Samuel 22 Months

At 22 Months old now, Samuel is a big talker and a big climber and is on the move non stop!!  If we even look away for 5 seconds he is slathering diaper cream on his face, eating everyone's toothbrushes, climbing on top of counters, climbing up the pantry shelves,….just to name a few things that have happened this month alone.  He really keeps us on our toes!  But this curiosity and energy seems to help him learn, so we are trying our best to curb it into safe channels.  He is a very quick little learner in fact.  His vocabulary continues to grow on a daily basis and he is now regularly using 4-5 word sentences all the time.  Every night when we tuck him in bed, we hear his sweet little voice say "love you Mommy (or Daddy)" and it just melts our hearts!  He is also fond of saying "Gracie, where are you" or "Paci, where are you."  He tells us to "sit down young man" or "close the door" when someone leaves the garage door open.  At least 20 times a day, I hear him sing the alphabet song, letters H through V, as clear as can be!  He never includes the beginning or the ending of the alphabet unless we sing with him, then he says them all, but his favorites are really H -V !  He still really likes nursery rhymes and will sing along with many of them and really enjoys music in general.  His favorite books right now are If You Give a Pig a Pancake,  Pete the Cat,  and Jamberry.  He has been using a spoon and fork quite a bit more this month and is even eating a tiny bit better.  It's becoming clear that the 2's are approaching as we have also seen him throw a few tantrums this month.  But all in all, you are super sweet little boy, who always loves to say hi to everyone you see and is always eager to give hugs!  We love you too Samuel!!!

Happy 8th Birthday Nicholas!!

This year, Nicholas' birthday landed on a Thursday during the first week of school.  So that night we had a little family celebration with his favorite dinner (black bean cakes and caesar salad) along with an ice cream cake.  Grace and Henry each made him cards and wrapped up "gifts"for him.  Then on Saturday, we held his big party with 15 of his friends.  It was at Stars and Strikes, a bowling alley geared towards families.  Nicholas requested a Lego Star Wars theme this year for his cake.  I think everyone seemed to have a great time at the party, the birthday boy included!  Happy Birthday Nicholas!  We love you buddy!

Grace made him a birthday crown, a pencil holder, and a card…all completely her own ideas and creation!

Henry made him a card (see below) and then wrapped up some toys (in blankets)  from around the house that he knew Nicholas liked.

Opening his gift from us…the Lego set he really wanted and the original Star Wars trilogy.

Party time!

In addition to bowling, this kids also got to drive bumper cars…..

play laser tag…...

and arcade games!!!

pizza time

Happy Birthday Nicholas!!!!!

Nicholas Turns 8 Years Old!

Dear Nicholas,

You are now 8 years old!  You are just sprouting up right before our eyes.  In the past year you have not only grown several inches taller, but have also matured quite a bit as well.  It continues to be such joy for us to watch you learn and grow each day.  We are so happy and thankful to be your parents!

You remain a very bright kid and no doubt this comes as a result from your passion for learning.  You truly love to learn anything new and really enjoy school as well.  You were the top reader in your first grade class and one of the top in math and religion as well.  Your favorite subjects to read about are non fiction or historical fiction, particularly anything to do with wars, science, and Star Wars.  Yes, we finally caved in let you watch Star Wars this year and now you are obsessed with it.  You also still absolutely love to build with Legos and are quite talented at it we think.  You became a Cub Scout, learned to play chess in the Chess Club, and also started piano lessons this year.  You enjoy playing soccer, basketball, and swimming with your friends.  You also really enjoy riding your bike.

You are a great big brother and play well with your siblings, though you all do have your fair share of sibling arguments.  You, Grace, and Henry really like to put on shows for us lately, which usually includes you playing some sort of musical instrument (Grace dancing and Henry singing) and also an act where you are "fighting" with a light saber and some ninja moves to save some some princess somewhere.  You are clearly still very creative as well.

There is no way to fully express the joy you bring into our lives, Nicholas.  Yes, sometimes your silliness can drive us a little crazy!  But we wouldn't change a thing about you!  We love you through and through and we always will!  Happy Birthday sweetheart!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy




Nicholas' Favorites at Age 8:

Stuffed Animal:  Patch
Food:  black bean cakes
Movie:  Swiss Family Robinson
Show:  Star Wars:The Clone Wars
Clothes to Wear:  lego shirt with blue shorts
Game:  I Spy Eagle Eye
Snack:  trail mix
Animal:  puppy
Song:  Cry the Gospel
Book:  Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osbourne
Friends:  everyone!
Drink:  Orange Crush
Outside Activity:  hoola hooping
Sport:  soccer
Park Activity:  climbing
Inside Activity:  Legos
Place to Go:  church
Fruit:  apples
Vegetable:  bell peppers
What do you want to be when you grow up?  a soldier in the navy

Summer Fun

We were blessed with a great summer this year.   In addition to the two big trips that I have already documented, we've enjoyed many of the simple pleasures of summer like snow cone treats, swimming at the pool, and just good old fashioned time together.  We had lots of reading/library time, pizza movie nights, and board game marathons.  Playdates with friends, puppet shows, and grill outs were also some big favorites in our house this summer.  Here are a few of the photo highlights of our fun summer right here in Roswell!

Last day of school…..and some very excited kiddos!!!

Hello Summer….the first of many trips to the neighborhood pool this year!

Who doesn't love a good spray with the hose in the Georgia heat?

Or how about an ice cream treat?

Pizza night with the Grays as they pass through town on the way to HHI.

A nice visit with friends Deo and Flaviana

This was the bulk of the our garden harvest from our tiny little garden.  Not too bad for the first year ever and with such a small garden.  

We always love Roswell Puppet Shows!  This year we saw The Little Red Hen.

Chick Fila Cow Appreciation Day!

Wow, the crazy things we do to get free meals!!!

This picture was taken about 15 minutes after I had listened to Henry whine and complain that he didn't need a nap and I had sent him up to his room to at least "rest."  I found him sound asleep on the stairs, he couldn't even make it to his room, he was so tired!! #mamaknowsbest

It seems there is always some sort of Star Wars related battle going on in our house these days!

We frequented the library at least weekly and all the kids participated in the library summer reading program.  We also enjoyed this fun educational program at the library.

And of course we made our annual trip to the blueberry patch to pick berries in July.  This year, it was Samuel who was our "little Sal."

Can you tell by the color of their mouths that they enjoyed the blueberries?

Tire swing fun

Along with the Boyles, we took a little trip to the Cumming Aquatic Center and had a blast!

Nicholas, Grace and Henry (who refused to have his picture taken) had a fun time at Michael's craft time with the Schupps and the Schoeneckes.

Nicholas and Grace went to Lego Club and, as always, loved it!  They even ran in to some friends there.

Shawn was inducted as an officer (3rd year trustee) in the Knights of Columbus.

Fun at the park

Fun at the Sprayground

One last snow cone before heading back to school.

Grace's kindergarten pool party to kick off the class of 2025 starting school.  (she's in the back holding the 0 )

First Day of School 2016-2017

 

It's back to school time!  This year Nicholas starts second grade while Grace starts Kindergarten at Queen of Angels.  Both of them were super excited to get back to school!  Grace was most excited just to be a kindergartener, feeling like a pretty big kid now.  And Nicholas is most looking forward to making his First Communion and learning to write cursive this year.  May God bless our students and their teachers with a productive and happy year!!

They are happy to be in the same "pod" this year.

Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. Sullivan are his teachers.

2B is looking good!

Mrs. Cooney

and Mrs. Christensen-Smith

Soooooo excited to be there!

KB is looking good!