So sad...

Tonight while putting Jack to bed, he burst into tears... He said to me... "Mama, I think I am going to have a bad day in kindergarten tomorrow." I immediately sat up and got in bed with him and started talking to him about what went wrong today. He did something wrong (started climbing through a spider web they had made) and he had to take his clip on the behavior chart down a notch. His teacher had told them that if they got to the bottom, they would have to go to the principals office and so he thought that was going to happen to him and he was worrying about it all day. I promised him that I would take him to school tomorrow and that we could talk to his teacher and figure it out. Oh, it broke my heart.

KINDERGARTEN

All five boys in the class. Sam, Trace, Jack, Carson and Mason


His seat


His self portrait that we made.


His place for our feast.



Dates.


BFF's.

Oh boy.... it's here. I have been thinking about this day for about a year now.... I have wrestled with the decision... prayed about it... talked endlessly to people about it... and now it has happened. Jack started kindergarten with his friends today!!! They started kindergarten a week late from regular school because they had to bring in all the kids that first week for testing/assessment. I was kind of in shock all last week thinking that this was coming, but it didn't really sink in until this weekend. I got my MIL to come and stay with Savannah so that I could take Jack out on a date before school started.... we went and did his assessment and then to a movie (Mr. Poppers Penguins) and to lunch. We went and got some school clothes and a treat. It was a fun day to spend with my little buddy. I miss having our one on one time now that I am busier and he is so busy playing with his friends. I think he really enjoyed having a special day all for him. Jason took him out on Saturday to the Utah Fan Fest and they bought him some new shoes for school. They also had a fun day together. On Saturday night, we did a back to school feast. Jack got to choose his favorite meal (breakfast) and we made it and drank out of fancy glasses and he got to eat off of a special plate that I painted for him. I read him the book, You Are Special, and cried while reading it. He looked at me like I was crazy! Jason then gave him a sweet blessing, which he was so excited for. He sat very reverently with a big smile on his face the whole time. Sunday, we did the normal things and he went to bed after laying out his outfit for today. I'm surprised that he didn't have a harder time falling asleep. Jason and I stayed up and watched a movie and went to bed about 1200. For some reason, it really hit me as I was going to bed that this is it... He is going to school and 1st grade is just around the corner. I am so happy that I sent him right now. He loves going to school with all his friends and he really is ready for it, but my gosh.... these last five years have gone so fast!! It makes me sad that they will just go faster and faster. I hope that I am doing a good job in being his mommy. I love him so much. I hope he looks back on this time with joy and happiness and I hope that his childhood has been all it can be, thus far. So today was the big day and I actually held up quite well. He was walking around this morning complaining that his tummy was hurting and that made my tummy hurt to think of him feeling nervous. He said at one point, "I'm not sick, but I feel like I have to throw up." :( He was nervous when we got there, and ended up falling down... (bummer), but once he saw his friends he was happy to be there and very excited. I love his teacher. She seems sweet. And she sent home this poem that made me cry more today... but I think I am officially okay now... maybe....

The First Day

I gave you a wink and a smile
As you entered my room today
For I know how hard it is to leave
And know your child must stay.
You've been with him for five years now
And have been a loving guide,
But now, alas, the time has come
To leave him at my side.
Just know that as you drive away
And tears down your cheeks may flow
I'll love him as I would my own
And help him learn and grow.
So please put your mind at ease
And cry those tears no more
For I will love him and take him in
When you leave him at my door.

I love this boy.

PLANES

When Jason and I were dating we often went out to the airport and watched the airplanes come in. It was a lot of fun, but when 9/11 happened we thought they shut that part of the airport down. Turns out, they DID NOT and when we took the kids out there a few weeks ago, we will so happy to see that we can still go out and sit right under the planes as they come in. The kids loved it. We can't wait to go again.

Savannah 18 months....

She rides on this thing as fast as she can and slams into the refrigerator.


She loves to pose for the camera.


Watching the planes. Ugh, dirty face.


Fight moves.


So, I am getting creepy comments on my blog and so now I have blocked everyone from being able to see it. It is purely for me and for me to print someday so that the kids will enjoy it. My only fear is that I won't keep up on it, but now that I have figured out my camera I think it should be easy. This post will be about Savannah since she is now not a baby anymore and more into the toddler stage. She is 19 months now and getting to be really fun. She is still pretty feisty and she really will NOT say much of anything, but she communicates okay for not using any words. She has started saying MAMA for me and she says that a lot and last week I heard her say MORE when asking for more food, or stories. I am hopeful that it will come, but I am thinking about speech therapy in the future if she does not improve. That is my biggest frustration with her, but it also give her a really unique personality that I love. So, I'm sure it will all work out, but until then....

Right now, she is becoming really independent. She LOVES LOVES LOVES stories and could look at books all day long. She can point to many animals and is starting to say MOO for cow. She is getting better at the screaming thing. For awhile there she screamed about EVERYTHING, but she is getting more friendly with others and starting to be able to express herself more. She loves me and I love that. She gets really shy and is totally girly when it comes to strangers or any new situation. She loves Jack and wants to be just like him.

She is strong and big. I took her to the doctor and she was in the 97% for height... 60% for weight. Jack was as tall as her, but she is a bit heavier than he was. It's the love of sugary things!! :) I am looking forward to having more one on one time with her while Jack is at school. She really is at my most favorite age EVER!!

Jack turns FIVE!

He was our bday boy over a month ago.... but this year was a big one!! I didn't want to clump it into the mass of pictures because this kid is so great and funny, he deserves his own post to mark the occasion.

All year, I said that we weren't going to do a birthday party, but he got invited to a few and he really wanted one so I caved. We didn't do anything super great, but I think the kids all had a great time. On his actual birthday, we made him his favorite muffins for breakfast and hung around in the morning. He didn't want to go to the gym. (I couldn't make him... its not MY birthday)! That afternoon, we met up with some friends at Chuckee Cheese. The kids ran around for a few hours and played all the games they had. I played a few at air hockey. It was a fun afternoon. That night, he had a baseball game and then we went to Leatherbys.

For his party, we invited about 11 kids and had them over to our house for pizza, ice cream, cake, pinata, games and presents. We had a Stars Wars theme and all the kids seemed to like the games. They all loved giving Jack their presents and they crowded around him, almost smothering him.

I love this boy. I'm tearing up a little as I type... he brightens my life, our home, and everyone and everything he is around. He is pretty popular with his friends, because he is such a NICE boy. I hope he holds on to that, because that is one of his best qualities. He cares about people. He is a pleaser. He is a helper. He is a great big brother. He is sassy, but hilarious. He has opinions and he loves learning. He loves reading. He is sensitive. He is a good listener and he wants us to be proud of him. He loves his daddy and looks up to him! He looks to me for approval in everything he does. I love being a stay at home mom because of this. Savannah loves him to death and wants to be wherever he is. He is so patient with her and is a great example. I am a blessed momma to be his. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!!

On to Kindergarten....

Since school starts next week, I guess I better finish up on preschool on the blog... Jack finished his last year of preschool in May. He is getting ready to start kindergarten in about two weeks. EEEEKKK!! I think he is semi-nervous, but mostly excited because he is in the same class as three of his good friends. That makes me less nervous too.

We really loved preschool. Jack learned so much from Ms. Lorie and I know that he will be heading into kindergarten with all that he should know. I was thinking about holding him back and talked to Lorie about it. She said that he is really smart and totally ready and I have to agree. She really does a wonderful job with the kids and when they leave they really are ready for the next step.

His end of year program was really cute. He had a little part, that he did wonderfully, and it was fun to see how grown up all the other kids were as well. Jack is such a great kid. I love him sooo much!! I'm sad that these past five years have gone by so fast.... but we are on to new adventures!

PICTURES!!

Six months worth.....