Who is this kid and when did he start looking so old?!?!
Now that you've looked at that picture, you might be wondering, "Why is Thomas in a crib?" And "Why are there two other children in there with him?"
Today Thomas invited his neighborhood friend over to play. As a quick sidenote, this is the one reason I don't want to move this weekend. We are ready to be in a location that is more convenient to our life, but that little boy is a great friend of Thomas', and his mother is a great friend of mine (and there is another little boy who is about seven months younger than Parker). We've just recently started having more playdates. He lives on the street behind us, so his mom walks behind the houses behind us and either J runs by the pond over to our house, or T runs over to theirs. Since I grew up with so many friends around me, it's the one thing I really want for my children. Hopefully we'll make new friends in our new neighborhood...and I also look forward to maintaining our friendship with our "old" neighborhood friends!
ANYWAY, so J came over today and the three boys were playing while I was trying to get some packing accomplished for our big move on Saturday. Things were getting a bit quiet, and I heard them "reading" books aloud to each other. Then I peaked in Parker's room, where there were, and saw all three of them in the crib. They had thrown a bunch of books in there and climbed right in.
Funny little boys!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
My big boy and the silly boys
First day of school for Parker!
Today was Parker's first official day of "school"!
He will be going two mornings a week and as I mentioned in a previous post, he has the same teacher(s) that Thomas had for his 2s class. I'm very happy about that.
Parker was a bit nervous about school this morning, but his big brother kept trying to assure him that he was going to have fun.
He was, however, excited about using his bookbag. I think he was so happy because now he has one like his big brother!
As I said, he was a bit skeptical about school and told me more than once that he didn't want to go. But he didn't start crying as soon as he saw his teachers (as he did at the school's open house on Saturday!). I walked him in and we checked everything out together. I tried introducing him to a few of his new friends, and when he started getting a little fussy, I decided it was time to go. He cried and wailed, but I quickly left.
When I returned, he was full of joy to see me. That moment is something I must capture on video because it makes me so happy to see him so thrilled to see me. I know it won't be long before he doesn't want to leave school, just like Thomas! His teacher told me that he had a great day. Apparently every time he started to get a bit upset, the teachers reminded him that I would give him a lollipop if he was good and didn't cry (and it worked!).
We'll see how things continue, but I think his first day was a success!
He will be going two mornings a week and as I mentioned in a previous post, he has the same teacher(s) that Thomas had for his 2s class. I'm very happy about that.
Parker was a bit nervous about school this morning, but his big brother kept trying to assure him that he was going to have fun.
He was, however, excited about using his bookbag. I think he was so happy because now he has one like his big brother!
As I said, he was a bit skeptical about school and told me more than once that he didn't want to go. But he didn't start crying as soon as he saw his teachers (as he did at the school's open house on Saturday!). I walked him in and we checked everything out together. I tried introducing him to a few of his new friends, and when he started getting a little fussy, I decided it was time to go. He cried and wailed, but I quickly left.
When I returned, he was full of joy to see me. That moment is something I must capture on video because it makes me so happy to see him so thrilled to see me. I know it won't be long before he doesn't want to leave school, just like Thomas! His teacher told me that he had a great day. Apparently every time he started to get a bit upset, the teachers reminded him that I would give him a lollipop if he was good and didn't cry (and it worked!).
We'll see how things continue, but I think his first day was a success!
Monday, August 23, 2010
First day of school!
Today Thomas started the first day of his 4s class. He's at the same school where he has been for the past two years, and he was quite excited about starting his four-day 4s class.
Parker, on the other hand, is apparently pretending he is only one, so he doesn't have to go to school (tomorrow). :)
This picture looks about right...Thomas can't contain his excitement and Parker...well, not so much.
Thomas loves school. I think he likes the "playing" part better than the learning part, but hopefully he will learn this year that school is really more for education, not recreation (and he'll be okay with that). Don't get me wrong, he loves learning new things, but what he really loves is playtime. He is, after all, four years old.
This year there are nearly 20 children in his class. I was a bit alarmed at the large class size, but his teacher seems great and I've heard nothing but glowing reviews.
As for his friends, he was a bit sad to know that one of his best friends would not be in his class this year. Last year he and two other boys were the Three Musketeers of their class. They didn't do anything without the other two. Even though one of the boys is not in his class, the first thing Thomas told me about class was that he saw H (the third of the musketeers) on the playground. He was so happy about that.
I hope that Thomas enjoys school this year and learns all he needs to know to prepare him for kindergarten. I also hope and pray that his love for school will wear off on his brother. This summer, Thomas went to camp for three separate weeks (at his school). Parker went one week for two mornings and another week for three mornings. The last of the five days he cried the entire morning. I'm not overly hopeful about his first day tomorrow, but I hope he surprises me. His teacher was Thomas' 2s teacher.
Of course I think back to Thomas' first day of his 2s class. He cried and screamed with many other children. And today, he ran into his class and I had to go over to him and ask him to tell me goodbye. The boy loves school.
Oh, and interesting fact... In his 2s class, he was one of two Thomases (Thomas M and our T). Then last year he was again one of two Thomases (Thomas W - his best bud). Well, this year, all three Thomases are in this same class!
Parker, on the other hand, is apparently pretending he is only one, so he doesn't have to go to school (tomorrow). :)
This picture looks about right...Thomas can't contain his excitement and Parker...well, not so much.
Thomas loves school. I think he likes the "playing" part better than the learning part, but hopefully he will learn this year that school is really more for education, not recreation (and he'll be okay with that). Don't get me wrong, he loves learning new things, but what he really loves is playtime. He is, after all, four years old.
This year there are nearly 20 children in his class. I was a bit alarmed at the large class size, but his teacher seems great and I've heard nothing but glowing reviews.
As for his friends, he was a bit sad to know that one of his best friends would not be in his class this year. Last year he and two other boys were the Three Musketeers of their class. They didn't do anything without the other two. Even though one of the boys is not in his class, the first thing Thomas told me about class was that he saw H (the third of the musketeers) on the playground. He was so happy about that.
I hope that Thomas enjoys school this year and learns all he needs to know to prepare him for kindergarten. I also hope and pray that his love for school will wear off on his brother. This summer, Thomas went to camp for three separate weeks (at his school). Parker went one week for two mornings and another week for three mornings. The last of the five days he cried the entire morning. I'm not overly hopeful about his first day tomorrow, but I hope he surprises me. His teacher was Thomas' 2s teacher.
Of course I think back to Thomas' first day of his 2s class. He cried and screamed with many other children. And today, he ran into his class and I had to go over to him and ask him to tell me goodbye. The boy loves school.
Oh, and interesting fact... In his 2s class, he was one of two Thomases (Thomas M and our T). Then last year he was again one of two Thomases (Thomas W - his best bud). Well, this year, all three Thomases are in this same class!
Love is...
Your children. Being married has taught me so much about love, but nothing can teach you more than becoming a parent. I would do anything for my children. Anything.
Case in point, yesterday was my birthday. Trey had his Air Force (reserves) weekend, so I decided to spend my birthday taking my boys to the water park (which is something they love, but I find utterly exhausting).
And as if that wasn't enough, on the way home Parker, out of nowhere, became physically ill. It was not fun for anyone. This continued for most of the afternoon (my poor car took the worst of it, I believe), but by dinner he was begging for food that I wouldn't give him (that broke my heart).
I finally went to sleep around 11:45 and at midnight I was awakened by Parker's cries. He had been awakened by the thunder. I tried to talk him into going back to sleep, but it was not working. I couldn't take him in our bed since he had been sick. So I offered him the next best thing I could do. So I slept on the floor next to his crib all night long.
I don't think I'd sleep on the floor for anyone but those whom I love most. It truly must be love. :)
Oh, and he's feeling better and I am looking forward to sleeping the night away in the comfort of my bed.
Case in point, yesterday was my birthday. Trey had his Air Force (reserves) weekend, so I decided to spend my birthday taking my boys to the water park (which is something they love, but I find utterly exhausting).
And as if that wasn't enough, on the way home Parker, out of nowhere, became physically ill. It was not fun for anyone. This continued for most of the afternoon (my poor car took the worst of it, I believe), but by dinner he was begging for food that I wouldn't give him (that broke my heart).
I finally went to sleep around 11:45 and at midnight I was awakened by Parker's cries. He had been awakened by the thunder. I tried to talk him into going back to sleep, but it was not working. I couldn't take him in our bed since he had been sick. So I offered him the next best thing I could do. So I slept on the floor next to his crib all night long.
I don't think I'd sleep on the floor for anyone but those whom I love most. It truly must be love. :)
Oh, and he's feeling better and I am looking forward to sleeping the night away in the comfort of my bed.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Baby steps
Well, in the middle of selling our house and trying desperately (and not with much luck) to find someplace to live SOON, I am finding no energy or time to blog. But tonight I did take the first step toward blogging again. I downloaded pictures off the camera. Baby steps, people.
In doing so, I found my new favorite picture of Parker:
Not to be left out, of the ones I downloaded, here's the best of Thomas:
They both are very into the water this summer...in all forms.
In doing so, I found my new favorite picture of Parker:
Not to be left out, of the ones I downloaded, here's the best of Thomas:
They both are very into the water this summer...in all forms.
In good news, we have a contract on our house and it looks like things will go through (knock on wood!). But what that means is that we have to find a place to live in the next few weeks and the pickings are quite slim, and getting slimmer by the second it seems. We are planning to rent for awhile until we are ready to buy and find the perfect house.
In the next few weeks we should be moving and the boys will be starting school. It is going to be crazy, but hopefully at some point, I'll find some time to reflect back on the summer and share it on this blog!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
First school experience
Thomas is at his school every morning this week for camp. His two best buddies are there so he is happy as can be. He runs into his class every morning and never even takes a moment to tell me goodbye. On Monday it was so sweet to see how the other boys were so excited to see him. I remember when Thomas was in his 2s class and some of the other children had obviously bonded, but I didn't feel like Thomas had made any strong friendships. No big deal, he was only two! But last year in his 3s class, he became best, best buddies with two other boys. They were the three musketeers of their class. Everytime they had a class project that asked a question about friends/classmates, each boy ALWAYS answered with the names of the other two. One of his buddies is not actually in his class this week, but they still get enough playtime on the playground and group activities, so they are just thrilled to see each other again.
But that's not the "first" experience I mentioned in the title. Parker will start in his 2s class next month and will go two mornings a week (Thomas will be going four mornings a week...and one of his two buddies will be in his class). To get him ready, I signed him up for a couple "camp" weeks this summer at his school. This week I signed him up for two mornings and this morning was the first. I didn't know what to expect. He always says he wants to go to school and he frequently wanted to stay in Thomas' class last year. BUT, I don't think he wants to do any of this without me or his brother. We can't even get him to stay in the church nursery anymore (unless Thomas stays with him). He just screams bloody murder until the nursery workers relent and send us a page to come get him.
I talked it up to him for a few days and told him how much fun he was going to have. Then this morning after we took Thomas to his class, I told Parker it was time to go to his. He quickly realized I was going to leave and he was not interested. I tried to reassure him, but he just latched on as tightly as he could manage. He wrapped his arms around my neck and his legs around my middle. He was like a little monkey. Then I peeled him off me and handed him to his teacher. He looked at me with a face that nearly brought me to tears and screamed like his world was ending. I didn't get a picture of it, but he looked a bit like this child (only older and not being held by a former president!)
I rushed out the room and listened to him wailing as I walked down the hall. I decided to sit and wait and it was not fun for me or anyone else walking down the hall.
He quieted for a moment and then started up again. The director came out of the office because she had been watching me (and listening). She thought he had stopped, but quickly realized he had not. She told me she'd go check and see if it was possible he wasn't going to be able to stay. I must have waited 10 minutes, but finally she came out and gave me the good news that he had calmed down. Whew. And then I had two hours to myself! :) No, :-D.
When I came to his class for pick-up, he was playing quietly with some other children at a table. As soon as he saw me, his face lit up with a big smile and he rushed over to me. I asked him if he had fun and he said, "Mommy, I want to go home now." We'll see how Thursday goes!
When I picked up Thomas he told me something about how he and his class walked by Parker's room and his teachers told him to tiptoe and be quiet so Parker wouldn't see him. I guess the word was on the streets of his school that Parker was on the edge. Ha ha.
At least we picked a week with ice cream as a theme. Yesterday Thomas and his class made ice cream from scratch. And today the boys enjoyed a visit from the ice cream truck. Parker said he got a red popscicle and Thomas inexplicably got an ice cream sandwich (he hates chocolate, so he said he didn't eat it), even though he told me he had many other interesting choices. I bet that's what his buddies got so he wanted to do the same!
Oh, speaking of firsts, today I signed Thomas up to play soccer in the fall. I can't wait and he really cannot wait. I had to ask him about it to make sure he was interested, and now he asks me about 22 times a day if he gets to play tomorrow. And when I tell him "no," that it's weeks away, he gets very upset. Oh boy. I hope it's all he expects it will be!
But that's not the "first" experience I mentioned in the title. Parker will start in his 2s class next month and will go two mornings a week (Thomas will be going four mornings a week...and one of his two buddies will be in his class). To get him ready, I signed him up for a couple "camp" weeks this summer at his school. This week I signed him up for two mornings and this morning was the first. I didn't know what to expect. He always says he wants to go to school and he frequently wanted to stay in Thomas' class last year. BUT, I don't think he wants to do any of this without me or his brother. We can't even get him to stay in the church nursery anymore (unless Thomas stays with him). He just screams bloody murder until the nursery workers relent and send us a page to come get him.
I talked it up to him for a few days and told him how much fun he was going to have. Then this morning after we took Thomas to his class, I told Parker it was time to go to his. He quickly realized I was going to leave and he was not interested. I tried to reassure him, but he just latched on as tightly as he could manage. He wrapped his arms around my neck and his legs around my middle. He was like a little monkey. Then I peeled him off me and handed him to his teacher. He looked at me with a face that nearly brought me to tears and screamed like his world was ending. I didn't get a picture of it, but he looked a bit like this child (only older and not being held by a former president!)
I rushed out the room and listened to him wailing as I walked down the hall. I decided to sit and wait and it was not fun for me or anyone else walking down the hall.
He quieted for a moment and then started up again. The director came out of the office because she had been watching me (and listening). She thought he had stopped, but quickly realized he had not. She told me she'd go check and see if it was possible he wasn't going to be able to stay. I must have waited 10 minutes, but finally she came out and gave me the good news that he had calmed down. Whew. And then I had two hours to myself! :) No, :-D.
When I came to his class for pick-up, he was playing quietly with some other children at a table. As soon as he saw me, his face lit up with a big smile and he rushed over to me. I asked him if he had fun and he said, "Mommy, I want to go home now." We'll see how Thursday goes!
When I picked up Thomas he told me something about how he and his class walked by Parker's room and his teachers told him to tiptoe and be quiet so Parker wouldn't see him. I guess the word was on the streets of his school that Parker was on the edge. Ha ha.
At least we picked a week with ice cream as a theme. Yesterday Thomas and his class made ice cream from scratch. And today the boys enjoyed a visit from the ice cream truck. Parker said he got a red popscicle and Thomas inexplicably got an ice cream sandwich (he hates chocolate, so he said he didn't eat it), even though he told me he had many other interesting choices. I bet that's what his buddies got so he wanted to do the same!
Oh, speaking of firsts, today I signed Thomas up to play soccer in the fall. I can't wait and he really cannot wait. I had to ask him about it to make sure he was interested, and now he asks me about 22 times a day if he gets to play tomorrow. And when I tell him "no," that it's weeks away, he gets very upset. Oh boy. I hope it's all he expects it will be!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Happy 4th of July!
We've had such a wonderful 4th weekend, and I hope you have too! It was impossible to get a decent picture of the boys yesterday, but I tried!
We went to church in the morning and then had lunch at one our favorite places to eat (Thomas is always assured to get his favorite, fried okra, there!). We came back home (to my parents' house) and let the boys rest to prepare for some time at the lake. And then we enjoyed hours in the lake. The boys LOVE the water.
Parker loves to run into the lake and fall face first into the water. He did this over and over and over again. He thinks he is a fish. And the boy is fearless. He will try anything and do anything and go anywhere in the lake. His brother is a bit more cautious, but still loves the water too. He also enjoyed a few boat rides...and so did our dog, Sully. I believe it was her first ride!
Parker is really doing better and better at getting around in the water (semi-swimming) with his life jacket on. He gets so impressed with himself. And luckily this was the only type of alligator we saw yesterday.
We grownups had a good time in the lake too! I enjoyed catching up with some dear friends. It had been far too long since we saw each other last and it was just like no time had passed at all. I love those kind of friends!
The boys made it a very long time yesterday and I was quite surprised and impressed. They were initially scared of fireworks, but once they could see them (and not just hear them), they decided they were quite interesting (and then they didn't want to go to sleep!).
It was a long day, but a great day. Trey and I enjoyed time with friends (I stayed until midnight!) and the boys were sound asleep. It was a great weekend. I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!
We went to church in the morning and then had lunch at one our favorite places to eat (Thomas is always assured to get his favorite, fried okra, there!). We came back home (to my parents' house) and let the boys rest to prepare for some time at the lake. And then we enjoyed hours in the lake. The boys LOVE the water.
Parker loves to run into the lake and fall face first into the water. He did this over and over and over again. He thinks he is a fish. And the boy is fearless. He will try anything and do anything and go anywhere in the lake. His brother is a bit more cautious, but still loves the water too. He also enjoyed a few boat rides...and so did our dog, Sully. I believe it was her first ride!
Parker is really doing better and better at getting around in the water (semi-swimming) with his life jacket on. He gets so impressed with himself. And luckily this was the only type of alligator we saw yesterday.
We grownups had a good time in the lake too! I enjoyed catching up with some dear friends. It had been far too long since we saw each other last and it was just like no time had passed at all. I love those kind of friends!
The boys made it a very long time yesterday and I was quite surprised and impressed. They were initially scared of fireworks, but once they could see them (and not just hear them), they decided they were quite interesting (and then they didn't want to go to sleep!).
It was a long day, but a great day. Trey and I enjoyed time with friends (I stayed until midnight!) and the boys were sound asleep. It was a great weekend. I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!
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