First Day of School 2011

Ahhhhh, where did the summer go?! It seems as if time is REALLY flying by so quickly and our schedules are so busy that we don't even realize it until it's gone! 

So here we are, the first day of school! New school clothes and supplies, hours of paper work filled out, payments made for most fee's... and most importantly, prayers offered up in each one of their behalf's for a successful, safe, Christ-like example- school year. 

A senior, freshman, and two pre-schoolers... where has the time gone and look at how much time there still is!

As a child reaches the teenage years, (and in this day and age not even easing into the second digit) they tend to develop a shortage in the electrodes of their brain. And trust me, I am not even KIDDING. Yes, I remember bits and pieces of my teenage years, and I won't even go there. A once photo happy teenage girl has turned ANTI-pictures (unless she is with her friends.. and YES I have seen those!!) 

Brandy: "You don't HAVE to take all these pictures of me an my boyfriend. They will take plenty in the ball room." (with rolling eyes and that neck rolling "thing" they do...) lol 

So, when I proclaimed my excitement to take 1st day of school as a Senior and Freshman photo's MAN OH MAN did I have instant resistance! It was so sad. AND- I will have you know that YES I DID use the "when you have children of your own you will understand" ploy, but it again, failed. So, in my own little attempt (and searching through my brain for crafty idea's for their photo books) I decided to take multiple photo's of them walking into the school... Which will be a great "slide show flip book" --HA! And again, mom prevails! WOOHOO! (lol)

As the big kiddo's attend high school, my toddlers attend Mother's Day Out twice a week. This year makes Kien's 3rd, and Gabriel's 2nd. It's great for them, and I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE their teachers as do they! (you will find that most of my blogs will be hefty on Friday's -hopefully)

Here is my wonderful little blessing -my precious moment- making a precious pose as we are working our way into the school.

 Gabriel walks very SLOWLY, because it is coming back to him that mom is now going to drop him off. He isn't a big fan of it, but he goes anyway. :) YAY!

 You can definitely determine which child is the happiest to be here! LOL!

Oh, yes. The traditional "my turn to press the elevator button" is back in action. Kien's classroom is upstairs again this year, so he gets to push it going up!

The backpacks I had last year were the little ones which were much easier for the boys to carry. Gabe's had wheels on them so he was able to pull it .However, their folders were too big for them, therefore ruining them with wear and tear. It was not an easy task to find the larger backpacks on wheels unless I purchased them online. So, I let them pick out their own themes. Kien chose Cars, which I am surprised because he likes Iron Man. Gabe of course chose Toy Story.
Here is Kien's name plate where he is to leave his backpack each day.

Gabe's turn to push the button to go down. :)

The concerned look on his face was exactly that, CONCERNED. He knew his time was getting closer, but I have to say after a whine and a small cry (30 seconds after I was out of sight) he was just fine! :) YAY!!

 Gabe let me take a photo of him by his name plate!

Once I left, he just stood there quietly, not knowing what he wanted to do, but eased into listening to a story being read to another student who, too, was being calmed down. The teachers are so awesome! :)

I went home, cleaned out the boys' room and worked on a few loads of laundry. When it was time to pick them up, I found Gabriel sitting finishing up his snack. He got up very quickly and came to me once he saw me. :)

Kien was working on a project when I popped in to pick him up. It's so encouraging to see him patiently sitting in class doing his work, because he does NOT sit still at home! lol

Along with the traditional "elevator" experience, we also have a "bench and chair" sitting as well. This is located right outside Gabe's classroom. :)

All in all, I think this program is the BEST ever! I highly recommend Mother's Day Out for SAHM's so there can be some "down time" to regain sanity from our every day -crazy but wonderful- life!

Ok, so I have decided...

...that trying to play catch up is really a huge set back from the latest and greatest stories.. SO- instead of holding everyone back, I will blog as we live, and still try to catch up from months ago! Ha!

A day at the Park... and a moment of PANIC!

I will begin with the PANIC part first. So Greg decides to take all the boys to the park for a little fun. Great idea! Mom gets a break! YAY! :) 

WARNING: These photo's included only reflect a reenactment of the events that actually took place. Every bit of the story is TRUE. 

Ha ha! When Greg called me from the park to tell me the story, I told him to take photo's because THIS was a great story! 

So while at the park, they walked down the paved trail toward the middle of the park just to check things out.  On their journey back to the play area, Greg, ahead of the group had looked back only to see Gabriel not walking in the same direction. Seconds later, Jeremy screams, "GABRIEL NOOOOOOOO!" Greg at the point figured out that Gabe was headed straight into the drain culvert. I don't think he remembers that he ran in track and in a superhuman sprint he ran to catch Gabe before he went in. Oh, but Gabriel is determined and we are about to find out why! By the time Greg got over to the drain, all he saw was Gabe's feet sticking out and I can just imagine the thoughts that went through his head. Yes, every parent thinks the worst case scenario,  it's the human condition! Thank God (literally) that he wasn't in any danger, but when he backed out his little feet, he had something in his hand. Boy was he PROUD of his new found fortune. A FOOTBALL!!! 

Leave it to an innocent -curious- child, to be so determined and not even know the dangers that could possibly lurk in the midst. Really, it was a heart stopping moment, but good thing it wasn't serious. 

A disappointing part to the story was, on their way to leave the park a couple of kids came up to them and asked if they had just found that football. Apparently they had lost it earlier. OR maybe they weren't brave enough to go into the culvert. Either way, Greg did do the right thing and gave it back to the boys. :) 

Here are the photo's to the story.  

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Here are a few randoms of the visit to the park. Kien has grown to enjoy finding sticks and twigs to use them as a sword. Hmmmm, I wonder who the in the world had a part in that one.... JEREMYYYYYY.. lol

Kien was pretending to be a firefighter! Riding down the pole!! GO KIEN!!

Ok, so this is TOTALLY worth giving props to the photographer (Daddy) for taking such great shots! Gabriel is 2. He throws things. For some reason, he likes to throw anything you find on the ground that remotely resembles dirt. Well, here is some mulch for ya Gabe! The photos look like he is trying to pull a Harry Potter! hahahaha AWESOME!

And, LAST but not LEAST I have to share this ADORABLE photo of Kien after we put this puzzle together.   He's so smart! He figured out about 50% of the puzzle with no promptings! He even said he enjoys putting puzzles together with me. Awwwww... *HEART*