Gracie, Gracie, Gracie

Today, I wasn't able to go to the school because the Department of Public Safety told me I needed to go visit their office ALL day. This is my conversation with Gracie when I picked her up.

Me: Hi Gracie, how was your day?
Gracie: Mom, don't give me a snack today.
Me: Why Gracie?
Gracie: Because my stomach is full of regret and embarrassment.
Me: Woah Gracie, what are you talking about?
Gracie: We didn't get a smily face in class today because of those two naughty boys.

Note: Gracie has 2 friends that like to chat quite a bit.

Me: Well Gracie, sometimes when the noise level gets really out of control, the teacher has no choice other than to punish the entire class.
Gracie: I know, that's why I am full of regret and embarrasment.
Me: But why Gracie? If you didn't do anything, you shouldn't feel that way.
Gracie: Well, I am just embarrassed by their behavior. How hard is it to do what your teacher says?
Me: Well Gracie, it's not as easy for others
Gracie: That doesn't make sense to me. I will never talk to them or play with them again. They are "RULE BREAKERS".

Wow, was all that was running through my mind as we drove home. She's only in the 2nd grade!

"Sing to Jesus"

Today, Cameron melted my heart. As we were getting ready for his bath he said "momma, I learned a new song today". I sat down on the step stool to listen. My little man started singing "Deep and Wide, deep and wide, there's a fountain flowing deep and wide...deep and wide, deep and wide, there's a fountain flowing deep and wide" He used his hands and all of himself as he sang. I hugged him tightly and gave him tons of kisses! I told him I was so proud of him and he said "Momma, I love singing to Jesus. Do you think little Grandma can hear us"? I told him Little Grandma could definitely hear us. I continue to be amazed at how much kids absorb and comprehend.

I love you little man!

First Day of School

School has started and things are in FULL swing at the Mueller Household! I still can not believe Gracie started 2nd Grade. She is going to have an amazing school year. Her teacher is Mrs. Strickland (I didn't get a photo of them yet) and has been at Rogers for a number of years. This summer we received a letter from the State letting us know Gracie passed her Gifted and Talented test. She will participate in the QUEST program at Rogers. This will give her one on one time with Mrs. Dinger who oversees the GT program. We are still getting used to homework and a routine again.

Our 2nd Grader - YIKES!

Cameron also started school this week. He was so lucky to have the same teacher he had for part of the year. His best friends Cole & Will are also in his class. How awesome is that?

(Mrs. Orgeron and Cameron)

My handsome Pre-K student (notice his new spiked hair - YIKES to that too)
This past week we also bought a "BIG BOY" car seat for Cameron. He has been so excited to sit in his new booster seat. He's a little smaller than Gracie was when we transitioned her but he was so ready!

Hot, Hot, Hot!

It has been extremely hot these past few weeks! I am wishing it was about 20 degrees cooler. We try to stay home and avoid the heat but then we go stir crazy. Last week we headed out to the lake with some of my family members. The kids had such a great time! As long as we stayed in the water, we didn't feel the heat. Gracie and her cousins actually caught some fish! She freaks out when a fly flies by here yet she goes out trying to catch fish!

Today, my Gracie woke up feeling not so good. She is running a fever but doesn't really complain of anything else hurting. It has been a long day! Hopefully tomorrow we can go out and about. I only have 3 weeks left with my babies before school starts!

Happy 4th of July!

We had a wonderful Holiday weekend. The kids and I drove around, again, looking for fireworks to buy. We bought quite a few on Friday and popped quiet a few. Saturday, we hung out in Arlington with my family and then drove back home to see the Freedom Fest Fireworks. They were wonderful! This morning, I literally yanked the kids out of bed and drove to Arlington for the Parade. My nephew was marching in the Parade this year, so we had to show our support. It was really hot but fun. My nephew Nathaniel. We are so proud of him! This is most of the Solis Clan...there were alot of us!

Binkie Withdrawals...

Both Cameron & Gracie have LOVED, LOVED, LOVED their "binkies". When Gracie was about 3 1/2, we talke to her about being a big girl and not needing a binkie anymore. She was really sad at first, but we told her if we put the binkies in a bag and tie it the tree, the Angels would fly down from Heaven and take them to the babies in Heaven...SOLD! She hung those binkies one night and never asked for them again. Whew! Cameron was a little (alot) more attached to his binkie. We tried the dwindling down on usage, not having it at nap times or in the car, etc. His 4th birthday was D-Day! We did COLD COLD turkey. We did the same we did with Gracie. We talked to him the importance and the milestone of his turning 4. We are on the cusp of becoming a "big boy" and there are babies in Heaven who really need binkies. So, he sucked each one as he put them in a bag and said goodbye. It took him a long time to finally go to sleep. The next morning he ran down the stairs to see if his bag of binkies was still on the tree. It wasn't, the Angels had flown down from Heaven. His beautiful little eyes had these big tears fill them and it broke my heart. Thankfully, the Angels left him a little present. The next few weeks were extremely hard and painful. But we stuck to our guns. Things seemed to get a little better and better. About a week ago, he started asking for his binkie again. He cried how much he loved his "roundie roundie". That's what he called his favorite one. He's been crying and crying and crying and crying and crying...(see what I mean). So today I thought I would print out a picture of his "binkie" for him. Dear Lord, what did I do??? That's what I have been asking myself all day. I tried to explain to him that it's ok to be sad and miss his binkie. Those are his feelings and we understand what he is going through. I showed him other pictures and explained that pictures are moments of happiness we capture. I don't know if he got it or not but he did stop crying. However, he is now carrying that darn picture everywhere. Did I just create another little monster? We'll see...

We love you so very much Cameron. We will get through this! I promise.

Love Mommy and Daddy