{Elmer}

The Boys have such amazing schools! Their teachers are fantastic! Britt's Teacher Mrs. H. has completely tamed our craziest. He is such a good little student! I am proud to announce that he has good marks for EVERY SINGLE DAY in his behavior folder. Not a single bad mark! Way to go Brittster! Thats a big accomplishment for our little 4 year old who was still biting everyone is its just a year ago. He was dubbed "the flesh eating Sclater." Not the most endearing of nick names, but it was fitting thats for sure. He really is such a gem!

Mrs. H. has a class pet of sorts. Elmer is his name and every weekend Elmer, the elephant takes a trip home to visit a student & their family. Last weekend was Britt's turn, which also meant he was the star student of the week. All things Britton! He was so excited! His little face was priceless! We had to document the things our guest, Elmer did over the weekend with us, & place them in Elmer's travel journal. It was a quiet weekend, Rod was working, & our agenda was the usual-saturday jobs, pancake breakfast, play. Britt also had to provide the class with a poster of things about himself. I used Walgreen's fancy schmancy poster maker & voila! a poster with Britt plastered all over it! He was a proud little guy! Tomorrow marks the end of his week at school, but I just know he will be talking about "his week" for many weeks to come!

Introducing Elmer....

(do you love my typing errors on our chore lists which hang for all to see in our home? nice. oops!)

{nap time}

Presley's room faces the front of the house so come afternoon her room is striped from the places where the sun slides through her closed blinds.

The room is always a bit warmer which makes it even more inviting for a mid day rest.

(I have been doing a month trial of a new editing software...not sure I am sold just yet. My pictures font seem to be my own.they look different to me.)

The boys are alive & well..Presley just seems a more willing participant

for my clicking these days.

My own blog has taken a a second to this... I feel blessed to have had a part in this.

{bedtime}

Presley holding her jammies before bedtime.

she was ready.

It was 80 here today & the four played in the yard until supper.

Our girl was plumb tuckered out.

{Balloons for Bailey}

We spent the majority of the day outside. Rod was working & actually, still is. He left at 5am & it is now 9:30pm. poor guy. The children jumped on the tramp & played soccer. They dug up the plants in my flower pots too. But they are boys & thats what they do. Presley had her first taste of dirt, & was not at all impressed. In fact she had a rather big melt down over it. Today was a special day too. a bit over 2 weeks ago a girlfriend from high school lost her precious daughter. I prayed my heart out for their little family. The idea of loosing my own daughter makes me shake a bit. Brittany laid heavy on my heart & so I prayed & prayed. I finally felt I needed to give something other than "I love you" & "I am praying for you." I wanted to give Ben & Brittany & big brother Brennan something they could do

every year to celebrate the life of their pretty baby girl, Bailey Delaney.

so I came up with THIS .

It is not much, but It was all I could give. What do you give someone who now has to live their life with half their heart in another life? This is something that brought people together though miles decided us. The children & I dumped the crayons on the table & colored & wrote for Baby Bailey. We tied notes to balloons & set them free. We knelt in the back yard & prayed for the Bradley family. My heart aches for Brittany. Pictures & videos are pouring in from all over of families sending balloons to the sky. Its touching. The thought makes me snuggle my chicks a bit tighter in our nest. heres some pictures of my chicks today... including our balloons to Beautiful Bailey...

{little momma}

Presley just loves having a dolly in her arms. Her babies. She is such a tiny mommy. She mimics all that I do. If I am washing windows she is right there looking for a rag & a spray bottle (which I have learned to have readily available for our wee miss.) She insists on helping with the switch from washer to dryer. She enjoys kissing & singing to her little dolls & is quick to give a little rub to a hurt or sad brother. She started doing this fun faux whistle thing yesterday & bops around while "whistling" happily. She twirls with arms stretched out & kisses with her whole mouth. I had no idea I could love her as much as I do.

{the family that twists together..}

{speeding}

I sped like a crazy person...I mean I drove slightly over the posted speed limit today

This morning Britt was a bit fussy, but he gets that way some mornings. i thought nothing of it. Gave him some kisses on the forehead & asked if he was up for school today. He said yes & even suggested we walk to the bus stop today rather than drive. It was a pretty morning so I agreed it was a great idea. Jackets on, back pack in tow, we headed to the bus stop. Britt climbed the steps of the bus (which were more than 1/2 his size) & we blew kisses. When we returned home to start lunch Maddox grabbed my attention & said he was worried about Britton that he was going to throw up. (I hate the word throw up by the way. Its so gross.) I was not sure where this idea was coming from, but I quickly began to worry, because thats what I do. I turned up my cell phone to extra super obnoxiously loud just in case. I went about my wednesday usuals, stripping beds, vacuuming etc. I checked my phone for no good reason at all & Somehow between folding laundry & playing with baby dolls I missed a call. I knew the number. It was the same number that calls to tell me almost weekly That T hit his head in gym class, is okay, but will be coming home with a bump. I grabbed the keys, told Rod I was going & traded my slippers for shoes. I listed to the voicemail after I buckled up. sure enough...Maddox was right. (insert weird twilight music here) Britton got off the bus & instantly got sick to his tummy. I looked at what time they had called. It had been 30 minuets earlier...& so I put the pedal to the medal to get to my Brittster. I felt awful thinking about him in the nurses office being sick without me there to hold him. I ran like the nut that I am to the school clinic & grabbed my boy. His eyes welled up & out came the tears. He only cries with Rod & I. He won't cry in front of others. He holds it in so tightly. Such a brave boy. I took him home & we snuggled him up in bed with a show & some crackers. He felt pretty sick for the rest of the afternoon, but ate a bit of his dinner & took a bath & then climbed into bed happy. Im still feeling lousy about missing the call.
Presley must have noticed how still Britt was & picked up that something was just not right. she stuck by his side for most of the evening. petting his hair & putting her cheek to his shoulder. She loves him. He is very lovable!

{she}

She is such a sweet girl.

She is a mommy.

She is a helper.

she is affectionate.

She loves yo gabba gabba.

She is a dancer.

She is a singer.

She is a purse carrying 18 mo. old.

She is a giggler.

She is happy.

She makes all of us happy.