About Me

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Hey! My name is Hillary and I live in Texas! I am a teacher turned stay at home mom with my 3 year old daughter! I also have a 7 year old son! I love doing fun activities with my kids, helping other teachers and spending time with my sweet husband!

Monday, July 15, 2013

Shaving Cream and Sand!

Being a teacher...I am always look for fun things to do with my child! I think it is very important for kids to have all different kinds of experiences! However, I am not very accepting in the area of "messy." I usually hate things that are messy...I do not like getting messy...therefore, I don't do many things with Rex that allow him to get messy. Well today...I decided to throw caution to the wind...and give my boy a few things to get messy with!

We started off with a bit of shaving cream...and food coloring! I did not get pictures of us mixing it...because we were...well mixing. But he LOVED making the different colors from white shaving cream! (IMPORTANT...remind them not to eat! He didn't eat it...but tried...probably because we were mixing with spoons!)

Here was our finished product! Well finished before we started making a mess!
 
 
At first...he was very confused! But never underestimate the power of modeling! After mommy showed him what to do...he was ready to dive in!

 
Any there we go! Painting on a cookie sheet! (We practiced writing his name...ABC's...numbers...and drawing shapes!)

 
We might have thrown a little bit of it too! ;)

 
Now spreading with the spoon! (And of course starting to mix all of the colors!) It makes such a nice vomit color. :)

 
He liked the spoons better than his hands! I kind of do too...although I encouraged the messy-ness of the hands!

 
Using those hands again!

 
Finishing his masterpiece! It was really soooo much fun!
 
 
After that activity was over...we decided to get in the sandbox...it has been probably months since he has done the sand box! (Way too hot outside...but today it was nice!) He's always been a little stand-off-ish of the sand box...likes it but he doesn't want to get messy! Well I am proud to say...today was different! He got DOWN AND DIRTY! lol. We also took a break and had a popsicle...with dirty hands. lol. :) Take a look!
 




 
 
Throwing sand...this is not allowed at my house. I do not want it in his eyes! But I did get an action shot. lol...then I told him no. :)



 
Needless to say...Rex had a blast! We came in and bathed and now he is quietly playing at his table. I love days like these and will miss them when the school year starts! So...if you have a toddler...go get a little dirty! They love it! :) 

Sunday, July 14, 2013

"Jeesush" Loves Me!

Tonight was a heartwarming night. I felt the need to blog about...I want to remember this sweet moment forever (and my blog is sort of a journal of Rex's life as well as my life.)

Rex was upset going to bed tonite...I think he was tired and he was enjoying watching videos of himself as a baby...but when it was bedtime, he as upset. I wouldn't say it was a "fit throwing" upset...but a sad upset. I tried to read to him (which he loves every night) but he was still sad. When Rex was "sleep training" I did let him cry it out...and it worked...but that was a long time ago...and I refuse to let him go to bed sad and upset at his age now...I think a child can be calmed...and should be. So I put the book away and begin to sing his favorite song..."ABC's" I sang it a few times, and he was calm...I asked him if I could sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" he didn't respond but just looked up at me...so I sang it anyway. Then I asked "Rex, what song would you like me to sing?" And much to my surprise...he replied with "Jeesush." (Which I knew to mean...Jesus Loves Me.) I sing that to him often, but he has never asked me for it. It truly touched my heart. Rex is getting much better with his speech, but he still struggles with communicating at times. I love at this small age...he knows (and can verbalize) "Jesus"...even if it is in his own way.

We have been praying every night...he verbalizes who he is thankful for...and says "Amen." In fact, he evens asks for prayer time by saying..."Amen?" when he goes to bed.

I want so badly to be a good...no...GREAT mother to Rex. He deserves nothing less. Yet I feel I fall short from time to time. Tonight is a moment I will never forget...to some it may seem small...but for me...when my child (that God so carefully gave to me...) can say the name of someone so precious to me...it really melts my heart.

I thank God every day for Rex...today is no different.

Lions and Tigers and Bears...OH MY!

If you know Rex at all (or any child for that matter)...you know they love animals! We decided it was time for Rex to go to a zoo other than the one in Tyler. Yesterday we went to the Ft. Worth Zoo and were accompanied by my brother, sister-in-law Shelley, my mom, Shelley's sister Natalie and her son (Rex's Cousin) Caleb! Of course me, Randy and Rex were there too! It was so much fun! I have to admit, it was incredibly hot but we had a wonderful time anyway!

 
Wearing Uncle Danny's Hat

 
Rex and Mimi

 
Just Chatting with Uncle Danny

 
Cheese! 

 
Hanging with Mommy! (That is water he spilled on himself!) 


 
Showing Rex the Animals

 
Rex and his Daddy

 
Rex loved the White Tiger! We were lucky, the tiger came right by the window!

 
It was hot...but loved being with my boy!

 
Still Hanging with his Daddy!
 
Caleb and Rex! :)

 
Aunt Shelley made a WONDERFUL picnic lunch for he family! Rex loved the Cheetos and Blackberries the most!

 
At the end of the day, we went into the gift shop! I bought Rex the cutest (and softest) elephant! He loves him!

 
This boy loves his aunt and uncle so much! He kept saying "Didi and Sheshy" (Danny and Shelley) all day!

 
 
 
Love my family!! (Randy was getting the car during these! Just pretend he is here!) :)

Needless to say...it was a big day and this boy had a blast!

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

New Play Area (My Husband is a Genius)

Last summer we got a new couch...well a sectional actually (I love it!) Anyway, we had to move things around a bit which left a big area behind my husband's recliner...it was empty space. Slowly through the year, I put more and more of Rex's toys back there...it was just convienent. Well tonight my husband had the idea to turn it into a play area! We had some left over carpet (from when we got new carpet before Rex was born)...he cut it to fit behind his recliner...then we moved Rex in!


 
Opening his crate-stool to get his colors out!

 
Sitting at his table coloring!

 
I think he likes it! :)
 

Oh he's just sooo creative! :)
 
 
Rex has always had a lot of space in his room...but doesn't play back there alot, I am very excited about a new place to store things and a sweet place for my baby to play! Thanks Randy! You are the best! We love you and your great ideas!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Splash Pad Fun!

What a fun day! Today we spent some time hanging around the house but after Rex's nap we decided to go to the Splash Pad at Spring Hill Park.

We went a few days ago to just the playground part (we had never been there before) and it was great! Here are a few pics!

 
 
 
In this picture, I just thought he looked so big with his spikey hair! What a cutie!
 
Anyway!
 
Then today we decided to put on his trunks and take him back for a little fun in the water! The whole way we were driving he kept saying "swim, swim!" He hasn't grasped the concept that sometimes we have to GO somewhere to actually swim. He was excited though and loved the water!




 If you live around here, I highly suggest you check it out! It's a great place to take your kids and there are never a lot of people there! Plus it is a great cool down spot! My little fish loved it!

Monday, July 8, 2013

Our Little Life!

Well I am excited to be posting about my family again! It has been a year, wow! I have been busy finishing my principal's certification and of course being a momma! My goal is to post a lot in this next year...I have a feeling my life will be must less stressful and I will finally have some free time!

This summer (thus far) has been wonderful! Relaxing and full of time with our wonderful little boy!


Rex finished up his 2 year at daycare! I cannot believe it! He did wondeful this year and learned so many new things! Before he turned two, he could say his whole alphabet, recognize all of his letters, count to twenty, recognize 1-10, knows all of his shapes, and colors as well! I am one proud momma! This picture was taken on the last day of daycare! He is getting so big!
 


 
 
 We celebrated Father's Day in a big way! We tried to make it the most special day for Daddy! We love Randy so much, he is such a wonderful Dad!
 
We also put Rex in swim lessons this summer! We had a blast! Rex learned some great survival skills and also learned that he LOVES the water! He's a little fish!
 




 
We have also done lots of crafts this summer so far! Rex loves to color and use watercolors! He is actually a bit obsessed with his colors...if you pull them out, he wants you to write his name and color for him! We are working on him coloring by himself! He has so much fun though!
 

 
 
We recently tried corn on the cob for the first time! Let's just say, it was a huge hit! Rex loves to eat, his favorites are hot dogs, mashed potatoes, chicken nuggets, rice, mac and cheese, ketchup, hashbrowns, apples, apple sauce, carrots, and a few others! I think we can add corn to the list too! He chowed down! :)
 
 
 
Rex had his 2 year check up on June 10. He weighed 29 lbs and was 36 inches tall! Everything was great and the doctor said he was doing great developmentally! I thought it was funny though, it was the first time they made him slip on this hospital gown...he's too big for just his diaper I suppose!
 
We've also put Rex in his toddler bed...I thought this was going to be difficult. I figured he would love the freedom, but going on two months, he still doesn't get out until I come in the room in the mornings! He sleeps from 8:00 PM-8:00 AM and naps from 12:30-3:00. The boy loves his sleep!
 
 
 
Rex loves to count and read...he actually isn't into any TV shows...I kind of wish he was at times. I would love for him to have a favorite show. BUT, it will come in time. For now, he loves to entertain himself or beg for us to entertain him! :)
 

 
He has this book memorized! :)

This book is one of his favorites, it is from my grandmother...she left him a sweet message in the back, he loves the book! :)
 
 
We also got a small pool for the backyard, he's had a blast swimming in it! We can actually all fit in it, which is nice! :) Oh and look at that belly!
 
 
Rex gives in to his sweet side at times! :) He loves his Mickey, Monkey and Blanket. He will also walk up to me and Randy and say..."Big Kiss (giving a kiss)...Hug (giving a hug)...Nice (petting us)." We laugh! He's so sweet! He can have a terrible two side too, but we choose to remember the good times. :)

 
Too cool for school! :)

 
Loves climbing in the big bed while momma is trying to make it!
 
This is a long post, but a great glimpse of our summer so far! We are loving every second of it! We just got back from a trip to Kansas...pictures to come soon! Hope you enjoy seeing what is going on with the Kiser's!