Raising the Raines Rascals

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Valentine's Day '12

So, we had a pretty low key but nice Valentine's Day. Ethan's teacher, a couple of other parent volunteer's, and I organized the class party for Ethan's first grade classroom and I ended up being the only parent there to help his teacher with the party (unfortunately, the other two moms who volunteered had sick family members) so it was a little crazy but a WHOLE lot of fun! We were so busy helping the students that I didn't take any pictures of the party. I am hoping maybe Ethan's teacher will e-mail me her pics, thankfully she is always so good about doing that! Ethan and I made him a cool robot box for his classmates to put his valentine cards in.

And we made his sweet teacher a crayon wreath for Ethan to give to her. We were walking to lunch one day at his school and he spotted a similar wreath on one of the other teacher's doors. He said "Mom, we have to make my teacher one of these!". I knew that I had seen the idea on Pinterest so I came home and pinned it, gathered my supplies from Hobby Lobby, and ended up with this...

Anyway, Ethan was very excited to end the school day with being called to the office for his Valentine's delivery. We sent him a Mario stuffed animal with a Mario balloon and a heart-shaped basket full of his favorite candy. After Josh got home from work, we gave both boys their Valentine gifts from us. Ethan was thrilled to find more Mario loot. He loves to play Monopoly right now, so he got the Nintendo Monopoly board game, Mario/Luigi house shoes, and Mario band-aids (We can't ever find any band-aids in the store that have characters that he likes).

Landen had just woke up from a very short nap and was NOT in a good mood (as you can tell from the pictures). His V-day gift was everything Max & Ruby themed. His favorites were the lift-a-flap book and the coloring book. He will love the movies too as soon as he gets to watch them.

I made taco chicken and potatoes for dinner and Josh and I exchanged small gifts. We are so blessed to have our two sweet (usually, lol) Valentine's!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Our funny little guy...

Our funny little guy...

"Pants? Who needs pants??"

There is actually a funny little story that goes with the above picture. I could not figure out why on Earth Landen was taking his pants off and coming to me saying "pants" with a big sad face! It was like he was sad that he didn't have them on but HE was the one taking them off. I would put them back on and he would have them back off in less than 5 minutes. After days of playing this game I finally realized, he was taking his pants off when he was wet or worse. So, at his 2 year checkup the ped. said this was a sign that he was ready to potty train. I had bought him a comfy, cute Cars potty insert seat a few months back and when I had put him on there before he hid his face and begged me to get him off. This time he screamed like someone was torturing him! It was not fun for either of us. He couldn't even hear my feeble attempts at blackmail with chocolate because he wouldn't stop fussing for me to get him OFF! I was feeling quite discouraged at our potty misfortune when I came across a blog comment that read "My pediatrician said something to me that really made me stop and think. He said, "Start potty training at 2, end at 3. Start potty training at 3, end at 3." This is so true! I mean some kids are probably ready at 2 but Ethan was almost 4 before he was potty trained and I had tried every trick in the book. So why am I rushing Landen? He let me know when he was ready to give up both the bottle and the pacifier....he'll let me know when he's ready to start using the potty. Of course, I will still try to work with him on it and encourage it but I have a feeling the more I try to force it on him the less interest he is going to have. Anyway, on to more funny pictures...

Pretending to sleep

Working his new "fishing"puzzle

Saying "cheese" for the camera

Wearing his hat. He walking around pointing to his head saying "hat".

In other news, we are so very proud of Ethan. He is attending Super Saturdays at WKU. It is offered by the Center for Gifted Studies and you have to have a teacher recommend you for it. This past Saturday was his first time going and he loved it! I didn't get any pictures because we couldn't stick around the classroom but there are 3 more classes and at the last one we are allowed to go into their classroom so hopefully I can get some then.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Yep, He's Totally Two!

At the risk of sounding very cliche', I cannot believe that Landen just turned two! I swear it seems like very recently that we brought him home from the hospital. It is very bittersweet, this second birthday that my boy just had. Of course, I am so grateful that he is growing, learning, changing, evolving into this wonderful little man. But, (as the song says...) I'm gonna' miss this. I guess it's different with your second because you already know how fast those first few years truly do pass. You know to savor every second for before long your sweet baby will be almost as tall as you, in first grade, very witty, and have a mind all his own. Still a wonderful stage but not the same kind of wonderful as the cuddling, needing Mama often, cutesy stage. Anyway, I want nothing more than for you to continue to grow and learn and change....I just wish a could take those special moments of the past 754 days and put them in a bottle. So that in a few years, when you are in fact that tall, witty, independent first grader I can take out those moments and relive them from time to time. Moments such as when you cuddle into my neck and squeeze me tight saying "mmm-mmm" .....a true hug. I cherish those. Such as when you say cheese for the camera...you're such a ham, when you say "hurray" after you've learned something new or done a good job, when you cross those arms across your chest , cut those big brown eyes, and stick that bottom lip out for the full pout affect....you are a professional pouter and it is adorable, when your big brother and you cuddle up on the couch and you plant a big fat kiss right on his cheek, when you pull your shirt up at nap time and bedtime for me to rub your back or tummy, when you blow me kisses, when I come to pick you up and you run to me saying "Mama" like my being there is the most wonderful surprise on Earth and you wrap yourself around my legs.....I could go on for days about the moments I would bottle. I may not be able to physically bottle them but they are bottled in my heart forever. You are one of a kind, Landen Tate Raines and you bring all of us more joy than you'll ever know.

THE 2nd BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF OUR "LANDY" (This is Ethan's nickname for you and Daddy has picked up the habit of calling you that too.) BOY: We celebrated at Hopscotch's Playplace on Dec. 31st

Ethan & Grammy playing with sweet Lexie

Landen & Xander Sliding

Fixing Xander Pretend Lunch

I Love Your Expression Here... It's Pure Delight!

Getting More Food from the Pretend Fridge

You Were Being Bashful because We Were Singing to You

You Blew That Candle Out Like it was Nobody's Business!

Heaven Forbid....You had Cupcak on Your Hand!

Such a Big Boy Opening Gifts this Year

"No help needed Mom!"

Excited Much?

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Raines' Christmas Vacation

So, I have been a Raines for 8.5 years and for the first time ever we took a Raines family vacation all together! Shane, Miriam, & Ashton who live in PA were home for the holidays for the first time in many years. So, we put together a 5 day trip to the mountains complete with Josh's grandmother and boy did we make the most of it!