I love how some of his paperwork comes back saying “Cha” instead of “Chance” because he just didn’t have time to bother writing his WHOLE name, or his name is written backwards, or how his stick figure people look more like big bodied bugs with little legs and hair. Chance is LEARNING… and he’s loving it.

Their class had hung this up recently. The project was to design a plain white pre-outlined “person” as yourself:

Every child had their own creativity displayed (some had their parents artistic talent displayed too… come on! this is kindergarten!) but to me, Chance’s stuck out.

As he was creating “himself”, he told me:

“Mama… I’m gonna draw a lot of teeth because I love snacks. I think it’s really silly that my paper person doesn’t have hands because I’m totally drawing him with my hands right NOW! And he’s gonna have green shoes cuz shoes help me run fast… and green means ‘GO’! Hey! I’m gonna draw green on where my hands should be too so they know next time to put hands there. And I’m gonna draw my heart cuz that’s where Jesus lives. And my smile is gonna be the biggest thing because I’m so happy!”

I didn’t help him with his project at all… though I sat with him the whole time he worked on it (btw… this is a good example of what kindergarten homework looks like). As you can see, he also stuck smiley stickers all over his paper person too… including his EYES. And either he’s bleeding into his leg or Jesus flows down into there. I’m not sure. Whichever way, the REAL Chance got bored with this project at about 10 minutes and decided this would be how he’d turn it in.

Another day, he came home with this project and gave it to Paxton to wear:

I laughed first… then my heart overspilled with joy.

You see… Chance LOVES Jesus. I know he thinks about him often because he TALKS about him often. And because he’s the big brother, it’s trickling down to his little brother. And on the days I feel like a failure of a mother… I think about these days and remember I got one thing right…

… they know Jesus.

My kids teach me more about the love of God than any seminary class ever could. And for that… I’m thankful.

Granted… it’s not full day school yet, but it’s still school… E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y.

He is no longer by my side Monday’s through Friday’s from 8:50am to 11:50am. This just makes me anticipate what it will be like with him gone ALL day next year. That means he’ll be in school more of his days than with me.

My baby is growing up.

Chance has homework every day. He has take home reading (flash cards and all) he’s to do with us as well as a coloring/cutting/art page. It’s definitely a new kind of life for Brian and me. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t remember having homework in Kindergarten. Whichever way… I think it’s great. It’s more intentional time for me and my boy.

I don’t know when we’re gonna find time to do his homework. I’d much rather goof off and be silly with him.

When do you have your kids do their homework?
No kids? When did YOU do your homework?

I’ll be back soon… especially since God’s been stirring up quite a bit in my heart as of late… but for now, I’ll just leave you with a cute video of my boys.

This video is a few weeks old. I FINALLY got around to loading it onto YouTube. Better late than never, right?

What is YOUR family “thing”?

Chance and Paxton are growing SO fast, I find myself asking God to slow time down just a bit sometimes.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

1. Chance & Pax sharing jammies in the morning?
2. Brian, Helen, Jesse & Chance playing Chutes & Ladders.
3. Paxton stealing the spinner for the game.
4. Paxton’s just cute.
5. More Paxton being cute.
6. Scrabble board from one of my two wins.
7. Jesse & Helen.
8. Me & Helen
9. Jesse & Paxton… who seems to be painting on his MBP.
10. Chance helping Jesse with the dishes.
11. Pax
12. Pax
13. Pax
14. Helen… and Chance, the warrior?
15. Paxton. He’s really quite amazing!
16. Pax & Chance with homemade Pedialyte popsicles
17. Pedialyte Popsicles – Pax judging Chance?
18. Mmmm…
19. Paxton is potty training #2.
20. He’s flashing gang signs.
21. I just like this picture of Paxton.
22. Paxton… not liking the mess he made of his noodles.
23. Picking up Jesse at the airport. Helen is happy.
24. Paxton’s first time in Crocs.

Time is flying by so I’m taking it in.

When you’re the Mom of two young boys, that’s not always a GOOD thing. I turned around from the sink and saw THIS:

I was curious with what EXACTLY was going on, so I dried my hands and walked over.

Paxton had crawled onto the couch, nestled in with Chance and was pushing the little yellow button on Chance’s “fighter jet”. Each time the fighter jet “launched a missile”, the boys laughed hysterically.

I love “catching” my boys loving each other and just BEING together.

I can honestly say I would never trade this for a million dollars.

Yeah. He didn’t want to nap… so this happened instead:

How do you help release creativity in your kids?

Please share!!!