What a week in PreK!!!

Marcus had a great week in PreK this last week. He got a real taste of a school project by glueing 50 marshmellows on a poster board. Funny how every time we counted them one was missing....I wonder where they walked away too...possibly Markie's tummy :)

We finally got done and he was pooped (his words)!! If he only knew it gets worse from here on out!!!

To continue the celebration of the 50th day of school, Friday he was to dress up as a 50 year old. What else does a 50 yr old grandpa wear -- bathrobe and slippers!

To top off the week, the PreK class got a field trip to Whataburger to get a shake! I don't remember cool field trips like that...we had to do learning things...the milk shake would have been so much better. Marcus had a great time and talked about it all the way home!

Thanks to all those at AK for making a great week!!

Record Snow Fall Fun

I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes...12+ inches of snow in the DFW area within 24 hours. A new record of all time was set and lots of new smiles and memories created.

We woke up Thursday morning to a beautiful white snow blanket. It was so pretty to just stare out the window on Thursday to see it falling and accumulating so quickly. The trees were gorgeous - my favorite part of the scenery. We had snow for Christmas but nothing like this. For the first time Marcus had the pleasure of playing and running in the snow that was piled up over his shoes and up to his shins in some areas. There was enough on the ground to build snowmen, make snow angels, and Marcus' favorite - one awesome snowball fight!! He had so much fun falling into the snow piles. His pants could have been rung out with water from the snow. We took a stab at a snowman complete with eyes, nose, scarf, arms, hair and hat. I'm sure he was somewhat weak on the snowman scale but since we haven't had lots of practice at this but thought he looked great!

We went to bed Thursday night watching the snowfall and woke up to an even higher white blanket covering outside. He didn't even mind that school was cancelled on Friday due to the snow..big shock right! Round 2 of snow ball fighting. Marcus couldn't have been more excited to see that snow again. He loved hetting hit with it and was even better at throwing it. He nailed me a few good times with some great snowballs.

It was wierd trailing snow into the house and having wet shoes, gloves and jackets from the snow. Good thing we had some sand toys that worked great for the snow. Marcus went on a treasure hunt around the house for snowman parts. It actually felt not that bad outside with no wind and just the still of the snow falling. The cold hands were definitely the worse part and I will never forget the moment when the freezing cold snow finally got to Marcus. He ran all the way inside crying that his hands were freezing off!! I kept wondering when it was going to hit him...nothing that a little help from the hair dryer couldn't warm them up in no time.

This was a great experience and who knows if it will happen again to this extreme. I'm very glad that Marcus got to have this experience at this age when so much is still new and exciting to him. Such a beautiful surprise and definitely a time to cherish and remember for all time!!!

What is Love?

Tonight for storytime we read some books about Valentine's Day. It was intertesting to have a conversation about love with a 4 year old. His perspective is so simple...Iasked him what does it mean when you say "I Love You".

As I look back on his 4 years I don't know that I have ever tried to explain that, yet he says it all the time and appropriately. Marcus replied - I say "I love you" cuz you are my mommy! The answer couldn't have been better but I was still not satisfied..so I go in probing for more detail from the 4 year old. I asked Marcus if it meant something different when he told Granny or Papa or anyone else in our family and he replied, "Well, No I love lots of people that I like to be with but I tell Granny more cuz she buys me more toys!" Again...priceless.

What is Love? Marcus seems to know and maybe we should all take a piece of this conversation away - afterall who said you can't buy love??? lol

In the words of Clifford the Big Red Dog -- " Love was the warm, happy feeling you got when you were with someone you cared about."

My Valentine's wish for everyone -- take in stride Clifford's meaning and let those around you whom you care about know that you do care and love them (maybe pocket the 4 year old's reasoning for another time or a better gift) lol

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Weekend Splurge

This past weekend I treated my mom and Marcus to a mini-getaway. Wasn't the original plan but it turned out great and we all enjoyed it. My mom so needed the mini-break plus the tequila from her 3 margaritas Saturday night....lol

Started out Saturday by heading to Elementary school carnival for a fund raiser. Marcus enjoyed playing the games and took away some great prizes -- he won 3 books from the book walk, I won cupcakes from the cake walk (go figure) and Marcus won 2 stuffed animals from the stuffed animal walk -- he even got me a stuffed Nala to go with Simba! Who doesn't love The Lion King?
Marcus took his first attempt at a real rock wall climbing adventure - all strapped in and up he went just like Spiderman...well Spiderman up a short wall. He managed to get up 3 or 4 steps and then figured out that he liked swinging down even better. He did great for his first try. I know I couldn't have made it up where he got to!

It was surreal seeing Marcus walk around this elementary school. As we entered the classrooms, library and cafeteria I couldn't help but get choked up thinking that in just a few months my little man will be in a place just like this on his own - all day - everyday. I can't believe this time is fast approaching already. I swear I am in denial and will be until the first day when I go to pick him from Kindergarten. I was trying to explain all the different things and rooms as we went throughout the school and he really seemed to enjoy it. We even ate lunch in the cafeteria so he could sit as he would this time next year.

After a few hours and now pooped out...it was time to head off to the hotel for our evening of splurge!

We stayed at a nice hotel that Marcus loved for the water fall, bridges, and fish; with free happy hour and an awesome free breakfast. I splurged for a nice steak dinner for my mom and I while Marcus SCARFED down an big pizza all by himself. He must have been hungry from the busy day.

Marcus enjoyed the big bed (even though 1/2 of it wasn't touched) and the indoor heated pool. It was wierd to go swimming in February and seeing the steam on top of the water but it felt nice...until it was time to get out and FREEZE!

Just a relaxing time away with my family - I couldn't ask for more!!! Well mayby I could of if the original plans had happened but all is well that ended well!!!