Preschool - Month Four

Raegen had a short month of preschool for December. He started the month with the "bear bag". The children each rotate taking it home and bringing it back to school filled with their favorite things. This is the second time he's gotten to take home the "bear bag". He took his biggest truck and a little tractor to show the class.

I'm very thankful that his preschool focused on Christ for the Christmas season. Afterall, Jesus is the Gift!

We have never discussed Santa with Raegen, choosing rather to focus on Christ and the Christmas Truth. However, it's amazing what kids can pick up from stores, television, and other people! I've gotten a real kick out of his response to others when they ask him what Santa is going to bring him,

"nuthin'"...

of course they think it's because he's been a bad boy. haha He tells them that his daddy and mommy give him things, not Santa. Despite all that, unless we lock him in the house and throw away the key, he is going to encounter "Santa" and that's okay. In fact, Santa came to his school to visit all the children.

{I was so proud of Raegen as he patiently waited his turn.}

And Santa brought him a book.

And little brother was there to witness it all as well!

So I did something I've never done before...I took their picture with Santa!!

And if Elmo was there, I would have taken their picture with him too! :) Our goal is not to say that Santa is bad or wrong or ANYTHING...our goal is to make sure Raegen understands that Christmas is NOT about Santa, but rather Christ. I don't really care if he likes Santa or thinks he's real. He thinks Elmo is real too. I just don't want him to think that Santa magically comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve and leaves him presents under the tree. I really don't want him concerned with gifts at all, but let's get real...he's a kid!! :) I think if we teach him now that Jesus is the Gift and Christmas is a time each year for us to celebrate his birth and share him with others that eventually that will sink in and that's what Christmas will mean to him as well.
I pray so.

{he has already asked if we can bring Jesus home on Christmas}

Okay, enough of that soapbox. ;)
After Santa gave each of the children a book, they returned to their classroom and opened them. I LOVE the way Raegen's was wrapped. How cute is that?!

After they all opened their gifts it was time to PAR-TAY!!! But before they dug in they asked the blessing and it was the first time I had seen them do so. It was so adorable. All in unison they said,

"tick-tock, tick-tock {something like...} now it's time to bow our heads and say our prayers. God is great, God is good. Let us thank him for our food. Amen."

Precious.

And just as precious were their cupcakes! I wanted to just eat this one up, but it was Raegen's and he would have fought to the death. haha

He came home with the cutest little party favors, but I have yet to photograph them. I promise to do that and share because they are too cute and perfect to file in an "idea book".

Now we're on Christmas break and busy, busy, busy going here, there, and everywhere to visit all our family and friends.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Let's play!!

We've had some great playgroups the past few weeks. The local play place is always a fave for Raegen and Lynden is now old enough to enjoy the ballpit in the toddler section...

He thought the wall of mirrors was fun too!

Raegen, however, had a pretty rough time. Nothing seemed to be going his way...he fell and bumped his nose, he fell and bumped his head, he couldn't make it through some difficult parts of the maze, it was just hard, hard, hard!! :)

So we got a good pic and hit the road!! Who has time for tears? Not this momma! ;)

Last week we enjoyed a playgroup at the Museum of Discovery. Of course Raegen's favorite area to play is at the train tables. He eventually ventured out and explored a few other areas.

Right now there is a bug/pest exhibit and it is FULL of creepy crawlies!! This is the only picture I'll share because I don't think you could stomach the rest...roaches, and rats, and bed bugs, oh my!!

Of all the things the kids got to see that day, this {FREE sighting of a} barge just might have been the highlight of their day!! ha

By the time we got everyone loaded up it was time to EAT!!! Lynden and I have a lot in common when it's time to eat,

no patience! ;)

I needed food and I needed it 30 minutes ago, so we treated ourselves to Olive Garden.

Oh. Yummy. Goodness.

{breadsticks...salad...oooh...ahhh}

Note to self, when two adults walk in a restaurant with six kids the host will look around in search of more adults. I don't think we met the adult:child ratio. However, we did meet the "there are eight people in your party {though two are under one year and required no service} and therefore you will be charged gratuity".

ha.

No kidding.

I've never had that happen before when I've dined with a girlfriend and our kiddos.

After lunch we headed to a model train exhibit at the William H. Laman Library.


The kids loved it!

of course.

We are so privileged to have so many great exhibits and museums available to share with our kids. Playgroup is on hold for a few weeks as we enjoy the holiday's with our families. So excited at what next year will hold!

Lynden Rucker - 9 months

Lynden Rucker,

you are now NINE months old!!!

After nine months of living with you, we know the most important thing to you is...

FOOD!!!

{haha}

You have NO patience when it comes to food and I jokingly tell everyone you eat until I quit giving you food. But really I have to distract you with something else or you get really mad! ;)

You have definitely reached your weight plateau and now weigh 21lb, 9oz. You are 28.25" long and your head circumference is 46cm.


Your eyes have stayed the same color since birth, a bluish grey, and you just might be growing some hair. Maybe.

You are perfecting the army crawl, but are still true to your fastest mode of travel...your super duper rolling manuever.

I have witnessed you "accidentally" sit yourself up to the sitting position, but you still mostly prefer to be rolling around and going somewhere. Who has time to sit still??

I only buy 18 month clothing for you, but thankfully you have been able to wear most of Raegen's 6-12mo Gymboree outfits. Which is wonderful because he had a lot of "holiday" wear!! You still just have five teeth, two on top and three on bottom, but you have been drooling a LOT lately and I am suspect that more will appear soon. You have yet to learn to keep your cute little hands off my Christmas tree so Raegen has been good at helping me protect it. He usually grabs hold of your chubby little legs and pulls you backwards...all the while you are grinning from ear to ear. I think you do it all on purpose just for the free ride! :) Some nights you sleep all night, some nights you don't. I can usually just feed you and place you back in bed and you're asleep immediately. You take two naps a day {2hr or more each} and sometimes those are while we're running around town taking brother to school, basketball class, or just running errands! {I know, it's so unfair!!} ;)

You are too sweet, but you do have your moments. Just a few weeks ago we were all enjoying a cupcake at a quaint little shop downtown, when you started fussing. Without missing a beat Raegen said,

"Lynden! You better stop that fussin' or we're gonna take you BACK to the hospital AND we won't bring you back to the cupcake house!"

It was hilarious. Ya'll are just too precious together.

Preschool - Month Three

Raegen learned a lot at preschool during the month of November. His class learned about the first Thanksgiving, Native Americans, and they even chose their own Native American name!

Raegen chose "North Sun". :)

They made teepee's for snacks and even made homemade butter during circle time.

One day they went on a nature walk and Raegen came home with a brown bag FULL of leaves! {which he proceeded to dump on the coffee table so he could show them ALL to me...haha}

He's enjoying school so much and it's always fun to see him interact with his friends. They get so excited when they see each other in the parking lot or just out and about in town.

He's having a great first year at preschool!

It's that time of year, again!!

Time for basketball!!!

Lynden had his first {outside of the womb} ballgame to attend a few weeks ago.

He thought it was great!! Of course, you have to realize that he was born a mere 24 hours after he attended the state high school basketball finals last year {which we won!!}, so he's a natural.

Raegen thought he was the big cat on campus by sitting behind us with his own bag of popcorn! ;)

Swoosh!!

Perfect 3-point from our little baller.

We had a great time and Lynden got lots of play time with everyone.

{note: this is the shirt that Raegen wore when he was EIGHTEEN months!!! ha}

We have our season passes and we're ready for another great year of basketball!!