Happy Birthday to My Oldest!

Today my oldest turned nine. It seems like just yesterday I was in the hospital giving birth to this little boy. Now this little boy is starting to get almost as tall as me. He's developed into quite a smart, talented, handsome and wonderful young man. Happy birthday. I love you!

First Day Went Well

My 7-year-old started second grade today. I was nervous for him because he was switching schools and this was the first time he'd be away from one of his best friends since they were 18 months old. The little one and I walked with my oldest to the art room where he and the other kids would wait for their teachers. I asked if he wanted me to wait and he said no.

All day I wondered how he was doing. When I picked him up, I prepared for the worse. The "I hate this place why'd we have to move." But he said he had a good time. There were kids he knew from his summer program as well as those he knew from church. He likes his teacher and he said, "I actually made a new friend today too." I hope his enthusiasm continues...and he continues to like the school and his new friends.

Where Did the Summer Go?

I can't believe the summer is over already. The locusts are singing, the air is getting chillier and the school bells will ring tomorrow. This year is different for us than most...our oldest will be starting at a new school. He's not excited at all for the change and I think I'm nervous more for him than he is himself. We're hoping to stop by the school today to see his classroom. Maybe that will give both of us a little bit of security as this new chapter opens in our lives. I hope he continues to make new friends as easily as he's done in the past. This will definitely be a big change.

Gems From My Oldest

Today, as I was taking our oldest to his swimming lessons (there may be another post at a later time on that) he looked at me and said, "Wow, Mom...you've lost a lot of weight...you look thinner."

It mean so much coming from him...I was feeling pretty good as over the past few days I've gotten into clothes that I couldn't wear since I got pregnant with our youngest.

I told him thanks and that I'm going to try to lose even more weight...he goes wow then you'll really be skinny.

What a great kid!

Two Hour Delay Tomorrow

We found out earlier this evening there is a two hour delay tomorrow for our oldest. Yea! we get to sleep in. Wondering if there will be school as I sit in the recliner by the window hearing the ping of the sleet outside. Just hoping we keep power if we get the ice they're calling for. Off to bed in case there is school.

Pinewood Derby

Today our oldest participated in the Pinewood Derby. He had a lot of fun and wound up coming in second in his age group. His good friend, S, came in first over all. Here are some pics from today.

Just Like the Wicked Witch

Water is going to ruin me. Yesterday was less than perfect as at about 3:30 we noticed something wrong with the water at the office...I was the first to find this out but I'll spare you the details of how I made this little discovery. Thinking it was a busted pipe somewhere in the church, we went off in search of the leak. I imagined water running down a hallway or wall. We searched but didn't find anything. One interesting discovery we made was that as we descended to check the water on each floor, the water pressure got more and more.

Finally I suggested that maybe there was a water main break somewhere. I was correct. A couple of blocks away there was a gusher. The whole town was without much water pressure...but then things began to change a little. We're now under a boil water advisory.

School was canceled today for both my boys so we stayed around...I worked on work stuff while our little one ran around wildly and our oldest played video games. Recently we have pulled out a rather old game that I got stuck on a year or so ago. We couldn't find the memory card so we worked up to the exact same place. And guess what? We're stuck again.

The ironic thing is that the game is Kingdom Hearts II...it's a Disney game...kinda fun you get to go to different Disney "worlds" like Ariel's world, Pooh, Haloweentown, etc. But the part where we're stuck is where this bad guy says, "Dance, water, dance." and proceeds to throw water at you among other things. We played this a while today and into the evening...and this guy is still beating us. It's frustrating to say the least.

Today there was yet another water main break...so the advisory continues through noon tomorrow...so tomorrow it looks like our oldest will try to defeat the water again since he's out of school. Ironic, huh? The water is winning.

Happy Birthday My Oldest

Wow...has the time flown. It seems like just yesterday we were in the hospital with our young one. We were so excited for him to come and join us...we couldn't wait.

I remember going to the doctor on our due date and we were admitted into the hospital because our vital signs were above normal...but once we were in the hospital, everything calmed down and we were sent home. Three days later we went in for a C-section and our new little one was born.

The years have passed and our little guy has grown into quite a boy. He's active in scouts and has a passel of friends around him. He's a great kid and a WONDERFUL big brother. It's amazing how time has flown quickly by. Here is our big boy...

Happy Birthday!!! We love you!!

Why Is It?

Today since school was out, I spent most of the day with my oldest. I told him that we could have some mommy and J time. He's been wanting to see The Bee Movie so we made plans to go see it today. I misread the site and thought the movie started at 12:30 instead of 12:50. Thinking we were running a little late, I hurried my 6 year old so we could get a good seat in case everyone had the same idea we had.

We patiently waited in line for our lunch/snacks...which sometimes is a challenge at our theater...then we made it to our seats.

Now, remember, we're like 40 minutes early thanks to my misreading...so we're the only ones in the theater. We had our choice of seats and wound up 2/3 of the way to the top in the middle.

Now comes my quandary...why is it that even when there aren't that many people in the theater, people insist on sitting almost on top of you? And why do the ones that like to kick the backs of seats or tap their feet incessantly have to sit right behind me?!

There are plenty of seats in the theater...the whole back row was EMPTY...but a grandfather and his 6 grandchildren had to sit butted right up next to us. Then on the other side, there are plenty of seats but the guy insists on sitting right next to me? Why is it that people don't say something when their children are kicking your seat repeatedly? Maybe it's because they're busy almost yelling at each other to be heard cuz they just have to say a few things right now in the midst of everything?

I don't get it. The theater did fill up after the movie actually started, but at the time we were being invaded there were plenty, PLENTY of seats.

A Night Away

Last night our oldest stayed over night at a friend's house for the very first time. This event was planned about a week ago and he was so excited that he came home from church and began to get his stuff out that he wanted to pack. Every day we had the countdown to slumber party until finally Friday came. I got him from school, we packed his bags and then took him over to his friend's house. He was so excited. I helped him carry his stuff up to the house and then he brushed me off as he ran off with his friend.

Our youngest didn't know what to do without his brother. I think he went back and forth thinking he was at school and would be home soon. It wasn't until bath time that it really became evident that big brother was gone. He kept looking at the door of the bathroom like, "Where is he? Why isn't he taking a bath with me?"

He seemed to forget until this morning when our oldest got home and a little while after I asked our youngest if he wanted to go see J....his eyes lit up and he was ready to welcome big brother back home.

J had an AWESOME time.

My Big Guy

Today my oldest had his first big field trip. He's in a summer program here in town and they took a trip to the Columbus Zoo about 3 hours away. We woke up in the wee hours of the morning (none of us are real morning people in this house) to get to "school" by 6 am. As we were on our way, he noted, "The sun isn't even up as early as we are."

There were a few houses that had lights on either outside or inside. "Isn't that nice, Mommy, they have their lights on to help us see our way."

We got to the school...he eventually boarded the bus and they were off.

When I took our youngest to "school" today, he kept looking at the empty car seat beside him like, "Uh...Mommy...I think we may have forgotten someone."

They were gone all day and got back around 10:30 tonight. We all got in the car to go pick him up. He told us stories of all the animals and all the adventures he had had. I think he had a really good time.

When we got home our little one heard his brother's voice and woke up. They shared some really great hugs. And when I put the little one in his bed, he kept staring at his brother to be sure he was still there.

It was a great and L - O - N - G day...and now I'm off to bed.

Honey I Shrunk the Kids

While we were at MGM Studios we went into this play area based on Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Our oldest had never seen the movie. Tonight we had a chance to watch it. He said he really liked the movie. It was neat to re-watch this movie and be reminded of our trip yet again. Thank goodness for Video on Demand!

My Young Reader

Today my oldest received a medal for reading. He had to read several books and then discuss them with a volunteer. And he's already looking forward to next year when he can read then receive a trophy at the end of the year.

I can't believe how quickly this year has gone...it won't be long until he's in the first grade. My boy is sure growing up.

Before There was Color

My oldest got his yearbook yesterday. We were looking through his pictures and he was pointing out himself on every page he was on. He'd gleefully go, "Look mom there I am again...and there's me and there's me..."

I was upstairs today looking in the closet and found a box of my old yearbooks from elementary school. I brought them downstairs to show him.

I pulled out my kindergarten yearbook and had him guess which one was me. It took him a couple of tries but he found me. We pulled out my first, second, third, fourth and fifth grade books. He got better and better at finding my picture.

He asked me questions about my teachers like "were they nice? what were they like? was your principle nice? was he smart?"

Finally when we looked through my first six years of school, he said, "Wow mom...that's pretty cool so they had yearbooks when you were in school too?"

"Yes, just like you had."

"Yeah, but that was before they had color, right? Cuz all of these pictures are in black and white. Everything is in black and white."

Yes, J, I lived before there was color...gee do I feel old.

My elementary school is pictured above...it's not super colorful but you can see it's definately not black and white.

Goodbye Scarfish

Last night was the school carnival. And once again this year our oldest won a fish at one of the games. I remember from my times in school that "pets" won at carnivals and the such do not last very long at all.

Last year's fish, Nemo lasted forever. Maybe it was because we didn't actually "win" him at the carnival but instead "won" a certificate for a free fish. We took our son to the pet store to pick out his prize. Nemo lasted forever...I thought we'd only have him a short time but I think we had him for a few months.

Well, last night we brought home a new member of the family. He was "won" and this year they didn't run out of fish but I have no idea where they got some of these. Our son had this huge goldfish but with a big gash in his tale. So, he named the fish...Scarfish.

This evening we were getting ready for bed and I noticed that Scarfish was doing the backstroke in his bowl. Already?! So, we had this talk about death and the life of fish. I think it could be because he was already injured...I'm expecting a funeral tomorrow...then sometime soon we'll go look for a new fish.

Goodbye Scarfish

Going to Work with Mom

Friday our oldest didn't have school because it was Kindergarten registration and they needed their room for the registration process. I guess I had forgotten about that because I had no idea that he didn't have school until he climbed in the car and proudly announced, "Oh mom, I don't have school tomorrow." He says this from time to time so I responded, "It's not a holiday and we didn't know about it before I think you do have school."

He kept insisting and I said, "If you didn't have school I think I would know...I think you have to go to school tomorrow." He goes, "Mom, look in my folder and see." Sure enough there was a note that Kindergarten didn't have school.

Because I hadn't prepared for him to be out and had a bunch of stuff to do at the office I took him with me. We have a preschool at the church and the teachers said he could come down and play with the 4 year old class which gave me time to do my work. So, he went downstairs to play.

When I was taking him to get some lunch the following conversation took place:

me: So, did you have fun today with the four year olds?

J: Yeah, it was pretty fun. They were out of control.

me: Oh really? What happened?

J: Well, at first I thought that maybe being with the four year olds was a bad idea...they were running around all crazy like. I thought maybe I should've gone in with the two year olds. Then when it came time for them to clean up, they didn't do listen...they didn't clean up at all. That's not what you're supposed to do."

Why is it that he's so concerned about cleaning at church but when I ask him to pick up his stuff at home he just looks at me like I'm speaking a foreign language?

Christmas Tradition Number 3

This year our oldest got to do something that I loved doing when I was his age...he got his own tree. Our friend Betsy's dad has a shop where he sells some really neat stuff...a part of the cool things are Christmas trees. J got his very own table top tree and got decorations for it. There's a soccer angel; 2 stars, one of which is a Marshall star; Star Wars characters including Darth, C3PO, R2D2, and Yoda; Jeff Gordon decorations (his favorite NASCAR driver); a birdhouse; a teddy bear; Anakin and Obi Won action decoration; Santa; a gingerbread man; and a string of M&M's. He wrapped it with colored lights before putting the decorations on it.

He then put the gingerbread house underneath the tree. Quite a neat tree, I think.

Christmas Tradition Number 2

I looked at my last 2 posts and realize that I haven't posted for quite some time. We have had many continued traditions that we have done this Christmas season. I will do them as separate posts so I can put pictures with them.

This year our oldest got to make a gingerbread house again. Two years ago he made a real one that was the manger complete with straw (shredded wheat) and the baby Jesus. Last year we made a foam gingerbread house that we can keep for years to come. He's got that one sitting underneath tradition number 3 (see next post). And again this year, I think he was inspired by our stadium cake, we made a real gingerbread house.

Jake had a lot of fun decorating the gingerbread (premade) with the icing and candies...

Say Hello to Scarecrow Jake

When we were on our way home from our Ohio trip a couple of weeks ago, we saw that this one farm had a build your own scarecrow part. By the time we got there, however, the things had all been put away. I was sad cuz we couldn't make that cool memory together.

But when we were on the way home, the guys decided that we could make a scarecrow at home instead. So, Thursday night they put together this little guy. Complete with his smiling face, jeans, shirt and Braves hat.

We hung it on the sign on our front porch. Jake's so proud of his new little friend. I hope he hangs around for a long time.

Keep Your Eyes on the Soldiers

This week we are having a Vacation Bible School experience at our local park. Our church, along with 8 or so others are holding our joint Bible school at the park in hopes of attracting other children and families that might not have a church home. It's called Marketplace and simmilates what life might have been like at the time of Jesus. There are shops where the children can make things (like clay pots, jewelry, dreidels, etc.), there are tribal families where the children learn about Jewish traditions, there is Synagoge school where the children learn about Jewish traditions. And then there are the Roman Soldiers. When we were at home over the weekend we saw a float in the parade that had the three crosses and Roman Soldiers walking behind it. Jake then began to be leary of the soldiers as my mom made some comment about the soldiers killing Jesus. Jake took that statement into himself and is still leary about the soldiers to this day. Everytime they walked by he'd hide behind me and watch them the whole time. Things escalated a bit when we learned last night that Jesus had been arrested...now Jake is really aware of the presence of the soldiers around us. We'll see if the rain and severe heat holds off tonight whether Jake will ever take his eyes off the soldiers or not.