Eastons cake

This was the cake for everyone BUT Easton. I did, right after the party, find that I could substitute many of his items in the Gluten Free Betty Crocker cake mix--and that it is really good! So-maybe next year--we can all eat the same cake!



Sent from my iPhone

Eastons new bed

This is the bed Jason built for Easton. I was so impressed and Easton loves it! It works perfect in his room and we are just hoping for a minimal amount of broken bones!



Sent from my iPhone

new family pics

Leslie's brother, Lane Davis--you can see some of his work at lanedavisphotography.com --took some pics of us at the Children's Park in Tyler. I thought they turned out so great. These are just a few of my favorites. I love the way he can kind of capture the kids little looks and their special little faces.
Elle and I...we haven't had a good mother/ daughter pic in a while. I still have this one picture of my mother and I that I just love when I was about this age. Hopefully she will love this one as she grows up...not that we won't have more...and hopefully I can age well!

Easton is going to school

In November--Easton went through testing at Tyler ISD to determine whether or not he would need to continue the speech and occupational therapy services that he has been receiving the past few years with Early Childhood Services. It was a really humbling experience, as this is what I do for a living and now it was my child going through the process. A few times--it was really almost too much. At one point, during the initial testing, Jason stopped the lady and asked, "does this mean he will be in Special Ed?" I looked at him with this crazy look on my face because we get that question all the time and now here was my husband asking it...I answered, "yes, baby...he needs support and this is where he gets it". Jason just kept saying, "Easton doesn't need Special Ed". I thought we were going to have to stop the meeting. All in all, it was a great experience and Easton is going to get the help he needs and will hopefully be able to be dismissed before he starts kindergarten in a few years.

We also decided to start him at a little Pre-K a few days per week. In Tyler, the waiting lists for all of the good ones are so long...so God was so good when Easton got in to the one we wanted fairly quickly. He is now going twice a week and LOVES it! He has a few friends from church in his class and the school is so great with all of his allergies. It is a rich language based program, which is what he really needs and then he will go twice per week to speech therapy at the Elementary School that Elle goes to in Tyler (which is one of the campuses that I work on). God has blessed us in so many ways here in Tyler--always guiding us and pointing us in the right direction.

Need a new hobby

So, I guess gymnastics is not going to be a Rinewalt Family hobby...we have Easton in it right now and he is SO coordinated that we felt like this would be a good outlet for him to enjoy himself while getting some structured play as well. WELL--they have had to hire another teacher in the group of 4--as almost a one on one aide for Easton to keep him sitting down with the group. He is not doing anything awful--and he participates well when it is his turn...but then when he is supposed to be waiting his turn, he runs around like a chicken with his head cut off and the teachers cannot even catch him! We probably hear Easton's name over 100 times during each hour lesson--"Easton come back here", "Easton get off of that", "Easton, no sir"...so at this point-we are looking for another hobby for him. He can do all of the things the kids in the class are working on right now, so mastery of skills is not really an issue--but I want him to learn how to listen to random nonstructured teachers...because he does not have any issues like this at his little school, or obviously with me or Jason.

Any ideas about what we could put him in? We put Elle in Soccer Tots when she was this age, but it is now a bar in Tyler, so that is not an option...He will be 3 in December...

So many questions...

For over a year, Elle has been asking questions about life and death and why God allows people to die. We have had MANY a talk about how amazing God is and how we may never understand His plan--but that His Word tells us there always is one. She has worked through so many workbooks and Children Bibles that I can hardly count at this point...to help her to understand better just that Jesus came and died on the cross so that we don't have to...
Don't even get me started on the questions that came up when we started reading about the consequences of sin!! She was so concerned forever that if she talked back to me that the consequence just might be death...WOW!
She appears to really understand the ABC's at this point and to truly love the Lord. I feel like I spent a lot of time trying to convince her to wait and that maybe she wasn't ready to ask the Lord into her heart and then I realized--who is?? Do any of us know Him as well as we can or will? Aren't we all working towards a daily closer walk with God and it isn't like we do anything to deserve it!? I feel like this experience with Elle has really broken that down for me. So--she has asked Jesus to come and live in her heart and she is excited about it. We are being patient about scheduling her baptism and continuing to learn more and talk as much as we can about His love and how honestly it is all about what He did and daily does for her--not anything that she can do to earn His love--I just want her to GET THAT!
How great is it that we as parents get to watch as the Lord molds our children and actually comes into their heart?? Such an amazing gift! Thank you for that Lord!!

Elle's new speech impairment

Okay, so its not really a speech impairment...she has started talking like a friend of hers that is not able to say her r's and another friend of hers that is not able to say her l's...and that really make for a child that sound like she has a real issue! The other day, she had to use the Sassy Bag--and read "Honor your Father and Mother..." and it came out something like.. "Hona yau Fathau and Mathau..." I am not kidding--it is histerical! Especially for a child that has never had an articulation problem in her life!! And yes, Easton has lots of issues with it--but not with those two letters! So--I keep telling her that she is really going to confuse him!!! She is going to need some therapy in a few years!

:)

Am I getting old?

Elle started FIRST grade on Monday! It really blows my mind that she is getting so big! We have seen a few of her friends that she went to preschool with at Green Acres that are just starting kindergarten and she asked me the other day why they were not in first grade with her...I started wondering if we should have held her back too--but I honestly feel like we made the right decision for Elle...she was MORE than ready to start school and has loved it and just soaked it up! She had a wonderful teacher last year and I love her teacher this year (I am blessed to work in her school a few days a week--and know the best teachers...but the first grade team is packed with them--so we couldn't go wrong!) She is so fun right now--from changing her clothes 15 times a day to laughing at the silliest things...I love that she is able to play dress up and be nurturing, but then go outside and roll around in the dirt...

She is such a great kid!

Easton officially "went on the potty"!!

Man, those of you that have spoken to me about potty training Easton know that I finally threw up my hands in frustration--just giving up and hoping by the time he goes to kindergarten, he would be out of diapers! Well, he finally went tee tee and poo poo on the potty today! We had a very busy weekend this weekend and I left Elle with my parents after being in Houston with my mom and dad...I was thinking that if I could just have Easton all to myself, maybe I could tackle this potty thing!

Praise the Lord it didn't take long this morning--my prayers were answered first thing!! I think I was so excited when he actually went that he couldn't help but yell and scream! He is so my child as far as enthusiasm goes...so it is fun to do things like this with him--he gets so over the top excited! After he went twice this morning, we ran to the dollar store and picked out some stickers and some prizes he can earn with the stickers...

He has done a little dance everytime--although we did have an accident or two today--I am optimistic that we are on our way to being trained. I will keep you informed...but I cannot tell you how much I dread this part of the development of children! This is my least favorite part! Just the potty training...NOTHING else! But, I would love it if just one day, they said "I go potty"--and I never really had to do anything--I would LOVE that! BUT--they don't--so I train on...

Elle swimming

I posted Easton jumping off the board and here is Elle...it is really big and wouldn't load before--so we are trying it again now...she is showing off her pike jump (wouldn't her gymnastics coaches be proud?) into the water and is totally able to independently swim all day--I just freak out a number of times when I can't locate her--but she is such a social butterfly that she is off swimming with friends and will go from slide to slide, from pool to pool in a number of minutes...

Easton then was supposed to jump off, but decided after waving to his fans that he would just wait another few seconds--then I captured him on the later video...that you have seen on the previous post...

Easton swimming

Okay, so I published a post a while back of Easton at swim lessons and I was really impressed with that...but he has really improved since then! We went back for one more week of lessons and then we have gone to Apple just about everyday or every other day to practice...Jason bought him this little vest and that is how he started with the diving board...just jumping off with that on...then the lifeguard said that if I took it off, he would probably calm down a little because it would scare him a little bit--I told him that I have really not seen him scared of anything at this point...but I went ahead and tried it because the guy assured me that he had been doing this for a long time and had seen lots of kids come through just like this..well--Easton came up and barely got his breath before saying, "I do it again!" The lifeguard looked shocked! So, he has been doing it ever since everytime we go as well as both slides..he goes into 14 feet of water there...and LOVES it!! I am exhausted after 10 or 11 times because I have to tread water the whole time...but it is worth it to see the smile on his face!

The Kids at the pool

I wanted to post some new pics of the kids enjoying the pool this year...Elle has really become an independent swimmer this year and Apple has been awesome! We have gone just about everyday--or every other day and the kids have had a blast! Elle has made a new friend everyday (we all know that she gets that from her daddy! ;) She has loved being able to maneuver through all of the slides and the diving board all by herself and just check in with me throughout the day...she is really growing up! Easton of course is doing awesome and LOVES the water and anything that he can take to the next level there! Seriously--they are both great kids!!

Of course, Elle's favorite thing is spending money at the snack bar--everyday--"what can we get?" Again--Jason! ;) One day when I let them get popsicles--Easton got a Spiderman (the only one without milk in it) and she got a Power Puff Girl...they were NASTY when they were done with them, but they enjoyed it and it will go down as another summer memory!

the CRUISE!!

Jason and I got back yesterday from a cruise to the Bahamas...it was so wonderful and relaxing! I can't tell you how great it was to be able to have a conversation without having to stop and say, "Mommy and Daddy are talking right now, wait just a second..." or to be able to sleep in!!! I mean, we went back after breakfast one morning and decided to go back to sleep!! It was AWESOME! It was kind of a joke each day at sea to determine where we would fit our daily nap in... :) We watched movies out on the deck a few nights late on the big screen...it was great and pretty sweet...Of course, Jason loved all the great food--and I just ate off the kids menu most days...but it works! No, they had wonderful food trays and I lOVE fruit! We went snorkling in some beautiful waters and saw amazing fish...it always looked like rain, but the Lord blessed us with great weather the entire time! We had this great waiter that Cissie and I danced with one night...I know--crazy! We just had a wonderful time--but were more than ready to come home by the 7th day...it was great to finally get to love on my kids again!! Here are some of the pics from the trip...

Swim Lessons

Easton started swim lessons this year because he is such a maniac about just about everything...we just haven't found anything yet that he is afraid of...well, he did great for the four days that we got to go--one of the days was rained out...We went back to Ms. Debbie (who I think is fantastic, by the way--but you have to be ready for your kids to learn to swim--this isn't fun time...) because I saw how much Elle learned from her a few years ago...and Elle took a little refresher -but it was really about Easton...well, this is from the last day. She is throwing him in to the deep end and he is swimming to the ladder...you can hear me freaking out on the video...but I was so excited...we are still going to go back for another week after we get back from the cruise, but my parents have a pool and I at least feel better that he has SOME idea what he is doing now... :) GO EASTON!

Confused?

I am always trying to remember the funny things that Elle says-and here are a few that she has said lately: we were at church and Brother David asked people to stand up if you had family members who had died in the line of duty (it was Memorial Day weekend) and Elle quickly stood up and looked at Jason and I confused as to why we were not standing...when I asked her to sit down--she said, "Mom, Granny Parker?!" Granny Parker was Jason's Great Grandmother whom Elle is named after...she passed away several years ago, but obviously not in the line of duty...then when Jason and I finally got her to sit down--she stood back up excitedly and said, "what about Black?" Black was our stallion that passed away two years ago that she loved dearly...Jason and I had tears in our eyes due to the laughter--but we were trying to be respectful of the others around us...

Then this past weekend, Elle had stayed with my parents while I went to Kansas City to surprise my friend Kelsey for her birthday...when it was time for my parents to take her to meet Jason in Corsicana...my mom said, "Elle we have to leave to go meet your daddy"....she said Elle looked right at her and said, "I don't need to go meet him, he's my daddy, I already know him!" I love it!!

Easton's new toy

Well, my parents spoil my kids...that is all there is to it! My parents live out in the country and a few years ago, they bought Elle a little red toy Mustang to drive around when they were going places in the golf carts--so that she could do things "by herself"...she has loved that thing--to death! She has really outgrown it, so recently, they upgraded to a little mini Gator...that goes much faster...she loves it! Well, that left Easton to drive the Mustang...but you are forgetting that my brother has a little girl..so my parents decided to buy a front end loader tractor for Easton to drive...well, it came in and was pedal...so that won't work out there (according to them) and so that came here to our house...so they bought him this fourwheeler! HE LOVES IT!!! He was so excited! My mom told him that it was a Kawasaki and he called it "my Saki" all day...so precious...

Elle is playing t-ball

So, I know that we have been praying for Elle to find her "nitch" as far as activities go--and as far as coordination goes, we just haven't seen that yet...well, she recently decided to take up t-ball and I was really nervous since this is Jason's passion and I feared that if she was not great at it, he would be disappointed and Elle is very insightful...well---God is so great! She has really worked so hard. Jason has been so patient with her and they have worked great together. They have spent a few nights practicing and she had her first official practice last night. She did great! Jason was proud of her when we left and my heart was so full for her. I don't know why I ever doubt God's wisdom in anything...ya know?

**and yes, Easton is naked under that shirt, but we are working on potty training and outside is the perfect time to work on it....

Of course, Elle is really working hard to learn how to swing and hold her bat correctly, etc...and Easton walks up with his little bat and knocks the ball across the yard--perfect form and everything... he is such a hoot!

The infamous marbles

The kids had so much fun--of course I made them wear their art shirts and we laid the art cloth over the table...

**
**Easton concentrating to pick out a color...

Okay, so last year at MOPS, this lady came and talked all about art projects that you could do with your kids and everyone knows that I do not like art projects because they are messy and they are difficult to organize before and after they are done...(I know, I really should be on medication)...okay, but I was REALLY excited after the lady came last year and I came straight home and totally reorganized the playroom and Elle and went and bought just about everyone single material that the woman talked about! Well, the one that Elle REALLY wanted to was of course the messiest--with marbles and paint--so we never did it--but she asked almost everyday--well, maybe every week...so this year, we invited the lady to come back because we have a pretty new group--only a few of use are the same as last year and we REALLY needed to hear her again. So, I admitted to everyone that I still had not done the marbles with Elle and promised to do them...well we did it--not just Elle and I, but Easton, Elle and I--and you know what, it really wasn't that messy and the pictures turned out so cute! Here are some of the pictures from that.

Easton at childcare

Okay, so I just had to share this funny thing from Wednesday night...we have a Bible study that Jason and I go to every Wednesday night, so the kids go to childcare at the church each week. Elle sometimes has choir-but it is not going on right now, so they are just hanging out doing art, watching movies, playing on the playground, etc... And, we are there from 6:00-8:00 every week, so it is a while... Okay, so we picked them up and both of them were on the outside playground when usually the little ones are playing in the inside playground, but I guess the workers were just consolidating who all was left. Okay, so when we walked out one of the ladies was trying to catch Easton up on the top piece of equipment and you could tell that she was scared to death! He, on the other hand was having a BLAST! She couldn't catch him--his tiny little legs are FAST!! I walked straight out and said his name and "let's go"--he turned and came to me. She was relieved. She said, "We will NEVER come to this one again, he is so fast!" I told her that he is very coordinated and climbs all over our playground and jumps on the trampoline, etc... She said Elle was telling her that, but that her heart was pounding out of her chest. It was so funny and SO EASTON! (I wonder who he is going to be like??) :) So great!

Elle is 6!!!

This morning we woke up with a 6 year old daughter in our house! It is so crazy to think that Jason and I are old enough to have a 6 year old!! Elle is really turning out to be everything we have prayed for all these years. She started with such a scare, but such a purpose--to bring everyone together in prayer! She was so tiny--made so strong in His power! It has been so amazing to watch God mold her into such a sincere and nurturing angel. She is dramatic and over the top, but exciting and hilarious! She is beautiful and an absolute daily blast. I cannot believe how much she loves her little brother and how everyone kept saying that would change over the years and she would start being mean to him and the rivalry would begin--well, it still may come, but she has blessed us by loving Easton with the most incredible love I can imagine. I honestly feel like she is a great mixture of Jason and I both--our strengths and weaknesses, but a wonderful mixture...and his little mini me...which is awesome! She loves having that with her Daddy. She loves telling people that she has her Daddy's eyes...I hope that she will just continue to yearn for her Father's Heart.

Pictures from Teri

Click here to view these pictures larger

Elle's going to play t-ball

Okay, so now she is finally interested in doing the one thing that Daddy loves!! So, we will see how this goes...I am praying that maybe she will just love it and want to learn more about it and that they will enjoy talking about baseball through this next season...Elle has struggled with coordination, so I know Jason will struggle with patience---so please PRAY!!!


God can do ALL THINGS!!!

Guinea pig

A few weeks ago, Elle decided she needed a new pet...as if we do not have enough going on, right? Well, she and I were just talking about it on the way home from school one day and she was just getting more and more excited as we talked about the little ball it could run around in and its name, etc... Well, after we got home, she ran in--of course to tell her Daddy (because we all know how excited he was going to be about it!) as I finished unpacking the car...about 30 seconds later, she came back out in tears..."he said noooo....." she was saying. I explained to her that she would have to show us that she was ready for something like that as Jason was saying, "I don't care what you show me--you're not getting one of those"--which would prompt another tear burst...

Why must men be so insensitive sometimes??

But the best part is the very next day, Elle and I were driving home from school and Jason called--he said that he and Easton were playing...after we hung up, Elle said, "Maybe they are playing with my guinea pig!" When we walked in, she was so disappointed to see there was no guinea pig..

Seriously that is the innocence of a child!

Easton's new mad pose

Easton has this new mad pose that he does when I do anything that he disapproves of...he will cross his little stubby arms in front of him and frow his little brows at me...it is hilarious! I have not been able to capture a real moment at this point, but I was asking him to do it for me and this is what I got:

Easter egg time!

We spent Saturday before Easter coloring Easter eggs and then hunting them in the backyard...Jason recently killed all of the grass in the backyard in order to start over with new grass...but it is a slow process I guess, because it is sad... and easier to see the eggs without all that grass to get in the way!! But the kids had a great time--even though Easton kept stopping to play baseball every few minutes--I guess Jason was at least encouraged that he will like baseball though! I realized I didn't even get pictures of them in their Sunday clothes--so I will have to dress them back up and do that--they both looked so cute! I will post those pictures soon!

Easton's newest war wound

We got a call from the place Easton stays when I am working that he had fallen into the door when he was running and had a big bump...he is very coordinated, but they said that a teacher stepped in front of him when she didn't see him and couldnt get out of the way fast enough...here is the evidence. I hear it looked a lot worse when it first happened, but he was up and playing within just a few minutes, so we left him there to play. He was proud of when he got home!

Elle trying to fill her Daddy's shoes

Elle sure loves her daddy and I came in the room and she was doing this pose...it is really sad when they are so accustomed to taking pictures that they make up their own poses!!