Aquarium

Jack had been wanting to go to the Aquarium for a long time. We finally made it happen and did it in the name of birthday fun! We drove down to Chattanooga Saturday morning and spent the morning and early afternoon there. We all loved the aquarium. Jack even got to touch a shark! Jack's favorite were seeing the sharks and the penguins. The penguins were everybody's favorite! They are just so fast! One of them tried to give Will a "kiss" through the glass. It startled him pretty good and he almost fell backward. We got a good laugh out of that. After our aquarium visit, we ate at Mellow Mushroom Pizza. Patrick and I had been wanting to try it for a long time. It was so very good. I wish the one in Murfreesboro wasn't on the other side of town! It was a fun trip, and on the way home ALL the boys fell asleep. BONUS!

Jack is 4!!

Patrick was in Seattle at a training meeting on Jack's birthday, Friday. We had some fun things planned for Saturday when he got home. So on Friday, I took Jack to get an ice cream at Marble Slab. He chose cotton candy with gummy bears mixed-in. He let me have a few bites and it was surprisingly really good. He was just so so cute eating it! I bet I smiled 100 times watching him enjoy it. After our ice cream trip, we ran to Wal-Mart to get some m&m's for our movie night. I love hanging out with this kid!

Jack,

Where or where have the past 4 years gone? I cannot believe your already 4! Jack, you are one of a kind. You have brought so many smiles into my life. I could listen to you talk forever. That's good, because I'm pretty sure you could talk that long. I'm going to be so sad when you've outgrown it. You say such funny things. You have a wonderful imagination. You love your brother and you like doing things for others and being helpful. You give the best hugs! You will often come running up and give me a big squeeze--makes me feel like a million bucks! You love to snuggle with mommy, as you call it. You love to accessorize with hats, sunglasses, and watches. You have an interesting sense of style, that's for sure. You scream and kind of freak out when you get uncomfortable or when you feel embarrassed. You are working on a better way to react when you feel this way. You've made some great progress, and I'm so proud of how hard you're trying. Your daddy and I love you SO much. We often talk about the funny things you have said after you are in bed. We are so so in love with you and happy we get to be part of a family with you! You really are a sweet, sweet boy! You love spending time with your me and your dad and we love spending time with you! 

Love,

Mommy

A Few Favorites

Movie: Wreck it Ralph, John Deere, The Croods

T.V. Shows: Peg Plus Cat, Max and Ruby, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Peppa Pig, Wild Krats

Songs: A Child's Prayer, That's My Kinda Night, Give Said the Little Stream

Play: Pretending to be animals, firefighters, riding you bike, construction worker, Candy Land, Sneaky Snacky Squirrel, Hide-n-Seek and freeze tag with Dad, playing baseball with Dad

Places: Rocky River, Nonna's and Pa's, Park, Cheddars--or any restaurant, Pensacola Beach, Country Time Doughnuts

Food: Broccoli Cheese Soup, Pizza, Chik-fil-a, pancakes, bagels, doughnuts, carbonated drinks, bubble gum, gummy bears, brownies, milk, hot chocolate, apples, and pineapples

Books: Stuck, Dragons Love Tacos, Skippy Jon Jones, Secret Pizza Party

Sayings: "Guess What" - you'll say this fifty times when telling a story, it cracks us up. You r's sound more like w's, fing=thing

Bye Bye Baby Tooth #1

Afternoon Commute

We drive 20 minutes one way so that Will can go to Eagleville. His brothers are such troopers. Jack who RARELY takes naps, couldn't resist today, and I couldn't resist taking his picture.

Splish Splash

All About Will

Will made a poster with some of his favorite things to share with his kindergarten friends.

Picture Day

Bedtime Rules

Patrick had a lot of catching up at work so that meant no help at bedtime tonight. No big deal. Done it plenty of times. After a horrific hour, I had finally managed to get Will and Sam asleep. I then went to get Jack out of "bedtime-thinking time" (his first time in there-- Will had already been in there twice). I picked him up, sat him in my lap and asked him what does bedtime mean. He answered. I told him he was right, that Will and Sam were asleep so it was time for him to go to sleep...quietly. He said ok and then began to lecture me--ever so sweetly on the "bedtime rules," as he called them. I apparently had broken the cardinal rule of not reading a bedtime story which causes them to "suddenly get wild," and "pop out of bed." Defeated, tired, and with vomit in my hair (Sam), I acknowledged my shortcomings and began carrying him to his room. His arms wrapped sweetly and gently around my neck, legs hugged tightly at my waist, he smiled and whispered with his face just inches from mine, "Mom, Dad's missing all the fun." I laughed...yes he is.

Breakfast Date!







Ever since my date with Will, Jack had been asking when it would be his turn. I knew exactly where to take him. When Will was in preschool, Jack and I would go to a Walmart located close by. Inside this Walmart they had a McDonalds. Jack would always ask to go, but it never worked. Before we left on our date that morning, Jack was a little hesistant to leave with me. He was excited to finally have Will and Daddy both home (he's been lonely since Will started school). When I would ask him if he was ready he'd say with a sheepish look, "But I might get newvous." Love that stinker! and will be so sad when he loses the toddler talk.

 

School Boy

I have dreaded the end of summer since spring. I knew in August my baby would no longer be considered a baby by nearly everyone but me. The things I hate about Tennessee Kindergarten public schools--well, the brief list-- 1. No longer a half day, but a full 7 hours. 2. Social development takes a backseat to academics. 3. So. Much. Wasted. Time.

After talking with a lovely lady who I admire a lot, I decided on Eagleville Elementary. This was not the school we were zoned for, and pretty inconvenient. But I felt like, after lots of prayers, lots of thinking, and a lot more talking (sorry, Honey), it was best place for him. And if it didn't work, I could always home school. :/

All through the summer, every time I thought about him being away from me, I was nauseous. I would pray and remember the little mercies that the Lord had sent or was sending to help me feel at ease and peaceful with this change. I don't want to forget those so I'm going to document them here. I was concerned about the distance from a hospital and how long it would take an ambulance to arrive. The first time I went there I noticed that the ambulance station was right next to the school. With Will's seizures and some of his personality he tends to have a higher anxiety about things. The smaller school size and class size felt so so good to me. When I met the principal for the zone exemption he was kind and mentioned that when he was younger he had epilepsy. I could have Gretchen Solomon as Will's first introduction to school!! Can't think of another person outside of family who would love my baby and make him feel special and safe.

The night before his phase-in day we went to his school's open house. I was feeling nervous and apphrensive again about this change and how he would handle it. At the Kindergarten meeting the teachers gave the parents a handprint cut-out. We were to write a note to our child that would be read to them on their phase-in day. Just looking at the handprint made me get tear, so I decided to bring it home so that I could blubber in private instead.

We got home and quickly put the kids to bed in order to get everything ready for the next day. I went to find Will's new backpack to put his supplies in. When I unipped it I saw a couple pieces of paper that had been drawn on and decorated with stamps, a stamp, a paint brush, and an Elmer's glue stick. This filled my heart with so much happiness and sadness. He was excited. So was I. When did he grow up?

The next morning, Patrick woke up early and went to Hardee's to get the boys gravy and biscuit for the first day of school breakfast. Patrick went with us, because I was scarred. He sat in the car with the Jack and Sam, while I took Will in. He was excited. He went right in. He kindly obliged and let me take some pictures, and then went to play. I spoke with Gretchen for a few minutes and then called Will over to give me a hug and a kiss. I walked out feeling happy and at ease. I had a few happy tears--grateful tears. It was easier leaving him than I thought it would be. I think partly because I am just so so grateful he is well enough to go to school. It was hard to be sad when I thought about how far we'd come. I'm so happy we can add this to his milestones.

Dino Dig

Bunk Bed Fort

Date Night!

I've been wanting to take the boys on individual dates for a long time. Will going to school and leaving me is what it finally took to make it happen. Will and I went on a date to pick-up his kindergarten supplies and afterwards we stopped by Baskin Robbins to pick up a double chocolate oreo ice cream cone. I love this boy and loved spending one-on-one time with him. Definitely need to do this more often.

 

 

"I'm gonna go mow."