Reality

This morning while we were getting ready to head out the door for school Max asked, "Is today my fiveth day of kindergarten?" I said, "Yes, today is your fifth day to go to kindergarten."
"Is that all I have to do? Just 5 days? Then I don't go anymore?" Oh, having the break the news to a little guy that this is his new reality for the rest of his life.... I explained that he has to go to school everyday, just like Daddy and I go to work every morning. He looked at me with disbelief in his eyes, let out a sigh and laid his head down on his folded arms. It's tough being a big kid.

1st Day of School

It's official. Max is a big kid and finally in kindergarten. He is so excited. He was a little skeptical aabout his teacher because "she is so old" but after the first day he decided he liked her. Max got fed up with me taking pictures but I managed to sneak in and get a couple.

The Night Before Kindergarten

by Natasha Wing

'Twas the night before kindergarten, and as they prepared,

kids were excited and a little bit scared.


They tossed and they turned about in their beds,

while visions of school supplies danced in their heads.


Erasers and crayons and pencils galore

were stuffed in their backpacks and set by the door.


Outfits were hung in the closets with care,

knowing that kindergarten soon would be there.


In the morning it came- school starts today!

Would the teacher be nice? Would they still get to play?


Faces were washed, and teeth were brushed white;

kids posed for pictures with eyes sparkling bright.


Parents packed snacks, and kids hopped in cars

as if they were boarding a spaceship to Mars.


Some kids brought blankets or their favorite stuffed bear,

in hopes they could nap like they did in day care.


Their parents exclaimed, "You're big kids- wow!

Let us hold your bears and blankies for now."


The parents were worried their children would cry

if they left them at school with just a good-bye.


So they told their darlings, "If you want, we can stay

and make sure that everything will be A-okay."


The teacher then greeted each one with a smile,

and invited the students to stay for a while.


The room was all filled with toys, books, and maps,

but where were the beds for midmorning naps?


They colored and painted and played Simon Says,

then tumbled and skipped and stood on their heads.


They sang silly songs from beginning to end.

Within just a minute each kid had a friend.


The children were happy. They loved Miss Sunrise!

It was she who was in for a giant surprise.


When what to her wondering eyes should appear

but sad moms and dads who were holding back tears!


Their noses- so sniffly! Their eyes- red and wet!

This was the saddest good-bye Miss Sunrise had seen yet!


She gathered the grown-ups on the magical rug,

then sent them away after one final hug.


The children all waved from the door of the school,

"Don't cry, Mom and Dad; kindergarten is cool!"

soccer season

Grant has been wanting to play soccer for 2 years, ever since Max started to play. He has always practiced with Max's team and run out on the field during games. Now, it's finally Grant's turn. Saturday was his first game.

He acted like a monster.

Picked his boogers.

And for a few minutes even ran around chasing Chi who was kicking the ball.

I didn't get a picture of this but...

When Nate and I switched (so I could watch Max for a little bit and Nate could watch Grant) Grant laid down in the middle of the field refusing to play. Nate called me to tell me. I came back down, went out on the field and told him if he didn't play he wasn't going to get the snack after the game. He proceded to walk off the field and try to take off his cleats. This was more serious that I thought. If the restriction of food doesn't work on Grant, nothing will. I went back up to watch Max. Apparently, Nate bribed him with going to the library after the game because the next time I saw them Grant was walking to the car eating his snack.

Soccer is so much fun.

water fountains

While we were in Tulsa we took the boys to the fountain area near the zoo to let the boys cool off in the horrendous heat. It was a little bit miserable, even at 10:00 am. They didn't seem to notice.

Nate... just a big kid, really. He might have had as much fun as the smaller boys.

Jack picked up my drink and walked around with it the whole time. I guess he was a little parched.

A fleeting sweet picture of Grant. They are few and far between. Usually he growls at the camera.

boys meet baby Ava

Last weekend we went to Broken Arrow so the boys could meet their cousin. It was love at first sight... at least for Max. Grant held Ava for 2 seconds and Jack hit her in the face.

Ava better get tough fast if she's going to survive "play time" with her cousins.

I thought I was ready

Max went in this morning for his kindergarten screening. The neighbor kids missed the bus so we brought them to school with us. As we were dropping them off, I thought to myself, "I'm glad today is only the screening because I'm not ready to leave him here with all these big kids." We were directed down the hall to one of the kindergarten classrooms. The room was full of kids and parents. One of the teachers handed me an info paper to fill out. With a little encouragement, Max joined the other kids on the floor playing with puzzles and blocks. When I was done filling out the paper I handed it back to the teacher who then told me, "Ok. You can pick him back up between 2:00-2:30." Panic immediately hit. "What? I thought today was only a screening." She responded, "It is... an ALL DAY screening." I think I might have managed a little, "Oh." I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. Now, I had to go break it to Max that he had to stay all day instead of just a little while (which is what I had prepped him for). His reply, "Ok, Mom. Bye." I made it to the car before the floodgates opened. As I was driving home with tears and snot streaming down my face Kim called. You know how things are even worse when you have to say them out loud for the first time? As soon as she said hi I start bawling... explaining the horrors of leaving my poor little baby at school with all those mean teachers and bully kids (I'm sure they're very nice but you never know....) This is the first time in his life that I haven't been in control of who is friends are and where he goes. I didn't prepare myself emotionally. I didn't think I'd be such a wreck but I was wrong.

Maybe, now Thursday will be a breeze and I won't humiliate Max by having to open up one of the boxes of kleenex before giving it to his teacher.

(I don't even have a picture of him to post because why would I bring my camera to take a picture of him at screening day?)

First Fruits

After a long wait, Max has harvested his first and (to this date) only tomato. He was so proud. He immediately asked if we could make salsa.

Our tomato plants have been through the ringer:
-being knocked over by wind, cats and unnamed children
-not being watered for 5 days when a certain individual left town and more unnamed husband/children forgot to water them
and
-being sprayed countless numbers of times by foaming wasp spray

So, this ripened trooper deserves a special preparation to honor it's steadfastness.... unfortunately, no one in my house likes tomatoes.

a team of his own

The wait is finally over. Grant is on a soccer team of his very own. No more just sitting on the sidelines yearning to play on Max's team. To top it off, check out the cute girls he strategically positioned himself between at practice. Way to go, little G.

When it's hot...

what is better than go swimming in your very own whale pool? I mean, come on... it even shoots water out of it's spout!

Well, Max didn't want to swim. He said it was too hot and he just wanted to watch a movie inside. I told him to go play so I could take a picture. He stepped in the pool, posed for this picture then said, "Did you get it? Can I go watch Ninja Turtles now?"

Our little WT baby. If you noticed in the first picture, Jack wasn't patient enough to take the time to put on his swim suit. He jumped in clothes and all. When his shorts were around his ankles I finally managed to get him down to his diaper.

Late Night Jack Attack

Nate and I actually made it through a movie without falling asleep (Premonition with Sandra Bullock.... crazy weird yet intriguing.) We were finally getting into bed around 12:30 am when cries ring out. Jack. I went and got him and brought him into bed with us for a while. Apparently, he didn't get the memo that it was the middle of the night and he should be sleeping.

Lately

Things around here have been crazier than usual...

-Nate's actively looking for a new job. If anyone knows of someone need a claims adjuster I have a cute one to send your way. His best lead is in Margate, FL. No thanks. We're not opposed to moving if we need to but Florida? We mapquested it and it is over 20 hours from Springdale.

-Max and Grant are playing soccer. They are both on great teams which makes it even more fun. As of right now, 3 nights a week we have practice.

-We are getting sued. I don't think I can really discuss it but it is a little bit ridiculous. Yes, it is all about the mold. Our lawyer said legal fees alone could be $7,000-$10,000. I told him that made me want to vomit.

-Jack is hilarious. He is trying to run which is a sight to see. I think he is going to have a contagious laugh like Grant's. His favorite words are "book" and "ball". He likes to sit naked on the little alligator chair in his room and read books. That's right, naked. What did you expect?

-Grant told his teacher at mother's day out he is getting a baby sister. When I asked him about it he said, "NO, not one sister.... 2 SISTERS!"

-Max starts kindergarten in 2 weeks. I haven't been sad about it until today when I started thinking about little gifts to give his teachers at mother's day out on his last day (which is next Thursday). It will be weird not dropping him off with his brothers, yet, so nice not to have to pay for 3 kids to be in MDO... everything has it's upside.

I found this picture today from our Colorado trip and was amazed that I never really noticed it before. Everyone is looking at the camera. Miracles do happen.