Bauer Boys on Campus

The tuition's a tiny sliver of the usual cost and there are zero book fees.

Homework is never mentioned and you can forget about those 15-page essays. At this college, you are even served free snacks and a daily dance party between classes. Plus... there are only four days required to graduate. Sounds just a bit different from my college days.

The college in question was attended by my sons over the past two weeks. It's Kids' College at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana, and it caters to students going into grades 1-6. Just like the version of college we know and love, kids choose their own courses, most of which are centered around science, art, or technology.

Nathan has attended every year it's been available, and he's always chomping at the bit when the course catalog arrives. He has taken the "DigiKidz" course four years in a row and learned everything from movie production to video game coding. As Owen is going into first-grade in the fall, this was his first chance, and he loved it. He didn't know a single kid or teacher going in, and he really wasn't sure what to expect. But after scrambling into the car on the first day, he was proud to tell me "I'm going back tomorrow!" He made glow-in-the-dark slime in the first hour, for crying out loud.

A college employee was also quick to inform me that no holds were barred by my son in the Whip/Nae-Nae competition. As much as Owen learned about the different forms of matter, the rest of the college was schooled on his dance skills. It was a fair trade, I think. Read on for a few more details about Kids' College 2017, straight from the boys:


Why do you like Kids' College?
Nathan: "Because it's fun and you get to meet new people. There were some cool kids there that I would not have ever known because they don't go to my school."
Owen: "I think it's fun because you get to go in classes and do science things. And I liked that we got to be very loud at Kids' College because we can't at school."

What was your favorite class this year?
Nathan: "Engineering 101 because you got to make a lot of fun stuff."
Owen: "Ooey-Gooey Science Lab because I like slimy stuff and getting messy."

What was your favorite project?
Nathan: "We made a marble course in my engineering class out of paper plates, a paper towel roll, and cut-up straws. When I finished it and let my marble roll down it, it didn't fall and went through perfectly. I was shocked that it worked!"
Owen: "In science we got to make Oobleck and that is just a liquid that is a solid. I think we made it with water and corn stuff. And my teacher was very nice and she gave me some to make at home, too."


I am happy to report two kids who are were sad to see this college year end. I love that my kids have opportunities to build on what they learned in school, but in such a different environment. It sure beats sitting on the couch!

Does your local college or school offer any cool summer programs for your kids?
Let me know what they're taking!

The Growing Room

There may still be tiny rocket ships on the bottom bunk, but this is no baby room.

This Saturday my family spent the day crammed into the boys' asparagus-green room {actual paint color}. The two babies who lived here when it first housed a twin bed and a toddler bed have grown into two students who have outgrown the space. We didn't have the time nor energy nor funds nor desire to completely redecorate, but we thought the addition of desks would spruce it up a bit.

Also, Minecraft posters. That totally upped the cool factor.

Now Owen and Nathan have two homework areas positioned where neither can see nor touch the other, featuring lamps with USB ports and bright orange chairs. To make room for these pieces, much purging took place. To my surprise, most of it was done by the boys.

They jumped into the hand-painted toy box Nathan received for his first birthday and started discarding toys left and right. I saw a three-legged horse named Lucky that had been buried since we moved. I saw stuffed animals that collected more dust than memories. I saw Legos that had been missing from a set since the box was opened. The boys whittled the toy stash down to where it all fit {semi-comfortably} in the closet, and the toy box is out.

{This is a terribly off-focus picture from 2008, but cue the awww.}
I would say it's a little sad to see this room go through so many transitions in the almost seven years we've lived here, but it would be a lie. I love watching these kids grow up, and I love a clean slate. Cleaning out kid rooms is agonizing to me {shout out to Jonathan}, but it sure feels good when it's done. Now I need to stock those desks with paper, pens, and fresh crayons to unleash the creativity for which we've made space.

I know this room will keep changing over the years {and may not always sport a very green coat of paint}, but I am eager to see what it becomes, and what becomes of the boys who live there.

Happy Monday, my friends. Outgrow your comfort zone, and keep going.

Brothers Back to School

A lump rose in my throat as I waited in a car line that felt more like a parking lot.

Yesterday marked the start of school for the Bauer boys and my first afternoon stop was fourth-grade. As my car crawled beside the school, I saw a sea of students. Some seemed much taller and more mature than I expected {I guess sixth grade does that to a kid?}. Then I saw Nathan's wide smile. His hand shot up in the air to alert a teacher to escort him over. As he climbed in the seat behind me and buckled, I let go of the only word I could muster: "So??"

To my utter relief, but not so much surprise, he said: "Elementary school is AMAZING!"

In the few minutes it took to get from his school to Owen's, I learned the chicken sandwich is incredible, there is a different mix of kids in his music class than in homeroom, and changing classes is a million times better than sitting in one room. This conversation was interrupted multiple times by Nora who couldn't fathom not being the center of attention, but I gathered that fourth-grade will be great.

We entered the familiar primary school lot and I noticed a collection of tiny backpack-clad kids. Then mine hopped up. I heard Owen shout "Mama!" as the car line teacher took him by the hand. I braced myself for the kindergarten report and all he gave me was: "I don't like learning."

You win some, you lose some?

The poor guy was almost snoozing by the time we got home. We parked and I asked all of my children to carry their own backpacks. {Yes, Nora, you can carry yours, too. Yes, I know you're a big girl.} Owen walked into the house, and I noticed a grin below his tired brown eyes. He opened his backpack and asked if he could show me something.

He pulled out coloring pages and showed me how he could stay in the lines. He told me about his teacher's behavior system, and said he was good today so he got to move to blue. He said he sat next to his best friends from preschool in the cafeteria, and he was brave enough to ask a teacher to open his Cheez-Its. He watched a movie at recess, and played a fun game in PE. Small snippets of kindergarten poured forth. "I think I did like my first day." Whew.

The rest of our Monday involved dinner, cleaning, baths, and preparation for the next day. Nathan had to give his class schedule to his teacher, so I frowned as I admitted I wasn't sure what specialty class he would attend next. He rolled his eyes and recited the full week to me. He's got this.

Knowing Owen would no longer be walked in by his Daddy, I went over directions to the kindergarten hall. He surprised me by describing landmarks I must have missed, and said he knows to find the Fox in Socks room. He's got this.

We'll hit bumps in the road we won't see coming, but at least my sons started on a good note. They were both willing to go back today, so I'd call that a success.

Happy New School Year, y'all! I hope your kids had a wonderful first day.

County Fair Artists

One of the highlights of a new school year is starting fresh in activity courses.

At Nathan's school, students spend an hour each day in activity: PE, art, music, counseling, or a trip to the library down the hall. Nathan was excited about the advanced math and heavy reading that comes with third grade, but that kid was ready to get his hands on some art supplies. One of the first projects the kids do under the instruction of their awesome art teacher is create a piece for the county fair. Every year Nathan's art has been chosen to compete and every year he finds a sticker on it. This year, it just so happened to be blue.

This Spongebob scene was designed and drawn all on his own, unlike the pig that snagged him a kindergarten win. I've known for a long time that Nathan's had a natural ability to draw, but it's getting good. There's no way I could have perfected Spongebob's pants. However, Nathan's piece wasn't the only one the boys searched for in the exhibit hall. There was a hand-print owl done by a certain preschooler that was also bearing a first-place sticker.

When Owen began jumping and saying, "I won! I won!" I didn't have the heart to tell him every preschool picture was emblazoned with a blue ribbon. He was proud of his artwork, and he's following his brother's footsteps just fine.

Owen's preschool teacher snapped the photo above this morning when she took her "pre-kindergartners" {not my baby!} to check out their entries. As you can see, there was a wall of winners. She also tagged me in a photo of my stubborn son holding an alligator and another of him milking a pretend cow, two things he flat-out refused to do under the direction of his parents. Kids, am I right?

Is it county fair time in your neck of the woods? Did anyone in your family bring home a blue ribbon? Do you think Owen's picture looks more like an owl or a gorilla {he can't settle on an answer}? Have a happy weekend, y'all!

First Day for the Bauer Boys

No tears at the Bauer house yesterday {except Nora, who was bummed she didn't get a sign}.

My oldest was sent to third grade and my middle to the daily grind of preschool. Owen actually started his new place last week, but Monday was serious business. He drew a picture of two guys with mo-hawks. Said he may even feel up to bringing his backpack tomorrow. As for his adjustment, I don't think it could have gone any better. I could tell he was working through nerves on Day One, but he came home with a couple of new best friends and a desire to go back. They give him chicken nuggets AND they get to push monster trucks up the slide. Really, what could be better?

The third-grade report was equally good. Nathan takes after me in new situations and was feeling a bit uneasy Sunday night, but he had a new resolve when the alarm clock sounded. He grabbed a cinnamon bun, laced up his new kicks, and marched into the classroom - that is, after he and his daddy sat in the car line for half an hour. {The first few weeks are a JUNGLE around these parts!} I battled the cars in the afternoon. There he sat, right beneath the big number three with a grin on his face. He climbed into the way back, tossed his blue backpack aside, and before I could even ask, he said: "My day was GREAT!"

Highlights included seeing all of his friends at recess, finding out he's second on the teacher's helper list, a lack of homework, and the fact that he gets to go to music classes on Tuesdays. He was sent home with a list of spelling words to start with, and he easily rattled them off one by one. The only drawback was the pizza he was served at lunch, rather than the chicken patty on bun I thought I'd read on the menu. So far, so good, third-grade.

At the top I said there were no tears at the house, but one might have fallen in the Subway drive-through when Owen's teacher tagged me in the photo above. It's hard to believe that this year's first day report includes not one, but TWO Bauers. Thankfully there were two great days, and there were two little boys who woke up ready to go again today.

I hope your First Day went just as smoothly. Hugs to the kindergarten moms, high-fives to the college students, and cheers to the parents who have been counting down all summer!

School Prep

Backpacks and folders aren't the only things we need to get ready for school.

After the small happy dance that comes with the end of I'M BORED days of summer, we have work to do. It's time to kick our parenting skills into gear as school days draw near. Sure, the teachers that work hard all year have a bit more to do to prepare to educate our kids, but there are few changes our family should make this week to prepare for next. Let's jump in.

Bedtime
Probably the biggest change we're implementing this week is an earlier bedtime. I love letting Nathan stay up later during the summer. He'll watch TV, waste hours on Minecraft, and basically just be a kid. I'm okay with that, really. Usually by 9:00 or 9:30 we'd send him on his merry way to the top bunk, but we're scaling it back this week. School can wear a kid out, especially during the first days. Their brains go from zero-to-sixty and they need the energy. We are going to try to get every kid snoring by 8:00. Wish us luck.

Food
For some reason, when school starts I decide to desire to become a domestic goddess. Keyword is desire, y'all. If you know me or have read here for any period of time, you will know I cannot cook. Thankfully, I was blessed with a husband who can. The school year makes me want to organize an after-school snack drawer in the fridge, craft a color-coded meal plan for each weekday, and orchestrate weekly grocery trips complete with section-by-section lists. I'm living in a dream world here, but a girl needs goals, right?

Books
It's time to dial down the screen time around here. The Instant Gratification of the Internet seems to make it a little harder to focus on flipping actual pages in an actual book. Go figure, right? Nathan enjoys a good story, but he has trouble getting into it and I imagine the screens of summer may have something to do with that. Starting this week, I'm going to encourage him to shut it down and open a book. He needs to know that the journey can be more fun when the ending is further away.

Supplies
Aside from the lofty goals listed above, we do actually need the folders and backpacks. This year I let Nathan and his Daddy make the big trip. The list was a bit different. No markers and just one measly box of crayons. The kid even snagged his first package of loose-leaf paper! I'm very excited for third-grade. I feel like this is the year he will hone in on favorite topics, and maybe get a dose of new subjects. Also, Owen had to pull out Nathan's old preschool nap mat. That might be a little depressing. {See last week's post.}

What does your family do to get geared up for back-to-school? Also, what am I missing here??

A Southern Winter

It was late, it was unwelcome, but winter finally muscled its messy way into southern Arkansas.

It started Monday when school was cancelled due to the threat of an icy afternoon. Poor Nathan had to accompany me on my work commute and though we did drive through a little sleet, this day off was kind of a bust. Once we made it home, the boys asked to "play in the snow" and only found fun in breaking icicles off my car.

School was delayed two hours Tuesday as the ground began to thaw; however, today is a different story. We watched meteorologists build hope across social media as a second storm geared up to roll into our area. In this part of the state, winter weather is rare and typically comes in the form of the dreaded "wintry mix" - but they were calling for a big patch of heavy snow. Ever the skeptic, I assumed life would continue as normal.

The text arrived cancelling school arrived around 6:00 AM and I stopped rolling my eyes just a few hours later. Big, beautiful flakes formed a blanket that was not too powdery nor too wet. It covered the grass immediately and the roads weren't far behind. The kids and I stayed home and after about three hours of begging, I was nice enough to zip up coats, stick fingers into gloves, and watch the boys play through the glass door. {Have you gotten the idea that snow is not my favorite? True story.} It's still falling, and I'll admit is lovely to watch from the comfort of my living room.

Here are a few of the shots I got when I gave in and stepped outside for a few minutes:

Now we're warm, toasty, and back in our pajamas. The boys are waiting patiently for their dad to get home from work so they can get back out there, and I'm just enjoying the view. Alright, winter, you've had your fun and I'll admit it wasn't too terrible.

But you can kindly step aside for spring now?

How's the weather in your neck of the woods today?

January Adventure

It seems every year about this time I start to use the word dreary.

It's one of the grossest months of the year. After the fanfare of the New Year, the joy of clean slates, and the adrenaline that comes with fresh goals and starting over, I remember that it's January. Blah. The trees are bare, everything is dead, and it's cold. Although I'm probably jinxing us by saying this, the weather has actually been mild for winter. We've barely seen snow and the sun has been shining several consecutive days. It's not enough to break out the shorts and T-shirts and it's definitely not enough to start turning soil, but it's plenty for a front yard adventure.

Contrary to my above rant, this post is more than a weather whine. It's about two little boys who saw blue skies and sunshine and couldn't resist. Temperatures climbed high enough to leave jackets inside when the Bauer Boys set out to help their dad wash the car this weekend. Good thing they opted for boots:

Muddy puddles were stomped, gum balls were collected, walking sticks were broken from fallen branches, and the creek was explored. It's not quite spring, friends, but following these guys around made me ready. As we were walking back from the treeline near the highway, ready to race down the gravel driveway, I saw it. Beyond an expanse of completely dead grass, it stood welcoming me. My January home. Three people I love {the other nestled in her crib}, my trees waiting to bud, and my sunny yellow door, destined to smash all things dreary:

I think it will do for now. I'm still counting down the days until spring but as long as the sun keeps popping out and the snow stays away {please!}, we will be just fine. Happy Tuesday, y'all!

Christmas Cookies

George Strait isn't the only one who sure does like those Christmas cookies, babe.

{Side Note: Does anyone else know that song? For me, it ranks up there with Christmas in Dixie and Leroy the Redneck Reindeer. Anybody? I can assure you country stations are the best at Christmas.}
One of my favorite Christmas traditions has always been the icing of the sugar cookies. I'd help my mom roll out the dough after covering the kitchen in flour and we'd delicately cut out trees and angels, bells and stars, and everyone's favorite Gingerbread Man. She'd mix all requested colors and our sprinkle lineup was extensive. We ate as we decorated, but always left some for the big guy. As the years went on, the tradition continued. Maybe a friend and I recreated the Backstreet Boys in edible form {true story}, and the icing application got a bit more focused, but we still did it. I'm pleased to report that this year, my mom had a few new hands rolling the dough.

While Baby Sister napped yesterday afternoon, Owen and Nathan were busy in the kitchen. Mickey, Goofy, and Donald were crooning the classics in the background and both boys sang along as they waited for Nana to pull the fresh-baked goodness from the oven. Although the Bauer Boys did the rolling and the cutting, they were sweet enough to wait on me to decorate.

I got to watch my boys make cookies and memories. They giggled when Owen gave his teddy bear "three eyes and two buttons." No more, no less. Nathan's creations had complete icing outfits and he made sure to give a few of the reindeer red candy noses. Each of the cookies turned out beautifully, even the ones that held a full pound of decorations:

This season has been a blur. I don't like using the word "busy" because you're only as "busy" as you make yourself, but I am guilty of letting everyday stresses push back the cheer. However, listening to those sweet voices sing as they artfully crafted cookie reindeer, it hit me. Not saying I'm a Scrooge or anything, but the moment was a reminder that it's time to stop, look, and listen. They may not roll cookie dough forever, y'all.

Once the cookies were done, each boy picked two to save for Santa, and nibbled on the extras. Then we piled into the car and drove past rows of Christmas lights that flickered on as the sun began to set. They marveled at the sights through their windows, and I felt it. The magic of the season isn't in struggling to find the perfect gift or knocking out my to-do list, it's in my children. Now is the time to hold on tight.

Sunshine Spoiled

We have spent A TON of time outside lately.

We stuck our shovels in the ground and declared it the season for outdoors. We have been planting our vegetable garden, pushing swings full of children, and letting our bare feet sink in the soft grass. The temperatures have been hot enough for shorts, but mild enough to keep us relatively sweat-free. My backyard smells like tomatoes and the loud voices and laughter that typically bounce off the walls of my home now sail into the blue sky. We live for this time of year.

Some Clarifications:
Yes, that is Owen in the pool. This is his version of "I'm going to put my toes in."
Yes, that is a picture of two Bauer Boys behind a locked door. They lived.
Yes, that is the cutest baby face you've ever seen.
Carry on.
The late spring that warms to early summer is my favorite time of year, and that could be because I don't feel bad about pushing my boys through the backdoor. I pry them from the worn spots in front of the television and they figure it out. They lie on the grass, stare at the clouds, and find bears, rockets, and the occasional potty. They learn how to space their watermelon plants, and why they can no longer dig in the dirt that houses cucumber seeds. They walk a little further on each adventure, and get a little braver every day. Nora and I simply watch from the porch swing.

That's a good enough reason for a lack of stories in this space, don't you think? If we haven't been outside soaking up the sun, we've been at church running our youth group and working toward our biggest event of the school year. It's been a busy week, but it's been a good week. I hope yours has been equally sunny. Now that Wednesday night is over, and the garden is finally planted {check back next week for all the details}, I drove home today with zero plans.

Unfortunately, today is different. I've been spoiled all week while letting my bunch roam free to all four corners of our yard, running and squealing and laughing and playing. The backdoor is closed, and we've listened to the sound of the rain beating against it since Nathan put his backpack on the kitchen floor. You won't be surprised when I tell you this wild rumpus does not take well to inside voices. This mama is in need of a quiet spot on the couch, a cleaning fairy, and the return of sunshine. Lord knows the rain is something we need, and our baby plants are drinking it up this afternoon, but these boys are officially set on outside mode.

Maybe this calls for a couple pairs of brand-new rain boots?

Boys in a Box

The more things change, the more things stay the same.

{Before we go on, can we talk for a minute about those cheeks? Because, I mean, come on! Can you look at that picture without giggling or at least smiling? I cannot. Okay, let's contine.}

If you've been following here for the past several months, you'll know the girth of my baby girl is impressive. She's a big, beautiful baby and we knew the dinky infant seat she adopted from her brother wouldn't last long. We were already shopping around for a good deal, but when a Facebook friend led me to discover a stellar coupon code for this big girl car seat, we jumped. It's solid, it's sturdy, it's safe, and it's pink! What more could a girl want? Plus, it will last her until she's 65 pounds, so at least a little while.

However, that's not the moral of today's story. Today's story started after we stored the infant seat in the closet and installed this new model. As Nathan climbed into the box and Owen grabbed his bathroom stool to follow suit, a picture I took a little over two years ago immediately popped into mind. An eight-month-old Owen, same age his sister is now, was thrilled to get a seat upgrade, but even more thrilled to play with his brother. {Obviously I'm guessing here, but that squishy face says it all!} I remember captioning this photo that I thought it was cool to see my babies interacting and playing as siblings. I remarked it was only the beginning, but I had no idea what this crazy little relationship would turn into.

They fight like brothers, they play like friends, and they love like family. It's pretty neat, really, when I thought them sitting in a box simultaneously was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen. Although, as you can see in the above picture, they still do it. This time, however, they were hiding out in a cave from bears and wolves. Eventually weapons were introduced into the box and they both developed Elsa powers and began to freeze their foes. Then they found scotch tape and took turns locking each other inside the ice castle. Good times!

Funny how time flies when you're having fun {re: playing in a box}. Also funny how in the blink of an eye the kids on the left turned into the kids on the right. In a few more blinks, I think we're going to have to get a bigger box. I cannot yet imagine how Nora will fit in with this duo during play time, but I have a feeling she will get a leading role in such games. Or maybe she'll be named head wolf sniper. Just blink a few times and we'll find out.

Happy April to you all! Hope you don't get fooled too many times. Although I'm writing this days ahead, I'm going to predict what's happening to me today: I am being "made to look" about 10,000 times. Classic Nathan pranks. Sigh. Have a good one!

Silly Business

I'm back once again with my semi-regular semi-Wordless Wednesday. I snapped these during the weekend's post-party shenanigans. I had a front row seat to the madness, and I thought you might like one, too. Before we get to the photos, let me share a little conversation I overhead this morning that says a lot about the relationship between these two.

{SCENE: mom is in the bathroom, kids are in the living room}

Owen: MAMA!
Nathan: NO, don't go in there!
Owen: MAMA!
Nathan: PLEASE don't tell on me.
Owen: I NOT gonna tell on you. I just be RIGHT back.
Nathan: Okay, thank you.
Owen: {walks into bathroom} Mama, Nathan poked my eye.
Nathan: {rushing behind} OWEN! I told you not to tell.
Owen: Oh yeah! I just kidding, Mama. Just kidding. Just a little silly business.

{both return to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse}


{side note: This is what happened when I asked for bunny ears. We have work to do.}
Happy Hump Day, y'all!

Gone Fishing

My boys and I gathered up our tackle, poles, and mud-stomping shoes Saturday afternoon.

The bright sun peeked through the grey clouds just long enough to heat the first day of March to near 70 degrees, and the breeze blew through my sons' blonde hair as we traveled down the highway. We jumped a fence or two {with the owner's permission, promise} and helped Owen walk Little House on the Prairie style down through the tall grass to a small, roadside fishing hole. The air carried a hint of spring, and the land was calm. I would use the word quiet here, but if you know these visitors, you know that wasn't true.


Owen was outfitted with his brother's old Lightning McQueen pole, Nathan grabbed his newer rod, and both chose the perfect sparkly jig. The idea was a great one. Jonathan and I have enjoyed fishing together for just about as long as we've known each other and this was an awesome opportunity to share it with our children. The theory was sound, but the actual fishing with an almost-three-year-old and his older brother was not the easiest thing in the book. It was Owen's first time to actually be handed the pole and he was very excited about this. So excited that he waved it in the air with such fervor that everyone around him was in significant danger:


Shortly after that photo was snapped, we decided that our safety was much more important than Owen catching his first fish. Maybe after his third birthday, the listening skills will grow. {Maybe?}

Nathan has caught a few fish in his day, but that doesn't mean he has the patience required when they aren't jumping at his command. Much to his father's dismay, he kept asking what in the world was taking these fish so long. He pulled on his line to entice them, and reeled it in immediately, claiming he was in the wrong spot. He even had a fish on for a second, leading to our next lesson of setting the hook. Owen's casting skills improved as he practiced, and Nathan quickly learned how to avoid getting tangled in the brush. They may not have gotten to reel anything in, but they left covered in dirt, with big smiles on their faces, and better fisherman than when they arrived.



Jonathan had spent a recent afternoon on this pond and came home with fish tales taller than him. Luckily, he brought the proof home for dinner. He claims the ten crappie we feasted on that evening was only one-fifth of what he pulled from the water, and that it would be the perfect place for the boys to wet their line. Obviously we didn't have the same luck, but you better believe we'll take them back to try again this spring. That crappie was too tasty to forget.

The day wasn't a total bust, though. I had an awesome afternoon enjoying the fresh air with my boys and watching them dig their hands in the mud and stare hopefully at the slow waves. Thankfully, this wasn't a boys-only trip as Owen was a bit disappointed to discover, because this mama was the only one to bring in a fish. We didn't keep him, but I at least let them all touch it, just so they would know what it was like...


It's a good thing they keep me around, right? Happy Monday, y'all!