He ties his shoes now

After Christmas with the cousins, William and Henry love the game of basketball once again. It happens every winter and spring when basketball comes on the tv and Patrick takes them to ISU games and when neighbor boys start showing up to shoot hoops. William saw some high tops at the store and really wanted them. He was sure they improve his game and most definitely his dunks. Patrick told him that when he learned to tie, he could buy the new shoes. Turns out the little mister is quite determined. He learned in just one night. He didn't stop until he had every step. He was beaming and felt so proud. I took these pictures yesterday morning while he practiced on his shoes. It was the first thing he wanted to do when he woke up. {The first thing that is, after he changed into his basketball jersey.}  

{Sunday, December 30, 2012}

Gingerbread Houses

Yesterday William and I went to first grade to help Henry's class make gingerbread houses. 25 six and seven year olds. The day before Christmas break. Candy, frosting and cookies. The first snowflakes flurrying and sticking to the grass outside. It should have been chaos.

But it wasn't chaos at all! First graders are very self sufficient and they know just how they want their houses to look. They got busy right away frosting and sticking and decorating.

Mrs. O'Brian even let William join in the fun. At first he was shy, but he quickly warmed up and started frosting and decorating his own house too.

Henry's finished house. I like the little gingerbread men plastered around every edge. It's sticky sweet and I love every last frosted bit!

And William's finished house. Perfectly perfect. I didn't help him one bit! He did every piece of this by himself. So proud of him!

Henry showing his friends Andrew and Keonta his little house. Oh boys!

It started snowing during the party which was joy squared. The children all rushed to the windows and shrieked about the snow. It was a heavy, windy and pretty snow. Perfect timing too!

I'm so thankful for every opportunity to be involved with my sweet boys. p.s. Patrick dressed the boys on this morning in the matching Superman t's. :)

public speaking in first grade

Yesterday we were invited to Henry's classroom for the children's presentations on community helpers. Henry gave a report on police. He had nervous jitters in the morning before school, but by the afternoon at the time of his presentation he was calm and did great. I absolutely would rather do almost anything than stand up and speak in front of people, so this crowd fearing mama is very proud of my first grade boy.

"A police is important."

"A police helps you when bad guys are trying to trick you."

"They drive special cars."

 

 

"Police go to special school for police. They research on bad guys."

"We like police."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

whatever inspires

Last Friday morning felt like a worn quilt. Comforting and warm and familiar. I don't work on Fridays and William doesn't have school, so we are both home together. We walked Henry to school that morning, he in his pj's and me in stretchy knits, and then we came home and I made another cup of coffee and declared a pajama day. We both needed one and it feels like it had been so long.
Howard obliged and slept soundly on William's bed while we put together puzzles and played superheroes next door in the toy room. We laughed because we could barely see him and thought he looked like
one of Will's stuffed animals.
At one point during our lazy morning, William grabbed my camera. I told him to strap it on and take pictures of whatever inspired him.
He did:

 

I traded with him when he was loving on Howard so I could steal a few pictures of the two of them. He loves his puppy, this little boy does.

I loved seeing the world through his eyes. His eyes where tractors, super heroes and his puppy inspire him most.