Dave Matthews....and Pop?

Over the past month we've started watching concerts on tv after dinner. It started out as background music but the boys quickly got into it, becoming mesmerized by different instruments, different styles of music, different musicians. Hands down, their all-time favorite is Dave Matthews. They'll ask for his music by name ("Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, please!"). The other night while Dave Matthews was playing, Noah said, "mom! Dave Matthews has hair like Pop's!....well, except that Pop only has TWO hairs."

Couldn't pass it up. Had to include it on the blog. Love you, dad!

The Zoo!

On Monday, we met Pop & Gram at the Columbia zoo. It was so great to see them and fun to check out the animals at the same time. The boys loved it! All of the animals were out and it was pretty empty. A great combination!


Noah hanging out, watching the bears....



Checking out the baby lions -- so cute!







Griffin loved his first trip to the zoo! He mimicked animal noises and if he wasn't being held, he crouched down to get an extra good look. Too cute!


What's next? Let's check the map!







Already looking forward to our next trip to the zoo! Love you Gram & Pop!

The Presidential Truth Comes Out

Mike and I spent a very fun 30 minutes with Miles' teacher yesterday. I mean, what could be better than hearing great things and funny stories about your child? Since this blog is the one place I now store all of these precious memories, here are few highlights:

Election Day
On school election day, Miles' teacher hung up pictures of the candidates and told the kids about the election process. Someone asked how to tell the candidates apart. She told them that if they 'looked closely' they should be able to see differences. She said Miles immediately raised his hand and announced to the class "I really like Barack Obama because he has big ears!" He then proceeded to the art center where he drew a picture of Obama and then single-handedly led the class in a "Go Barack Obama!" chant (raise the roof style). Love the passion -- regardless of the way he determined his presidential choice!

Hats
Miles' teacher told us that how much he loves art. She said a lot of the kids in the class love art this year -- but she said that Miles loves art all-the-time. She said that many of the kids love art during their "center time", but Miles spends a lot of time on his drawings when he's doing in class assignments, etc.. She also said that whenever the have "open center time", he usually selects the art center and she said that recently he's taken to making hats. She said that he first draws/cuts out a picture which becomes the front emblem for the hat, then he cuts strips of paper and staples them together until they all fit around his head. She said he'll often make one in the morning and wear it all day. She said that he has started a trend of kids wanting to make hats just like his. Love it!

Math
Turns out that Miles has quite an aptitude for mathematical concepts -- another characteristic to make him a mini-Mike. I'd better get studying if I'm going to help him with his homework while Mike's on the road (either that or we'll need to invest in some video-cams by 3rd grade!).

Spot Sound Challenge
I wrote in an earlier post about Miles' earning the Spot Sound Challenge (demonstrating knowledge of all of the letter sounds). Miles' teacher said that Miles was the student most excited about accomplishing the challenge. She said that its the first year that she's given out medals (she used to give our stickers) and that Miles will often arrive to classroom in the morning wearing it (he keeps it in his book bag). She was beaming when she told us (so excited that her teaching/testing method had such an exciting impact on Miles, I think).

Standing His Ground
Miles' teacher told us that he has really come out of his shell since school started, which is great to hear. She also said that he gets along with everyone but is definitely not the type of kid that will be pushed into doing something that he doesn't want to do. She said, "oh...Miles will stand his ground!" Hallelujah!

It was the only conference we'll have all year...from now on we'll just be getting report cards (report cards?!). Hard to believe how quickly Miles is growing up...but so much to be thankful for.

Have You Voted Yet?

Miles came home from school on Wednesday with an "I voted" sticker.

Brooke: What did you vote for?
Miles: The president!
Brooke: Oh? Who did you vote for?
Miles: Well, Ms Derrick told us not to tell friends at our table who we were going to vote for. But, X said he was going to vote for MaJohn Cain and Y said he was going to vote for Barack Obama. So, I was going to vote for MaJohn Cain, but then I saw what he looked like. I didn't like what he looked like, so I decided to vote for Barack Obama. I really like Barack Obama. Who are you voting for mommy?
Brooke: I'm still deciding (I know, probably the last person in America that is slightly undecided)

For the rest of the night Miles tortured me about it. He'd say things like, "If you want Barack Obama to win, raise your hand now.....Mommy, raise your hand!" The next day Miles came home with a picture.

Brooke: Who is that a picture of?
Miles: Mom, its Barack Obama. Our president! He won at our school, so I drew his picture during art free time.



Wonder if the bat is Joe Biden? In flight for his daily hour & a half trip home?

Trick or Treat!

Griffin fueled up on a waffle before our big night out (it also provided time for his killer hair-do to dry!).



All three boys -- ready to roll! Noah was Woody the Cowboy from Toy Story, Griffin was JackJack from the Incredibles, and Miles -- who knows? He called himself a power ranger but I think he might have been dressed as a Star Wars character (it's a hand-me-down from some neighbors).


Our neighbors Allison, Thad & baby Jack hosted an awesome Halloween party for our side of the neighborhood. They hung decorations, laid out a festive spread, and had Halloween candle bags lining the entire length of the street. (Allison is also the one who handmade Griffin's awesome birth announcements. She is amazing!)






Hanging out in the cul-de-sac was fun! There were friends to play and climb with, trees to play "peek-a-boo" around, and pre-trick-or-treating snacks to eat. What could be better?!



Then, we were off to trick-or-treat! We hit about a dozen houses before the boys decided they'd rather just run around and play. It was so much fun -- and we look forward to many years of this great tradition!

Warming Up for Halloween

We had some family friends and a few neighbors over for a little Halloween party last weekend. It was fun to start the festivities a full week early. The kids had a blast running around in their costumes and everyone ended up playing until well after dark.


Mike wore his Incredibles t-shirt and I made Griffin at Jack-Jack costume.
My costume? Wonder Mother! (named by Mike)
Fictitious super power? Ability to conquer all whining (wouldn't that be an amazing power?)


Mike posing as a vampire. Mike, Shannon & I drew these characters on a sheet. It was fun to make and play with at the party.


Our cute niece Mason in her pink WonderWoman costume.


Aunt Dana hooking Miles up at the face painting table. She and Brad had quite a hopping station for awhile!


Noah took a stand at the last minute and decided NOT to dress up. He still looked cute!


Shannon wore the family twinkie costume. First Lindsey (college?), then me (last year). Next up: Dana!

Check out more pictures of us and our friends here:
Beware: there are a lot of them and my camera was on the wrong setting (bummer!).

Happy Birthday Grandpa Bob!

We love, love, love you!
xoxoxo Mike, Brooke, Miles, Noah & Griffin

In Good Company

It was chilly today in Charlotte, but at the urging of Griffin (which means that while holding his crocs and standing in front of the door, he yelled "shoes! shoes!" until I put them on him and we left the house) we bundled up and had a ball at the playground. The park was practically empty, except for two little boys each there with their moms. No joke -- one was named Noah, the other was named Griffin.





Griffin is adventurous and determined. Everything that Noah does, Griffin wants to do -- only he takes it up a notch and includes his 'lovie of the day' as well (one handed maneuvering up the climbing wall was interesting!). Its fun that they are starting to really enjoy the same things. Now if I could just get Noah to mimic Griffin and take an afternoon nap....

Reunion

Shannon and Mason came to visit this weekend -- and it was another awesome reunion of the cousins. The kids had so much fun together (we adults did too!) and within an hour of their departure Miles said, "mommy, when can we go to Mason's house?". We're all looking forward the next visit already!


Miles drew this picture for Mason. Love the big smiles, the sun shining and the hand holding!

Happy Birthday, Peggy!

Happy Birthday Peggy/Mom/Grandma! We wish you lived next door so that we could run over and celebrate with you. We love you! xoxoxo
Brooke, Mike, Miles, Noah & Griffin

Photo by Hope Bray

October Milestones

Miles continues to love school. He's enjoying spending time with new friends and doing fun things at school (computers, library, art, PE, recess, Wednesday 'dessert day' and Fun Fridays - when the kids get a special treat, if they've been good all week). He also LOVES riding the bus. Its really cute to see him hop off the bus in the afternoon and hear lots of little voices yell out "bye, Miles!"

Over the past couple of years, Miles has been very emphatic that he is friends with 'boys only'. Of course, there are exceptions -- including his self-described 'best friend/cousin Mason' and family & neighborhood friends that are girls. He's told me since Day 1 of Kindergarten that he is not friends with the girls at school -- but I'm wondering if things are beginning to change. Yesterday he mentioned a girl's name when talking about a game he played at recess (that was huge!) and then in the early evening, while playing after music class, he attempted to kiss his neighborhood friend Sydney! He didn't quite lean in far enough, so there wasn't a connection. It happened in a split section and I happened to catch it -- I shocked me and I think Miles shocked himself (I can't imagine it will happen again anytime soon). Too funny and really cute!

Last night Miles said, "mommy, why are some kids faster than me and better at basketball than me?" I explained that God made us all with special gifts and talents -- so some kids will be naturally better than other kids at things but that God made us all with a very special talent. I also explained that he can get better at things by practicing a lot (like the way he gets better at drawing and building things because he practices them so much). He thought for a minute and said, "mommy, I'd really like to be good at baseball. I want to start practicing hitting the ball a LOT." I'm excited to add "pitcher" to my list of motherhood responsibilities!


Noah is passionate! At 3 1/2, he has a lot of personality -- and is either really high (very affectionate, super funny) or really low (crabby, crabby, crabby). He hates to miss any of the action, so sleep is taboo. His latest excuse is that his bed it "too small", so he prefers to sleep on the hallway floor outside his room or in the guest room bed. Averaging about 7 hours of sleep each night (and no naps) puts him in a perfect position to unleash a melt-down anytime he's slightly unhappy. On the way to church on Sunday, Noah was telling me what he planned to do after church. Miles piped up with an excited, "I have an idea...!" Noah snapped back, "you. do not. have. an idea!!!" He yelled it with such passion (and it was such a ridiculous statement) that I couldn't help but hide my giggles from the front before disciplining him. Its about par for the course these days. On the up side, he loves to play with his brothers and has been really cute about including Griffin in playtime. They are already great pals. He's also determined to write his name and has mastered the "O" and "H". Once he gets the entire thing down pat I'm sure he'll be labeling everything he owns!


Griffin continues to change quickly! He's getting the hang of shape-sorter toys, he enjoys reading and can point to more pictures in books (e.g. where is the firetruck?), he yells the word "shoes!" often (which signals take me to strap them on and take him outside now), and he waves goodbye and blows kisses at night. He's becoming more independent and will venture into the playroom for a little solo fun. He seems to understand most of what we say and he's starting to RUN. Can't wait until he starts talking more...I have a feeling he's going to be pretty funny!


Photos by Hope Bray

The Amazing Maize

We checked out the Amazing Maize with our neighbors, Shawne, Evan & Sydney. Welcome Fall!


Noah was ready with his map and gave a pre-game pep-talk to Griffin.


The kids loved taking turns carrying the flag (typically held above the corn stalks so that your group can be accounted for).








All of the kids were totally into it! They ran around the maze looking for clues and puzzle pieces to attach to their maps. Griffin wanted to run and keep up with the big kids -- that is until he passed a mud puddle (then he stomped and splashed away).





Playing in the haystacks and pumpkin patch afterwards was fun, too!