The Great Bedroom Shake Up!

We are just now starting the process of switching out the kids' rooms. I guess this is a difficult time of year to start the process, but it is what it is!

First of all, my sweet in laws bought the boys bunk beds for Christmas. They don't know about them yet, so hush hush if you have contact with them! They have been sharing a bed (the bed I slept in at my grandmother's house growing up) since the summer that Mary Beth was born. This worked out fine for three and a half years, but they both have grown quite a bit since then, so it is time for a change.

We are doing an "All Sports" room for the boys. I am wanting to do a light "Pottery Barnish" blue room. Any good suggestions on paint colors? Bryon and I bought their bedding yesterday at Pottery Barn. They had a really cute all sports quilt on clearance! It was meant to be. My family members are buying the boys different accessories for their room for Christmas. I can't wait to see it all in place! Also, my incredibly sweet blog buddy, Karen, got me a signed picture for the boys from Nick Saben, the head coach of Alabama! I can't tell you what this means to me! Thank you, thank you, Karen!

Meanwhile, little Miss ME is finally going to graduate from the crib. That crib has been in constant use for 8 years and it will be bittersweet to say goodbye! Lauren and Josh (or should I say James?) are going to get her dresser. We are going to transfer my grandmother's bed to Mary Beth's room. I have fallen in love with the Shabby Chic collection at Target and have been watching it for a few weeks to see if it will go on sale. The quilt I love looks a lot like her precious "Bibi" so I am pretty set on the green quilt with pink flowers.

I am so excited to get started transforming!

Happy 8th Birthday, Matthew!

Matthew turns 8 on Sunday and we are looking forward to an exciting, fun-filled weekend!

Before I talk about the weekend, I wanted to write my top 8 favorite things about my little man in no particular order:

1. I love how he can carry on a conversation with any grown man about sports. Whether its college football, professional football, baseball, or basketball, the boy is an walking sports encyclopedia! Several weeks ago, he was getting his haircut and talking to the barber about the 11 teams in the Big 10 conference, and "I wonder how xavier will do today?" Now that Illinois bumped Ohio State as the number 1 team in the BCS, Matthew has jumped on the Illini bandwagon and has worn his Illinois shirt all week long!

2.I love how much he loves his family. This morning, he woke up so excited! Not because he was having a class party today. Not because of Jump Rope for Heart. Because Aunt Lauren and Uncle Josh were going to take him out tonight! He worships the ground my brother walks on. He adores his grandparents. He loves being a big brother and takes the responsibility very seriously. Nothing makes him happier than hanging out with his Daddy and brother at sporting events. But most of all, he is a big time Mama's boy. I love having my full of testosterone, sports loving, Man's boy, little guy melt in my arms. He can't go to school without me kissing his hands! What a heart melter!

3. I love reading his stories. He loves writing and illustrating stories. He comes up with some hilarious stories! My favorite thing about the last day of school these past two years has been to receive his daily journal and get to read what was on his mind every day. Matthew's teacher this year was a journalism major in college and I have loved seeing her challenge Matthew with his writing.

4. I love his intensity, focus, and love of a challenge. "Intense" is one of the favorite words people choose when describing Matthew. He has a certain face when he is really concentrating that I love. This comes out quite a bit while he is playing sports or practicing timed tests at home. One of the best things about school for Matthew has been the accelerated reading system. The kids read books and take test over what they read on a computer. Each child is in competition with themselves to get as many points as possible. Of course, Matthew is never just in competition with himself, and he makes sure every year to have the most in his class! This is right up Matthew's alley and he has a large number for his goal this year. If he makes his goal, we are going to take him somewhere special. The one place he wants to go? Mount Rushmore!

5. I love watching him play sports. Matthew has more energy than I know what to do with. If anyone knows Bryon, you know Matthew comes by it honestly! Sports has been a major way for him to channel that boundless energy. He seems to have a knack for every sport he plays.

6. I love carrying on conversations with him. He reads constantly which I think has really increased his vocabulary. It is funny listening to an 8 year old using large words all the time. He is just a really neat kid to talk to. If he is ever having a difficult day, all I need to do is sit down and talk, "big person to big person", and we can solve almost anything.

7. Matthew does not like to follow a crowd. If everyone in his group likes one thing and doesn't, he will very confidently state his opinion. He has always been confident in his choices. One day in school, a boy made fun of the shirt he was wearing. Matthew just said, "I like my shirt", and carried on like it was no big deal.

8. I love the little stinker inside of him (most of the time)! Whenever I have taught little kids, even before becoming a parent myself, I have always been attracted to the stinkers. They just make me laugh and make life more interesting. Wouldn't you know that God would bless me with my own personal little stinker right off the bat? Of my three, he is definitely the one who gets in more trouble with me. He never ever gets in trouble at school. He just saves up his best "Stinkerness" for home! ;) I have always said that Matthew makes me laugh and cry the most. I have mentioned this many times on the blog, but one of the most endearing things about Matthew is his ability to say he is sorry, and really mean it, without prompting. This will serve him well in life, don't you think ladies?

Well, that is my Matthew in a nutshell. He has been such a joy to us. These past 8 years have flown by. In 8 more years, he will be driving! Yikes!

I am looking forward to his friend party tomorrow afternoon at a local kids sports spot and then a family party on Sunday. I will have pictures on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Our weekend

 
After finishing up our crazy, fun, exhausting, stressful, jam packed week, this picture sums up how we were feeling!





 
 
 
 
 
 
 

We had a great time in Arkansas. When we woke the kids up at the hotel, Thomas said, "I can't believe my whole body is in Arkansas!" I love the things this kid gets excited about!

Saturday morning we had our picture taken. I think there is at least on in the over 300 that he took that might be OK. I am anxious to see them!

Then we headed to Hot Springs for a little get away. Bryon and I went there the May after we were married and had a great time taking in nature and going on hikes. We thought that was right up our kids' alley. We also remembered a cool Putt Putt place and were very excited to see that it was still open!

After we got to our hotel, we put on ESPN to check our football games. Of course, I was so bummed to see that Alabama lost, but was quickly cheered up to see Illinois beat number one Ohio! I spent most of the first five years of my life in Champain/Urbana while my Dad was getting his Ph.D. What a great victory!

Anyway, we woke up this morning and took the kids on a hike up a small mountain (hill?) in the Ozarks. The kids had a blast and I enjoyed every minute of the hike with the fall foliage around its peak. We also took a ride up to the observation tower at the top to get a better view. I think as long as I have small children, I don't ever want to be that high off the ground again!

We finished the trip going to play Putt Putt. The highlight of that adventure was when Mary Beth putted a hole in one all by herself! Bryon and I were jumping up and down and I think she thought we were crazy! Below is a picture of her by the green and then walking on the green to get her ball.

It was good to get away for a while, but it is always wonderful being home again!

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

"The week"

Well, this is the week that I have been looking forward to, and slightly apprehensive about, all Fall!

First of all, our church is hosting a Marriage Matters seminar from Sunday through Thursday. It has been interesting. It's always good to get a shot in the arm every now and again and learn new techniques to enhance our marriage.

Second, this is the week of my big P.T.A. project. All week long, I will be hanging out at school, which is fun and tiring all wrapped up in one! I dread getting up and dressed at the crack of dawn, but love seeing the boys in their environment. Adorable!

Third, we are going to Arkansas on Friday! Years ago, Kristen's family introduced us to a great photographer in Camden, AR. The last time we visited him, he took a wonderful picture of my family which included my cute 2 and 4 year old boys. We still have it displayed in our living room, but poor Mary Beth will walk by, point, and say, "I am not in this one!" I guess it is high time we made the trip to Camden! This is my only concern: The last two times we visited him, I became pregnant within a few months of receiving the picture, thereby making the family picture not accurate very long! Here's hoping for an accurate family picture for a VERY long time!

And a side note, I got a call from Mother's Day Out today that ME wasn't feeling well. I took her to the doctor because of our impending trip. It turns out that she has PNEUMONIA! Of all weeks! Thankfully, she is now on antibiotics and has the green light to travel this weekend if she is feeling OK.

What a week!