2018 - Week Thirty Photos

Such an exciting week - my sister had a baby! Aunt Heather is SUPER proud of sweet Toby baby. This was also the last full week of summer for the boys and they spent the week having lots of fun with Nana while mama was back at work.

Monday, July 23 - Squirrels

The boys were highly amused that squirrels have found the bird feeder on the back window. They spent 10 minutes talking to it and watching it eat all the birdseed.

Tuesday, July 24 - Laziness

Such active, fierce beagles...not! They are the laziest things I've ever seen...

Wednesday, July 25 - Baby Toby

He's here! Tobias Lance Heinen - 2:27pm and 9lbs, 6 oz and 22 inches long

Thursday, July 26 - Baby Faces

Getting this adorable photo while I was at work made me SO HAPPY!

Friday, July 27 - Mommy/Son Date

He loves to stack, organize, count, and create with the jelly packets and/or sugar packets at restaurants. We spent the morning of the last official Friday of summer break on a mommy/son date at Awful Waffle!

Saturday, July 28 - Baby Snuggles

 I drove down to AL on Saturday and FINALLY got my hands on this sweet boy! I held him, literally, all afternoon long. I love you, Toby!

Sunday, July 29 - Traffic

 When you're stuck in ATL traffic and remember you have a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts on the backseat that you were bringing home for your boys, you dive into that sugary goodness in order to keep your sanity as you deal with the ridiculousness of the traffic. UGH to the traffic, but YUM to the doughnuts!

We are back to routine this week as school goes back on Wednesday for me and the boys. It's not going to be an easy day as my biggest boy is going to Kindergarten and my littlest boy is going to Pre-K. My goal is no tears (from me or them). We shall see if I can accomplish that goal. This mama is so unbelievably nervous about starting this new chapter (school days) in our lives. 

2018 - Week Twenty-Nine Photos

What a week, my friends! We celebrated Ellis's 4th birthday last weekend (read about it here) and then the boys headed off to Perry to spend the week at Nana and Babu's house as I had work events all week, including a trip to sunny (and unbearably hot) Houston, TX. A recap of our week is below.

Monday, July 16 - Sweet Students

My Student Government Association students and I assisted with the freshman orientation event at EHS and two of my sweet students left me a note. :-)

Tuesday, July 17 - Decor

I spent some time Tuesday putting up a few decorative items in my laundry room...nothing fancy, just simple.

Wednesday, July 18 - Up, up, and away

Wheels up and Houston, TX bound for the AP Annual Conference!

Thursday, July 19 -Deliciousness

A little TX BBQ, baked beans, and succotash makes the  already amazing AP Annual Conference even better!

Friday, July 20 - Birthday Boy! 

When you're at Nana's house for your birthday, you get spoiled BIG TIME. While I absolutely hated the idea of being away from him on his birthday, there is no doubt in my mind that he had an amazing day. Nana and Babu made it SUPER special for my little (big #cuethetears) boy.
(Ellis's 4th Birthday blog post can be found here.)

Saturday, July 21 - Presentation Time

Our presentation went really well! We had a great group of participants who came up to us at the end of the presentation and asked us lots of questions about our training model and thanked us for the strategies we showed them. It was so much fun!

Sunday, July 22 - The Power Of...

I was cleaning up in RF and E's bedroom and this book set caught my eye. RA bought it before RF was born and RA reads them to the boys when they go to bed at night.I hope and pray that RA and I are teaching our two boys these qualities through our words and actions. RF loves the Francis Scott Key (Star Spangled Banner) story - the Power of Patriotism. :-)

This upcoming week is back to work for me! It's jam-packed with meetings, events, lesson planning, and lots of other preparations as we get ready to welcome the 2018 - 2019 school year! Thanks for checking in on our family!

Happy 4th Birthday, Ellis!

Today, he turns 4 and I'll begin with a little walk down memory lane...

Newborn. 
1. 
2.
3.

Ellis,

My sweet, silly, snugly little boy - you are a joy. An absolute joy.

You make me laugh, you make me smile, and you make my heart swell with pride when I see your kind spirit.

You give the sweetest kisses and the best 'squeeze hugs'. 

You love, love, love your brother (and you love, love, love to irritate him).

You are a daredevil and full of life.

You have gained so much independence this year - from fully potty-training, to being able to buckle your own harness on your car-seat, to fully verbalizing your emotions (of which you have lots...).

You will begin Pre-K in a few short weeks and your mama is so excited to see you learn and grow this year in big-kid school.

You are a treasure, a delight, and a perfect piece to our family puzzle.

Thank you for being you and thank you for bringing every possible ounce of love, excitement, and curiosity that wells up inside of you out into the open for all of us to see and enjoy.

Happiest of birthdays to you, sweet Ellie-Bellie.
Your mama, and daddy, and brother, and doggies love you a whole, whole, whole, whole bunch.
XOXO

Mama

A LEGO Party!

Later this week, my baby boy will turn 4.

FOUR, people.

How is my sweet summer baby already four?

And he starts Pre-K in two weeks. 

Mama.
Can't.
Handle.
It.

I always re-read their birth story blog posts on their birthday and this one seems like it was last week, not almost four years ago.

This past weekend, we celebrated our soon-to-be four year old with a LEGO party and while it was just us and Nana and Babu (everyone's end-of-summer calendars are crazy busy), he had a blast!

Traditional birthday mantle! Legos, Legos everywhere! 

 The decor for this party was SUPER EASY.

I had everything I needed for the mantle in my craft closet or in our toy bins!

Cost = $0.

RF built the house, plane, shark, and dinosaur! 

 And RF built the robot, pirate ship, whale, and rocket!

 So excited for his LEGO party. When he saw his finished birthday mantle he said, "It looks wonderful, mama!" 

#totallyworthit

 FOUR! 

Such a big kid! 

 Ellis was annoyed with picture time. He was ready for the cake and presents! 

 His brother made him laugh! 

 Such sweet brothers - most of the time ;-)

 Family photo! 

 I'm really lucky that he indulges my need to have themed t-shirts at birthday parties for the boys...

 Ready to chow down! 

 LEGO cake, pigs in the blanket, cheetos (soft and crunchy!), M and Ms, and meatballs...

 And skittles, cheese, strawberries, and grapes - all foods that Ellis Hawk LOVES! 

 When I asked him what he wanted he said, "Um - all of it!"

It's your birthday party, little man, eat as much as you want! 

 Cake and kool-aid face --- ready for presents! 

 When you can't find wrapping paper that you like, you DIY it...

 We follow the four present rule - want, wear, need, and read.

His need --- new tennis shoes!

 Tearing open his presents with gusto! 

 His read --- LEGO look and find book! 

 He could not have been happier opening his gifts...

 His wear --- new robot sleep shirt and a new tshirt for Pre-K! 

 His want --- more LEGOS! 

 Nana and Babu brought him a tee-ball set! 

 A GIANT card and some birthday cash from a family friend...

 Gus guarding the food table in case any crumbs drop...

 After presents, the boys wanted to play tee-ball, so outside we went! 

Ellis was up to bat first! 

 Then, RF!

Butterflies were everywhere! 

 While the boys played, I checked on the tomatoes...

 And the pumpkins! 

 And admired more butterflies!

 Big, purple hydrangea bloom! 

 Back inside - it was HOT - to play LEGOS! 

 And the dogs took their post-birthday party nap! 

We had so much fun celebrating our little (big) boy! 

Happy Birthday, Ellis Hawk! You are so, so, so, so special!