Last night Matthew came into the family room, flopped onto the couch and said:
'It's like playing whack-a-mole, putting those kids to bed!"
September 23, 2010
pre-schooler!
This was the best pic I could get of our squirmy wormy on his first morning of pre-school...
Bean started pre-school on Monday! He marched himself into the classroom, sat down to play with trains and only said goodbye to me after the teacher prodded him to do so. He didn't even look up! And you know what? I din't even tear up as I walked to my car to figure out what to do by myself for an hour (the first day was an hour and 20 mins., not 3 hours). He's more than ready to enjoy the time with kiddos his age, and I am happy for the short break from being on high alert that my all of a sudden toddler turned mountaineering yahoo crazy explorer child has gotten himself stuck in some precarious place. Again. Probably in search of a snack or dangerous tool of some kind. This mellow little guy is a lot like Curious George...so well meaning, well, most of the time, but into so much trouble! And he's smart about it. For instance, when is a great time to swipe a Trader Joe's cookie? Hmm, when mom is in the shower, of course.
G (shampoo in hair): Noah--Who got that Joe Joe for you?
N: Um, me.
Those cookies were up impossibly high. Matthew told me that Noah boasted: "Daddy, do you want a Joe Joe? They are at the top of that ladder!"
So in the last week, I have:
caught Bean at the top of the cabinet, you know--where the liquor and cookies live.
caught him in the car (and subsequently had to get the car jump started)
caught him in the basement. Twice.
found him sleeping UNDER his bed. Way under.
caught him in the garage trying to get onto Abby's bike (he was almost there. I'm thankful for that sturdy kickstand).
caught him at the end of our driveway checking out the machines and construction as the city replaces the storm drain system on our street.
A few of the things he's been caught WITH: scissors, sharpies, whole gallons of milk, pliers, espresso tamper, his mouth full of (non-authorized) chocolate or fruit leather or cookies...you name it.
He can unlock the locks and he isn't asking for permission to go outside--he just does it.
Those 3 hours of preschool, MWF, are going to be lifesavers. For both of us. Oh yeah, and we are SO PROUD of him!! He is really growing and becoming his own little dude. Love it!
Bean started pre-school on Monday! He marched himself into the classroom, sat down to play with trains and only said goodbye to me after the teacher prodded him to do so. He didn't even look up! And you know what? I din't even tear up as I walked to my car to figure out what to do by myself for an hour (the first day was an hour and 20 mins., not 3 hours). He's more than ready to enjoy the time with kiddos his age, and I am happy for the short break from being on high alert that my all of a sudden toddler turned mountaineering yahoo crazy explorer child has gotten himself stuck in some precarious place. Again. Probably in search of a snack or dangerous tool of some kind. This mellow little guy is a lot like Curious George...so well meaning, well, most of the time, but into so much trouble! And he's smart about it. For instance, when is a great time to swipe a Trader Joe's cookie? Hmm, when mom is in the shower, of course.
G (shampoo in hair): Noah--Who got that Joe Joe for you?
N: Um, me.
Those cookies were up impossibly high. Matthew told me that Noah boasted: "Daddy, do you want a Joe Joe? They are at the top of that ladder!"
So in the last week, I have:
caught Bean at the top of the cabinet, you know--where the liquor and cookies live.
caught him in the car (and subsequently had to get the car jump started)
caught him in the basement. Twice.
found him sleeping UNDER his bed. Way under.
caught him in the garage trying to get onto Abby's bike (he was almost there. I'm thankful for that sturdy kickstand).
caught him at the end of our driveway checking out the machines and construction as the city replaces the storm drain system on our street.
A few of the things he's been caught WITH: scissors, sharpies, whole gallons of milk, pliers, espresso tamper, his mouth full of (non-authorized) chocolate or fruit leather or cookies...you name it.
He can unlock the locks and he isn't asking for permission to go outside--he just does it.
Those 3 hours of preschool, MWF, are going to be lifesavers. For both of us. Oh yeah, and we are SO PROUD of him!! He is really growing and becoming his own little dude. Love it!
September 8, 2010
Parks Visit!
We were honored to host 5 of the 6 Parks Clan at the start of September (missed you Hannah!!). You guys might just be the easiest five people to host in a 3 bed 2 bath home. Somehow the kitchen remained cleaner with LESS work than ever...well, less done by me. The kids had a blast--I don't think I even saw Noah for the 2 days y'all were here! And Abby and Emma were like peas and carrots.
We will remember laughing till we all cried over Antoine and more cowbell you tube videos. :)
We are so glad we got to see you before you went half way around the world again.
We will remember laughing till we all cried over Antoine and more cowbell you tube videos. :)
We are so glad we got to see you before you went half way around the world again.
Third Grade!
Abby started third grade yesterday (Tuesday). So far, so GREAT! She loves her teacher (we love her too!) and her classroom, classmates, assignments, you name it. Everything is AWESOME. I give it about a week. She'll come back down to earth and figure out that there are real kids in her class (you know, people who laugh at the wrong things, pick their noses, tattle, burp, wiggle, hum, choose sides, and interrupt); and that her teacher assigns homework that is not fun (the "All about Me" assignments will give way to subtraction and multiplication tables); oh yes, and taking baths and setting out her outfit for the next day will be a chore...I know it's hard to believe.
But for now, she loves third grade, and we are loving her enthusiasm for the newness and excitement that is also such a great part of life these days. And we are hopeful that more and more the annoying parts of life as a human with other humans will be taken in stride, forgiven, accepted, let go, put in their place so that the great parts of life, learning, relationships, and play will outshine annoyances and set backs. May this be a year of putting in to practice the word we talked so much about last year: Resilience! Today was a good start. Day 2 of third grade and she forgot her homework folder. Oh boy. There were tears, lip quivers, and 30 minutes of sullen sadness--not so much over the homework but over the recess period she would have to forego in order to finish the homework. SIGH. My inner mommy was about to hop back in the car and race to school to rescue her folder and save the day. But that's not going to help her with the life skill of remembering important things. So instead, I talked with her and told her that if she could find a way to improve her attitude and recoup the afternoon, she could play with her buddy Madeleine when she got home. Abby pulled it together. She saved her own day. And she's out living it up in the September evening sunlight right now.
So here we go, third grade! We're pretty sure this year is going to be a ton better than last year and that Abbs will learn a lot and enjoy the new challenges.
But for now, she loves third grade, and we are loving her enthusiasm for the newness and excitement that is also such a great part of life these days. And we are hopeful that more and more the annoying parts of life as a human with other humans will be taken in stride, forgiven, accepted, let go, put in their place so that the great parts of life, learning, relationships, and play will outshine annoyances and set backs. May this be a year of putting in to practice the word we talked so much about last year: Resilience! Today was a good start. Day 2 of third grade and she forgot her homework folder. Oh boy. There were tears, lip quivers, and 30 minutes of sullen sadness--not so much over the homework but over the recess period she would have to forego in order to finish the homework. SIGH. My inner mommy was about to hop back in the car and race to school to rescue her folder and save the day. But that's not going to help her with the life skill of remembering important things. So instead, I talked with her and told her that if she could find a way to improve her attitude and recoup the afternoon, she could play with her buddy Madeleine when she got home. Abby pulled it together. She saved her own day. And she's out living it up in the September evening sunlight right now.
So here we go, third grade! We're pretty sure this year is going to be a ton better than last year and that Abbs will learn a lot and enjoy the new challenges.
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