Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Birthday Season

At our house, fall doesn't just bring cooler weather, falling leaves, trips to the apple orchard (can't wait for this!) and a not-so-bountiful harvest of pumpkins and squash. It also brings birthday season. Nearly every month between September and January holds a birthday celebration. Sean starts us out on September 6th, followed by Wesley on November 6th and Jack on December 6th. Scary, I know. Elise rounds out our season with her birthday a month later on January 3rd. She broke our "6th" trend (though Sean is convinced she also would have arrived on the 6th if I'd just been patient, but our baby girl was already 5 days late and I felt like I'd been pregnant for 2 years so when the doctor offered to induce me on the 3rd I just couldn't turn him down).

With all of the busy-ness that came along with the changes in September, we opted for a low key birthday celebration for Sean. We made our own pizzas and the kids helped me bake a birthday cake.

Photobucket

Then Wes helped his daddy blow out the candles.

Photobucket

He's such a big helper!

I know I'm a couple weeks late, but...

Happy birthday to the best husband and dad God could have chosen for us. We love you very much!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Changes

To say this week brought a lot of changes for our family would be an understatement. Between coordinating transportation, making lunches every night, filling out (and returning!) forms and doing homework, we were a busy group.

The biggest change was for our boys. Jack started his first day of kindergarten on Monday. I don't think he could have been more excited. I don't think I could have been more sad. I just kept thinking about how by the end of the week I'd be sending him off to college. Needless to say, the end of the week came and he's still living at home with us, but I'm sure it won't be long. Anyway...after a few sibling photos, a few tears and a few more reminders from Mom, the bus showed up to take Jack to school.

Photobucket

Aside: Jack is going to a charter school that has two campuses. We drive him to the upper campus and he takes a shuttle to the lower campus. In our grown-up minds, of course we know that a shuttle is just a bus of some kind. In his 5-year-old mind, a shuttle belongs in outerspace. Imagine his surprise and excitement when he found out that he did, in fact, get to ride the big yellow school bus.

Photobucket

He got on the bus, found a seat and drove away. That was it. It all happened really fast. 

Photobucket

Upon his return from school I asked how his first day of kindergarten was. "Fantastic!," was his enthusiastic reply.

Then it was Wesley's turn for his first day of preschool. (It was really bright that day). 

 Photobucket

The first thing we did was meet Wesley's teachers, Mrs. Kathy and Mrs. Holly. Then it was time for Wes to explore the classroom while I filled out more paperwork (will it ever end?!).

 Photobucket

Although Wes tends to be a little more adventurous than Jack, he also tends to cry a little more. So, despite him reassuring me over and over that he would just "make up some new fwends" at preschool (because Jack wouldn't be there), I wasn't sure what to expect from our second son. I was delightfully surprised to discover that he didn't really need me. Okay, so maybe I wasn't delighted. I might have been just a little sad that he demonstrated such independence at the tender age of 3. And I might have had to fight back a few tears when I left him in a room full of strangers so I could go to the parent orientation meeting and he simply waved goodbye. Sniff. Sniff.


 Photobucket
 
Through all of this, our baby girl experienced some change too. Three days each week (when Wes is in preschool), she has the run of the house and the undivided attention of whichever adult happens to be in it. A few times she's wondered "Where's Jack & Wes?" When she's reminded that they're at school she simply responds, "Oh, dat's wight," and continues on with whatever she's doing. I don't think she's going to mind the change.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Five Question Friday




It's time again for Mama M's blog hop. Play along. It's fun!

1. Shoes in the house - yay or nay?

Most of the time I don't like shoes in the house, but the more kids we have and the more "one last things" I have to run in the house for, the more often I find myself traipsing through the house in my flip flops.

2. What do you call them- flip flops, slippers, thongs, etc?

Um...never heard them called "slippers." To avoid all confusion, we just go with "flip flop" at our house.

3. What song are you almost embarrassed to admit you know all the lyrics to?

Hmm...It's a toss up between Baby Got Back and Ice Ice Baby. I remember actually writing down all the lyrics to Baby Got Back as I hit rewind over and over and over again on the tape player. Oh, to have that kind of time again. Don't worry, I'd use it more productively than I did when I was 13.

4. What is the best quality to have in a friend?

Unconditional love - it means you can be yourself and say what's on your mind.

5. Do you know what you want for Christmas?

I know what I want for the next twelve Christmases. My lucky husband is never at a loss for things to put under the tree for me.