Gringo Turtle Speaking a Little Spanish

April is a busy month for us.  We are taking the kids to Sea World and a 2 night stay in San Antonio.  We are going with the Knott’s and Simmons, so it will be fun. The kids are SOO excited that they get to go to Sea World with Addison, Cooper, Rylee and Parker. We’ve got a crawfish boil, several birthday parties (including Reid’s 3^rd birthday party!), Easter and I’ll be in San Antonio on business for 3 days.  The 4 of us have dentist appointments,  we have soccer every Saturday and I need to step up my training for a 10K that I’m running the first week of May.  Oh and the one thing that we have to do this month that makes me want to cry………………………….. Is “Kindergarten Roundup” for Cole on April 20^th.  This is where we take Cole to the elementary school that he’ll attend in August. He will receive an orientation geared towards Kindergartners and then we all get a tour of the school. 
I'll post pictures soon. For now, here is a video of Cole telling us the months of the year in Spanish. Yes, that is marker on their body and face. They decided that body art was more fun than arts and craft time. Oh and I'm not sure what Reid is doing in the video....

Turtle Tuesday. A Day at the Park.

We love this weather. Soccer games, grilling and eating outside, riding bikes and going to the park to climb, run and fish. Cole is learning to ride his bike without training wheels, but we still have some work. It cracks me up to see him lose control. Kinda sick, I know. :-) Fortunately, Joe is there to catch him almost every time. The time change means more sunlight, which means we'll get to spend more time outside. The downfall? My body will hate feeling like it's waking up at 4am....

Reid is a rabbit. Constantly hopping. I love this picture of him in the air.

Looking for bait with Daddy.

 

Admiring the view and looking for fish.

After school at the park. What Reid decided to do, instead of playing on the slides.

 





 



Paci's and Clovers.

We took Reid's pacifier away during the day on his 2nd birthday. He still has a pacifier at night when he sleeps and during naps on weekends (he hasn't had a paci in over a year during naps at school).
We are completely vetoing his pacifier on his 3rd birthday, but today on the radio I heard that Suri Cruise (Tom Cruise's daughter) still uses a paci at age 5. Does that make it ok for us???????????  ha!   We are embarrased at the fact that Reid STILL has a pacifier to sleep and he's not even 3, but 5????????????????????????????????????? I have to admit, it makes me feel a little better. ; -)

One leaf is for FAITH... The second for HOPE...The third for LOVE... And the fourth for LUCK!

This is a picture of what we believe to be a four leaf clover that Cole found. On the way to the soccer field, Joe actually saw him walk by a clover patch, heard him say "Oh! I'm going to find a four leaf clover", bend down and pick up the first thing he saw (which turned out to be this). When I saw it, I couldn't believe it. Not only is St. Patrick's day next week, but I have looked for these things - EVERYWHERE! When I say "everywhere", I mean it. I have looked in Trinidad, Damascus, Florida, Peru...I still look now at 34! I've always wanted to find one and never, ever had any luck. Then, my 4 year old finds one in seconds.

This lucky boy told me he wished for a pot of gold. : )

Happy St. Patty's week!

Turtle Tuesday

Climbing high.

At the basketball court.

Reid at Cole's soccer game. He played so hard that his shirt ended up soaked from sweat and grass. He ended up with Mommy's hoodie.

Will at the park.

Parker eating a Cua Cua. :)

A Year Flies.

Happy Heart Day, a little late! It has been 1 year since I started this blog. I haven't updated as much as I would like but I'll blame our crazy little life. :-) Two full time jobs and 2 little boys in our house hold, keeps us busy but we wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy Valentine's Day sweet Turtles.
Large Turtle, I hope you always know how thankful I am that you are all ours. When I married the love of my life, I didn't know that you would end up being a perfect father, too. I am so lucky to have you as my Valentine!
Medium Turtle, as my first born, thank you for showing me the overwhelming love that my heart is capable of feeling.
Little Turtle, my baby, thank you for completing our little family circle. Thank you for allowing me to milk the baby phase out of you. I love it.

Here is a list of some of the little happening's in Cole and Reid's lives.

Cole..........
'Knows every NFL team name by their logo and loves to "read" Sports Illustrated- Kids.

Is obsessed with numbers (adding, subtracting).

Is so excited that soccer season has started! His 4th season!!

Asked me "when can I leave the house?" and I said when you get married.....(I thought for a second unselfishly and added) "or when you go to college." Cole started crying because "I don't want to leave your house mommy". Ahhhh. If only that would stay true forever. He made me cry too.

has a sense of humor and he cracks me up constantly!

When he told us he had a girlfriend, but she broke up with him, we wanted to yell at that little girl. ;).

Is awesome at bowling on Wii.

Is so outgoing and loves to play with "big" kids.

Thinks that the Noggin and Sprout channels are for babies but likes the Disney channel.

Has become so easy going. He just goes with the flow *most* of the time.

Is an old soul.

Has almost outgrown his naps. He naps about 50% of the time. Even if he doesn't nap, he lays in his bed for atleast an hour 1/2 or two for quiet time.

The "Sticker Ceremony" method works on both! They both have charts in their room and we reward them with stickers. The trick is the "ceremony" that goes along with the sticker and chart. They love it.


Reid..........

Loves his turtle Pillow Pet, his baby (that he's had since birth), his puppy (that he's had since he was 11 months old when we went to Peru).

Very proud to be wearing underwear now!

Is very sad that his bday didn't make the cut off for playing soccer this spring.

Would rather die than have his pinky toe nail cut.

He tells us " I told you" even when it doesn't make sense to say it.

Loves to play and watch babies.

He's bossy and when he gets mad he sounds like Neil Diamond (gets this raspy/mean voice).

Loves Toy Story and the Super Hero Squad.

Says " wooooody" (from Toy Story), "ephelant" and "underwaaaare" in the cutest way possible.

Is affectionate and complimentary. He constantly tells me I'm pretty. He hugs me and kisses me (without me asking). He kissed me 30 times the other day while we watched a movie. When I do nice things for him, he tells me "you are my friend Mommy" or "you nice Mommy". :)

The 4 of us call each other names. Daddy will say "good night Juan and Steve". The boys will stay "good night John" and we all try to come up with different names every night.

Is awesome at WII sword fighting.

Is very particular about the clothes he wears and wants us to roll up his pants all the way up to his thighs so that they are like shorts.

Loves his naps and bed time. He'll tell us "it's time for nigh nigh", hold our hand and takes us to his room. :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day! Hopefully, we are done with the cold and Spring weather is here. WE LOVE THE SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!


Cole wrote his name on 30 valentines day cards.



Before his first soccer game. It was a beautiful day!



Tunnel celebration after winning the game!



Partying at Will's 3rd Birthday party!

Everytime we go to Matt and Will's, Cole finds these glasses to wear. :)