Spring Break, here we come!

It's just about the time of year where I get really worn out at work. The drill and kill time of TAKS testing looming, body changes of 5th graders and a big case of "I don't wanna" send me looking for the nearest crazy house. But then someone hears my plea, and it's SPRING BREAK! Talk about an answer to a prayer. Don't get me wrong, I love my students and love feeling a sense of purpose with my job, but everyone needs a break, right?

Well it's only three days in and we're not wasting a second of our Spring Break. First of all for those of you not in Texas, we're having the most incredible weather here. It's absolutely perfect after such a "cold" winter...well, at least for us, that is! Saturday we had a much needed garage sale. I must say it was the funnest garage sale we've ever had. Usually those things are just a beat down. My parents came over and my dad took Nolan for a bike ride, Campbell just played and played outside and we made some pretty good money...can't beat that! Next we went to Nolan's soccer game and he played the best he's ever played. I only had to tell him "WRONG WAY!" once!

On Sunday after church and naps for the boys we went to the mall to get some "eyes" (sunglasses) for Campbell. We happened to see the Easter Bunny. Nolan loved him...wow has he come a long way in a couple of years. He used to be terrified of him. Campbell, on the other hand, has traded places and is not a fan. That's the bad thing about the Easter Bunny and Santa...just as one of your kids gets over their fear, the next one is terrified of them!

Today we went to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. It's been closed for a long time for remodeling and it was well worth it because it is incredible. The boys loved it and every time we left a room, Campbell would throw a fit a scream, "NO!" because he wanted to stay. We went ahead a bought memberships and I'm so glad we did. I really think we're going to get really good use out of it, especially this summer.

Nolan playing with the trains

Our little Bob the Builder

Balancing act...notice the tongue helping him get his balance

playing in the water play outside

seriously, could he be any cuter?

We ran into some friends at the museum and love Campbell's face in this one

Ok so this isn't the best picture of Nolan but laughed out loud when I saw the kid in the background once I downloaded the pictures...BOYS!

Who knew water could be so fun?

Nolan on the huge tinker toy

You know it was a good time when this is what he looks like in the car

Soccer star

Well it's soccer season again. We were going to skip it this spring but when we drove past the soccer field Nolan said, "There's my soccer field!" Oops...we had already missed the deadline. Luckily my neighbor, Courtney, called and said they needed another team member for her son's team. So we're playing in a different league this time, but Nolan really loves that his buddy, Hank, is there to play with him.

We haven't played at all since our last season ended so I was nervous about it but he just acted like he hadn't missed a beat! He still can only kick straight so we better hope one of these days that the goal is actually straight ahead. He scored a goal last year. Who cares if it was for the other team! Usually at least 3 times a game I'm shouting, "WRONG WAY!!!" So we're not exactly David Beckham yet, but he's having a blast doing it! When we were done last week, I told him how great he played and he responded, "I run really fast." I think he thinks that's all it is...running. After that he said, "Mommy, wasn't that a fun adventure? An adventure is something exciting and I was EXCITED!" For someone that hates soccer, I'm really enjoying watching it with Nolan. I guess that's what happens, things become a lot more interesting when it involves your children.

got his game face on

Going straight!
Good game!

Wants to be just like his big brother. He actually has some really good skills!

Love this picture. "Which way is our goal guys?" Even then it's hard to keep straight!

Our soccer star!

I've got Spirit, yes I do!

This week was Dr. Seuss's birthday week. So at Nolan's school they've been reading Dr. Seuss books all week. His teacher told me that they're having crazy day on Friday to honor Dr. Seuss and his crazy characters. Well that's almost the same to me as spirit day and let me tell you I'm a professional when it comes to spirit days. And I knew that I had met my soulmate when Justin told me he was the same way in high school when it came to spirit days. Don't believe me? Here is the proof. This is my best friend, Angi, and me on clash day in 6th grade. Told you, I was no amateur when it came to spirit days. We started young...

Here we are again 6 years later on 70s day my senior year

Country Day my senior year

And this next one I can't remember if it was 80s day or Clash Day again. Why the belt around the forehead you ask? Well, because of Cherie from Punky Brewster, of course!

For those of you who don't remember her (how could you not...I loved that show!)

So it was a family event to get Nolan "crazy" for Crazy Day at school. His outfit consisted of a Wolverine costume, Lightning McQueen socks, two different pairs of shoes. We almost got him to wear a chicken hat but at the last minute he decided he wanted to wear a straw cowboy hat. Justin drops the boys off at school since I have to be at work at the crack of dawn. Justin emailed me and asked if I was sure that it was today because when he walked Nolan in no one else was even dressed up! He was the ONLY one. All the kids went crazy but Justin said he wasn't sure that Nolan liked all that attention. Our poor kids are doomed when it comes to spirit days. CPS may be called.

Birthday Fiesta

We celebrated my mom's birthday a couple of weeks ago at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. Nolan gets so excited about birthday parties and we had our big snow storm on the my mom's actual birthday and had to reschedule it to the next day. I didn't even mention it to Nolan but when we were driving home during the snow storm he said, "It's not 'posed' to snow on birthday parties." It was so cute that he knew all that snow meant no partying. Can you see why? He knows party = cake. We had a lot of fun and all took turns wearing the sombrero. How can you not have fun with a sombrero? You know that your children have big heads when the adult size sombrero fits their head. It's all those brains up there I say.

My niece Madison and Nolan puckering up

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Baby Einstein

When you have two boys that are close in age and look so much alike it's so hard not to compare them to one another. I was afraid poor Campbell would get the short end of the stick when it came to the brain department, but he's holding his own. Nolan was really slow when it came to anything physcial like crawling and walking but verbally he was talking in complete sentences well before 2. So when Campbell turned 18 months and knew words but not a ton like his brother, I couldn't help but compare.

Well, his vocabulary has exploded in the past month. It's mindblowing how quickly he's learning more and more words each day. I guess it's the educator nerd inside of me that's so intrigued by it. He loves the book Brown Bear and can point out each animal and make the animal sound. It's so cute, when I ask him what the teacher says he'll say, "Shhh" and put his finger to his mouth. He already has us figured out. But what impressed me the most is that he knows numbers! Not so much the exact order that they go in, but for 19 months I consider him a smarty pants.

Nolan's new teacher has really been working with him and he read his first book! He was so proud of himself that he keeps bringing his book back and forth to school. It's crazy to think he doesn't start kindergarten for another year and a half.

I know I sound like one of those annoying parents that has a "my child is an honor student" bumper sticker. It's just so exciting to see their little brains working and being sponges. I'm really so proud of them.

Chuck E Cheese PLEASE!

Can you believe that I've somehow managed to not take my boys to Chuck E Cheese ever in their lives? I didn't do it on purpose but it's not exactly the first thing that pops in our minds when we want to eat out. I don't know how but when we drive by one, Nolan knows what it is and says, "There is Chuck E Cheese!" Like I said, we've never been to one nor really talked about one. Maybe it's innate and every child knows about this place?

Last weekend, my sister asked if we wanted to go with her and two of my nieces and I decided, "Sure, why not?" I know...I'm crazy. You see, I'm overly paranoid about letting my children out of my sight for fear of them being hurt. Maybe it comes from my paralyzing fear as a child of being kidnapped. (I still get a little freaked when I see white kidnapper vans without windows.) So swimming pools and parking lots can be pretty stressful at times. I know that they have the child "check out" system but even then, I'm a control freak.

But I must say we actually had fun! Bringing my nieces along was the smartest move because they helped chase the boys. Campbell had his favorite ride and threw the biggest tantrum when I took him out to go eat. I can only imagine when he gets older and we take him to Six Flags the meltdown we might have when it's time to go home. So now that the cats out of the bag when it comes to Chuck E Cheese, I wonder how long it will be before Nolan requests it daily.

Two clues your kid needs a haircut

#1 He looks like this when he wakes up
#2 Your 14-year-old niece tells you, "Hey nice mullet!" when she sees your son.

Ahhh...much better! Pardon the toilet shot. I chased him around the house just to get this one! Doesn't he look like a big boy?
It was hard to say goodbye to these sweet curls though...