Disney on Ice!

P's first cheer competition of the season was in Greensboro.  We found out that the night before the competition Disney on Ice was at the Greensboro Coliseum, so we decided to head to the city early and enjoy some entertainment.  (P and C were excited to spend the night in a hotel, too.)

We picked P up from school and headed to our hotel, where the boys changed into their Disney shirts.

The show was excellent, and there was a little something for everyone.  C, our mermaid lover, said his favorite part of the show was "seein' Ariel".

P, who's a bit more traditional, enjoyed watching Lightning McQueen and his friends race around the ice.

The boys split a bag of cotton candy, which came with a "free" hat... P voted for the Lightning McQueen hat, while C wanted this fairy hat.  P told C that he could get the fairy hat, because he knew C really wanted it and likes to dress up so much.  It was such a sweet reminder of what a great big brother P is!

We had a blast at the show.  The boys were so excited at the end of the show that it took them until after 11pm to fall asleep.  I'd enthusiastically recommend the show to families looking for entertainment.  We had a blast!

C gives thanks

a playdate with Colby

The Polar Express

In early November, Grandma Paige and Poppa Fred came to visit and the six of us headed to the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad to take a trip to the North Pole!  The last time we rode on the Polar Express P wasn't two yet and I was pregnant with C, so I was looking forward to enjoying the train ride with both of the boys.

The boys were super excited to don their new "candy cane pajamas".  Right after they took a photo with Santa, we met up with the train conductor.  He had packs of tickets and a punch - he was adorable!

They've got it - hot, hot, hot, hot chocolate!  C chose this hat in the gift shop and couldn't wait to put it on.  P and C both enjoyed their sweets and cocoa.

We all had a blast on our trip.  Our trip to the North Pole was a great way to kick off the Christmas season!

close of the soccer season

P had a blast playing soccer for his school team last fall.  (If you're just starting to read, you may not be aware of how far behind I am in my blogging.)  This picture of P and his friend Noah was taken in November, at the last game of the season.

For P, soccer was a great blend of fun and exercise.  I'm so glad he enjoyed his season - I have a feeling we'll be back for more next fall!

Happy sixth birthday, P!

P, I can't believe you are six years old!  With each birthday, I exclaim, "{Insert new age of son here} seems so old!"  And this year, I say, "I can't believe you are six!  Six seems so old!"  Six means that kindergarten is almost over, and is my yearly reminder that you are not a baby anymore.  You are still my baby, just as you will always be my baby, and C will always be my baby, but you are no longer the tiny little one I brought home from the hospital who fit into my arms with ease.

You still climb into my lap to read and cuddle sometimes, and I cherish those times more than ever as they grow less frequent.  Now when you climb into my lap your feet hang down almost to the floor, but I love it just as much as I always have!

I'm so glad I have the pleasure of watching you grow up, P.  You are becoming a focused and determined young man.  For a six year old, you employ advanced logic to so many situations.  You can make a case for almost anything.  Just Thursday night, your teachers told me you will make a great lawyer if that's the career path you choose!  :)

This year your relationship with God has continued to blossom.  You share some amazing prayers, especially at the dinner table and at bedtime.  You are unashamed to pray in front of others - in fact, you love to sign up to pray at church dinners on Wednesday night, even though most of the other volunteers are adults.  You often choose to read your Brick Bible for fun, and you love to discuss our morning devotion in the car on the way to school.

Your selflessness is such a gift.  You often say that your favorite thing to do is make people happy.  You look out for your brother, and you willingly share your belongings with others - friends, family, and even people you don't know well.

You are becoming a great reader!  We just started reading the Frog and Toad books, and you enjoy being read to and reading to me.  You laughed and laughed as we read "The List" the first time, and I am so glad to see you reading for fun - I hope you love reading as much as I do!

At the moment, you love "tiny Legos", especially Ninjago and Chima sets.  You are finishing up a season of competitive cheerleading, and when that's complete you are already geared up to give Tae Kwon Do a try.  I think you were hooked from your first board break at Parents' Night Out!

 

I'm so proud of who you're becoming, and I can't wait to see you continue to grow into the man God wants you to be!  Daddy, C, and I love you so much, P!

ordinary days