The Three Amigos

Be Afraid. Be. Very. Afraid. 

My camera has been in retirement, well stuck in the closet since Christmas for the most part and probably a while before then. I just wasn't in the mood. I have been consumed with decorating, homeschooling, Kourtney and Kloe taking New York (not really) but you get my point. I just wasn't in the picture taking mood. Wednesday afternoon the boys came over and I watched them play from the comfy couch in the den while Kourtney and Kloe made something ridiculous and morally lacking entertaining, but not really. And I noticed something- there were three boys growing up before my eyes- seemingly a million years older than they were just two weeks ago. They were sweet. They were loud. They were having fun running with sticks- don't tell Gloria or the Kinneys:) and playing in the dirt. I ran so fast for my camera and tried my little heart out to snap a few precious photos of passing time....

and I love them all. 

  this guys is too cool for school. so serious here. he must be planning my attack. every time I would try to sneak out and catch these three, Cole would heroically warn the brood, "Jeee, uur mooom is coing." and they would run off. I mean really- look at that face! Jack has something up his sleeve or someone just said poop. 

  

how did this happen? no, I didn't necesarily mean the cockatoo hair- but well that's a good question, too. I meant the last 6.9 years- because I refuse to believe that in two weeks that big-eyed baby with the squishy round cheeks

 is going to be seven...

Cole was determined not to look at me. I tried to be sneaky. He's too smart for that. I tried to bribe him with candy- but my pockets could not hold enough. So it's very fortunate my favorite shots are side glances at sweet squishy smiling cheeks. I love sweet squishy cheeks. I love them so much when that when I say sweet squishy cheeks my face crinkles and I pucker my lips. I might even make kissy sounds.

I love the story Jett is telling. I do not have a clue what it was about. I was not privy to this classified spy knight ninja cowboy secret agent file explanation. Boys only. No Moms. and definitely no cameras.

I am serious. Really, Really, Really Serious.

 Maybe.

Homeschool: January

Starting back has been great. Jett and I agreed to longer school days, more rigorous math and reading, and more fun... So for January, I think we have set a great precedent for the rest of the year. I don't want these month wrap-ups to seem like every day is the best ever, or like I've got it all figured out, or that Jett is the perfect kid, or that this whole experience is just dreamy:) We don't always want to do school. We don't always have good attitudes. We don't always do school. We don't always have order or a lesson plan. But we have a few goals to guide us and lots of forgiveness and lots of recess and I,  of course take pictures on our best days:) Homeschooling is a learning process for all of us. And a major focus of our curriculum is to instill a love of learning into Jett. By learning ourselves and growing as needed and sometimes forced the rest of Kindergarten is sure to be just peaches....or all recess. 

The Dirty Dozen

#1 SPARKS is awesome! 

#2 Area: rectangle and square

3# Money, Money, Money, Money- MONEY!

#4 John 1:1-2 in English AND Latin

#5 Atoms and what the heck is an Atomic Number?

#6 Grandma Moses lived to 101 and didn't start painting until she was 80!

#7 Georgia O'Keefe painted how she wanted- not what her art instructors told her to paint. Thank goodness!

#8 The 14th Ammendment and the Industrial Revolution, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Swift can be sung in such a way that 

Bob Dylan could not compete.

#9 The Rocky Mountains are more massive than we realized. Colorado has more than just Pikes Peak to be proud of. We really want to go to Washington and see the Cascade Mountains. 

#10 Phonics is a snap. Book 5- here we come!

#9 Laura Ingalls read from a McGuffey Primer in Little House- and we have seen it with our own eyes- therefore it must be cool and read daily. 

#11 Measuring and Graphing don't necessarily need excel or even a ruler!

#12 It takes a village to learn to tie your shoes-

 or at least some helpful cousins and 

some 70's Sesame Street on You Tube!

We also went to the library and did some stocking up and some rediscovering...

Books:

Puff the Magic Dragon

The Magic Boots- my personal favorite

Magic Tree House- Ghost Town at Sundown

If You Lived at the Time of the Civil War

Grandma Essie's Covered Wagon

A Picture Book of Abe Lincoln

A Picture Book of Robert E Lee

Francis Scott Key and "The Star-Spangled Banner"

Lewis and Clark, Explorers of the American West

Bumble-Ardy- a definite must read!

The Coin Counting Book- really cool- Jett poured out his piggy bank and lined up all of his coins with the pictures in the books to count all of his booty- a whopping $20+ in change!

Bob Books (set 1 and 2)

McGuffey Primer (Lessons 1-10)

American Poems and Folk Tales: 

Yankee Doodle

Davy Crocket Meets His Match

Buffalo Gal

Billy Boy- my Grandpa used to sing this!

Clementine- he also sang this!

Good or Bad?

Winter Poems:

Something Told the Wild Geese

Oregon Winter

I Heard a Bird Sing

Moon

A Merry Note

***Oh and some of the more fun of our new year plan:

farm exploring!

 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

   I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule,   which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked,  but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds  

            the one who trusts in him. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; 

sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Psalm 32:8-11

Great Wolf 2012

Great Wolf 2012 was another Great adventure! We headed out on Sunday, January 8 and spent two days slidin' away...
(You must revisit Great Wolf 2011.
it is a most amazing and completely earth-shattering event.)

The excitement of my first slide, which is to happen in no less than 4 hours is so strong, its blinding, and I must close my eyes. Really. 

 Mel, Bryan, and the kids headed north to the lodge this year. So, we met Mom and Dad at their house and then headed south, with a quick stop at Chili's in Gainesville....this Chili's is really good. I don't know why, but seriously it tastes better than any Chili's close to home. seriously.

 In typical Bradford Family Vacation tradition- we were early....so we went to downtown Grapevine and did some window shopping and Jett and Grandpop had some frozen yogurt...

Grandopop had never been to one of the fancy new fill your own cup yogurt shops- he ended up with over eight ounces of ice cream and toppings in his little cup...if a little is good- a lot is better, right!? 

Once we met up and checked in-

 we were dressed and ready for a swimmy good time in no time flat...The excitement of this group was uncontainable, immeasurable, and it had been building for a year....

Uncle Bryan zippin' up the younguns...Mel and I were already on our way to the slide...not really. I took this one, maybe...

Mel and me before our run, or race to the top, without a kiddo in site.

Who said this place was for kids?

but- sorry about the crazy eyes, I know they are very scary. Like I said- I was really excited about this trip- the kind of excitement that can only bear eyes such as this...

Let me explain the following- It was so fun Mel was automatically dreaming of our next run or maybe she just swallowed a bunch of water after we tipped over, violently and unexpectedly. And, I had more fun than is legal except at the Great Wolf and I am giddy...and doing the ugly and quite possibly honking giggle that is only reserved for very rare occasions in which no one has a camera. Except, my mom brought hers to the swimmin' hole...how unfortunate...

 Jett's first toilet bowl- this is not the slides actual name- but none of us know the real name. it is absolutely the funnest slide. pretty sure I went down this no less than 100 times each day.  I might dream of this slide at night. I wish Mitch could attach one to the hot tub deck...

and this is run one-hundred twenty five, at least...

the wavy pool. the kids spent hours in the wavy pool. they begged to stay in a little longer...with or without waves.

 

Love this pic. My Dad always has the greatest faces- can't you see all the mischief and all the trauma his toddler self must have caused his Mother or teenage self to his high school English teacher? 

Emma is so focused with her next move, I can't even stand on my head while shaking maracas with my feet to get her attention. Mckaylea wants to strangle me or the camera or both, so she can get her sweet tush on a slide-Stat!

Jett was over the moon that he was tall enough to ride everything. I wish I had a picture of his face when he shot out of the Tornado. It was one of shear terror, even his toes were tense, his eyes were nearly spilling over with tears- except for that one little telling twinkle...

His exact words were,

"Mom, that was so scary, but also so fun.

It. WAS. AWESOME."

 He still needed a little reassurance from Grandpop,

 that they did, in fact, have a good time.

Mischief is genetic and non-stop when the grands are together.

These two yahoos are trying to drag Grandmom to the Tornado. She said no. Yes- NO to her very persuasive and very adorable grandsons. This was day two. 

One day of the Tornado was all Grandmom needed to meet 

her water slide quota for this year boys.  

Lily pads are tough....really tough. Trust me. 

and Jett and Emma and My Dad:)

The Parting Shot

not really, we ate here for breakfast in the middle of sleeping and sliding. not only did we eat, we also went shopping and quite possibly took a nap. 

This is the only photo, however of all of us dressed...and dry, 

so we'll just pretend it really is our parting shot. 

Here's to another great year full of unforgettable memories 

and to Great Wolf 2013...here we come!

.

Ringin' in 2012

I spent New Year's Eve in the ICU. Not exactly the first place
I was wanting to spend the evening. But, we made the most of our night
 and we even added a little spice...

I love my coworkers at Mercy. They are wonderful. Always willing to help, listen, give some words of wisdom, and of course have a good time:)



Mitch and Jett spent the night playing hide and go seek and having pillow fights. Their usual guys night festivities...
and were in bed by about 9...our usual New Years Eve!


We make it a point to discuss goals and plans for the year- ranging from health to silliness.  And for the most part this year we all had one consistent theme running, nothing serious, just a focus and an attitude encompassing our home and our family; one that enjoys every countless blessing, one that is joyful, and one that is thankful always for God's continued provision.
Happy New Year!