too.

I love being a part of your day like that.

Love, mom

Monday night is family night...

Dear kids,

You have become very well accustomed to Monday night being our family night.

I know I have written about this before, but I just love your enthusiasm and love for our time together and our lessons we have. You encourage me to keep on going...to not give up...because even if I wanted to, I don't think you would let me.

I love Mondays...

Love mom