Barnes Boys - Where They At?

Dern it! I was doing so good...alas...the last time we were together in this space it was september...how is it already DECEMBER??? so insane. so let's see...

In October we spent a weekend in San Diego and had a bit of a family reunion - so much fun! Here is a coveted picture of the boys and the Waffle King - the restaurant was in a Travel Lodge and it was so packed they put us in the overflow restaurant, which was the Mexican Restaurant also in the travel lodge - so not only were we eating waffles in a travel lodge...we also had the lingering smells of nacho cheese in the air...classic. The family went on a sailboat ride and then later had a bonfire with pizza and s'mores. The next day we all met up with my Grandma June at Jolly Rogers. It was so great being able to connect with everyone over the course of a couple of days - not the pressure of an evening like we normally would on a holiday. Big fan of those family reunions...especially ones that include a waffle king and a bonfire!!

Halloween - gone are the cute costume days - now everyone wants to either be scary or dangerous. So we had a zombie, Karate Kid and a bat - i was a little under-inspired this year. I dont know if it is from making zoodies for so long, or what it is, but Halloween does not thrill me anymore! i think my problem is that i start thinking about it too late...get all these great ideas...with no time to see it through...then go through their costume bin last minute and see what i can find! it is more important to me that my boys dress up on a regular basis than on that ONE DAY of the year...i dunno. that was kinda debbie downer on Halloween...but it's where i am at. so there you go.

My birthday! In November I turned an age I had so long ago thought meant you were "old" and "uncool" - look at how i proved myself wrong! I successfully stretched my birthday out this year - threw a fabulous party with my friend Becky, went on an amazing horseback ride up and around the Los Angeles mountains and also happened to land my book club meeting on my birthday and so i happened to have around 10 amazing women in my home on my birthday - so much fun! I am mostly bummed it is December because that means i can't milk my birthday anymore.

Bryson's Birthday - we spent Bryson's birthday in Monterey for his very last golf tournament of the year. He didn't play as well as he hoped (we were insanely proud of him) so that was a bit of a bummer- he placed 13th of 23 kids - but this was an invitational - so it was a huge thing to just be invited! Monterey was so gorgeous and Bob and Kathy joined us and made it extra special. We went to the most amazing sea food place...Phil's? Nick's? it is in the docks and you order and then sit down and you have to get there before 5 because the line is bananas...i think its Phil's...ill have to ask Bob for you. either way - just go there to that place. bryson had clams, clam chowder, crab meat - insanely good - all of it! 

Bryson's homeschooling is going well too! we have been trying to explore as much as possible and i can already see such a change in him on what learning is and opportunities to learn. i never thought i would get such a kick out of watching him learn...i was too scared about how i would do teaching. I do have plans to get him assessed though at the mid-mark- i want to know if i am "doing it right" - I can't help but be a little nervous that this is too easy? 

Bodie Bear! Bodie is so funny - he is such a different learner/student than Bryson - he is sounding out words and sounds all the time - he really gets serious about his homework - he is done with his homework homework in like 5 minutes, but it is not enough, so almost every day i make up stuff...which is like the exact opposite of bryson i could just laugh. he is loving his teacher and has made quite a few friends in the class. 

Oh Bobby - just as sweet as ever. This kid LOVES his mama! he is going through a major mommy phase right now...which of course i am loving every bit of it - the narcissist i am...but also it really breaks my heart when he cries when i go in the office...i don't suffer mom guilt all that much (yet i am sure) but for sure when that happens...ugh...i feel like i am harming my child and psychologically torturing them....then i remember bodie and bryson both did this too and they arent all too damaged (yet i am sure) - anyway - i think that about wraps it up for this go round- hoping to pop in here a little more regularly - i do so love documenting these guys and their shenanigans!  

Barnes Boys - Where They At?

Hiya September! Where did you go? This month has been such a transitional month - full of amazing good changes and also very challenging difficult changes. I am starting to finally find my new rhythm and it feels good. It takes a while to get there, doesn't it? Yesterday I found myself without kids...without work...and went to the El Dorado Nature Center by myself and walked around. I had a full hour to think and dream and process through some things - trying to find out what that nagging inner voice is trying to say. Sometimes for me finding the stillness to allow that voice to be heard is the hardest. I think I found that I have been missing that peace and that thinking time and that QUIET. I am starting to try to find ways to find that every day. I crave it in a house full of boisterous beings. Anyway...enough of me...onto the Barnes Boys...

Bobby! Bobby transitioned back to pre-school. He has Miss Lizzy - which makes her the first official teacher to have had the whole set! All 3 Barnes boys. She was so happy to have him and keeps exclaiming how different they all are...i know it! She said every time they talk about love in class Bobby talks about how he loves God and his mama! oh my heart...Bobby also turned 4 this month! He was super excited...but not quite clear on the whole your birthday is just 1 day - he keeps expecting people to give him presents. His favorite present has been the plasma car - he is on that thing every day - it makes his brothers jealous because their plasma cars are all banged up, so that makes him especially happy :) Bobby is also transitioning out of his paci and therefore, out of naps. He is doing great - he cried the first few nights, but is good now and thinks he is all big boy now that he doesn't need a nap!

Bodie Bear - Bodie transitioned into Kindergarten and also into Soccer sesason. He is an amazing little player - he is pretty aggressive and goes after that ball scoring mad goals- helps having to always keep up with big brother! Bodie is really enjoying Kindergarten so far. He has the same teacher Bryson had (whom we love) and is loving homework - i keep having to make up homework for him because he has already done all the homework for September! What a different kid than Bryson, ha! I failed taking him on a date in August - our August was nuts!  So I got to take him last week. We went to the trampoline place and then to Chik-fil-A - he loved it! he made me copy everything he did at the bounce place and boy! that boy is always on the move - i was a big sweaty old lady mess at the end! Love chasing after these guys - it fills my heart!

Bryson - Bryson had a big transition - into 3rd grade, into being home-schooled and the start of socccer and his fall golf season. A lot of people have been checking up with me on home schooling and so far it is amazing. I really feel like this is the perfect fit for both of us. It is challenging - like I expected it to be - to get him to do the challenging bits - but it has been growth for both of us. I think the hardest thing for him is that he can't get away with not doing his best. He can't turn in something rushed and that is what he has done for 3 years. We are navigating through it...but we are doing it together and he has been super receptive to that. Every time I read with him he puts his head on my shoulder and that is RARE for this kid. I know he is enjoying this time together and that is something I can't feel anything but gratitude about. I really am loving the curriculum/style of learning we are doing - I feel like it is a good fit for both of us. I am just excited to see how he will grow.

Me and the monkeys on our way to Bryan's sisters's wedding! It was such an amazing weekend and I have not a single picture of it! so sad...but when both you and your husband are in the wedding party - it kinda takes you out of the spectator crowd. We are so happy for Kimmy and Kirk! 

So this is our September so far...Looking forward to the fall and its hopefully cooler weather - Come on Fall - bring it!!

Barnes Boys - Where They At?

In the third month of it and I both LOOOOVE summer and HAAAATE summer...love the unstructured days, late nights, lots of good weather and having all 3 of my boys with me all day with no where to be...and then there is the busy side of summer- of weekends completely gone...travels...work being crazy...that stuff. So far this summer has been really good to us. I am shocked I have been able to keep up. I know my future self is going to thank me for carving out some time to do this!

Bryson -

Since I last udpated he traveled to North Carolina to compete in the Pinehurst U.S. Kids Jr Golf World Tournament. He was amazing! He had a rough first day and shot 11 over...but the greens were rolling fast and not too many kids shot under, so it was still a good score. He got progressively better - shot a 43 the next day and then a 40 on the last day. He ended the tournament at T63 on the leaderboard out of 140. My dad went with Bryan and Bryson and couldn't stop remarking on how incredible BOTH of my boys are. He went on and on about Bryan and how patient he is with Bryson and couldn't believe how well he handled Bryson's EMOSHUNZ. Bryson can be a little golf diva! he is working on controlling his temper and trying not to go into the next hole with a bad attitude. I am so incredible proud of him. Not just how well he did at this tournament - i truly wouldn't have minded if he came in last...it's just that he has worked so hard. and has sacrificed so much - and at eight years old I don't know if he knows just how remarkable all that is. Bryson has been filling his time since being back by FISHING!!!! he is probably as passionate about fishing as he is about golf...if that can be possible. He keeps track of all the fish he catches and has been keeping a tally all summer...i think he is in the forties now...crazy kid.


Bodie -

Bodie and Bobby both went to VBS while Bryson and Bryan were at Pinehurst. He really enjoyed the music and the VBS in general. That boy is so musical. He likes to listen to a song over and over and over until he gets the words down and is constantly singing/dancing and making up raps. "Cold 9" and "Now I'm Doing This, Now I'm Doing That" are his top 2 songs of the summer. Bodie was super happy to have Bryson back. he was also super sensitive to all the positive feedback he got and cried at one point when Auntie came over and told him how proud she was of me, he melodramatically cried, "Why is no one proud of me?" oh Bodie Bear! I get it...I'm a middle child too. I hugged him extra close and told him how insanely proud of him I am for he has the biggest bestest heart I know. Poor bug. He has been really trying to help me out around the house too. He recently discovered that earning $2 will earn him a Popsicle at farmer's market, so it is on!


Bobby -

 He said, " Take a picture of me mom! I'm the cutest!" well...don't tell him but its true :) this kid is just all kinds of cute. little cheeseball! He also enjoyed VBS. i was pretty excited to find one that took 3 and older. I needed childcare that week because bryan was going to be gone and i needed to work. With the help of friends I was able to get completely caught up at work, which is no small feat in the heat of summer! I got a letter home from VBS that bobby had accepted Jesus into his heart...i asked him if he knew what that meant "It means Jesus is in your heart. And God. And the Bible" so...basically...no. Ha! He was just thrilled to finally go and was all smiles every day and told everyone, "I get to go to VBS!" so cute! Soccer is starting up for Bodie and Bryson and this guy doesnt understand why he can't do it too. It is so hard...he stood on the corner of the field watching Bodie with such yearning it made my mama heart sad...but then again - 3 kids in organized sports??? that is just bananas. both bodie and bryson practice 2 nights a week...how would you even do that with 3? i guess we will find out soon enough, huh?

Barnes Boys - Where They At?

How is it June already? Every summer I just feel like I need to buckle up and hold on- everything seems such a crazy pace - packed weekends, SUPER busy work days, balancing our schedule and over-planning. I never feel caught up - I never feel like I have done enough in one day. This summer I really want to schedule out peaceful simple days to counter balance the super paced work days. Also - I want to be present in these amazing times where I get to adventure with all 3 of them all the day long! It truly feels like such a precious fleeting time and I am doing my best to stay present minded and grateful.

Bobby!! I took Bobby on a date this month to a putt putt place (his choice) and he was so funny. I honestly didnt know how he would do since some times he can not be held to "rules" and "doing things in order" but this he did really really well! i think it has something to do with all the golf mornings with daddy - so thanks bryan! On our date he confided that "I dont like when daddy calls me other names - like Bob" - which is funny because i am the one who usually calls him that when he is being mischievous :) and then we went to CPK and he told me how he is sad school is over. It is so fun to get to spend time with him by himself - he is such a different person when he isn't trying to defend himself :) 

Bodie O! Bodie finished baseball. He played so great. Watching him play kept me thinking about how different bryson and bodie are. Bryson at this age/stage was super serious about baseball. he asked anyone to play catch with him and practiced all the time. he loved his games and would talk about them all day. Bodie is like...hmmmm....when i asked him what he liked best about t-ball his response was "the snack bags" so...there is that. But at the same time - he is so good! its funny...you think he will get out there and just zone out, but he makes plays and hits home runs...oh bodie. Bodie also graduated from pre-school. Pretty cute stuff right there. I am getting pretty worried about bodie in kindergarten - he is just so different than bryson was at this age and I just worry that kindergarten would be overwhelming for him. I filled out an application for Bodie to bryson's home-school charter school just in case...so i am feeling better about that - we can always pull him out if the struggles aren't good struggles. Also - we have been down to visit my dad in La Quinta a few times over the past couple months and it has been great for practicing swimming. Bodie did so great last time! We went down to watch Bryan's mom play tennis - and win her doubles match - and she helped bodie learn to float and improve his dog-paddling/swimming thing he does. I am pretty confident he will be a little fish by the end of the season! 

Bryson - Bryson is still golfing like a mad-man. He was in a tournament for Long Beach Jr Kids Golf and got a 36 at little rec, which turned out to be a 3 way tie. There was a putt off for the win and Bryson won! He was so super pumped - so proud of himself. he slept with his trophy and kept staring at it all day long. It turned out they had the best scores of all the kids - about 25 kids ages 7-16! I walked with them, but didn't club him - he did it all on his own and I couldn't be prouder of him! 

Bryson is getting excited about home-schooling. We got him a little chromebook to keep his summer journal in and found all kinds of educational sites that will help aid our homeschooling and he is already so excited about being able to research things he is interested in...which right now is golf and lizards. We started his summer journal - you can follow it by clicking here

Barnes Boys - Where They At? January

We made it through the holidays...barely. sadly, Christmas Day found me and Bryson completely wiped out - the next day took down Bodie and Bobby and for the rest of the week we were pathetic - coughing, fevers and all around general lousy feeling. I still am battling some of it come to think of it! But - I find that I can't complain...too much. Our boys do not get sick often. In fact, that was the worst of all last year for sure! - sad and anti-climactic to have it happen on a holiday, but there is an underlying gratefulness that our immune systems function pretty great. 

I was able to keep up with the updates pretty well last year - (i only missed 3 months) I hope to keep it up because things change with these guys so much in just a month, it is fun for me to go back and see a little slice of our life in those updates. 

Bobby! In Bobby news he learned how to ride a bike without training wheels! I got a new bike for Christmas and Bryson did too, which meant Bobby got Bodie's old bike and Bodie got Bryson's...so....we have been riding bikes just about every day and I am loving it! We rode his bike down to the marina parking lot a couple weeks ago to let him practice and he just got it so fast. I am so proud of him! He is pretty stoked...already is trying to jump curbs and go off ramps. He constantly says, "did you see my trick?" and no doubt will cause me the heart attack i know is coming with having three boys. Christmas was so fun with Bobby! Santa came to Christmas Eve and Bobby just hugged him and was so stoked! He said his favorite presents were bey blades. 

 Bodie! I need to write a post on his birthday - so fun - five is so cool. Bodie is such a rad little dude - i just love him! He does ninja kicks all the time - if he eats something he loves he has to get out of the chair and do a little dance (with the most serious of face of course) and tells me about a hundred times a day how much he loves me. He will either say, I love you one thousand ninety one, or I love you so much that you are beautiful. He graduated to the bigger bike and is also loving bike rides. He can go faster now and tries to race Bryson every chance he can get. I took Bodie the other day with me, just him, to run errands and we had so much fun - the most fun things come out of his little imagination - i just want to be him for one day to see how that mind of him works!

Bryson - I took Bryson out on a date the other night. He has been looking forward to some one on one time and I realized just how important it is for both of us to do that. I am trying to be intentional this year. It is my theme for myself this year. Part of that is being intentional with the boys. I want to take one out for a date every month, so that by years end each will have had 3 dates with me. I remember my dad doing this with us and it was only like once a year, but they have special memories for me since it was one on one time that doesn't happen as often as one would like when you have 2 other siblings. Anyway - I took him to the Bower's Kidseum and it was kind of a bust, so then we went to the cheap theaters and watched a (horrible) movie and ate in the food court. He loved that he could pick from any of the placed (Panda Express) and we had some good conversation. I am concerned about him at school and the friends he is hanging out with and we talked about it. He is still asking me to home school him. He gave me all his reasons - he wouldn't have to spend as much time on school work and he would have more time for other things he enjoys doing (GOLF!) and because he wants to be around me more. While I am flattered, I am also sort of shocked that he still feels this way...i thought for sure he would be changing his tune by now. I just haven't seen him enjoy school at all this year and it has been heavy on my heart - especially lately. 

Also - Bryson started basketball and LOVES it! His team is The Thunder and he is playing with a local NJB league. The boys also got a basketball hoop for Christmas (thank you Auntie Mandie) so that is just about all Bryson does after homework is done. Even after the sun goes down - there is a light out there that works just fine! The only bummer about his league is that all their games are on Sundays during church except one. 

Barnes Boys - Where They At?

We are right in the thick of the Holidays...actually I think we may have left the thick behind with this weekend and look forward to a relaxing rest of the year...at least that is the "plan" anyway. After coming back from an amazing Thanksgiving holiday, we got swept right back into non-stop guests and parties. This last weekend we celebrated St. Lucia day with my brother, sister and dad and all the people associated with those people, then on Saturday we went up to Sierra Madre to celebrate a traditional Swedish Christmas that my lovely cousin Henrik and his wife Anna were so gracious to host, then on Sunday we watched Bodie perform in the church choir and went straight from there to the SWEA St. Lucia Festival in LA. I did not take nearly enough pictures - I don't feel like there was much down time and I definitely need a weekend for my weekend, but it was all good fun...all good Swedish fun, ja sure! 

Bryson - Bryson finished up golf for the year at Heartwell - we went to their annual Awards party and were surprised to find he placed 1st in the beginner flight of a 3 day tournament they played back in September! He was so pumped. He slept with it and carried it with him and kept saying "This is my second 1st place trophy I ever got. I just can't believe it" and he also said, "Mom, 1st place is like sooooo much better than 2nd place and all the other places". His front teeth have yet to come in, which has amassed quite the attention of joke time in our family, as well as several renditions of "All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth". Bryson is about to start basketball (practices start next week....what?) and thanks to his Auntie Mandie giving them a basketball hoop for Christmas- that is all that is on the boys mind lately. Bryson's letter to Santa includes the following:

"A rainbow loom kit (the big one that has thos clear rubber bands) and a mini go cart, and a bike because i did knot get one for my birthday with was Nov' 8, and can i have 4 bey wheels and 4 bey blades. and can I have super maryo galexy number two. for Bryson"

Bodie - this is of Bodie singing in his choir - his face looked like this the whole time - and every time I looked at him I giggled. He is just the sweetest little soul! He asked to practice every day. He was given a verse to recite also and asked me to ask him every day. He took the whole thing very seriously! Bryson couldn't be a part of it this year because practices were on Sundays, when Bryson had his golf tournaments and Bobby was too young, so this was a special thing just for Bodie - probably the first time to happen in his little life and he was just beaming - so proud. It was pretty awesome to watch! Bodie has no organized anything now until baseball season - of which I am a little grateful - because i could use a month of just 1 sport :) 

This is what Bryson wrote to Santa on Bodie's behalf:

"for Bodie. Bodie would like 6 bey blades and 6 bey wheels. and just a rainbow loom tini kit. thank you" (please note the length difference of bryson's list and bodie's)

Bobby - oops...i am so bad and do not have a recent picture of Bobby...Bobby - we love you sooo much and are too busy kissing your sweet face to take your picture :) So I am including this pic of all the cousins and I just love how excited Bobby is to be holding his sweet little niece. Bobby is so much fun this Christmas! It is his first Christmas really starting to understand everything and every time he sees a house all lit up with lights something fancy he breaks out into "jingle bells" - it is pretty stinking cute! he is just an absolute joy and an absolute terror at the same time. That boy just thinks to destroy everything! i am shocked our ornaments are still on the tree and the presents are still wrapped - first time ever leaving presents under the tree since bryson was a baby! 

This is what Bryson wrote to Santa on Bobby's behalf:

"for Bobby. My Brother Bobby would like just 1 bey wheel. 3 bey blades. and a bike. a two wheeler. and he wants a stuft anamle monkey that has a big baby on its tummy"

Barnes Boys - Where They At?

October - Fall and our yearly tradition of apple picking happened this month...although we got there late in the season (usually we go mid-september) and there were no apples to be picked...it was still so fun - they boys picked the last remaining raspberries and we made it through a corn maze (bryson led us astray too many times, so we put bodie in charge and he led us out and was sooooo proud of himself - really cute stuff) and we picked pumpkins from the vine and of course brought back some yummy apple cider and apples. Bryan and I talked about how fun it is to be creating our own family traditions and how every year it is going to be more fun than work ;) this year was especially fun with their ages. I just love 3 years old. I could leave the tantrums, but this is just so fun!

Bodie - our little soccer star! it is so fun to watch him play a sport finally! he is also in a children's choir at church and every day he asks me 1. do i have school today mom? and then 2. do i have soccer today mom? and then 3. do i have my singing class mom? this boy is very much like his dad and likes to know "the plan" and what is expected of him. He gets very sad if the answer to all three questions isnt "today" - we listen to his choir music in the car and he practices his little hand motions and it is really the cutest thing. We are trying to work on singing louder...but that may take a while -he whisper sings right now. I think it is so good for Bodie to be involved in things a part from his brothers - he gets such a sense of pride and confidence - he just beams! (p.s. being a fellow middle child, i get it!!!)

Bobby - oh man - this kid is so full of charm and spit and vinegar and all that. He melts your heart one minute and makes you want to just lock him up in a kennel (i would never) the next minute. He is still amazingly destructive and energetic - the other day he rode his scooter 5 miles with Bryan. and then once they got where they were going he ran around for another hour or so. This kid could power a city. He is talking up a storm too - he cracks us up. Having two older brothers he just thinks whatever they like is cool - which right now happens to be these things called Bey Blades (they are like plastic tops you launch with a launcher) so you hear him and Bodie "battle" their bey blades (which they dont have any - they just find random things and call them bey blades) and you can hear bobby yell "let it rrrrrriiiiippppp" all day. Bodie and Bobby spend a lot of time together these days while bryson is at school and they are learning to play better together...and by that i mean they only fight like 50 times a day now. 

Bryson - A few weeks back Bryan took Bryson to see this movie/documentary called The Short Game and ever since then Bryson has been OB-sessed with golf. He is doing really well too and we recently found out he was invited to play in the Monterey Championships. It is a 2 day tournament in Monterey and he will have some stiff competition and he is stoked! This picture is of Bryson on picture day at school and let me have you know i had zero to do with both the outfit and the paper towel handkerchief in his pocket. This kid has his own style and no one can tell him what is cool. i love it! I feel like bryson is never really ho-hum about anything - he goes from one obsession to the next and right now it is his praying mantis and also his lizard pets. He wants a bearded dragon something awful, but right now is taking very good (daily) care of his bug and reptile.

Things are settling into a routine and it feels nice to have a rhythm again. We are working on ever-changing Halloween costumes and tackling homework and right now I am reading them the Chronicles of Narnia before bed. We are on book #2 and it is so fun. I love that Bryson is enjoying them as much as I did!  

Barnes Boys - Where They At?

September - the weather is cooling down, school has started (for all three!!) and dinners are being cooked during breakfast (my favorite). We are still adjusting to the new schedule of weekday school/sporting practices and weekend sporting games. I am enjoying the (somewhat) cooler weather, the earlier mornings and the two mornings the little ones are in school- i get soooooooo much done- its amazing!

Bodie O - Soccer star! I missed his first game, but the second one last weekend - he played so well! 4 goals!!! he was unstoppable - i asked him how he got so good, he replied,"because i was zigging and zagging" and bryson walked over and said, "yeah - i taught him how to do that" -so stinkin cute! and bryson was cheering him on the sidelines...it was so sweet - ah brothers...my brother would never have gone to a dance competition and cheered for me...but maybe that is just my brother and not indicative of sibling relationships as a whole...at any rate - bryson was super proud of bodie too - and bodie is just LOVING soccer. he asks me every day if he has practice (he doesn't during the week) but wishes it were every night. Bodie is also playing with Bobby more...which is the good thing...the bad thing is that if Bobby does not wish to play whatever game with Bodie it turns ugly...Bodie feels strong emotions about that.

Bodie also started pre-school again. This is his third (and final) year. He and Bobby go 2 mornings a week for 3 hours. He has Bryson's old teacher and she is finding out how different the two boys are first hand. It's cute!  

Bryson - here he is with his golf coach - Mr. Mike Krantz - eyeing his putting line...or something...Krantz is great for Bryson - very patient and only tells him a couple of things at a time. We have noticed a lot of improvement. Bryson is in soccer and golf - in fact last weekend and this weekend is soccer games on Saturdays, golf tournament on Sunday. Bryan has been super patient with him as well - I don't know how he does it so well - 5 minutes with Bryson and homework and I'm ready to lose it! But Bryson has been doing great in both sports. He wrote in his class little introduce yourself project that when he grows up he wants to be a professional golfer. Speaking of which, he started the second grade...which is weird for me to even write that down. His teacher seems really great - and although he had a rough few weeks in the beginning -he told me the other day that he is actually starting to like school - so yay! that made me happy because my heart was breaking to see him so defeated every morning. 

Every night before bed I have been reading The Magician's Nephew to the boys. Bryson is at the perfect age for this. He gets mad every single night when I finish the chapter because C.S. Lewis does a great job at ending every chapter in some cliff hanger fashion. It has been great to see the correlations he is making on his own about the Bible and the story and it is a great springboard for conversations about big moral questions, biblical questions and also literary devices (i.e. cliff hangers). The last time I read this was 5 years ago and I only know that because I remembered blogging about it way back when. It is just as much fun for me to read it as it is for him to listen, I'm sure!

Bobby - First day of pre-school. He has Bodie's teacher from a few years ago and she is seeing what how different the last two are - ha! understatement of the year. She told us this morning, wow...that Bobby...he can sure...play! i think she was trying to find a nice way to say how exhausting he is? We are in the throes of potty training right now. yesterday he wore underwear out for the first time. I had to change him 4 times, then just put a pull up on him before his nap and never changed him out of it. He pooped in the potty 3 different times that morning and then pooped in his pull up before bed. It seems like every step forward we make, we take a step back...I know he will get there - just wasn't expecting him to be our toughest to potty train! I mean...come on...he has 3 teachers! It is hard to stay mad at that face for long. Its pretty pointless actually...he lights up our world!