Sunday Sweet- Brothers

"Sometimes being a brother is better than being a superhero." ~ Marc Brown

No one wanted a baby brother more than Ryan...

... here is the story of Ryan and Lucas.

I should first state and Andrew is very 'type a,' and Grace is one step bossier and more outgoing than that....

But Ryan and Lucas are a very different story. When Lu was born, Andrew wanted another girl and since he didn't get his way, he pouted. Grace was too young to care and I think was just happy that her diva status wasn't interfered with. Ryan wanted a little brother... soooooo bad. When he came out, he looked just like Ryan and that was all it took.. Ryan was in love. Ryan was 4 years old when Lu was born. He followed us around the house, was constantly fussing over him, watching him sleep, giving him his blanket, offering to get me diapers.... you get the point. I sometimes found Ryan asleep with a pillow and blanket on the floor next to Lucas's crib. It was precious.

Lucas must remember this, becuase anytime he needs anything (and 4 yr olds have needs occasionally) he goes to Ryan. When he gets hurt, he seeks out Ryan to kiss it. When he needs help reaching something, he asks Ryan. I even remember once, when Ryan got a splat on the hand for something and was sent to his room, he called for Lucas to come kiss it. Ryan never leaves Lu out of anything, even offering for Lu to be on his 'team' when the kids play football, baseball or even Clue.

These are the brothers you read about in stories.... I can't wait to see them as adults. I so want to call one of my children, only to have them tell me they will have to call me back because they are on the other line with one of their siblings. I love watching the brotherhood between Lucas and Ryan... it makes me proud as a mother.

cravings....

And before you ask, NO, I am NOT pregnant.... but I would rename my first born for some guac and chips right now... that's all :)

Saturday Songbook

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song and highly reccomend you buying this album on iTunes asap!

American Honey

Lady Antebellum

She grew up on the side of the road,

Where the church bells ring and strong love grows.

She grew up good, she grew up slow...

Like American Honey.

Steady as a preacher, free as a weed,

Couldn't wait to get going,

Wasn't quite ready to leave.

So innocent pure and sweet,

American honey.

Get caught in the race of this crazy life,

Trying to be everything can make you lose your mind.

I just wanna go back in time,

To American honey.

There's a wild wind whisper blowin in the wind.

Callin out my name like a long lost friend

Oooh nothin's sweeter than summertime,

And American honey...

Beautiful lunch date

Kids and iPods

This was too sweet not to share. First I should mention that I am very blessed to work in a very 21st century school, where technology is valued. I have two old iPhones that I use as iPod Touches and have added educational apps to reinforce skills we are working on. I also had an iPod Classic checked out from the library, on which I've loaded pod casts . This picture is of two students who completed their station work early and asked if they could investigate what I 'hide on the iPod.' I let them look and they made several suggestions of pod casts I could use for future lessons. I just love how intently they are learning and how they squeezed into one little chair! I love what I do...

Family Friday

I'm rather excited about our Friday family fun night... Our school is hosting a 'Family Movie Night' where all the students and their families can bring quilts and blankets and set up on the cafeteria floor and watch a movie. The students voted and it was chosen that 'G-Force' is what will be playing... who doesn't want to see guinea pigs save the world or something like that... ? I hope we have a good turn out! I also hope I get to enjoy it as a parent and don't have to put my 'teacher' hat on too many times... but that's an entirely different post.... HAPPY FRIDAY!

Andrew & Brenen

Andrew and Brenen met in 2nd grade. They were both new to their school and ended up on the same soccer team. It didn't take long for them to become fast friends. Brenen's mom and I took a little longer... I was not too sociable that first season... I had just started my first 'real' job teaching FIRST grade (undoubtedly one of the hardest), and I was in an overwhelm induced fog... fast forward a few months, and Christine and I realized we had a LOT in common! And it's all history from there... the boys will miss each other more than Christine and I even realize. The silver lining is that they are moving to San Diego and have invited us to come visit.... wouldn't it be cool for Andrew and me to hop a plane to California for a long weekend this summer??? I think so!

But for now, Burney family, know that you will be missed and you will all be in our prayers as you find your way in your new life 1,500 miles away from us. We love you and when I come, I'm bringing champagne!

Thursday Thoughts

Today, I've been thinking about my 'Love Language.' This book was very popular a few years ago and thought it might shed some light on how my husband and I communicate and express our feelings to each other. One simple google search led me here, where I took a quiz to see my true love language. Here are the results in order:

• Words of Affirmation (10)


• Quality Time (7)


• Physical Touch (6)


• Receiving Gifts (4)


• Acts of Service (3)

I mostly agree with this. I work hard. I do a lot, not to discredit Stacey... he does a lot too, but somehow saying "way to sell that cell phone, babe!" doesn't seem appropriate. I like to be told 'thank you.' I swoon when he puts my face in his hands, looks me in the eye and tells me he's proud of me and that he loves me. If this were my true, only love language, he made out like a bandit! Words are free! I don't require money, time, manual labor... just a voice, HIS voice, telling me he sees me and what I do... he respects what I have accomplished.

However, I do really think my second love language is receiving gifts, and my husband has that one down! He came to school Monday at lunch, just to bring me a Chi latte from Starbucks. Once, at the mall, he told me to go on ahead, that he'd meet me at a particular store in a few minutes, then preceded to go into a jewelry store to buy me a diamond Eiffel Tower necklace. Every year without fail, he presents me with a box (or 10) of Thin Mints because, let's be real, they are AWESOME! There's more... eggnog milkshakes, pints of Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey, lenses, camera batteries, lens caps... (yes, I DO realize I'm a little strange.. I get it from my mother!)

But it's not the tangible gift that touches my heart. It's that, in our crazy/busy lives, where we are at full throttle from dusk till dawn, he thinks of me. Not only does he think of me, but he takes time out of his day to show me that he was thinking of me.

We've been married over 10 years and I am truly blessed that he works so hard to keep the romance alive!

SNOW!

On Tuesday it snowed here in College Station. I'm not quite sure how much we got, only that it was enough to make the kids go WILD! Around 2:20, I bundled up my class of 18 first graders and we headed outside... I was in ballet flats which was AWESOME! They played for a bit, I got some cute pictures, then we went back in to defrost before ushering them out the door, to go home and play in their own yards.
Once I got the kids home, they entertained themselves for what seemed like HOURS, throwing snowballs, making a rather creative (for lack of a better word) snowman, and making snow angels.
Many hours and hot baths later, they had no trouble going to sleep. After all, because of the 'winter storm,' school had a late start and we were all able to sleep until 8:15! Snow is great about once a year, but there is a REASON I live in Texas (also known as the bi-polar weather state). To Texas kids, snow is magical. That is one of the many reasons I love that my life revolves around children!