This is why we had to move to a big boy bed!

Just in time...John and I were already working on converting his playroom into his new bedroom when one morning we walked in his room to find this....Needless to say, there was a rush put on the project and that night he got to sleep in his big boy bed for the first time and did great! I have to be honest though and say that it was a little sad not having him in that crib anymore, but he still gets a rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" every night before bed. He has only got up out of bed one time. I had just finished singing to him, turned out the light, and walked into the living room. I hear two feet shuffling behind me and I turned around and said, "What are you doing?" He said, "I waked up!" As hard as it was not to laugh, I told him this was a "no-no" and he is to stay in the bed. John and I were ready to implement the strategies we have seen on "Super-nanny", but there was no need that night...Thank goodness! I am very proud of the way his room looks and I think he is, too!

Notice the red box that is beside his bed. His dad made this from scrap wood so that he could climb up into bed easier. He also taught him how he could move the box over to the wall to turn on the light.

His bears seem to have made themselves "at home" in their new bed, too! :)

Eighties Skating Party

Last Saturday, we went to Mary Ann Dogget's 30th birthday party at the Benton Skating Rink. The theme was 80's. It was so much fun! I loved it because I could actually remember wearing some of this stuff. As I was scrunching my matching socks before we left, I had one of those weird "I've been here before" moments. I haven't cared what my socks looked like in a very long time! I wore an airbrushed T-shirt that said "Alisha -n- John....summer '85", with leggings, matching socks, hoop earrings, and a bright headband. I forgot how bright and colorful everybody was in the 80's. The funny thing is that no one had trouble finding their outfits....they went to the Miley Cyrus section at Wal-Mart! I did hear that if you were old enough to wear this stuff the first time, you are too old to wear it now! Thank goodness! I was kinda thinking, though, that the leg warmers were very cute! I may have to get me some of those again!

Who doesn't remember wearing the little bows on the side of your T-shirt?

I think we need to add another thing to Dalton's Christmas list....skates! He loved it! I think his favorite part was the falling! He tried to make the next fall look better than the last!

How cute is this? I have started a new project, thanks to my friends at work....iron on appliques. I actually made this Frankenstein monster for Halloween and have made a turkey shirt for him for Thanksgiving. So fun! I do realize that I only have a few more years to do cutesy stuff like this so I am taking advantage of it while I still can!

Dalton with an 80's mullet!

It's Pumpkin Time!

Last Saturday, Dalton and I had a date to the Pumpkin Patch. We had so much fun. We met some friends from my work there and had a great time hanging out with their kids. As soon as we got to the pumpkin patch, Dalton was set on going on the hayride to the pumpkin patch, where he got to pick out a pumpkin to take home. Instead of wanting a big pumpkin, he was on the hunt for the smallest pumpkin he could find. When we made it back from the hayride, the next thing he wanted to do was jump in the "bouncy thing." I think this is so funny because he gets to jump on these things all the time at our church in the Children's Worship area, but you would have thought he had never jumped on one before! He loves those things! We then ate some snacks with friends and went home. I love the pumpkin patch.....it's a great photo opportunity for little boys!

Getting ready for our hayride

Pull!

This was pretty funny! I was reminded how literal kids this age are. I told him to climb the steps behind the scarecrow and put his head in the hole. He climbs the ladder just like he was told, but then he turns around and literally puts his head in the hole! I quickly changed my directions to "look through the hole."

"I love a rainy night"

Okay call me a big dork, but I love that old country song "I love a rainy night" by Eddie Rabbitt. I find myself singing it when it's raining, day or night. I also am loving this little boy I get to come home to everyday. I posted a few weeks ago about getting to go to Rhea Lana's and racking up on fall/winter clothes for him. Well, one of my best finds was this cute fireman rain coat for $6! He has really enjoyed wearing his rain boots and rain coat in the afternoons. It's been the perfect kind of rain to play in, too! No thunder or lightning, just light rain. I heart little boys!





P.S. My brother Spencer sent me a text today which read, "Well, it''s another mean ol' boy!" I am getting another nephew come February! I am not the only one in my family that has a heart for little stinky boys! Gran and Pop say they are still holding out for that little girl!

Tinkering with Dad

John and I found these Tinker Toys at a Yard Sale a long time ago....maybe last summer. We have had them hidden in the closet, waiting until Dalton got old enough to play with them. I got home this afternoon and the can was sitting in Dalton's playroom. Dad had decided this morning that today was the day! When Dad got home, he and Dalton sat down and began "tinkering" with the toys. Their first creation: a wheel barrel. Can't wait to see what else these two come up with!




Cute "dad" story: John tells me that the other day he and Dalton were on their daily trip to the church and Dalton said, "Dada what I be when I grow up?" John said, "I don't know, what do you want to be?" Dalton says, "I wanna be dada!" Aaaaah! I say if he turns out to be half as good as his dad....we'll call it a success!

"God can use us, too!'

Last night at supper, just out of the blue, Dalton begins telling us about his Bible lesson from church. He told us about a bush that was burning and that the bush went "crackle, crackle, crackle". He then told us, "God can use us, too!" I think that was the Bible point from the lesson. WOW! My child is actually telling what he learned from church and it wasn't the typical "God and stuff" answer! His teacher is Ms. Jessica and she always talks about Dalton begging every week for her to read the lesson. I love his thirst for truth. It is my prayer that he will continue to yearn and long for God and His ways. I am reminded of the psalm that says, "As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after you." God has used him to show me that I should yearn for Him just as a child.

Well, we decided the seat on the back of Dad's bike was getting to small for Dalton. We noticed the last time he rode in it that he had to keep his legs scrunched up during most of the ride. This cool weather has made us want to get back to riding our bikes again. So we went Friday night and bought him a trailer to fit on the back of John's bike. He loved it! We biked to Lake Willastein park this afternoon and on the way back he fell asleep. Here are some pics of him and his first ride in the new trailer. Oh, yah...he had a first this weekend...he learned how to pedal his tricycle all by himself! I am so proud! It won't be long and he will be riding his own bike to the park with us!

He found a special little spot for his flip-flops....

....and a special little spot for his cup.

Dad putting on his seat belt

"Ready to go, Dad!"

On Saturday night, we got to have our friends, the Carlyle's, over for supper. John, Benji, Lindsay, and I were all sitting at the kitchen table and Dalton and Ben had gone into Dalton's playroom to play after supper. We turned around and there they stood with these masks on! Too funny! Thanks to Benji and John who kept the boys while Lindsay and I got to go shopping at Rhea Lana's to get these boys some clothes for the winter! We always have a great time bargain shopping together. We took our laundary baskets and piled them full of name brand clothes at awesome prices! We always go find a spot somewhere in the store, sit down with our baskets, go through the clothes we found, and use each other to talk us out or into buying the clothes. Dalton is set with some great clothes for the winter and I can not wait to start putting them on him! Lindsay and I both agreed in the middle of shopping that dressing our kids is one of the most fun perks of being a mom!

P.S. John told me afterwards that he and Benji decided that it was their turn next to have a "guys night out"! Tell us when, guys!