Split Second Smile

I literally cannot get this boy to really smile for a picture.  He's at that stage of just sticking out his tongue or making some funny face to ruin my picture.  I remember my mom always getting bent out of shape if I or my friends stuck our tongue out in a picture.

Guess what?!?

I get it mom!  I hate it too!

And that is what leads to me taking advantage of a selfie with Drake even when I'm in the middle of doing my hair.  I took this moment of his loving, good mood and took one for the team.  Any opportunity is short lived with a 7 year old.

Just When You Think You've Made It...

 Are you ever really proud of your kid?  You look at them and think, "Damn, I've done something right after all!"  Then reality hits and you just shake your head?  I know I'm not alone!

Drake is a smart kid and you never have to ask him twice to read a book.  So when he gets in the car right after school and immediately picks up a book to read for a while, I have that thought.  That thought saying, "Yeah, I've got a good one here.  I never have to ask him to read, he just does it and loves it."

Drake then asked me to help him set up an account with the program he uses in his gifted program.  I happily oblige, just so proud that my son wants to keep learning even while at home.

Then I see his login...that he chose.

Making passwords using the word "poop" is normal for a 7 year old boy, right?

I'm just asking as I shake my head and take back the pat on my back that I gave myself.

Reaching Those Goals

Hattie started in gymnastics like the normal baby/toddler.  My dad and I used to chase her and Drake around the mat "participating" in all the little obstacles that the teacher had set up for the class.  As the years have passed, Hattie was in and out of gymnastics but over the winter she got more serious.  

While she only attended class once a week, she diligently paid attention to her goals and progress.  One night, she went through the skills needed to move up to the next class.  We regularly talked about her progress towards completing those skills and how she was working to get better.  

Then one night she called and told me that she successfully completed a pullover.  And in even better news, she knew the gym would post it on social media.  I scoured all forms of social media for several days until they finally posted my baby girls accomplishment.  

She is good at smiling for pictures (believe me, I know how lucky I am at this age), but that smile is from the heart.  She's proud of herself, but she couldn't possible be as proud as I am!

They Made My Day, Too!

As I've said before, Valentine's Day is my jam.  It takes all my control to not buy every heart decoration and every gift to show to my love.  But when I opened up mail, on Valentine's Day, from Hattie and Drake, my heart hit the permanent melted point.  Every mom loves homemade gifts and my babies each made me a personalized Valentine's Day card. 

I cried.  

Like, I cried immediately.

Drake made sure to use black, because it's my favorite color.  One thing I love about his art work, is just imagining his little hands cutting through magazines with me in mind.  

While Drake got it right with the black, Hattie knocked it out of the park with the cheeseburger stickers.  My absolute, most favorite food in this world is cheeseburgers and my kids 100% know that.

I've gotten a lot of Valentine's Day cards in the past, but these are two cards that I will never, ever, as long as I shall live, forget.  These will forever be treasured by me and my Valentine's Day loving self.

Valentine's Day 2018

If you asked me, we could skip Thanksgiving and Christmas and roll straight to my two favorite holidays...New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day.  

(Poor Brian though, our anniversary and my birthday also fall into that time span.  Sorry 'bout it, babe!)

Back to the best day of the year, Valentine's Day!  I LOVE this day.  I have no good reasons why, but as a kid my parents also celebrated (nothing too big) and I've always loved this day as a day to show someone how special they are to you.  I realize that some people think it's an excuse to spend money when you should show your love everyday...but I wholeheartedly disagree.  Bring on the love!

As a side note to this post, Brian is still in training when it comes to the importance of this day to me.  He thinks I'm nuts. 

Since we won't be with the kids on February 14th, I brought (some) of their presents with me.  Brian had to hold me back from buying more.  And he definitely questioned my sanity when I stood in Walmart and demanded having gift wrap and bags that were Valentine's specific. 

 I love this picture for so many reasons. 

1- Hattie knew what she was getting...that girl made me a specific list, yet she still paused and took in the moment to share Drake's joy.

2 - Drake's joyful expression over this very simple gift.  This is a picture of him with the king mackerel he caught during our holiday vacation in Florida.  He was proud of himself in that moment and I hope this picture always reminds him of his first time fishing in the ocean.

 

This boy loves his facts and he loves his Cardinals.  We raise them right.

#redbirdnation 

 

All Hattie wanted was Peppa Pig toys.  On Facetime one night, she diligently wrote out every Peppa Pig toy she knew.  She then proceeded to send me a picture of the list, just in case I forgot. 

All she wanted was Peppa Pig anything and everything...and that's what we delivered.

Baller for Life!

So maybe the term "Baller" doesn't really fit Drake.  He's way too much of a rule follower to ever appear as a badass.  But even though he's 100% a gentle giant, he's impressively pretty tough on the court.  And he only tripped over his own feet a couple of times.

I pretty much love how the boys are all intently listening to their coach before the game.  I can just tell that Drake's wheels are spinning and he's listening to every word.  Drake and two other boys have played basketball together since they started playing sports and it's so cute to watch them grow and work together.  

Have I mentioned that one of them is in Hattie's class and clearly they crush on each other?  If not...that's a story for another time.

Drake is definitely the tallest on the team so that almost automatically gets him in the circle to start the game.  I'm also so impressed with how my timid sweet boy performs so well when he's playing sports. 

Another thing being tall gets you?  Playing center.  

Even though the Orange Crush lost, they played well and have grown so much.  Drake and another kid (Hattie's future boy toy) never come out of the games.  By the end, Drake would just stand by the basket and rub his eyes.  Brian somewhat controlled his cheering, he just kept telling Drake to be a "big body".  I guess that's man language for act tough and be strong? 

Last Minute Snow Day

Originally, we had planned to stay through Monday night to watch Drake's basketball game.  However, the weather quickly declined during the Superbowl and we found out school was cancelled for Monday.  Hattie chose to just spend the night and next day with us instead of going back to her dad's house.  

Like I said a few posts ago, this alone time is much needed and very special.  Hattie is my mini me.  She's WAY more outgoing than I ever had the guts to be, but she's my inner self.  She's opinionated, sassy, 100% girly, and she also has a big crush on Brian (she get it from her mama!).

After a morning of swimming and watching cartoons that SHE choose, we decided to head to the pottery place in town.  This place actually has some really great food too, so it was a win for Brian and I as well.  Hattie requested her favorite McDonald's chicken nuggets for herself. You know I never say no to McDonald's!

Hattie painted a princess, Brian painted a football player, and I chose a Valentine's Day mug.  Brian and I are both only children, so letting Hattie help in our painting was a challenge for each of us.  It's so crazy to recognize my only child traits as I get older.

We gave Hattie a couple more choices of what to do after pottery.  I was really nervous that she would be bored because she is so used to having a twin brother to play with.  And believe me, they prefer to play with each other in these situations and clam up when another kid tries to talk to either of them.  She chose a bounce house and played hard for over an hour, but she paused for picture opportunities "for her scrapbook".  

Dinner was also her choice and she chose Red Lobster.  Her reasoning?  "Because Mom lets me eat all the biscuits that I want to eat!"

To be honest, I let her eat all the biscuits she wants because I want to eat all the biscuits that I want as well.

At moments, I felt like I was forgetting something and things were awkwardly calm...all this because I'm used to having double trouble.  Hattie was a sweetheart all day, she was surprised and joyful with each activity we did that day.  Even though that snow day means an extra day of school in May, I'm so thankful we got to spend that time with just Hattie.