Mr. Independent...

Every weekend morning the kids wake up and hang out in our bed until we all get up!  It's actually one of my favorite times of the day!  Sam jokes that when Max gets bigger we are going to run out of room in the bed!  I guess it's time to start looking for a king!  Last Sat. Chris got up to take a shower and I nursed Max while the big kids went down stairs!  We thought they were playing with their toys but we walked down to this...

Sam had gotten the bowls, spoons, cereal, and milk out for both him and Sissy AND successfully poured the milk all by himselft!  The funniest part of the whole thing was that Sam turned on the TV and turned the channel to Sports Channel!  Like father, like son!!   

Church Basketball!

Sam is loving his church basketball league!  They practice on Friday nights and play on Sat. afternoons! It's the perfect league for him because its K and 1st so he has just the right amount of competition!  Last week he had 12 points and 2 steals with his all time record of 14 points 2 weeks ago!  He is SO in his element!  He plays with such intensity it makes me laugh!  He also is one of the smoothest with the ball as he dribbles down the court!  Last week he had a shot at the buzzer that went in and he ran over to Daddy (who of course is the coach) and gave him a big hug!  It was really sweet!  Our favorite part of the day is on our drive back home when we are talking with Sam and he gives us the "inside" scoop.  Last week was our all time most favorite quote from Sam ever!  He said, "Hey Dad...There was a kid on the other team that said "block him, he's just little" and Dad I told him, "I will NOT, I will NOT stop shooting"!  Chris and I LOST it! We laughed so hard!  Sam's a pretty quiet and shy kid but the confidence...it overfloweths!   At practice when Chris was telling the team that for the first time they would be playing their game the next day on the same court that they practice on Sam said, "Oh good guys...it's a home game!"  He is not right!  Doesn't he sound like Chris??  They are basically the same person!  

I need to take some game action shots but here is the Mr. practicing on his hoop in the kitchen!  He must play either on this hoop or his outside hoop an hour a day...he loves it!  

Look Who's 100 Days Smarter!!!

Our Sam has completely rocked out Kindergarden!  We had our mid year conference last week and Mrs. Green told us what an amazing kid we had...we already knew that, but it felt so good for someone else to brag on him!  

Sam, we are so proud of you!  You are a good friend, a respectful student, and SUPER smart!  We loved seeing your journal!  (we get to keep it at the end of the year so be on the lookout for pics then!)  You write a lot about playing soccer with Daddy but your last journal about giving Mommy a hug every morning brought a tear to my eye!  And what's this about Mrs. Green telling us that, "the girls really love Sam!!!"???  Are you not telling us something???  She also told us what a good example you are to your friends which made our hearts warm AND she showed us your 100% spelling test and bragged about your superior handwriting!  Keep it up Sam!!!   We are so happy you love school!  Way to go Buddy!!  

Here is your "x" book!  

 We most loved your adorable drawing of Max!  

 For "k" Homework Sam had to record how long he could kick a ball!  Of course Dad and Sam had to take it to a whole other level by recording how long he could kick in the air, kick with a roll, punt, and kick off a tee!

 Sam rides the bus to Daddy's school in the afternoon and hangs out at practice until I can I pick him up!  Basically he feels like hot stuff and pretty much thinks he rules the high school!  Most of the time they try to talk me into letting him stay the whole practice!  He likes to run with the guys and when they scrimmage he is the "ref" complete with Daddy's whistle!  (remember when he used to call it "histle", read about it here).  Chris made him a little desk area in the storage room and one day he made this February calendar all on his own!  I thought it was pretty cute!  It's hard to see but he filled in his birthday, Valentine's day, President's Day, and Washington and Lincoln's birthdays!  He went back since I took this pic and added Groundhog's Day!

 He likes to draw on the back of his papers!  Most of the time it's about Daddy but here he drew a heart and wrote I love my Mommy!  It was a cute surprise when I was cleaning out his folder!

 Speaking of surprises!  I cleaned out our filing cabinet and found this little gem that Chris wrote in the 7th grade, a poem called "Roadways"!

My road leads to the stadium, where I wish to start a career.  
For you only have one life to live, so play hard and do not fear.

Soccer, baseball, basketball, I've played for all my life.
Even through the good times, and even through the strife.

Soccer is my best one; I've played it ever since I was small.
I always play at home, where it bounces off the wall. 

I've always played in the fall, when the soccer season starts. 
So as you can see, I love soccer.  To me, it's a work of art. 

Basketball is another one, another sport I play.
Where I used to live, I chased the ball almost ever single day! 

Baseball is the last one.  It's last but certainly not least.
This sport like all the others, I learned from my family!

Here is the part that made me cry...the teacher wrote in read, "Well, this poem is certainly reflective of all that you're about!! So, are you going to a coach??"

I mean really people...he was only in the 7th grade...but he knew!!!  :)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I asked Sam if he wanted to go to the store and pick out Valentine's or if he wanted his picture on them again...he actually voted for the picture!  I was super happy since I had free prints from Shutterfly!  I let them pick out what picture they wanted, uploaded them to a free Valentine template curtesy of mcp actions, hole punched for the sucker...and Viola!  For only the cost of the package of suckers (on sale at CVS) I thought they turned out pretty cute!  Sam said, "all the girls said, awwwww, I know which one is Sam's"!  I'm going to take that as a compliment and run with it!  

Go here to see his cute Valentine's from last year! 

They wrote the names on all their classmates cards and Sam even punched the holes and put in the sucker all by himself!  He wanted absolutely no help!  

 (side note: no Dowdy children actually use the high chair.  We just leave it out for when company comes over and they might need it!)

Valentine's Day kisses are the best!

 "Hey mom, what's Bubba doing to me??"!   (Sam officially now wants to be called Bubba...you guessed it, after Bubba Watson on the PGA tour! HA!)

Isn't this the sweetest???  Yes, little Max...you are ONE LOVED little baby!!!!  

 Enough of this!  I love that Max is screaming, Sissy has blue candy all over her, and Sam is giving me the "really Mom" look!  Yep, that about sums it up...how's that for reality!

Chris had practice after school, Sissy had dance class, and we had small group on Valentine's Day...we did manage to squeeze in a super cute family dinner at Macado's.  The highlight for the kids were opening their Valentine's!  Chris and I handmade them Valentine's with rhymes curtesy of Mr. Beat Box himself, Daddy O!   (FTR we were not trying to play "artsy crafty parents of the year", we were more playing, the "we waited to the last minute therefor we will use the art supplies from my classroom and Chris will send me the rhymes via text message at the last second" parents of the year.

Sammy C's: To the BEST big bro Sammy C! You've become a Mario Kart Master on the Nintendo Wii!  You're smart and kind and you LOVE your sports...especially B-ball!  We love watching you play, we wouldn't miss it at all!  (plus lots of mushy, gushy other stuff!)
Charley: Ladies first, princess CJD, to our hearts you hold the key!  You make everyone laugh, we love watching you dance!  You're the sweetest girl in the world, that's our stance! (plus lots of mushy gushy stuff!)
Maxwell: Last but not least, our Baby Max!  Please get more sleep so Mom and Dad can relax! (plus lots of mushy, gushy stuff...we didn't want him to get a complex! HA!)

We LOVE our 3 little Valentines!

Super Bowl Sunday!

Our church had the VT chaplain speak on super bowl Sunday!  He brought some players and the Hokie Bird!  We were asked to wear our favorite jerseys to church and the Dowdy's DID NOT disappoint! 

Even Max got in on the action!  Sam took the opportunity to wear his entire football outfit and Charley loved being "Mommy's twin!"!

(Disclaimer...I just spent a good chunk of time reading over old posts!!!  That's why I blog...I love looking back!...but I happened to notice just how horrible my grammar is on this little ol blog!!!! HA!  Yep, that's my job...I teach the future!!!  Are you worried???  If I took time to really edit all my posts I would never blog...I barely have time for the grammar filled post...ha!)

I can't get enough of this little guy...

 (Unkie Greg...that drool's for you!)

 I'm off to go kiss that face off...I mean really...

Max:3 months

Oh Max you are 3 months...how??? How are you 3 months old already??? Not a newborn but a smiley, cooing, little baby!  You are loved...you are so loved!  Your sister and brother absolutely adore you!  They talk to you in the same baby voice that I do and nightly have a contest to see who can make you smile the most!  Charley loves to read to you!  You will sit in your play mat and she will crawl under with you and read you the best stories!  You stay up for nightly prayer time now and sometimes you like to hang out with Sam in the top bunk!  He thinks that just hilarious and has already asked if you can sleep in his room when you get older! (You think when you're 3 and tearing up all his toys he'll be singing the same tune??)  You have the best smile in the world....THE.BEST.SMILE!   And those dimples...don't get me started on those squishy little dimples of yours....melt my heart!  As you get older more and more people are saying you look more like Charley!  A couple nights ago you were taking a bath...still your favorite part of the day...hands down...and Dad and I got you smiling so hard we heard your first laugh...a true baby laugh...and we burst into laughter with you!  You do that Max, you make us all smile and laugh more!  We already can't remember being a family without you!   You love my voice and will look for me wherever I am in the room!  You better always remember to look for me! :) You've been to Sissy's dance class and Bub-bee's (he does not want to be called Bubba...Bub-bee...emphasis on the "bee") basketball games several times.  You learned to roll with the punches quick and you like being an "on the go" baby!  You like to be swaddled to sleep still and love, love, love your Mr. Frog paci!  You nurse every 3 hours during the day and still nurse one time in the middle of the night!  You wear size 2 diapers and have moved into your 3-6 month clothes!  Your eyes are so big and your little peach fuzz is to die for!   Max we love you and love watching you grow!   

 My little happy boy...