All 3 of my babies are growing up!

Aleczander's whole 7 weeks of acting as a peer model for preschool have come to an end.  In those 7 weeks though, I feel like he learned a whole lot.  He sings new songs, he knows how to draw the letter A like a champ and he knows new words. He has always been incredibly social but I feel that this really enhanced it. Last week they had a small "Preschool Celebration" for his class where they got certificates and sang a couple of songs and had some cake.  It was cute.

 

With his teacher, Ms. Vanessa.

Proud momma.

Couldn't do it without Grandma.

Proud Daddy.

If I feel like he has learned so much in only 7 weeks, I can only imagine how much he will grow when school starts back up after the summer.  Of course, he doesn't have any grasp on the fact that school is over for now, so he still asks daily if he is going to school.  He really liked school and Ms. Vanessa.  She will be his teacher again next year so that will be really good.

What was not good about the time in school was that in the short 7 weeks he was there, he came down with 3 stomach bugs and 2 colds.  Crazy stuff, those germs.  The silver lining I am looking at though is that even though it isn't pleasant, maybe him bringing home all these germs will help make is easier when it's Jolie's turn to join the school world.

Overall, Alec is a charming, loving, smart, FUNNY, charismatic little boy.  The world would be a dull place without him in it.

In 10 days, we will be headed back to Houston  for 9 days to enjoy some family time, some BBQ, and to celebrate 2 graduations; my nephew, Nigel and Alfred's little sister, Abby. The thought that those 2 are already old enough to graduate, drive, and vote is just mind boggling. We are happy we will be able to be there with them though and we cannot wait to spend some time with our loved ones.  Just like when me moved to Arizona, I'm pretty nervous about flying with the kids. Especially since it is a morning flight when they are the most alert and Jolie isn't exactly a "sit in your lap and chill" kind of baby.

Watching Blue's Clues.  

She is a book loving, crayon/pen adoring kind of baby though.  

My baby girl loves going to the library with my mom and picking out books to bring home.  At home, she sits on the arm rest of our couch with my mom and goes through books pointing at pictures with a smile on her face. From one of her favorite books (a book of first words) she has added many new words like nose, lion, tummy, hair, bow, bath, keys and eyes to her vocabulary.  My baby girl is so stinking smart.  She hates being fed and insists on feeding herself with a spoon or fork at each meal.  She loves loves loves her kanky (blankie) and loves her thumb.  And we love her.  

Loving that thumb and "kanky."

Alfred is officially getting old and in the last year of his 20's now. For his birthday last week, we went out to eat at an Italian restaurant called Oregano's so he could have some "Italian Gold" wings and a pizookie (pizza cookie).

Birthday Boy.

After dinner, we got on Facetime with his sisters, mom and dad so they could all sing happy birthday to him.  I was still in the process of baking his cake for him and since Texas is 2 hours ahead of us, I didn't want to keep every up too late waiting for it.  So as a cake stand in, I put 1 Fig Newton in each cup of a muffin baking pan and divided up the 29 candles among them for him to blow out.  Improvisation is a quality I clearly possess.  Getting everyone on Facetime simultaneously with limited devices proved to be more difficult than anticipated but we worked it out. But after that, I started to research some other group video alternatives.  What I discovered was Google Hangouts which allows up to 10 people to video chat together at one time.  We are excited to try it out soon! 

In honor of my love's birthday, here is a top 10 for him:

10 of the millions of things that I love about my husband

1. His un-wavering good attitude and upbeat personality.
2. The way he smells.
3. His sense of humor.
4. The way he loves his whole family but has a special place in his heart for his momma and his sisters.
5. How he can talk about food for hours on end.
6. The way he plays with our kids.
7. How smart he is with math.
8. The way he fist pumps after he takes a first bite of some good food.
9. How we can strike up a conversation with a total stranger about absolutely anything.
10. The fact that after almost 10 years of being together, he still makes me feel special.

Well that's the latest on my 3 babies who are all growing up so quickly.  Before I know it, it will be Alec's turn to graduate, Jolie will be driving and Alfred will still be doing stuff like this...

  

Love ya, babe!!

I would't want you any other way. <3