Tuesday, August 24, 2010

My Little Boy Is A Little Bit Bigger Now


Press play to hear the sweetest song!

As we prepared to send off our first child to Kindergarten, it's hard not to reflect on the years up to this point. It's pretty evident that little boys don't stay little forever. Almost 6 years ago, Jack was just a baby in our arms. And NOW....he's getting on the school bus and riding to school by himself. That's a lot of change in just 6 years! Today our baby is far from a child in our arms.

He may not be cradled in my arms today...but he'll always be cradled in my heart!


I love this picture. Because it was moments after Jack was born when the nurses were cleaning him up. They were having a ball styling his hair over to the side...as if they were preparing him for Kindergarten.

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Jack has a great attitude about this year and has had NO anxieties about the big boy responsibilities he has upon him. I'm so proud of him. His laid back nature has made this a lot easier on me.

I think the only person that is having a hard time with Jack's new life as a full-time student is James. He cried several times on the first day because he "missed his friend." He bawled and said, "I want Jackers," or "I NEED my Jackers." James is a bit more like me. He loves for the family to be together. When asked by Jason, "do you want to come to the store with me?" He'll reply, "yes, but how 'bout Mommy and Jackers come too." He's happiest when we're all together. I love that sensitivity about him.

Next week, when James starts school, we will all be to the winds. Daddy will be at work, Mommy here and there, James at his preschool, and Jack at the elementary school. I pray that James will be at peace with all of the separation. A new for all of us!

Here are some pictures of the last couple of days!



The whole family drove Jack to school on his first day. We walked him to his classroom and watched him get settled into his new classroom.




Jack's new school, Hellen Caro Elementary





Jack sitting at his desk. His good buddy Sam is across the table.



Mrs. Madison helping the class get settled in.

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We decided that we'd let Jack ride the bus home on his first day of school. Originally, the bus driver decided she'd stop in front of our house since our neighborhood isn't developed and we thought we had the only elementary child. However, after she dropped Jack off in front of the house, she said there actually is another child...so we will have to start picking up and dropping off at the intersection. :( I was excited about the bus stopping right in front of our house, but the new location is only 3 house lots down...so not too bad.



Hi Mom! I made it!



Ooops, forgot my backpack!



There, now I can get off!

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On Jack's second day of school, we let him start riding the bus to school. He had no reservations about it and was actually excited!



Walking to the bus stop.




Here comes the bus!



Bye sweet Jack!



And there goes our baby we brought home from the hospital a little less than 6 years ago!!!

I got word a little while later from a friend who brought her son into the classroom, that when she got there to drop Sam off, Jack was sitting in his desk, doing his work. :)


Wednesday, August 18, 2010

PhotoBook 2006

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PhotoBook 2007

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Photo Book 2008

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Kindergarten & Preschool

Well, the time has almost come when I send my first born off to Kindergarten. He has orientation this Friday and starts school on Monday. I know a lot of Mom's in my same position are sad to see their babies off. I'm not so much sad that he's off to Kindergarten, but just surprised at how quickly this time has come. Jack has been home with me for almost 6 years, with the last two years in a half-day preschool program. I've gotten used to him being away from me during these preschool years. I'm more excited for him, than anything else! I'm not too nervous for him. Because he's not nervous at all!

Jack isn't the only one growing up! James will start his first year of preschool. He'll be in a 3 year old program, 3 days a week, from 8:30-12:30. I'm a bit more nervous about James than I was for Jack. James is almost a whole year younger than Jack was when Jack entered a 3 year old program. It's because James' birthday is before the Sept. 1 cut-off and Jack's is after the Sept. 1 cut-off. James has had a little bit of practice at his preschool this summer. He did three 1-week long sessions. The days were long, but he did mostly good. My hope for him this year is to enjoy school, his classmates, and teachers.

As for me, it will be my first regularly scheduled time to myself. I'm really excited about this...but at the same time, not sure what I want to do with my time. Part of me just wants to lay on the couch and relax for the first month! That always sounds better than it really is though! I would imagine that I will get involved in both boys' schools. I can now volunteer at Jack's school, while James is at his preschool. I also want to sew some more. I want to photobook (my new favorite thing). I want to get better at photography. I'm looking forward to treating myself to "me" time! Although, I'm sure I'll have to squeeze in some house chores along the way! :)

Thursday, August 5, 2010

What My Kids Said 2010 - July 2010

Once again, I wrote down things here and there that they boys said. I wish I could put the inflection in their voices and expressions on some of these. That's what makes some of them cuter than they seem. But, you get the point.

July 2010

-Jack asked Jason for dessert. Jason said, "no, not tonight Jack." Jack started to sob a little and Jason reiterated, "Jack, no dessert tonight. You gotta understand we can't have dessert every night...that's why it's a sometimes food." Jack said, "I DO understand, that's why I'm crying."
-Walking into Target, Jack said, "wow, it looks like a nice day in Target today."
-I gave the boys a choice between a red, black, or blue lunch box. They both said black. I said, "come on guys, you don't want the colorful ones?" Then Jack said, "Well, black's the new khaki!"
-I asked James if i could go to preschool too. He said, "SURE!" I said, "what do I have to do to be good in preschool?" He said, "WELL....you have to paaaaaiiint and coloooooor."
-Jack was laughing at something. James said, "it's NOT funny JACK!" Jack said, "it's funny to me!" James, "no its not!" Jack, "well James, we have different perspectives, it's funny to me and not funny to you."
-Jack, "what's a career?" Jason, "it's a job you've had for a long time. I've been in the military for a lot of years, so it's my career." Then I said, "Mommy doesn't have a career." Jack said, "yah, because you've got a job...it's to work for us."
-I noticed Jack looked taller this morning. I jokingly said to Jack, "stop growing!" Then I turned to James and said, "James, you stop growing too!" James started bawling immediately and said, "but I HAVE to grow!"
-Jason was telling Jack about something...and after a few moments of Jason talking, Jack said, "you know what we're doing right now?...you're teaching me!....you favorite thing!!!"
-Jack said he wishes he wasn't James' big brother. Jason explained how that's not a very nice thing to say and, "how would you feel if me or Mommy said we wish we weren't your parents?" Jack said, "well, kinda bad, but then I'd want to just get new parents that wouldn't say that kind of thing."
-Jack and James were in the playroom, I was in the other room. I heard Jack ask James, "Do you wanna see Emma?" (we have glass doors on a cabinet with all sorts of pictures tapped onto it). James, "yes!" Jack, "let me see, here she is. This is Emma. I'm going to marry her someday. And we're going to have babies. She's my best friend."
-James as he hugged Jack's waist, "we're FRIENDS Jack...wanna dance with me? I'm a princess dancer!"
-we were sitting in the car and the boys noticed two people smoking. Jack said, "I do NOT want to grow up and do that!" James said, "but I want to do that!" Jack said to James, "well, it's all up to you James, but I just want to warn you, it is NOT good!"
-When James woke up, he called from his bed, "Mooooom, help me...I'M SWEATY!" (he was soaked with urine, rather than sweat).
-James said this morning after rubbing the corners of his eyes, "I have crumbs in my eyes!"
-at the pool I told James I wished I had floaties, then asked him if I could have his floaties. He said, "No...then I will die. You're too big for my floaties. When it's your birthday you could get some BIG floaties."

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

James ABC Book

A friend of mine directed me to Shutterfly ABC book template. This was SO simple to do and turned out adorable! I just wanted to share with you other moms that may be interested in making one for your little ones. I made this one for James! Can't wait to get it in the mail! :)

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