Headed to Church

I'm pretty sure this was the last time the boys (and Daddy P) would allow me to dress them in longalls, so I'm savoring the moment! #southernboysinct

Meanwhile, this was Happening..

I was supposed to be wrapping presents and making peppermint bark, but instead I was cleaning the walls.

I learned two things tonight: ALWAYS do a room sweep for crayon contraband before bedtime and NEVER run out of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers.

E is for Evan

Look at what our boy did yesterday! While waiting for his dinner Evan decided to write his name. While he didn't write his entire name this time, check out the E that he wrote. It's the neatest, most perfect E ever, and he did it all by himself! Way to go Evan:)

Loves of My Life

Newtown

Eta I started this post yesterday As I sit to write this post today I'm about 10 miles from Newtown. Newtown is a quaint, sleepy little town not too far from our new church. Two of my coworkers live here. When I saw Newtown for the first time I remember thinking how cute and peaceful it was. Now 20 babies lay dead in the area morgue.

I found out about the shooting at the end of my third period class yesterday. We teachers talked in hushed tones about it. We wondered if our coworker's son was old enough to be in school yet. What about his wife? Did she still work in the system? I'm sure my colleagues were thinking the same thing I was thinkng~ what would we do if that had been us? We have a plan, a signal, and a procedure. But will anything really save us from a madman(a mad man?) with a gun intent on shedding blood?

My babies....what about them? I knew at that moment that they were safe. Still, the what ifs haunted me, and still haunt me right now. How do I keep them safe in this world? Realizing that that isn't totally possible is frightening and it leaves me feeling hopeless.

When I picked my Peas up yesterday, I couldn't stop hugging and kissing them. I doted on them the whole night. I couldn't help but think about those parents, 20 sets of them, who weren't able to do the same. Then I thought about the family members of the teachers who lost their lives. After all, aren't we always our parents' babies? My daddy called me when he first heard the news. I had a class, but I answered his call because I knew what he was thinking: please let my baby be okay. I wept for those families and I'm sure there are more tears to come. I'm challenged as a teacher too. I can absolutely think of a few kids who have similar traits that the media is reporting the shooter had. How do I deal with them and not be afraid? I know it's not right to presume, but these are my honest thoughts. What if this happens to us? Will I know what to do? Am I as brave as those teachers who sacrificed themselves for their kids? Would I be able to keep calm? Could I think fast? Would I just freeze? I don't know. I went to church today and there was a heaviness in that place. People were crying; it was sad. But just being in the house of the Lord, feeling his presence, hearing the encouraging words from our pastor...I realize that I still have hope. There is still hope for us all. May the Lord rest the souls of those who we lost senselessly and way too soon. May the Lord wrap his loving arms around the grieving parents and loved ones and comfort them as only He can. May the Lord keep us all.

Latest Obsession...

is watching Michael Jackson videos on YouTube! What can I say, he was the greatest entertainer of all time!

Now, can we have our iphones back? Please and thank you!

Out of the Mouths of The Peas

I need to keep a notebook of all the hilarious things the boys have been saying lately. I'll put a few here for safe keeping:

Ryan: 
Thank you, Princess! (when I handed he something that I can't think of right now)
I'm Ryan to the rescue! (donning his Batman pjs!)


Evan:
Mommy, do you have any money? (he whispers this to me when we were out to dinner with a large group!)
No, Mommy. It's not good for me. (as I try to feed him broccoli!)

I'm certain there will be others! I always hear things and say that I need to write them down and then of course I forget. These are few of the latest laugh out loud, make your heart melt, and or side-eye worthy humdingers R & E have come up with!