Update on Buttercup (the dead snake)

Poor Gibby. My poor son has one of the most sensitive hearts that I know and he feels loss and happiness and emotion in general much more than the rest of our children.

Every day for the last week, when we have gotten home, he has immediately headed to the backyard and gone digging for Buttercup. I have been concerned that him seeing the snake in a continually deteriorating state, could be more detrimental than her dying and us burying her in the first place. Then, another part of me has wanted to let him explore and discover nature on his own, without me constantly intruding upon his learning.

Last night, during our prayer before dinner, I finally had an "aha" moment. He was praying, and ended his prayer with the request that Buttercup would be ready and waiting for him in heaven when he gets there. At first, I was struck with how sweet, and how full of faith his request was, and then the "aha" hit me. He has been digging her up everyday because he is waiting for her to be taken to heaven. He has been checking to make sure that she made it. A couple of days ago, he came in and said that he couldn't find her. In his mind, she finally went. The difference between the body and the soul is 100 percent escaping him.

Funny Things Kids Say

This week at school have brought some really funny things that some of the students have said.

We were studying about Mozart one day this week and I started off with, "Today we are talking about Mozart. Who knows who Mozart was?"
One of the students raised his hand, "Wasn't he the guy with the big boat and all of the animals?"
My team teacher and I both started laughing. I guess that if you say "Noah's Ark" really fast and squished together, it sounds a whole lot like "Mozart."

Another day we were practicing our upcoming veteran's day program and we are singing an armed forces medley of songs. At the beginning of each song the words say, "Hail to the ___! (army, navy, marines, etc.)"
We had finished the class period and the kids were dismissing when one of the little girls stopped at the door and said, "I don't think that we should be singing these songs. My mom says that 'hell' is a bad word." Then she turned and walked out the door.

I really do love working with kids...

Grace's First Soccer Game

We have been so busy since school started that I hardly have time to keep up with much besides my family! Weekends are for catching up, right?!
Today was Grace's first soccer game. When we moved to the area, we decided to drop gymnastics and try something new for awhile. She is loving soccer and having a good time. I never thought that I would have so much fun watching a soccer game, but I had a lot of fun watching her play.
When we signed up, they asked Shane if he would be interested in helping out and he told them he would be happy to be an assistant coach. They saw "sucker" stamped on his forehead and immediately made him the head coach. He is doing an excellent job and the kids all seem to like him.
Grace was playing defense today and looking tough. I overheard a girl from the other team tell her dad "that white girl down there is tough!" That's my girl! :)
While we were cheering Gracie on, the other three were playing on the sidelines under the tree. Actually, Hayden was really the only one playing...
Gib was mad at me and was shooting daggers with his eyes...
If looks could kill, right? I went over there and threatened him with his life...
We eventually made up. He is off to his first Cub Scouts event. Oh, life is getting busier by the second! Hayden is begging to start karate. I keep putting him off because I am tired...
This one kept telling me very sweetly, "Landry want to go home. Please hold me?"
This is the first weekend of the soccer season, so I am sure there are more weekends just like this to come...

Rest in Peace, Buttercup.

Yesterday morning we found Buttercup not moving in her box. She is actually Gibson's snake and he was very upset. As soon as he heard that she might not be with us, he ran down the stairs and picked her up out of the box. He was straightening her out, crying, and doing everything but mouth to mouth to try and bring her back. He wanted us to rush her to the vet's office. It was very sad. We had a small funeral for her in the backyard. (Gib keeps digging her back up to make sure that she is still there.)

The other kids were pretty upset as well. The tears were falling pretty fast. Every time everyone would start to calm back down, Hayden would break in with, "She will always live in our hearts." or "We will never have as a good a pet as Buttercup." or "She will live forever in heaven." and everyone would start up again. It was a cry fest of epic proportions. Shane was trying to get everyone to calm down and started making promises of another pet to replace Buttercup. I was shooting daggers at him with my eyes.

Hayden also pointed out to everyone that we went from having four pets to just one. That went over with lots more crying. (We let the two turtles go before we moved because they were getting so large.) So for now, we are back to just having Jones (the dog). We'll see if we add to our family again.

Landry is 4!

This girl is 4 years old! She is a spitfire ball of energy and mischief and we love hanging out with her and loving on her.
For her birthday, she requested a princess birthday. She went back and forth between The Little Mermaid and Cinderella, but finally settled on Cinderella. She was thrilled to get a Cinderella dress up dress.
This gift was the highlight. She was so excited! Daddy also got her a makeup set. (He didn't realize that it was real, with goopy pink stuff.) Landry paints Dad's toenails everyday. His nails are permanently stained a nice pink. haha!
We ordered an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins and she couldn't be happier.

We are proud of the girl that she is becoming. She is growing up so fast right in front of us!

First Day of School

I am waaaayyy behind. Better late than never, right? This was our first day of school. All the new outfits and excitement of new backpacks, lunch boxes and supplies led to this moment right here. Red eyes, half awake and Landry refusing to be in the picture (what's new?). This particular morning was extra filled with nerves as we were all headed to a brand new school with new friends, a building that no one could remember how to get around and new procedures.

We are all really enjoying our new school. We leave for school at 6:30 a.m. with breakfast in hand and start our day. We are finding our place and settling in.