365 - Second 9-Weeks Awards

It was awards day at Wrangler Round up this past week. 

I was so proud of the boys! 

Luke made all A's, except for one in language arts. 

He also received the Ropin' Reader Award!

Noah had a really great day too!

He received the Ropin' Reader, Magical Mathematician and a "Way to Go" for his reading log. 

Cruz also received a Blue Ribbon award in music for listening and following instructions. 

He would not, however, allow me a picture, so I'll simply write about it here ;)

#365ThankfulForAt-A-Boys

365 - The "Littles"

I just love my Noah-boy, a.k.a. the sweet angel.
He is one of the most colorful, eclectic-dressing, story-telling, imaginative kids I've ever met. 

Not a day goes by where he doesn't dress himself "up." 

Some days that means as a cowboy. Other days, it's a fireman. 

Regardless of what he chooses, it's always fun! 

He is my "boy" boy. Loves dirt, bugs and all things outside!  

Cruzie: He is my "bambino" and I am his "mamilla." 

This boy has my heart wrapped around his little finger - in a powerful way.

I will never, ever tire of looking at his sweet face.

I try to memorize every feature & expression, but he's changing so fast. 

God has given me a revelation in to just how fast life is passing and I am grateful for the "Selah" moments...the ones where I pause, look around me and realize how very blessed I am. 

The picture of Cruz, below, was one of those moments.

#365ThankfulForTheSelahs

365 - This is How We Do It!

On an average ordinary day, this is the progression of three little boys...

Starting with Noah, it is a process to be this handsome!

Gotta make sure the faux-hawk is just right.

Not too shabby, eh?

This is how you eat a corn dog. 

Corn dogs make Cruzie "vewy, vewy" happy!

...And sleepy when his belly is full. 

This how Luke does his homework. 

Well, maybe that smile was a small exaggeration-this is more like it.

But, this really is how he looks when he's D-O-N-E!

#365ThisIsHowWeRoll

365 - Noah & Oscar

This is the story of a lil' pup named Oscar and his boy Noah. 

Oscar was abandoned when he was 8 weeks old and taken to a high-kill animal shelter in Kingville, Texas.

A rescue agency saved him and found a foster home for him to stay with while they looked for a permanent solution. 

Santa knew how much Noah wanted a puppy. He arranged for Oscar to move to a second foster home in Wylie. Christmas morning, Oscar showed up on Noah's doorstep with a note from Santa saying he knew Noah would be the perfect little boy to take care of Oscar and give him a forever home. 

It was love at first site. Oscar is a snuggler & give the best puppy kisses. Noah takes him everywhere and his favorite place to sleep is on a lap or curled up under the covers with one of his humans. 

This is a happily-ever-after story. 

Oscar & Noah are best friends forever! 

#365ThankfulForPuppyLove

365 - Ripstik!

Oh me - oh my - oh! Luke's Ripstik skateboard came today! Ever since the neighbor boy brought his out to play, Luke's regular skateboard just hasn't hit the mark. He used his Christmas money to buy it and has been enviously watching Davis ride his, as he eagerly awaited its arrival.  

Noah was equally excited about the box it came in. I'm telling you, this boy has a "thing" for boxes. He is the biggest pack-rat and I'm more than a little concerned about seeing him on an episode of "Hoarders" one day. Check out that glazed-over look on his face. It's like he's on a cardboard high!

Cruzie just sat watching it all. He was naked and refused to get dressed, so I had to sit him in the chair and cover him up in order to get his 365 picture today.  My silly bambino loves to run around the house yelling, "I nakie! I nakie!"

Any day the UPS truck comes is a good day in the Padron house! 

#365ThankfulForUPS

365 - Homework

Oh the torture...homework and mom making Luke take another picture. He was NOT in a chipper mood today, which is the case often with my honey bunny. His emotions run strong, which means he feels the highs and lows intensely. I know Father God will take that emotion and turn it in something wonderfully compassionate one day. 

Noah was proud to show me how well he had colored in the lines. He loves all things trucks, so this coloring book is perfect for him.

#365BigBoys

365 - A Day in the Life...Just Hangin' Out

Cruz is diggin' his brother's new Legos today. He was intent on getting two sets of wheels on this contraption. After digging through our master Leog bin for an  hour, we finally found a set! 

Say it with me... "Hallelujah!" 

It was COLD tonight, so we had a nice fire roaring in the fireplace, roasted marshmallows and got the boys settled down in jammies & ready for bed.

The next night, we got our "silly on" with some funny -ace selfies. There were so many funny ones, but I think this was one of the best of all of us. I'm so jealous Luke can curl his tongue. He did not get that trait from me...and Cruz, obviously, didn't either. 

I couldn't leave Noah & Oscar out either. They were right there with us in the silly pics. Luke was taking the picture in this one because we couldn't fit all four (5 with Oscar) of us in one pic while I was holding the camera out in front of us. 

In between our moments of chaos, we do manage to make some fun. 

And these are the ones I want to remember forever. 

#ThankYouProject365

365 - Our Own Brand of Silly

Trying to convince the boys to let me take their picture EVERY.SINGLE.DAY isn't as easy as it sounds. 

Cruz was not having any part of looking at the camera, let along smiling for me. This picture is actually one of the more pleasant expressions he made while I was trying to convince (ok...bribe) him to look at me just once. So, true to the 365 concept, here is the real-life picture I was able to snap of him with his Lego storage box with Oscar curiously standing near by watching. 

Noah, on the other hand, was animated as ever. True to his unique sense of style, he is wearing his big brother's pj pants, my warm-winter boots, a Santa hat and red & black party balloons accessorizing the ensemble. 

Luke, throwing up his Texas Longhorns gansta signs, was happy to oblige my photo request. He threw down a Florida State Indian chop too, but I'll save that picture for another day.  

Normally, I'm the one behind the camera, but Noah was insistent that I have my picture taken too. Too bad I was just about to hop in the bath before bed...hair pulled back, glasses on...don't let my "glam-mom" look wow you too much!

Finally, end of the day, two boys corralled in the tub and one cooperative boy outside the tub, I managed to get one picture with my three Musketeers all together. They sure don't make it easy...but this is definitely an accurate depiction of our last day of Christmas break - it is our own brand of silly. Not for the faint-hearted. 

Thankful for today...esp that it is almost bedtime.

365 A Beautiful Saturday in January

It's going to be 63 degrees today and that means one thing when you have boys - OUTSIDE play!!  I can't help but laugh seeing Luke messing with his phone while riding his bike, Noah riding his new Big Wheel, and Cruz still in his jammies with a baseball helmet on riding his new big boy bike with training wheels. 

We are soaking the sun up while we can, tomorrow temps drop down in to the teens! Thankful for the beautiful weather today! @365PadronBoys

365 Project - Luke, Noah, Cruz

Decided to start a 365 project this year...taking one picture a day of my boys doing every day life. 

Today is January 3, 2014, so I'm a few days behind. The concept is still valid though and I believe at the end of this year, I will look back and be happy I dedicated the time to capturing a year in the life of my world. 

 Today, I found Luke outside playing soccer with the neighbor girls. He wasn't up for smiling, but I did get him to stand still in front of a tree just long enough to snap a pic. 

Noah was in our front yard on a nature expedition, collecting leaves and berries from the bushes. He is being his happy-go-lucky self...cutest dimples ever! 

 Cruz was inside watching Sam and Cat on Nickelodeon with that darned yaya! Oh my... I am really not convinced he will ever give that thing up!

And that is pretty much how the last Friday of our Christmas break went! Just hanging out being family!