Happy Valentine's Day

Tonite, we had our third annual family Valentine's date at Ruth's Chris. This year, we were very excited for "Auntcy" to join us. The boys made us very proud with their behavior, and that chopped salad is one of my favorite things in all the world treat.

Speaking of "favorite things," here are some pictures of my very handsome little boys.

Freddie Bear's Pajama Day

For his last day of the semester, Freddie had Pajama / Polar Express Day!

As luck would have it, his new, red robe showed up in the mail last nite. He was VERY excited to pair it with his snowman jammies and even told me that he'd look more like Santa if he wore his black belt with the robe instead of the red one that came with it (he also wore the Santa hat that he bought with his own money at Dollar General; he was very generous and bought Jones one, as well, which made me so proud of his kindness).

I agreed, so off he went for what he tells me was a great day in Pre-K!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today, we lived out what's become our Thanksgiving routine. Macy's Parade at home was followed by lunch at cousin Amy's which was followed by dinner at Mom and Daddy's. I am so thankful we're able to celebrate every holiday with both sides of the family. I'm also thankful that the boys are big enough now that they want to play with the cousins at the Boone family celebration. It's always been that way with "the Kids" in Greenville, but they don't really see the super sweet Boone crew often enough to feel completely comfortable with them. This year, that was different. They ate and played in the basement, which means Mama got to hobnob with the grown-ups. Talk about something to be thankful for!

At Mom and Daddy's, Jones was a chatter-box. All during dinner, he talked and talked and talked like I've never heard him talk before. Freddie went missing at one point. When I went to look for him, he was cuckled up on the couch, watching 'toons with Bobo.

I am so grateful for the gang (on BOTH sides of the family!) that my guys get to grow up with!

The Tickle Monster is ever present at Stultz family functions!

HCA Thankfulness Lunch

If we end up homeschooling next year - as I suspect that we will - I will miss the "school"-y things like today's Thankfulness Lunch at HCA.

The Pressleys joined us, as we devoured the traditional Thanksgiving ... Taco Salad, which was, in all honesty, absolutely delicious, in spite of its questionably appropriate-ness.

Jones selected the pumpkin pie for dessert, while Freddie opted for a cinnamon roll whose diameter was approximately the width of Freddie's head.

Afterwards, we went to Jeremy's office. The Allstate "Blue Christmas" tree he bid on and won at a Silent Auction the nite before had been delivered, so we dropped by the Bakery for a festive treat and then went to visit Daddy's new tree. The boys were MESMERIZED by a certain plastic mirror ball. They kept checking out their bellies and laughing like it was the funniest thing they'd ever seen.

Maybe it was.

Made me laugh, too.

Mrs. Clackett texted me this picture of Noelle and Jones on
the bus ride to lunch. Apparently, they were trying to hold
hands on the ride, which Mrs. Clackett busted up.

This was Freddie in his classroom
when I picked him up for the lunch. 

This is Abigail, Jones's 5th grade
"Buddy." She is as sweet as can be to him,
and he absolutely ADORES her.

Selfie Stick for the Win!

Notice the photobomb by Freddie's belly.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day has come and gone; hopefully, Jones and Freddie are well aware of how very much they are loved - not just today, but EVERY day.

Our celebrations actually started on Saturday. Like last year, we did a Valentine's Dinner at Ruth's Chris. Jeremy had told the boys on their way to church Wednesday (I had to be at the Peace Center) that we were having a special dinner and not to tell me, because it was a surprise. They kept the secret - mostly.

I'd try to guess where we were going, and they wouldn't budge - until Jones told me it was like the Blue Rooster. "Ruth's Chris?" I asked. "Yes. That's it. Ruth's Chris."

Freddie is a significantly tougher nut to crack. I am filing this information away to use to my advantage in future "secret" situations.

Dinner was great, as it usually is at Ruth's Chris. Jones discovered that the butter left over on his bread plate was the PERFECT consistency for rubbing, like a lotion, all over his face. Maybe I should try that on my wrinkly forehead?

When we got back from dinner, we gave the boys their presents - mostly because there was no way in the world I could wait any longer to give Freddie the football uniform we'd gotten him. For weeks now, he's asked about a hundred times a day to watch the "Cat movie" on my phone, which is actually a 45 second ad on Amazon for these kid-sized football uniforms. I ordered him the uniform and have to say - he reacted with the exact level of excitement I'd have expected.

Jones got a bucket of dinosaurs and a blow-up T-Rex. In the weeks since Christmas, he's had sudden-onset dinosaur obsession. Since we didn't have any dinosaur toys, Valentine's Day was the perfect opportunity to stock our coffers with some pre-historic creatures. Jones responded is typical, explosively grateful way, which is one of the things I love the most about him.

He named the T-Rex "John" and parked
him right beside the door to his room. 

watching "Paddington," a new favorite, on Netflix

I think their gifts were a hit. Walking in to church on Sunday, I noticed Jones clasping something in the chest of his vest. Turns out, he was sneaking his pterodactyl ("Jack") in. We ended up making a nest for Jack on the church pew between us.

Freddie's had his uniform on pretty much non-stop, too. On Thursday when I went in to get him dressed for school, he was already halfway there - wearing his "Cat pants" and asking if he could wear his helmet. When I said he couldn't, he asked me to bring it with him when I picked him up, and the first thing he said to me when I pulled into the carpool line was, "Did you bring my helmet?"

Of course, Little Man.

Freddie was very excited about his Spider-Man
valentines, but he was NO so sure about GIVING
all of those pencils away. He really
wanted to keep them all for himself.

On Valentine's Day itself, I had the exciting privilege of hosting Freddie's class party (like I hosted Jones's for Thanksgiving). I sure do love his teacher and their little school. When I went in to wave at Jones in his class, he gave me a half-smirk and a tiny little wave and went about his business. Mrs. Janet noticed and said, "THAT'S a big change!" and we both agreed that our little boy is growing up. After school, we met Jeremy for lunch at Bogart's. The boys had a ball going through their bags of school Valentines, and I was very excited to show off the locket they'd given me. While they were in school, I'd gotten pictures printed and put into the locket. For as much as they like to look at and open it, I'll be lucky if this thing lasts until Easter!

Another thing I did on Valentine's Day was to officially apply to Haywood Christian Academy. Hopefully, we'll hear soon whether or not they've been admitted. It was amazing the peace I felt as I dropped off the check to pay their application fees. I'm really excited to join the HCA family for as long as we are there - maybe it'll just be a year, maybe it'll be more. Still, as I dropped the check off at the Upper School campus, the peace with which I did it was not lost on me. I am grateful that God has led us there, and that He's made a way for us to pay for it. 

That nite, we went to church. Jones had his Catechism class; Freddie had his bi-weekly brawl (and I mean that in a good way; they wrestle but have a ball together) with Brice, and I watched Week Two of a four-week video series on marriage presented by Paul David Tripp. I missed Week One, but Jeremy loved it, and after seeing Week Two, I can sure see why. When I picked the boys up, Freddie said he wanted to take a picture with Reagan. He sure does love Miss Reagan. So we took some pictures - Jones didn't want to be in them - and then we headed home with hearts in our eyes after a wonderful, eventful Valentine's Week.

The week ended with Jones saying to me, "Next time, I want you to get me a locket with you and Daddy in it. Den, I will wear it ev'ry day." 

Talk about hearts in our eyes. 

So thankful for these sweet little boys God gave us.