reading machine

This has become a common sight in our house lately...

Cale absolutely loves to read.  Actually all three of the boys love reading.  BUT for today I want to remember this about Cale.  Up until a few months ago he absolutely despised reading.  In fact, he would tell everyone that he didn't know how to read (which was NOT true and we knew it because he has known all of his letter sounds for years...he learned them way back when Coby learned them and WE knew that Cale could read, but he sure didn't want anyone else to think he could.  Grrr.).

This all changed when he started first grade.  We really lucked out with Cale's teacher this year.  She has her masters in {something to do with} reading SO she really pushes reading on her class.  Within a week of being in her class she had Cale totally excited about  reading.  It was amazing how all of the sudden he had this strong desire to read and he just fell in love with it!  Now he is constantly walking around with a book in his hands.  Back before he "knew how to read" he would choose dinosaur books and dinosaur dictionaries to read.  Now he's moved onto learning about snakes and ocean creatures (I had NO idea there were so many types of snakes!).  But what really cracks me up are the books he chooses at the school library.  He goes as often as he can (sometimes more than once a day) and he usually brings home one or two biographies home to read to me.  I am learning about all kinds of people that I've never heard of. :)  I love it.  I wonder how many other first graders choose biographies?  He loves them and loves learning about people from the past.

Tonight when I went to have him turn his lights out, I caught him reading his first {big for him} chapter book.  I guess he raided Coby's bookshelf.  He is about a quarter of the way through a Geronimo Stilton book and he seems to be enjoying it.

I just love that Cale has finally decided that reading is fun.  Reading is one of my favorite hobbies and I am so glad that my boys enjoy it as much as I do.

{I just have to add that Cale told me a month or so ago that the more he reads, the more stamina he is building for reading. I LOVE it! :)}

well child check-ups

I took the boys to the doctor at the end of July for their well child check-ups.  I think they enjoyed the visit WAY too much....

Connor had four shots and apparently a lot of kids his age pass out afterward.  So, they wanted him to lie down for 10 minutes before we could be released.  

this lasted all of 30 seconds after the nurse left and then the boys were back to their shenanigans....

the three stooges...thankful that they're all smiles even on shot days (only for Connor)

Here are the stats for the year...

Connor was 74 pounds (two months later he now weighs 78 lbs) and 56 inches tall.  All signs pointed to the fact that he is in puberty.  SO not thrilled about that.

Coby was 66 pounds (however just two months later he is weighing in at 71 lbs) and 51.5 inches tall.

Cale was 40 pounds and 44 inches tall (and two months later he is still 40 pounds).

I am so thankful for these wild, healthy, energetic boys!

fall ball

Connor started fall ball several weeks ago.  Fall ball is my favorite time for sure.  The weather is great and it is more relaxed that the regular season which in nice.  Connor is having a great season...he is such a great little baseball player.  I love watching him play and he just seems so at ease when he is on the field.  I had to laugh at one of the parents the other night.  They were getting frustrated that their own son kept striking out.  Then Connor was up to bat.  The dad said, "Well at least Connor's up.  He'll get a hit...he always gets a hit.  We can always count on Connor.  He's predictable."  He just went on and on about what a great hitter Connor is and commented that he is also an excellent fielder.  He kept talking about what a great ball player Connor is.  I love hearing other people brag on my boy!  I'm so proud to be his mom...he is a GREAT kid.

I wish I had a picture of Connor from the fall season but I don't :(  However, I do have a picture from after Thursday night's game.  Connor got nailed in the shoulder while at bat.  It was a hard hit, but Connor was such a trooper.  I was so proud of him (I know he wanted to cry but there is NO way he'd do that in front of his friends).

this picture doesn't do it justice.  It was so red in person.  

Poor guy.  Hopefully next weeks games will be a bit less painful.

Labor Day

We went to mom and dad's house for Labor Day.  The boys had their last swim of the summer (except for Connor who likes to play in the game room instead...he doesn't have a love of swimming).  Everyone but Justin and Emily came over and we had a great time.

I took the pool pics before everyone arrived.  Once everyone was there the pool was full!

Cale LOVES snorkeling.

the boys had a big backyard ballgame

mom working hard in the kitchen

dad grilling the burgers and hot dogs

       

random things for me to remember about Cale

Cale loves to read dinosaur books and I thought it was just precious when I found him like this the one night in August...

Cale finally hit 40 pounds back in July.  In August I finally let him move out of his carseat and into a booster.  He was so excited....it was like a whole new world opened up for him (he could actually move around without being restrained by the five point harness, he could see out the front window and even touch the driver's seat with his hand...these were all big things to him). 

As Cale prayed one night he thanked God for sending his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.  After we all prayed, Cale said,
"Are you embarassed of my prayer? 
You've never heard the words come out of me?

Cuz I'm glad Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  

But I'm sad that he died.

Hopefully he died for our sins though."

Another night as Cale was walking naked thru the house he said, "This is how I roll."  
me:  How's that?  
Cale: Being naked is how I roll.

There was a commercial about periods one day.  Connor and I were kind of rolling our eyes and saying really!?!  Cale piped in and said, "We already know about periods."
Connor and I:  Oh?
Cale:  Yeah, periods go at the end of works (duh!). 

The Wii froze up on Coby one afternoon and Coby was a bit agitated.  Cale told Coby:  It happens to me a lot and I get angry because I have anger issues.  (haha)

I love this little boy so much!!!!

the fair

The boys were out of school yesterday so we decided to spend the afternoon at the State Fair.  It was Cale's first time to go (actually he's been before but he was still in my tummy!).  It has been 7 years since we've been so the boys had no memories of our last visit.  Why has it been so long?  Darren HATES the fair and I hate spending money on things like the fair.  BUT, this year the boys really wanted to go and I wanted them to have the experience of going.  I thought I'd do Darren a favor and just take the boys, but to my surprise he asked me to wait until he could go with us. We had a lot of fun and I'm so glad we went, but I think we were all ready to leave after several hours.  I took a few pics with my phone and they are all blurry, but I want to remember this day....it may be seven more years before we go again :)

Cale didn't like the smell in the children's building (where there are lots of animals to pet) 

He held his nose nearly the ENTIRE time we were in there!

Cale's only request was that he could get cotton candy.  He was a happy boy!

Jet

Soooo....I know I recently posted about being excited about the boys and I finally meeting Koda.  Well, unfortunately about a week and a half after coming home, he had to go.  He flunked out of training and we were really sad {although we saw it coming...he wasn't very driven and he didn't want to be obedient to Darren which is sorta part of the job :( }.  I won't lie, it didn't surprise anyone more than it did myself when I found myself in tears over his departure.  I was starting to grow attached which was very unexpected! It was hard to say goodbye :(

The good news is that his replacement, Jet, got to come home very quickly.  I was crazy about him in no time! {Anyone who knows my fear of dogs knows how huge this is.  I am TERRIFIED of German Shepherds yet I now have one that lives in my backyard.  PLUS, I have been to known to hang outside with him all by myself (as in without the protection of Darren!).  I love this dog so much and he has been very therapeutic for me.  I am so thankful that Darren pursued his dreams even though I fought him every step of the way....it took 9 years for him to get this position, but I firmly believe that God knew it would take me this long to be ready.  I feel that this is truly a full circle moment for me.  I can't explain it, but anyone who knows the background behind my German Shepherd fears should understand.  Having  both Koda and Jet here have proven to me that I CAN conquer my fears.  For the first time in my life I realize that having this "extra" dog living at our house is a wonderful addition to our lives, and not the curse I always thought it would be.  Funny how things work out...no one is laughing at this moment more than me.}

Jet is so good with the boys and they just adore him.  Jet loves to fetch the ball and they love throwing the ball so they are all happy!!!

tug of war...pretty sure Jet would win this game EVERY time

Ellie Mae has even come to terms with the fact that there's a new dog at the house.  She probably wouldn't miss him if he left however :)  Jet is very patient with Ellie, who at times tries to get aggressive toward him.  He's nothing but kind toward her and he seems to really care less when she gives him attitude (he's such a SMART BOY!).  It is funny to watch them play ball together though...Ellie ALWAYS lets Jet have the ball even when she gets there first.  She must know he could tear her apart if he wanted to (SMART GIRL!).  They're funny to watch.

I have to add that Jet rolled over for me today.  He got in the most vulnerable dog position ever and wanted me to rub his belly.  I was SO happy!!!  He likes me as much as I like him :)  Now I not only have Darren to worry about while at work, but Jet too.  I'll just have to pray for Jet's safety as well as Darren's now.  That's really all I can do, the rest in God's hands...exactly as it should be.