Let's try this again!

It seems I'm not an excellent blogger...but I'm gonna keep trying!  Now that the boys are back in school, maybe I will have a little more free time to do so.  Last week  I sent a 3rd grader and 1st grader to school.  I already miss having them home but am loving my time with Emi.  Unfortunately she is also starting Montessori preschool next week so I will be alone 3 mornings a week for the first time in...I don't know how long!  So, keep checking on me because there are some big changes in store for this stay at home mama!

Anyway...here are some of our first day of school photos for you to enjoy:  The first is a picture of our "Back to School Breakfast".  And yes, I woke up very early to make it (I am not a morning person)!  The second is something i found on pinterest and I just loved it!  The third and fourth are pictures of my boys that are growing up way too fast!

-Leslie

I'm back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, so since it's been like 2 months since I last posted, I just had to tell you why!  My name is Leslie and I'm a Pinterest-a-holic!  That's right folks, I am addicted to Pinterest!  First of all, if you don't know what it is, get off this page and check it out!  (www.pinterest.com)  It is AWESOME!  And, because it is so awesome, I think it is time I re-do my living room/dining room!!

Some may say I'm what you call a tight wad...I say, I'm just practical!  I don't buy something I already have if it still works!  What that means, is I have all sorts of furniture from the last 14 years of marriage that doesn't really match.  But, that is all about to change!  Yay!

I have filled my pinterest bulletin boards with things that are my style and that i love.  Then, I showed my brilliant husband, and he informed me that he can turn my existing furniture into the things I love.  So stay tuned folks, its about to get good!!
Happy Pinning!
-Les

A Super Hero Halloween!

So for those of you reading this who don't know a lot about my kids...I am the mom of a real life super-hero!  Jackson is 6 now and has been a super hero since he was about 2 1/2.  He's usually Batman but has also been known to make appearances as buzz lightyear, iron-man, the hulk, or captain america (just to name a few!)!  As you can probably imagine, Halloween is his favorite holiday!  This year my husband decorated both the outside and inside of our house for Jackson's special day.  We also had a party with friends (complete with a haunted house!)  I was pretty impressed and can't wait for next year!
-Leslie aka (A Super Hero's Mom!)

Emily as Minnie Mouse

Cole as Troy Polamalu

Jackson AKA "Captain America"

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Today would have been my Grandma Elda's 74th Birthday!  She's been gone for 5 years now but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her and miss her!

I was lucky enough to grow up right next door to my Grandpa and Grandma!  When you're young this is a real bonus especially when your brother or parents are driving you crazy! :)  I could be at her front step in about 30 seconds!

We spent time on bike rides, taking walks to the church and back, and I spent hours sitting on her kitchen counter watching her stir up cookies, pies, and rolls.  We also loved watching game shows!  The Price is Right, Family Feud, and Wheel of Fortune were our favorites.  I dare say, no one could solve a puzzle faster than Grandma!

She was so thoughtful too!  She would send a card to let you know she was thinking about you or to tell you she was happy that your lost dog returned! (I got that card when I was 27...and it had a 2 dollar bill in it!)

As I got older, she became my first call...you know the person you call first when your having a bad day, when you get engaged, buy your first car, or find out you are going to be a mom!  She was my best friend!

I know she is always with me...shaking her finger when I don't clean up my dishes right away, smiling when the kids are naughty, and beaming with pride when they do good!

Happy Birthday Grandma!  I love you, miss you, and can't wait to see you again someday!

-Leslie

Emily's First Haircut!

Big day today!  Emily's first haircut!  She was so excited to go to the "Beauty Yop"!  I have to admit, it was just as much fun for me!  I love having someone to go get my haircut with!
-Leslie

Before:

 After:

What a Beauty!

A Lesson learned from an 8 year old!

My son Cole is very special!  Wise beyond his years is a good way to describe him!  Since the time he was born, he was ahead of the game.  He was just a few minutes old when I spoke to him for the first time and he opened his eyes and looked at me as if he really knew what I was saying.  He slept through the night when he was two weeks old and by the time he was two he could recite the alphabet, name letters by name, count to 15, etc.

He is sensitive too!  The first time he fell off the bed (I think he was around 18 months), i raced to pick him up to make sure he was okay...I was crying harder than he was and he started to rub my back to comfort me!  He was very close to my Grandma Elda who died when he was almost 3.  After she passed away, he would let me know that everything was okay because Grandma Elda would throw him fruit roll-ups down from heaven!

He started Montessori Preschool when he was 4 and cried every time I dropped him off but loved school!  He could read and put together maps of the world by the time he was 5 and actually became upset when he thought he had read all the books the school had!

When it was time to start Kindergarten he didn't know if he could handle being away from me all day...especially since all they did was play!  He really wished they would actually do hard work!  LOL!  But one thing was for sure he was everyone's friend!  He was invited to several birthday parties and received love notes in his backpack from the girls every week!  When we asked who his friends at school were, he would say he couldn't think of them all because there were 24 friends in his class! (That was the total number of kids in his class!)  He loves everyone and can play with his 2 year old sister or stay with my grandpa and have adult conversations and play golf!

He is Special!

So, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when I went to eat lunch with him at school and I met a new friend!  His name is Ashton and when I met him on the playground he said with a sweet smile, "I'm Ashton and I'm from Broken Bow...Cole is my friend!".  And then he hugged Cole's shoulder.  It's always a big dilemma for Cole when we eat with him at school because they get to pick two friends to sit with us and we get to sit at a special table outside of the lunchroom.  Cole always has trouble picking only two friends...especially when they are all saying, "Cole, Pick me, Pick me!".  It just so happened that two of his other friends had parents eating with them as well so Cole was happy that he could actually eat with 8 other friends!

I'll never forget the look on Ashton's face when Cole picked him to eat with us!  He was surprised, excited, and confused all at the same time!  He was so excited to get picked but since he was new, he had never been picked before and he had no idea what it meant!  We filed through the lunch line, got our tacos, and headed out to the table.  Where was Ashton?  Cole said, I'll go find him!  He didn't know where to go!  So when we all sat down to eat...3 moms...9 kids...the conversation started!  Then someone interrupted and said, "Who picked him? (Pointing at the new kid)  My heart dropped and Ashton's face dropped when Cole proudly replied, "I DID!".

That's my Cole!  I'm so proud to be his Mom and I can't wait to see the man he turns into!  I hope we all learn this lesson...there's always a new kid...at school, at work, at church...Everybody's a friend...Everybody's special!

-Leslie

Soccer Goals, Football Games, Parties, Presents, Candles, Cake, and Remembering!

As always, my little Super Heroes kept me extremely busy this weekend!  Friday evening, the boys went to the Milford Football Game with "Big D" (that's what they call my dad!).  They were so excited!  Cole was really into the game but Jackson was into how many friends he could spot in the stands!

Saturday morning we woke up and got ready for Jackson's first soccer game.  He was so excited...he's been looking forward to soccer since last spring!  He informed me that it was a pretty big deal since, "He was the first in our family to play soccer!". :)  Let's just say if you haven't ever watched 5 and 6 year old kids play soccer, you really need to!  I think I smiled more during the game than I ever have before!  During the game, I witnessed  a little boy stop and pick a dandelion for his mom...a little girl try and throw the ball in bounds but actually throw it behind her head (twice!)...a boy holler "Mom that was me!" when he made a goal...a little girl stop the coach mid game and ask for a treat...oh and the best part...Jackson scored 4 goals!!!!  Jackson was so proud and such a little hustler!  Can't wait to watch him next week!

Saturday was also Cole's 8th birthday!  Wow...where has the time gone!  I remember that day as if it were yesterday!  I'm pretty sure I never knew true love until that day!  He makes being a Mommy the easiest and most rewarding job in the world.  Not only is he handsome, but he is smart, funny, sensitive, and sweet!  He is an awesome big brother to his baby sister and he loves his brother...well most of the time! :)  He always has a hug for me and loves helping Brian with anything outside!

We had a Husker Party for Cole since the game was on...and he sure had fun!  He loves football food and he even got to have red cake!  (Thanks Grammy!)  The Huskers won so it was the perfect ending to a perfect day!

Today is September 11th so I can't write without saying a big "Thank You" to all of the men and women who serve our country whether it be the military, firemen, police officers, or paramedics.  10 years ago we all realized how important these people are to us and I pray we never forget!  One of my friends from church has a husband who is in Afghanistan right now and she and her 2 year old twin boys are missing their husband/daddy while he is serving our country.  Let's say a prayer for all the families who were affected 10 years ago and also today!

God Bless You All!
Leslie