So Glad It's Not Just us....

I know it has been FOREVER since I have updated last. Alton has started preschool and is doing tremendously well there. We started him two days a week so he could get used to school and he adjusted VERY quickly. He was that kid that enters the class room, drops off his back pack and takes off without saying good bye to his mama.

In most ways I am proud that he is so secure that he is comfortable enough to just enjoy school and not have any separation anxiety... a tiny part of me wishes he would miss me a little.

 Alton has started swimming lessons as well. He has mostly gotten over his fear of water... but it's still there a little bit and he does not float on his back well. I know it will come in time, but he's just not there yet.

Layouts made with mama's collab with Jenn Barrette, Making Waves

 With the arrival of Alton's third birthday, we have taken delivery of a truck-load of attitude. I have talked to other girlfriends with little people Alton's age, and they all assure me that their children have developed the same personality quirk. So while it does not make it any easier to deal with, it does make me feel LOADS better that it's not just us that are dealing with a three year old diva. Is there a male version of that word? There's gotta be!

One thing the truck load of attitude has done is causing me to spend a LOT more time in prayer. I have never raised a three year old before. I pray DAILY for wisdom and patience. I want to raise an independent, creative thinker who loves God and is obedient to His word. If I could just get him to listen to me the first time I ask him to do something, I would be so happy.

Alton's behavior outside them home is getting a LOT better. After reading a library book or two on sharing and just 3+ weeks of pre-school, Alton has improved his social skills and sharing ability remarkably.

He sings along to songs in the car now, and requests his favorites on the iPod regularly. He is a BIG fan of God is Bigger Than the Boogie Man and Don't Give Me That Broccoli! The latter being repeated at dinner... Le Sigh. I can't say I really blame him about the broccoli.

There is more I am sure, but it is late. If you could pray for a couple of things for me, that would be awesome. One, for more patience and wisdom. I want to be a good mother and I want to raise an obedient child. Pray that God would help me do that. Secondly, for Alton pray that he would have an obedient heart and that he would want to be an obedient boy. Finally, Travis has a second interview tomorrow and another one later in the week. Help him to do well and to have a clear path about which job to choose if that situation arises. :)

More Library Book Fun

The Reader


Wheels on the Go! by La Coccinella

Alton LOVES this book. He learned some new transportation items, and it is a book has very happy to sit and read to himself.

Big Words For Little People by Jaimie Lee Curtis and Illustrated by Laura Cornell
I was VERY pleasantly surpised by this book. I didn't think that Alton would be that into it, but since I myself have a pretty large volcabulary, I hope that Alton will too. He LOVED this book and asked for it over and over again. He can't say all of the words, but he still loves it anyway.




Home Run by Robert Burleigh and illustrated by Mike Wimmer

I got this book for Alton to read with his Daddy. They both loved this book. It's kinda like a two part book. They have beautiful illustrations and a short little story on each page (whoot for easy bed time reading). Then they have another blurb on the page (in a smaller font) that contains all of the sports nut trivia that Daddy liked to read on his own.





Alton has a new favorite Character.

Tip the Mouse Can't Sleep by Carol Ottolenghi and illustrated by MArco Campenella

I love love love the illustrations in this book. Did you know that in a mouse house a sink is made from spool of thread, a bottle cap, and a straw suspended by tooth floss? I didn't either. I love the colors and drawings in this book.

Tip and Alton are apparently on the same development path. Alton thought this book was hilarious and asked for it multiple times daily.





If we were going to buy another book right now, this would be it.

Jon Scieszka's Trucktown Truckery Rhymes
written by David Shannon, Illustrated by Loren Long and David Gordon

This book borrows on old Mother Goose nursery rhymes and relates them to transportation items. Easily Alton's favorite library book of all time. It is over 50 pages long and he repeatedly sat through the whole book. Love this one.

Grandma, if you are reading this, Alton wants this book. ;)

Trip to the Fire Station!

Alton and I joined MOMS club last week. Our first trip with them was to Fire Station 6 in Torrance.

Look how tiny my big boy looks next to the hook and ladder truck!

He had the best time climbing all over this thing!

Alton driving the front of the hook and ladder truck.

Alton was very excited about trying on the Firemen's gear. Here he is suiting up.

As you can see, Alton is not at all shy. He stood right next to Fireman Kubota the entire time and even held his helmet for him later.

Trying on the helmet while holding it for the fireman. He figured out how to turn on the head light after about 5 seconds of wearing the helmet.

It was all I could do to keep Alton from climbing up to the back of the hook and ladder fire truck. Finally they let the kids climb in. Alton was very eager and as soon as he sat down, he starting asking for a hat to wear. Fireman Kubota helped Alton find one for this picture. :)

Right after Alton climbed out of the back of the hook and ladder truck, they got a call, which effectively ended our trip to Fire Station 6. Thank you Torrance Fire Fighters, we had a great time!

Napping is very hard work

More Layouts!

Well I haven't posted any new layouts in six months.... Let's watch Alton get older this time shall we?

(By the way the credits for these layouts can be found in my gallery here.)

P365/P52 Days 6-11

We are missing Day 6 because my camera’s memory card went wonky and deleted the photos I took Wednesday. I had a lot of pictures of Alton hoarding trucks at the Mom’s Club meeting.

Day 7
I got out for Mom's Night Out for Mom's Club, and I actually ice skated!

Here is my Tweet from the experience: "Ice. Fog. Tiny little slivers of metal attached to a moon boot. Beach. Jen. Which of these do not belong? For the record, I did not fall!"

Day 8
The new Pottery Barn Kids catalog arrives. Alton pours through it and asks that Santa bring him EVERY wooden car/truck/thing that moves on wheels in the catalog. (Which by the way, they don't sell in the catalog.) He also asks for the Fire truck bedding set. When we tell him Santa only comes once a year, he asks us to ask Amma....

I also think this is funny enough to note, When I told Travis that Alton was pouring through the catalog, he said, "Well now we don't need to have a girl. You already have someone to Pottery Barn shop with." Men.

Day 9
Alton is going to be a great reader like his mama and Uncle Robert. I often find him like this when he wakes up from his nap.

Day 10
Yes, that is my 2 1/2 year old on a bike. Yes he rides it. Yes, I am terrified of what this means. Pop Pop declares that the streets of Torrance will never be the same.

Day 11
Who doesn't love a good bubble bath?