Catching up!

Wow, we have been busy!  Lots of fun stuff going on, which recently included going to Kindergarten roundup - I can't believe Clayton is going to Kindergarten!  I am also including photos from our most recent visit to Texas (I am very behind!).  They had a great time visiting with Gramsey, Pops, & Gigi and staying with Nana & Pops while mom & dad took a vacation.  They were very glad to be back home to their rooms and toys :)

This was Clayton celebrating his birthday at school

One of his teachers, Ms. Peggy

Happy Valentines 2012

Sam got "upgraded" to a new seat, and turned forward facing for our trip to Texas

We stopped and stayed the night in OKC, Sam got this special treat for breakfast

Giddy up!

Happy Birthday to Clayton!

Sam & Gramsey

Clayton with Gramsey & Pops

 

We got a little rain while we were in Texas!

Fun times at the arcade

 
Happy Valentine's Day!

We had lunch at Cracker Barrel with Gigi!

Then we headed to Nana & Pops'!

Clayton got to "hold" the bird

Mommy & Daddy took a trip to Hawaii for their anniversary

A view from the hotel beach

Sam had his first dentist appointment when we got back

Just in time for some Easter candy! :)

Happy Easter!

Flowering the cross

Then it was time for an Easter egg hunt!

Did I mention he loves to climb trees?! :)

Some of Clayton's latest artwork:

"Eve" to go with Wall-E 

Spiderman in watercolor

Eve & Wall-E

Puppet that he made from a paper bag, crayons, felt & tape 

CLAYTON
- His new favorite activity is taking the pocket digital camera around and taking pictures of lots of things - always fun to flip back through those :)
- Really likes to build things with "link 'n' logs"
- LOVES to climb trees
- He passed a "swim test" at Lifetime Fitness while we were in Houston visiting Nana & Pops (2/15/2012), swimming the length of the pool, touching the bottom and coming back up to keep swimming - then enthusiastically asked if he could do it again!  We were told by the USAA coach who was there that we should have him on a competitive swim team.  He has never even had a swim lesson!
- He has made a few new pictures using liquid watercolors
- He also made an "Eve" (companion of Wall-E) doll out of paper (see photo above)
- When we ask him if he wants to go back to Texas he says "NO, I've had enough of that place!"
- Clayton started speech therapy to work on his lateral lisp - for sounds of "sh", "ch", and "j", he is making good progress!
- While in church on Easter Sunday - we sat in the overflow chapel and when Clayton heard the pastor over the speaker he looked up and said "Mommy, is that Jesus!??"
- Excerpts from his latest report from school said the following:
* Enjoys visiting the block, house and writing areas and his planning is purposeful and self directed
* Clayton has such a big heart and is very aware of the needs of others, often helping with words of encouragement to those in need, even before being asked.
* Clayton maintains many on-going friendships within the classroom
* Clayton has a very vivid imagination and can be found using a variety of materials to represent his ideas and plans.  He includes many details while drawing and building structures.
* Able to follow multi-step directions
* Exhibits good small muscle control, particularly while using scissors and writing tools.  He turns paper and cuts very smoothly to stay on or close to his intended path.
* Clayton uses his creativity to create stories and books.  When he "reads" his books, he uses his extensive vocabulary and reads with vivid expression.  He enjoys sharing his books with others and is very proud of his abilities as an author. 
- Week of 4/9/12 - Went to Des Moines, IA to see a allergy specialist at the Children's Hospital there.  We are very excited that they may be able to desensitize his nut allergy.  We are currently awaiting lab results from his bloodwork.

SAM
- He is getting speech therapy and has quite a few new words, some include - Bee, Quack, Duck, Cookie, Round, Wee, Llama, Ree (read), Help, Clean-up, Walk, Out, Down, Mommy, Daddy, play, buckle, kick, duckie (lately tends to favor words with the letter K)
- All birds are "duckies".  He likes to chase them and then gets his feelings hurt when they fly away
- His favorite word - POOOOL!! - He loves to go to the pool!
- Loves to blow bubbles
- When you ask him to say "Sam" - he gets very excited and says "ME!!!!"
- He has a "happy dance" - he gallops when he is happy, it is very cute
- He loves Johnny Cash and tries to get me to play him "again" over and over in the car :)
- When getting in the car he only wants you to open the door, he then says "ME!" to tell us he wants to climb in and buckle in himself.