End of Summer Fun

We patiently wait for the end of the summer when we can head out to the beach. This is the all time best thing E does all year. She dreams of it, prays about it, draws pictures and makes plans all year long. We love it. It's the perfect family vacation.

 We love the fact that a few hours on the beach can completely exhaust children.

 W spent most of his time on the beach.

O was in and out of the water.

 E loved the ocean and surprised us with how much she enjoyed swimming out in the water. She was a little mermaid- swimming, jumping waves and rolling with the waves all while singing.

We weren't able to get her into swim lessons this past summer, but she certainly improved on her own. She could swim without our assistance, hold her breath much longer, and even retrieve diving rings.

 We were thrilled our good friends could come visit us. We miss them, of course, and loved every minute together. (Baby M was sleeping soundly during picture.)

 The kids got along beautifully!

Cheeeeeeeese!

 The kids love to eat outside and look at the fun things happening out on the ocean.

 The boys practiced their big brother skills as they dressed and fed babies.

 Confidence was definitely gained in the lazy river. Both boys could float around without us using floaties and innertubes..

 We tried to get W swimming, but he wasn't cool with that. He'd rather have a death grip on your hand.

 O was more relaxed.

 We didn't give up though. We continued to let go of him and tell him to kick his legs. He would literally kick and scream at the same time until we held each other again.

O...where's O? There he is...way over there...floating...all by himself.

The First Day For The Boys

I forgot to include the pictures from the actual first day of playschool.

 Special breakfast? Well, if you count cereal or oatmeal, then yes, they had one.

 W does love his oatmeal.

 They have no clue what's going to happen. It's so funny.

 Is this the way?

Is this the way? (This is the line he says over everything, to make sure he's doing it right.)

Handsome boys...ready to be without mommy. It was a good day.

Right Round, Baby, Right Round

Remember that song? 

Here are long awaited belly pics for you. More are coming, I promise.

 28 weeks

 29 weeks
This is at the point where I can no longer sleep AT ALL.

30 weeks
This is the face every time I pass a mirror. What the?!

The Joy of Playschool

I didn't need too much convincing that my boys needed to be enrolled in playschool. Not only did we feel that it would be beneficial to their physical, emotional, and social growth, but it would be helpful to mommy's sanity. Plus, there's a baby coming, so...

I started in the Spring to get them into a preschool program. There are 4 in the area. Two were way to expensive because they were actually private schools. The other two were church programs 5 minutes from the house. The one I really wanted them to attend was booked already. I was placed on a waiting list, but my chances of getting two spots were slim. I waited all summer to hear back from them. Finally, August rolls around and I received word that there was one opening. Great. Do I not do it? Do I send one and not the other? The director then called me and said she would take both boys. Horray!

They call it a playschool because although they teach the basics, they focus on socialization. They teach through play.

There are several things I like about this school. It's like a drive through when I drop off or pick up the kids. The teachers get them in and out. It's wonderful. They also walk to the library for story time every month and check books out with their very own library card. They have holiday parties and cool bikes to ride in the gym on rainy days. In the spring, they will walk to the Y for swim lessons. How awesome is that?!

Shortly before school started (in September) I took the boys to see their school and meet their teacher. They loved the room and the toys. W pointed out all the fire extinguishers in the building, light switches, plugs, the church elevator with buttons, the air conditioner, why the ac is making that sound, AND where the air comes out to cool everybody. The teacher was impressed. O impressed her with his ability to name all his colors and the letters on the table.

These are just about the only pictures I got of the boys while we were there. I'll probably hear about it when they're older. I'm sure they'll have more when they actually start public school. I'm not too worried about it.

On the morning of their first day, I was a little worried about how things would go for them. Would they want to go? How will they react when the teacher gets them out of the car? Will they cry, scream and try to cling to me like they do when I drop them off at Nursery or MOPS? WELL...they were a tad nervous and slow moving, but they did it. The van door closed and they began to walk away. W turned to me and yelled, "Bye Mommy!" with a gigantic wave. They did it! They really have started school and I actually had a quiet van. As I drove away, I was so giddy. What a relief! I was thrilled. As I pulled out into the street, I screamed with joy! I laughed, big and loud. My happiness raced through my fingers and created drumbeats on the steering wheel. Wait. What was this? A tear? I had a tear in my eye. A tear of pure and utter bliss.

The Day Has Arrived

Oh my! It seems so amazing that she is ready for Kindergarten. I was so nervous about her starting school. I knew she was more than ready academically, but E is sensitive, timid and shy. She is innocent. She can be very nervous about new situations. These are some of the reasons why we toured the school, the playground, the bathrooms, etc. We really wanted her to feel more confident about school.

 E and I made tags for each school day to place on her hangers. We pick out her clothes for the week and hang them on the inside of her closet door. It's been working gloriously. I don't have to help her get dressed in the morning and she can read the days of the week.

 The morning of her first day of school. Wake up sweet girl!

 A special breakfast.

Picture at the door with her new backpack, lunchbox, and 'First Day of Kindergarten' sign. 

 Walking through the school...I had a knot in my chest.

 She approached her classroom slowly.

 She recognized the teacher assistant from her class and softly said hi.

 Greeted by her teacher as she observed her surroundings.

 After putting her things away, she finds her seat with pink play-doh.

 E looked at me with apprehensive eyes and asked me to stay longer. She was excited, but there was no way she could hide her nervousness. I seemed to be really hot at this point and tired of faking a smile.

 We took a picture together...

 or two before I left. I gave her a big pep talk, a hug, and a high five. She was going to do great.

 I, on the other hand...I exited the building as fast as possible before I completely lost it in front of people. As I took this picture, I was sobbing! My baby has started school! We have been together for almost six years and I was really going to miss her. I cried all the way home. I called my sister and cried some more. I cried all. day. long.

 I composed myself in order to pick her up from school, but still got tears as I waited.

 Look! She recognized me in the van. She was thrilled that I came to get her.

 They sprinted to the van, all smiles. It was another day that I had to pull the van past her in carpool and she thought I was leaving. She was hysterically running after the van, waving her arms and crying for me. I felt awful that I couldn't explain what I was doing. We survived.

"I had a great day, Mommy! School is so fun!"

 Her first day with the entire Kn class present.

 All buckled up and ready to go. She looks like a pro.

 Walking into the school...much more confident.

 

E quickly got to work before she was greeted by the teacher. She already knew what to do...smartypants. 

We'll have a fabulous year!