Nate's 4th Birthday

Nate had a fabulous Disney Planes birthday party with friends today!

No matter how many times I beg my boys to stop growing up, they refuse!

Opening presents with family before the party. 

 Ben was quite hands on to help little brother.

How many kids does it take to open the door for the party guests?

Singing Happy Birthday

Silliness abounds with these boys. Sweet Emma, the lone girl didn't know what to think!

And they ate all the food in about five minutes tops.

 

Airplane throwing fun.

 

 We read one of the Planes books Nate received as a gift.

 I should have known they would all end up in costume since we hosted the party in the playroom. Thanks to Aunt Candice for the awesome Dusty! It was a huge hit.

  A quick snap with my baby boy! 

Ben Starting to Read

If the title didn't warn you enough, this is a TOTAL proud mom post. People keep asking if Ben is reading yet. He sounds out words easily and is still loving to learn. Although he doesn't love that school is five days a week and he only gets a two day break. I think he wishes it was switched around. He has had a hard time going back after Thanksgiving break, but he's making it!

Sorry that I am terrible with my phone video. But at least you see and hear him :)

He brought this paper home. They were to draw "g" words. I barely guessed any of them. Hilarious. We actually think he is quite talented in art like his daddy. He has brought home some pretty impressive stuff. But, take a guess at these "g" words.

L-R Top to Bottom:

Glue
Girl playing baseball
Gate
Gorilla
Guitar

Redemption in the Mundane

I took my friend a cup of coffee from our favorite place. Well, it was my favorite place until I introduced her to it and got her hooked too. It is a local chocolatier that makes the most amazing mochas. Life changing. I'm sipping on mine now.

When I pulled into the parking spot at her place I had to take a deep breath to hold back the tears. When I knocked on the door I had to steady myself and put on a smile. I was just giving a friend a cup of coffee, but it was so much more than that. She had to stay back and I couldn't cross the threshold. We didn't touch. Just a quick coffee exchange and a few pleasantries.

My dear twenty-nine year old friend has cancer and has had two surgeries to remove her entire thyroid and is currently on a week of isolation following radiation treatment. She can't see her precious two boys for a whole week. She can see adults, but there are tons of rules. After so many hours she still has to be so many feet away... Over time the feet away decreases. It's complicated.

I was supposed to watch those precious boys today so their daddy could do whatever he needs to do, but the baby got sick. So, the least I could do was grab coffee. I had no idea it would be such a complex cup of coffee.

We read to the boys every night from The Jesus Storybook Bible. The subtitle is 'Every Story Whispers His Name.' Through every story, it reminds us that Jesus was always God's plan to rescue the world. Jesus is 'The Rescuer.'

As we approach Advent and begin to anticipate His arrival, I find myself getting more and more excited. This world is hard. Complicated. Sad. But, God had a plan all along. A redemption plan. To right the wrongs. Make everything new.

We don't get to experience that very tangibly on earth, but I find so much joy in knowing that it is coming. This world is not my home. There is so much more coming.

I've experienced my fair share of tragedy and heartache in this world. I couldn't face it every day without the hope of redemption. Nothing is every lost forever. Nothing and no one is worth giving up on. And I love that I get to face it all alongside dear friends that smile when I deliver the most delicious mocha.

Happy Halloween

We had a fun-filled Halloween day! Nate and I joined Ben at school in the afternoon to volunteer at his class party. We helped set up, helped the kids get into costume and just generally enjoyed some fun at his school. I did learn that when they say Bostic parents are involved, they mean it! My guess would be that 2/3 of the students had a parent present and some of them had a parent + grandparent + sibling + entire fan club! There were people everywhere. I will always do my best to attend anything I can so that he is never that child without a parent present. And we will include all the other kids that don't have a parent in our fun! Wow. I've never seen parental involvement like this!

His class.

 The parade.

Ben kept saying, "I wander if we get to march or if we just have to walk." They walked.

 Ben's table buddy was absent, so Nate happily filled in.

 And even got his own treat bag.

 Oh the joy!

Our tradition is to gather at the apartments on our campus and trick or treat all the residents there. Our group is growing!

 Family

  One of the apartment residents set up the golf cart (a kid favorite) as a trick or treat stop. It was fabulous.

 Girlfriends

We went to a local church's INDOOR fun. It was a super cool night. 

I never thought Nate would make it to the top.

 And once he did he sat there saying, "I'm not strong enough!"

He did slide eventually, with a face of sheer terror!

 Batman was not afraid!

 Loved it.

 Best buddies.

 This game made a childhood dream come true.

 Ready to take on the world, together. 

 He made one!

 The MKs. There is nothing like being a missionary kid. The bond they share is indescribable.

Playhouse: One Day Off at a Time

For Ben's birthday in March I really wanted to get the boys a playhouse. We searched Craig's List, looked at a ton of different options and nothing was quite right. We found one we loved, but we would have had to tear down part of our fence just to get it in the backyard. So, we set out to build our own!

One day off at a time, we began the project in May and finally officially completed it yesterday! We had cool weather, blazing hot weather, and rain, but we did it! The boys love it.

Leveling out a foundation.

 Helping measure.

 The construction foreman, Ryan.

 A dance floor.

 Walls going up.

 Side project.

 Taking shape.

 Another dance break.

 Roofing.

 Starting to look like a playhouse.

 Painting. 

Windows.

  

We weren't looking. They mud bombed the windows.

Custom made door.

 

Finished! 

 Complete with a light and fan.

 They even have an outlet for their music.

Here's to years of fun! And a nicer storage shed once they outgrow it.

Ben's school work

WARNING: The following is shameless pride in our Kindergartner. This could be interpreted as bragging. Feel free to stop here.

We have strongly encouraged Ben to get to know some kids in his class. He has latched on to a boy named Dez. His mom walks him and his two little siblings to school each morning so we usually meet up on the sidewalk and finish the walk to the front door together. Ben and Dez hold hands and hug like long lost friends as they greet each other. It's hysterical. His mom is quite nice as well and I have enjoyed chatting with her while we bake wait in the sun for the final bell each day. Ben did get two tally marks (discipline marks) for talking last week! He has been working hard this week to follow the rules and so far has no tally marks. He's so proud of himself. That might be the best part - seeing how proud he is of all that he is learning. 

Nate is picking up on quite a bit too! He can write his own name and Ben's name and is catching on to quite a few other things Ben is learning. Ben has promised to teach him to read! We will see how that goes. 

I wont keep all of Ben's papers from school, but I scanned in a few to remember.

Bostic teaches d'nealian handwriting because it prepares the students for cursive which is required in Kansas. Ben has brought home "name homework" every night with the goal of "retiring" his name and no longer having that for homework. A retired name only occurs when he performs his name for his teacher using all correct d'nealian form. He has really struggled with the 'e' but this came home today!

Sorry that the voice is off the video. I don't know what happened. But, his voice is still really sweet!

 He has also had to give two oral presentations in class for "show and share" day. He was quite pleased with his last presentation because he scored straight down the middle. On his first presentation he wasn't loud enough and didn't make good eye contact. He was so proud of his improvement. As were we!

 This is some of the work he does in class. This is his practice spelling test that he will complete for a grade tomorrow. I'm pretty sure the teacher writes the word on the board and they have to correctly write it themselves. Then, they have to recognize the words on their own. 

 They have also been learning the correct formation of numbers and the life cycle of a butterfly this week! Along with some cutting and gluing skills on this page.