The Best Big Brother

I want to write about Corbin and how he is the sweetest big brother. I want to write fast before the title changes to "fighting siblings!" No but really, 90% of the time Corbin is a kind, thoughtful, caring, loving, helpful, and protective big brother. These pictures are a few of things they have been up to these last few weeks. I love the one with the backpacks....Chloe and I have been taking Corbin to school 3 times a week and she really wanted a backpack like Bubba!

Some Cute Big Brother Stories:

#1 When we pick Corbin up from school, Chloe carries Corbin's nap mat all the way to the car. Now this is very cute, but it can take a while to make it to the car. No help is wanted we just take our time to the car. As Mummy says, "What baby wants...baby gets!" Okay...I always add..SOMETIMES. Anyway, a boy was blocking her and not letting her by, well, BIG BROTHER stepped in faster than I could. He said with authority, "Do not block my sister!" Then he took her by the hand and moved Chloe around him. Now Corbin isn't the toughest kid on the block...but don't mess with his sister.

#2 Last night at bath time, Corbin decided to take a shower instead. Chloe was already in the bath, so he went over to her and said, "Bubba is going to take a shower, but I will be right here, you can see me! Okay, sister...say Okay!" And then Chloe said "Okay" and then he got in the shower.

#3 The other morning David had left early for work and Corbin was in bed with me watching T.V. and HE heard Chloe talking on the monitor. You know me....I am not a morning person. So I said "Corbin please go tell her I am coming!" He said, "I will go talk with her!" So I could hear him on the monitor saying, "Hi baby girl, good morning....did you sleep well? Mama is on her way...don't you worry!" It was so cute how he was taking care of her. I always say, if I wasn't here, he would know exactly what to do to take care of his sister. Well....when I finally drug my tired booty out of bed and went to get Chloe....there was sweet BIG brother IN the crib with her. They both were just smiling and laughing when I walked in. It was funny.

#4 We went to the mall for a playdate with some friends and it was getting a little crowded, and so Corbin was keeping a close eye on his sister. (Baby Girl has no fear!) A little boy (who probably just saw Kung Fu Panda) was getting a little too close to Chloe while doing some karate moves. So Corbin went over and stood between the boy and baby girl and said, "Ummm, Yeah....the only thing is my sister really doesn't like karate chopping!"

#5 Okay..so yesterday Chloe was going through my clean laundry that I hadn't put up yet and found some of Corbin's underwear. So she marches in and tells Corbin to "sit" and points her little finger to the floor. So, yes, Corbin SITS! She then proceeds to pull his legs out straight and tries to force his foot into the underwear. I guess she was feeling the "Cars" underwear over the "Spiderman" undies. Anyway, Corbin and I were saying, "No, Chloe, Bubba already has underwear on!" This went on for several minutes, but Little Miss... "I am like my Mama" was not giving up. So Corbin finally just said, "Okay, sister, I don't mind switching!" So Corbin took off his "Spidey" undies and let Chloe put on the other pair. She then walked away happy as can be! So funny, I wish I would of grabbed the camera. Corbin was so patient and kind with her~

#6 Finally....Corbin always hears me tell people who want to hold and snuggle Chloe that she really isn't a snuggle baby. Well...it never fails...Corbin always speaks up and says with a big smile, "Except her Big Brother...she loves to snuggle me!!" It is true, Chloe cannot go to sleep unless she kisses Bubba a couple of times. We will put her down and sometimes she will cry and say "Bubba...night...night!" Which means one more kiss. She may be working us, but it is so sweet.

Memorial Day

We spent Memorial Day in Holly Lake! It was a great weekend. We spent some time at the Ranch, went fishing, played in water sprinklers, rode the golf cart, went swimming and had great fun.

Chloe all weekend would look for Poppy (or "Pop pa") and say "golf cart" and as you guessed it Poppy would jump. There was even one morning Chloe went into his room while he was still in bed and said, "golf cart...outside" and she pointed her little finger to go. SO Poppy jumped up and took her on a golf cart ride in his P.J.'s! It was so funny because the first group of golfers for the day were riding to their golf holes to start play and so Poppy was waving to all the golfers in his Jammies!! When Poppy thought the ride was over he would go back to our driveway and Chloe would start saying, "No...No...No" and then Poppy would keep going for a little longer. She is only 18 months, but she already knows right who to go to if she wants something. Our two favorite things she says or does is when we ask her to say Yes Please...it is so cute how she says it...we make her say it all the time... 1) because it is polite to say and 2) because it is so cute to hear her say it. The other thing she does that is so precious...is when she will say something like "golf cart" and then we ask her again, "You want to go on a golf cart ride?" and along with her WHOLE body she enthusiastically says "UH HUH!"

Corbin had a great weekend as well. He loves to go to the Ranch and "work" with his Poppy. Poppy and Corbin go in the BIG tractor and dig up a big pile of dirt so he can play with it and dig all day. He loves the 4 wheeler the best. On the way down our tire had a blow out so Corbin was a little sad because he didn't want to be "late" to Holly Lake. Well, when Poppy and Corbin were on the 4 wheeler they had a blow out too! He was like..."All our vehicles are having flat tires!" He was also very sweet to his sister and drove her around on the Little John Deer! They both are Ranch kids!!

Pre-K Grad (Take One)

Last night Corbin had his Pre-K Graduation! I say (Take One) because next year we will be doing this again, as we are not starting Corbin in Kindergarten until he is 6 yrs old. So stay tuned to next years....Advanced Pre-K Graduation! :) Anyway, it was the sweetest thing last night.

I am used to Kindergarten Graduations, because when I taught we would have them every year. The parents would cry and love on their kids. I had no children at the time, and while I thought it was so sweet and I was going to miss my kids I taught all year, I didn't "GET" the emotional parents. Well....I totally get it now! I am sure if there was a camera on me it would of been funny! I was so proud, smiling from ear to ear and yes at times a little teary! (Don't tell the parents I used to teach that)

We left baby girl with my friend Christen, so we could really focus on the Graduate. Corbin was so excited...he is my drama boy and loves the stage. On the way he called Mummy and Poppy and told them exactly what he was wearing so, "you will know which one AM I!" Then he asked what they were wearing so he could find them! On the way to the program he told me that his friend Mia was standing by him and that she, "is nervous about the stage" then he said, "I sure hope she doesn't cry!" Like I sure hope she doesn't bother me during my performance.

When he got on the stage HE looked a little nervous because of all the parents taking video and pictures, but once he saw us (and his Poppy) he was good! He sang every note and did every motion so great...he was really having fun. We had talked about the songs he was going to sing several weeks ago and Mummy heard that one was "I have a Promise" and she told him that she loved that song. Well he told Poppy, "Don't tell Mum, but we are going to sing her FAVORITE song." So when they got to that song he looked over at Mum with a little smirk so excited to see if she was "enjoying" the song. It was so sweet.

He got to shake Pastor David's hand (children's minister). But the best part was at the end...Poppy was being silly and trying to make Corbin laugh by making silly faces and whistling a short soft whistle. The only problem was that the RULES were that you watch your friends nicely while they shake Pastor David's hand. Well, it seems Poppy was not following the rules...so at one point Corbin pointed his little finger at Poppy and said something we couldn't tell what, I am sure he was telling Poppy to behave himself. It was cute and so much fun. He gave Poppy a cool high five while he was walking out...he wasn't too grumpy at Poppy! :)

Mrs. Mindi and Mrs. Tina have been fabulous this year. He has learned so much...from academics, to social and all about God's Love. I am so thrilled to watch him throughout his educational career.

Dallas Arboretum

Today my best friend Christen and I took the kids to the Dallas Arboretum. We packed up all the kids and STUFF....and went to look at the pretty flowers and have a picnic! It was nice day for a picnic. Even though it is a lot of work at times, we really enjoyed ourselves. My family and I are very blessed to have Chris, Christen, Alex and Emma in our lives!

Park Day...well almost everyday is park day!

Sister trying to ride Corbin's scooter. "Anything He Can Do.....I AM GOING TO TRY!"
I love my BUBBA!

Emma and Alex came to the park with us! YEAH!

Push me higher Dada!

This picture of Chloe is so funny to me! She just started really cheesing it up when you get the camera out. Chloe Dawn loves, loves, loves to swing and go down slides.

So it was a pretty day this past weekend and we usually play outside either at the park or outside with neighbors. This day our Daddy got to go with us....which is always more fun.

Some of Corbin's friends have begun to "TRY" to ride their bikes with no training wheels, so Corbin and Daddy gave it a good try today with Alex's bike. It was fun to try and Corbin knows it is going to take a lot of practice. Corbin's bike is kinda big and heavy. He said today, "I just want to ride my bike the old regular way for a while!" So I don't think we are going to rush the "no training wheels" thing yet! :)

He may not be ready to grow up physically, but he sure is growing up before our eyes. Corbin has begun to READ!!! He is really doing amazing, it is just one of his gifts. Since he was a baby he has always been interested in letters. He would rather me quiz him on letter sounds, rhyming words, and play sound words out then try to ride with no training wheels. Okay...Okay...Okay, maybe he doesn't love it THAT much....but it does seem to be of an interest. Last night he read, Pet and the Vet and Pig's Big Rig for the first time all on his own. Yes, Yes, Yes....they are not novels, they are word family rhyming words from when I use to teach, but he does a good job sounding the words out. But in our family we are calling him a reader! :) He loves when we call him that.

He took a different easy reader book to bed with him and got out 3 times so we could help him with a word...that may not be a good idea! :) He asked, "I am a reader, even though I have to ask for help?" I said, "Well sure, Mama even has to ask for help every now and then!" He just laughed at me like I was crazy. I may be asking him for help soon!

We have been talking a lot about how he is not starting Kindergarten until he is 6. (side note.....I totally think he would do great in Kindergarten at 5, but David and I think it will be best for his confidence and self esteem in the future if he was one of the older ones in his grade than the baby. More for emotional/social reasons. This coming from David....who was always the small one in his class. Yes, I am still praying for confidence for the Mama that I am making the right decision) Anyway, Corbin said, "Wow, I am not even in Kindergarten and I can learn how to read!" He then said, "Do you know some kids think the word and is at?" They have sight words they learn at school and I guess some kids (which makes total sense) get and/at confused. We then talked about how every child tries there best and he maybe could encourage his friends if they confuse and/at. Like saying good try. He then said, "Yeah, and then telling them the word is actually AND!" He is a mess, but it sure is a fun time to see him so excited and self driven to learn to read. He has such a joy of learning.....I pray that will always be the case and I pray that David and I can foster and encourage his joy of learning!

Miss Chloe Dawn

Chloe is almost 18 months....I can't believe how fast time has gone. People ask me to describe her and well, let me try my best.

Ways to describe Chloe..(aka...Baby Girl, Chlo Chlo, Chloe Dawn, Sister, Chlo, Tootie Bear, Sweet Peet, Princess, Miss Thang)

*Very independent-wants to do things on her own like buckle her car seat or stroller buckle

(Even though she is very independent she does not take to strangers. She can give a look...Daddy says she takes after her Mama with her looks)

*She is a good Mama to her dolls-even though she loves boy toys and plays with what Brother is playing with...she is a good Mama. She rocks, feeds, loves on all her baby dolls. She cannot have enough babies...she will carry 3 at a time.

*She is somewhat of a princess. We laugh because she has this unique, but very cute wave (she waves to everyone...as long as they stay at a safe distance) Mummy says that she keeps it, "Below the crown, but above the pearls!"

*Loves and Bosses her Bubba-She just adores Corbin aka: Bubba. When it is time to go to bed at night we say "Okay, night night" and the first thing she says in a panic kind of way is, "Bubba, Bubba" she wants some kisses and hugs from Bubba before bed. She is a great sleeper and goes down great, but once in a while she will cry and we will go in and she will say "Bubba!" and she will not rest until she has one more kiss and hug. Corbin is so great and gentle with her, he is the best big brother. Even when she hits him or pulls him off a chair b/c she wants to sit there. Yes, she is a tough cookie!

*One of the pictures is of Chloe and Carter, our next door neighbor. Carter is 6 weeks or so younger than Chloe. When we go outside (which is baby girls favorite) she starts yelling and I mean yelling "Car Car" "Car Car" which means Carter. She bosses him too.

*And there is nobody but Dada, Poppy and Bones who can make this girl flirt. If she likes you, you will know it. The flirty smile above is for her one and only Poppy!

We are so blessed that Chloe Dawn completed our family! She is such a joy, a challenge, a character, a loving sole, and a blast to help raise!

PS: and yes...Miss Thang seems to always be in PINK!

Tad and Spidy Weekend!

Corbin's class has a friend named "Tad"....which is a green frog???? Anyway, they each get two turns a year to bring him home for the weekend and have great adventures with him. Then we take pictures of what they do all weekend and put it in a class journal and take him back to school on Monday! Needless to say, Corbin LOVES Tad and LUCKY US....we got Tad for the second and last time this weekend. Corbin takes great care of him and he loves to plan the pictures we are going to take. I just have to make sure we don't lose Tad or that Tad is hurt in anyway. Tad spent the night and Mummy's and Poppy's, Tad went to Corbin's soccer game, Tad got his haircut with Poppy, Tad road with Corbin on his bike and scooter, Tad was pushed around in a stroller by baby girl Chloe. BUT the very first thing MAMA did was give Tad a very good bath and cleaning. You all know me....after two times with 15 kiddos...that frog needed a scrubbing! :) We are still enjoying Tad and take him everywhere, and Corbin will be sad when he has to go back to school.

After the soccer game on Saturday, we heard that "THE SPIDER MAN" was coming to our very own Party City to help it's Grand Opening. So Corbin and two other fellow soccer players and their Mommies (what Mommy doesn't love a Man in tights) went off to find Spider man. When we got there, we couldn't find him and then someone said "turn around" and there he was sneaking up on us in his Spidy Way! He was very nice and loved Corbin's black spider man suit. We took pictures and talked a while. Spider man signed his autograph for us....he said his friends call him "Spidy." It was a fun and busy weekend!