School Time

Back to School.

How did this happen? Didn't we just get out? Didn't the pools just open? This has been one of the fastest summers and what's sad and scary about that is that they will only get faster. Time is flying by (unless your talking about the arrival of this baby, then it feels like its creeping by).

This kid is a 1st grader, has his own desk, a new teacher, a classroom that is downstairs (isn't that where the big kids go?) and was very excited to start school yesterday. We're excited too. His teacher, Mrs. Fritz, seems great and was very friendly.

This kid is set for preschool. He has the same teacher as last year. And may have been more excited to wear his new shoes then to actually go to school. As outgoing and crazy as he is at home he seems to be much more shy and quiet at school.

We're slowly getting ourselves back into a routine. Bedtime is sooner, Trevor and I get more quiet time at night and are trying to go to bed before midnight (Ha!), we've had family breakfast and waking them up in the morning hasn't been to difficult (but they are looking forward to a sleep in day tomorrow!)

Bennett tried to take up a desk yesterday in Carson's class. He would have preferred to stay. And he was sad to see the boys go this morning. But him and I are enjoying our first quiet morning in 3 months.

We are blessed. We are excited for a new school year. And now it's nap time since someone thought 5am was a good time to wake up. Stinker!!

It's the most wonderful time....

Ho Ho Ho!

I mentioned in our Christmas letter that we keep this blog. I've done it every year so maybe it doesn't make a difference but I feel like I should maybe update it for those newcomers or those who just want to see what I do around here. Hi!! Welcome, I hope you stay for awhile. It's nothing spectacular but it helps me remember moments with my kids and helps keep family updated on our ongoings. And recently, we've had many.

Tis the season though, right? Just in the past week we've had the flu (all of us), a blizzard, insulation blown into the attic, a Christmas program and we've baked 4 dozens cookies for our teachers and friends. And I still have some shopping to do with the boys, all the wrapping, more baking and a Christmas dinner to plan. Where's my Coke?

The boys were thrilled to go outside after school the other day. Bennett wasn't really a fan of the snow pants and boots. So we didn't last long. In fact I can guarantee it took longer to get out the door then the amount of time we were outside.

A Christmas Program. There is nothing more entertaining then 40 three and four year olds belting out some Christmas songs. Declan was thrilled to have a green bell. He wasn't digging the red bell he had when they practiced.

He actually sang too! Unlike his brother who stood there in a stone cold silence at his first Christmas Program.

Guess who drew this?

Declan! Can you believe it? My little abstract artist actually drew something that actually resembles something. Any ideas what it is exactly?

This one is Carson's. Looks like the baby is laying in a manger (Hint).

You can add two rather large scratches on his nose to his nice scrape and bruise on his forehead. He looks fabulous and a little beat up!

Here's hoping your enjoying the Christmas season and during the rush of it all, you can take time to enjoy the reason for the season, your kids and your family!

Merry Christmas!

Speed up, no wait, slow down

The other day I attended my first PTA meeting. As I was sitting there listening to all the goings on in my children's school I couldn't help but think, "how in the world did I get here?" How am I sitting at a PTA meeting, for my kids? Some days it feels like I just graduated from college, got married and moved to the big city. But that was 7 years ago. Now I'm the proud mother of three crazy boys, sitting at a PTA meeting and I've been a stay-at-home mom for 5 years. Please someone, slow this all down.

Except today, I want it to speed up. Mostly because Trevor will be gone until 10pm tonight and I'm here alone, ALL DAY, with these three boys. That task can sometimes be very daunting some days, even for the most sane people. So speed up, no wait, slow down. Wasn't I just complaining that time was going to fast? So which is it? Speed up or slow down?

The transition into Kindergarten has gone fairly smoothly but it's not to say we've haven't had any bumps on this road. As a person who likes to plan and schedule this new school schedule has me in a tizzy. Nap times are different, lunch time is different, bed time is different (but earlier, MUCH earlier, so that's nice) but I'm slowly adjusting. Carson is too. Poor kid could use a nap or two during the week but there just isn't time. We're learning how to handle our after school time so that there is less fighting, less whining and more relaxing and unwinding. It's an adjustment. And some days I just want that after school time to be over, for Trevor to be home, for it to bedtime already. But then I think, I'm going to miss this. Someday I'm going to really miss these days of total chaos, of three little boys running wild in my house, of lazy afternoons discussing all the things we did in school. I'm going to be sitting at their high school graduation wondering where the time went. And so I want it to slow down. I need to learn to let it slow down, to savor these moments with my boys and to really enjoy this time as a mother of 3, five and under.

7.5 hours till bed time, 9.5 hours till Trevor's home. I can do this!

First Day Of School

It's the First Day of School! I think I was more nervous then the boys. They did great, no tears, no sadness just excitement for their day. I'm sitting in my house while the baby sleeps and it's quiet. It's weird, but nice. Sad, but exciting. Hopefully I'm more productive in the future then I have been today.

Carson requested waffles for breakfast.

So that's what they got. On their special plates because its a special day.
And I woke up earlier then I have in months YAWN!!










And straight from the horse's mouth here is Declan's rendition of how his day went.

"I learned playdoh and I had recess. And Carson was at recess and we played. And I saw a new Andrew. And I saw the regular Andrew and everyone was dressed like me except the girls they had on skirts. And we sang a song, twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wond....and we went to the bathroom and there's two bathrooms and there's a short hallway and a long hallway and I have a teacher with black pants and a black shirt and I don't know her name and we went to the gym and rolled the ball around and we sat on the oval and then we sat on a circle and then it was time to go home."

Me: Do you want to go back?

Declan: "Yep!"

Carson wasn't so talkative. He told me he did a bunch of stuff he already knew and he was too tired to talk. We'll see what I get out of him as the day goes on. As a Kindergartner he now does mass on Thursday with the school. I went too and he did great. It's pretty entertaining to watch a 40 Kindergartners at mass. God Bless those teachers.

Kindergarten

One week from today someone in this house is heading off to Kindergarten. Wait, what did I just say? Kindergarten? This can't be happening. It's not time. Didn't I just bring this home from the hospital?

Seriously? Wasn't I just learning the ropes of this thing called Motherhood? Would some one please tell me where the last 5 years have gone? How did I go from a brand new mother to a mother of three, one of which is a kindergartner. Will someone please just slow this train down. It's going to fast.

Where has the time gone? Where has my baby gone? Somehow overnight he turned into a boisterous, fun, energetic, caring 5 year old. Who makes silly faces when the camera is out.

Somehow he's turned into a little boy who is already talking about his 6th birthday and who he is going to invite. Whoa, one thing at a time son. A little boy who was gleefully yelling "Yum!" as I was rattling off what would be served for lunch at school. A little boy who will learn so many new things this year I probably won't be able to keep up.

I look forward to the adventure. I look forward to the learning. I look forward to watching him grow. And although part of me is sad to be entering this season in our life most of me is really excited for him. Let the chaos begin!

Random Thoughts

1. Notice whose riding the bike in this picture? I'm not real confident that Carson (the bike's owner) will be riding it this summer. Something tells me his younger brother will figure this out long before he does. He's informed me that he'll learn when he's five...which is just a few weeks away.


2. I wonder how many more freckles we'll add to arsenal this summer? The snow has finally melted which has led the boys to believe its time to go swimming outside and wear our Crocs everywhere. Oh and no jackets. I think they were as eager to shed those winter layers as I was.


3. Declan has become a real class clown lately. I can only imagine what he'll be like in school next year. The other day he had a bloody nose. When I tried to explain to him that it was blood on his shirt he insisted that it was ketchup snot. I can't make this stuff up.



4. We've made it 5 years without a single visit to the ER (knock on wood). Something tells me my days may be numbered with these two. I'm just waiting for my first broken bone.


5. This little dude turns 6 months next week. Don't you just want to eat those legs? I know I do. He's sporting his brand new pair of Baby Legs. Trevor seems to think they are tights but I tried to inform him that he was wrong. Tights have feet silly!



6. Trevor can't seem to figure out why his back is bad. This is a regular evening occurrence in our house. See number 4....an ER visit has to be in my future.



7. Carson's preschool class went to the fire station the other day. I was able to give up the younger two and enjoy a morning with Carson and his preschool friends.

Christmas Program

Carson had his Preschool Christmas Program today. He's been pretty excited about it for the last few weeks. He wouldn't share any of the songs with me but every now and then I heard him practicing away. And I was informed that he was going to be a Shepard and that baby Jesus was going to be a doll. (Darn, I have a nice plump baby that would have been perfect!)

Anxiously waiting for Big Brother's program to start, or finish so he could have a treat, not sure which.

Playing the bells.

Singing a song about Snowmen.

Getting ready for his part as the Shepard.

Which I hear is very exhausting.

Darn...this video is sideways and I can't figure out how to turn it. So enjoy it sideways, it's pretty cute.

Mr. Fluffy Cloud

Away in the Manger

First Day of Preschool

Yesterday was Carson's first day of Preschool. He was pretty excited to go back and see all his friends. The conversation when I picked him up went something like this...

Me: How was your first day of school buddy?

Carson: Mommy there was new friends in my class.

Me: Oh, what are their names?

Carson: I don't we had to wear nametags.

Me: Well that helps Mrs. Lunder remember your name but she probably knows your since you were in her class last year. What else did you do today?

And pretty much in one breath it went something like this...

Carson: I got to play on my playground and we didn't go to the gym and Mrs Lunder told us to use quiet voices inside and loud voices outside and we sang some new preschool songs and we ate cheese crackers and I still have some in my backback. Can you hand me my backpack so I can get them out? And I drew you a picture and we had water in these little cups and we had to be careful not to spill andI painted my hand and I got to play with Andrew and Rory and Chayden and Westin but Chayden and Rory are friends and there were some old girl preschool friends in there too.

Phew...I was wore out just listening to it all!

This year he'll be going 3 days a week and next year, although I'd like to not talk about it, he will start kindergarten. Hard to believe this little guy is 4.5.

Westin and Andrew and Carson playing at the train table.

Spring Program

Carson has his spring program this morning. Based on our experience with the Christmas program I wasn't expecting much. You see he didn't sing, dance or move at Christmas mostly pouted. This morning at breakfast we told him he better sing loud so mommy and daddy could hear him. His response was for us to sit in the front row. Sneaky devil. We didn't quite make it to the first row. Some of those parents must show up at the crack-o-dawn to get their seat because we were there 25 minutes early and they were all gone. Ah, the pressure of being the front row parent. But we did get ourselves an end seat so that was a plus.

Mr. Carson some how scored himself the all important position of Line Leader as they all came in.

And he got to stand by his best friend Andrew so all was right in preschool world.

Watching 36 preschoolers sing and dance is hilarious and so entertaining. Some barely moved and were very stiff (like the boy in the tie on the bottom left) others were singing at the top of their lungs and dancing like a crazy child, one child when the teacher announced what song they would be singing shouted, "not again" (I think its been non-stop practice for a few days) and yet another child was jumping off every step of the bleacher. What a hoot! I can't wait for the next program.

Playing the hand bells (our camera batteries died on us so its a short clip).

Singing Whose the King of the Jungle.

My favorite song they sand...I Just Want To Be A Sheep.