All I want for Valentine's Day is.....

my two front teeth, my two front teeth, my two front teeth.

Just when I thought he couldn't get any cuter, this happens!

The Derby

Last night, was the pinewood derby for N's cub scout troop! This is the car he designed and painted. The only thing Lance did for him was cut it out (by the design N gave him) and help him attach the weights! The painting and everything else was done by N. He was very proud! And so were we!

I've always thought N was adorable, but I must confess, I think he's even more adorable these days with his missing top tooth. The grown-up tooth is peeking thru so it won't be long that he'll have this toothy grin. But when you combine it with his freckles, well, it just does me in. This boy is likely to get away with a little more (at least with his mom!)

Geaux Saints!

In honor of my Louisiana heritage, I have to give a BIG SHOUT OUT to the New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys have always been #1 in our house while growing up in Dallas and being married to a man from Dallas, but...my dad has been a faithful Saints fan for years and finally, finally, finally, there is redemption for this team and this city!! How very exciting! And they are playing the Indianapolis Colts, which just happens to be the city of my birth - very cool!

Last week, a several great moments happened at our house.

N lost his 3rd tooth - and it's one of the top front teeth, so he has that super cute smile that only 1st and 2nd graders seem to have. This tooth had been loose since last spring, so it was a long time coming!

Friday was report card day and N got straight A's again for the 2nd 9 weeks! We are so proud. And he also got all E's in conduct, except one S for music!! Yeah N! After our 1st grade struggles, 2nd grade seems to be a breeze! I think he just had to figure this school thing out.

Saturday, L had an awesome day! Those of you who know L in real life, know that she can be dramatic at times. Like, most of the time. You never have to guess what that girl is thinking, she will tell you and tell you and tell you! But on Saturday, L was a pleasant, happy child for 98% of the day and Lance and I were on cloud 9. She ended up with lots of praise and a reward for her great behavior. The best part was she knew how hard she had worked and was proud of herself. We are hoping this behavior will continue more frequently as she approaches 5!

How many different land forms do you know?

'Cause I struggled to think of even two.

I was given a quiz last night by N. He had thought of 21 different land forms...and they couldn't be bodies of water...he was very clear on that. Which meant that canal and ocean were out.

So, here's what I came up with:

island
canyon
mountain
peninsula
cliff

and with some hints, I got a few more:

desert
arch


But, I missed:

mesa
valley
ridge
mound
berm
volcano
plains
forests
craters
and a whole bunch more that just boggle my mind to think of.

Now, granted some of his were stretching a bit (is there really something called a pin, but I was amazed that a 2nd grader could come up with all the different categories he did, as well as with illustrations to go along with them.

He insisted to me that I must have learned this stuff when I was in 2nd grade and that I had just forgotten it by now, but really, I don't think I ever knew it. And it could be, that science has just never really held my attention for more than say 5 minutes. But, this boy, science is his first love. I'm beyond amazed. He knows what a butterfly's tongue is called, for goodness sake.

I write Jazz

My 4 year old, L, still has lots and lots of cute sayings and funny things she thinks are true.

Over the weekend, I was helping her write some cards for her friends. She was writing their names while I helped her spell them. And oh, it's so sweet. The big preschool capital letters that she makes. The way it takes 3 lines to write "Gracie". But after awhile, her hand got tired. Ha! So, she asked me to write some names for her. But, she didn't want me to write them like her. She wanted me to write them in Jazz. I wasn't quite sure what she meant until she demonstrated her version of "L" in jazz and I realized. Jazz is cursive!

Other funny things she's convinced are true (and it may be because I've neither confirmed nor denied her feelings): Does that make me a bad mother?!?

She thinks if she drinks juice in the bathtub and some of it drips, the bath will catch on fire. (I don't deny this, because truthfully, why does a 4 y.o. need juice in the bath....is it because she's had a long, stressful day and she needs to relax and wind down? I think not)

When choosing clothes for the day, that I tell her don't match, she wonders if the police will come take her to jail. (Well, maybe the FASHION police)

Oh, I love my gal and her sweet 4 year old moments... and I only have 2 more months to enjoy them. She will be 5 in March --- FIVE! I can.not.believe.it.

New favorite

I have a new favorite book. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. He has been one of my favorite authors for several years. The Notebook and Message in a Bottle are by him as well.

The Last Song is a love story, but it's not the main focus of the story. The main focus is actually the relationship between father and daughter.

I highly recommend this book!

And while I was watching The Princess and the Frog, I discovered there is already a movie in the works for The Last Song. :)