WheW!!

What a week it has been! I am "plum tuckered out". School started for me on Monday, and trying to work that out as far as getting the boys situated with Donna (Robert's mom), Jakeb picked up in time, me to class in time is rough! Plus I barely even get to speak with Jakeb the whole day, so I get very little chance to see how is day went or if he has work to do and by the time I get home it's dinner/bath/bed time and that is just always a hectic time. Thank Goodness it's only 2 days a week....well techincally 1 right now because Wednesday's I am gone til 9 or so those days I don't hardly see Jakeb at all.
But let's see Jakeb missed school Tuesday, I sent him Monday but felt like maybe I should have kept him home...he was coughing pretty good but I know how he gets and its usually worse the second day so I knew he would be home Tuesday so I didn't want him to miss 2 days in a row. Well when he got home Monday he looked awful! Had a low grade fever and I felt like crap mom for sending him, so he definetly stayed home Tues and of course he was fine really minus the cough. He and Zachary both have also had "Family Projects" due for school so that's been time consuming, try to get the pictures printed and everything like I wanted. They both turned out cute and the boys are proud of our work (we did them together). Jakeb seems to have been doing better with school, he still isn't wanting to go especially all day. But I think he's getting used to it. Zachary has done WONDERFUL with school, goes right in and starts playing, he doesn't cry or whimper or anything. I am SOOO glad! He's been singing different songs and what not that they are learning, it's so cute!
Mr. Zachary has been quite the rowdy boy since Jakeb is in school...he's so talkative and playful, and of course he's always throwing, jumping, bouncing, spinning, climbing, etc as usual but he's just been so much more animated and "hyper". He was so cute the other day when I told him Jakeb was home (Hope picked him up) he ran to the door and couldn't get it open fast enough he was SO excited! He constantly asks me when does he get to go to Kindergarten? Since he doesn't understand time telling him 2 years is pretty pointless, so I try to tell him it's going to be a long time...at least to him.
All 3 kids have had colds this week and it has worn me out! They have ended up in my bed several times with one on each side hacking away...one night I got so irritated and stormed out of the room to sleep on the couch! LOL. I need my sleep! Poor Gavin of course has gotten the worst of this cold and was at the dr on Tuesday for wheezing again...man I hope he grows out of this it's so hard.
Ok let's see something NOT kid related....since that's all I ever posted about...I think I need a life or something. The weather has finally gotten out of the 100's and is currently 88 which feels WONDERFUL after all that heat. And yeah pretty lame I went to weather haha.
My classes are not as great as I hoped..yet and honestly it's not the classes so much as it's me feeling overwhelmed. And while I know I am not old, I feel old being on campus. I know I don't look old and I am sure I really just blend right in I feel like I stand out with flashing lights or something. My first day up there I was walking around wondering if I was dressed "hip" enough ROFL! My photog class is a little overwhelming right now til I get back in there doing it, it's been almost 2 years since I have developed anything so I don't remember a lot and I THINK for some idiotic STUPID reason I threw away all of my photog notes from basic B/W I mean seriously WHAT was I thinking?! So here they are expecting us to know how to develop and do it all and I am standing there....do huh?! So I need to get myself a refresher course, on mixing the chemicals, the times, and varying techniques in the darkroom. Our first assignment is people...any people doing anything...just people. Easy enough, I would like to find more groups of people out and about but I dunno that I will we'll see. And my geog class...all I can say is OMG. It's going to be SO much work than I anticipated. I had this same professor last semester for Geography of TN, it was a CAKE walk sooo incredibly easy I couldn't believe it. Well this particular class is like his "thing" it's what he does, what he loves...cultural geography so of course we have to do A LOT. Papers for each class, field work, and the kicker present our research/field work paper at the end of the term. Like HUGE paper ugh. I hate writing papers! He said that on Wednesday if you dont' like writing, don't like this don't like that then this class isn't for you...I guess I am going to have to like it because this is it, I HAVE to take this class! So basically my classes are goingo be pretty time consuming and with Jakeb in school and trying adjust to that it's going to be a busy few months!
So yeah I am going to get off and go try to catch a few winks while the medium boy and the little boy are napping. I need to try to post more often....
OH I am going to load a few pics real quick...I think....we'llsee if I can figure it out!

This last picture is sad looking but SO sweet! Gavin hasn't done too great with his breathing stuff this week and has needed more than normal amounts of treatments, well one night I needed to give it to him but was trying to finish up giving baths so I asked Jakeb if he would come help me out since he really couldn't wait any longer but Z was still in the bath. So he climbed up in the rocker and was so proud to help out and Gavin just laid there with him, it was so sweet!

How did that happen?

Almost an entire week has slipped by! I am slacking here... BUT this week has been pretty hectic.
The boys were sick on Monday/Tuesday which means Jakeb missed his first full phase in day AND he ended up missing Wednesday which was the first official full day. I hate for him to miss but he got sick in the middle of the night and still wouldn't eat so I just kept him home. He has me a bit worried now because he still will not eat hardly anything and still says he feels bad. He obviously looks like he feels bad he is very mopey, very quiet, not playing hardly at all. I called the doctor tonight and she said to give it a few more days. He says his head, his throat, his back, his stomach all hurt...which of course gets my mind wandering to all the scary things that could be wrong. I hate not knowing about these things...it just leaves a pit in my stomach, I am sure he is fine. He's a little skinny boy so not eating AND being sick has probably just done a number on his little body and he has to get caught back up, but it's hard not to worry.
So Thursday/Friday were full days for him, Thursday he woke up excited to go back but then quiet about going again. He got there and was fine and because Hope and I have said we will help with end of the year scrapbooks for the kids we came back right before lunch to get pictures of the kids for their first week. We had lunch with Jakeb and Alex which was nice...BUT man was it culture shock. I know they have so many kids and they have to keep tabs on them all and make sure there is control but everything seemed SO harsh and so drill sargent-ish. The cafeteria workers were not even remotely nice to the kids, all but yelling at them about how to clean up, how to sit etc. These are kindergarteners so they don't know and it's not their fault and many came to Hope for help with opening milk or ketcup. Which if we weren't there how would they drink?! I guess eventually they get it and kids go to school ALL the time and are fine but wow it was hard to leave and think about them going back everyday. None of the kids seemed phased and most acted like they barely heard the cafeteria people, no one ran out crying so that was good! But it was still a bit of a shock...where were those sweet polite people we expected to be treating our kids with prestige?! Even walking down the hall is single file, hands behind your back...and I know my friend who teaches Kindergarten has told me she has to be harder on them at first or they won't take her serious at all. WHich makes sense but still like I said it's just surprising. So after Thursday...it was hard to send him back on Friday, he didn't want to go, I didn't want him to go. (he didn't know that though)..he looked like he would cry when I dropped him off. Plus to make it worse his sweet (not!) younger brother Zachary kept saying "SO I GET TO STAY HOME WITH YOU!?" just to be a stinker about it...kind of like hahaha. Poor Jakeb..I know he's thinking about all the things he's missing but I tried to remind him that he gets to do all kinds of fun stuff at school we don't do. Of course he told us tonight that he doesn't like learning and doesn't like thinking...we said too bad! LOL. One of my concerns with him starting school has also already shown up...I talked to his teacher before school started about Jakeb's shyness and how he doesn't like to do physical things at all...like dancing or playing silly games. I worried that it would be a big issue. She of course said no that she's not ever had it be a problem etc etc. So Thursday and Friday I guess they played music and danced and Jakeb chose not to do it so he has to sit in the "time out" spot...not in time out really but just there as if you don't participate this is were you sit. Which I am fine with and would do the same BUT I would try really hard to encourage him, which I hate that it seems she didn't so much. I know how he feels, I was so the same way when I was a kid...it was an awful feeling being just unable to force myself to do stuff like that. I would get so embarassed and shy and felt so dumb because I really thought/think I couldn't do it. I can't stand he's dealing with the same thing. I hope that I can help him overcome some of it. I talked with him about it and told him that I know how he feels and I was the same way and that I don't want him to feel that way and that he would feel SO much better if he was dancing and having fun with the other kids. He said he's worried they will laugh at him :( So we decided we would pratice doing those types of things at home so that maybe he would feel more comfortable doing it at school and he said ok for that. Of course we HAVE done that and he is near tears everytime because I drag him up to dance with me...so I dunno. Maybe he really doesn't care about sitting there alone while everyone else dances and has fun...maybe he's just too cool for "shaking his booty". He's a different kid that's for sure, I have wondered before with his particularness with things if he would be "labeled" as having sensory "issues"...I have never brought it up to the doctor because I feel it's pretty minor if at all PLUS I know how quick drs can be to stick a label or diagnosis on something. Either way we work on these things as best we can and he's made big strides with many of his particularities about things. He's such a smart boy, but he's a worrier about so many things that most kids don't think twice about.
Ok I will quit rambling on and on about my Jakey! I do have two other kids...I think I will save them for other posts because this one has gotten quite long I am sure!

I start classes on Monday..and I cannot wait! It's the next photog classes after the B/W class and I am so anxious to get in there and start learning some more...plus I will have the chance to get back in the dark room which is a lot of fun...time consuming/frustrating but very fun. I also just got some new lenses for my camera (which is awesome because they all will work for my film camera too...hopefully will help with some kick ass photos!) I will try to remember to post a few of the pics from the new lenses and my paper back drops that I got....it's been fun playing with it all.

Gavin has been talking so much more lately it's great! He says "all done" well his variation of it it's more of a sing songy "ah un" but that's what he's getting at anyway...he is trying to say belly button "beh buh" it's so cute! He's been quite the stinker lately, I bought him a little onsie from Old Navy the other day that says "Don't let my size fool you" it's perfect for him! For example...I asked him for a kiss the other day...so he moves in like he's about to give me one and then "BAM" instead he smacks me in the face! That's how he's been lately! He can now climb onto the kitchen table, onto my bed, thru the banister on the steps which means we have no way to block him from the stairs he loves to climb. He's just a mess! But gosh he's cute and he CAN be oh so sweet. He loves for me to chase him and hide behind the corner and pop out, grab him and tickle him...he just laughs and laughs! Love it!

I haven't forgotten my middle boy...Zachary but I think I will save him for his own post...besides I don't have to have paragraphs EVERY time I post on each kid..right? I always feel bad when I do more or talk more and whatever more for one kid over the other. I try to remind myself that it always evens out but at that moment it's hard not to feel guilty. Darn Mommy guilt!

Robert has been in Canada this week, and he says it's very nice...he's been enjoying 70 degree weather while we are down here in 104 degree TN...not fair!
Today we took the boys to "Dragon Park" aka Fannie Mae Dee's Park in Nashville, I used to go there as a kid and it's such a nice park but it was SO hot we barely were able to enjoy it. We will have to go again when it cools off some.

Alrighty...Robert is off playing Tennis and I am wanting to get some scrapping done..I have TONS of new supplies (thanks to hope!) so I am itching to get using stuff!

Happy Sunday!

Pictures from the First Days of School

Jakeb on the Front porch before we left... In his classroom...

Goober Boy Zachary before we left... Being Sweet...
And Mr. Cutie Patootie being cute..

House of Firsts

I can't believe I am just now posting about Jakeb's very first day of school...on Sunday no less, 3 days AFTER. So he did great, LOVED it, can't wait to go back. He only went from 7:30-11:00 so we got up and rushed around to get him there on time, I think me worrying about him being late kept me from getting upset...although I don't think I would have anyway. He was so excited but did get quiet and obviously nervous as we were walking in but he said bye and we all did just fine! We picked him up right at 11 and asked him a million questions about the morning and he said they had a gingerbread hunt and made a gingerbread man, they ate lunch, and got their stuff all gathered together. He was very excited and we both were for him. So proud of him! He told me the next day that he was so proud of himself for going to kindergarten and being such a big boy. So cute! He has his first full day tomorrow and then is officially full time in Kindergarten on Wednesday.

Yesterday Caroline and Jennifer came over for the first time in a while and hung out for a bit, Zachary and Caroline are best buddies and are SO stinkin' cute together. So as they were getting ready to leave we decided to let Zachary go with them and stay they night and OMG they thought they won the lottery, SOOO very excited!! They were just beside themselves with excitment, they talked about how they would get to sleep together and "snuggle wuggle" together LOL! They just couldn't even stand it they were so excited, Jennifer said they just yelled and screamed the whole way back with excitment LOL. So this is Zachary's first "sleepover" away from home and he apparently did great...was up very early like usual though! He and Caroline have known each other since they were like 4 months old and are only 3 days apart...when they were younger they thought they were brother and sister and both of them talk about the other all the time, they really are best buds.

And Jakeb got to have Alex spend the night last night, which Jakeb has had friend stay the night before but I don't know if he has without it being me sitting for someone...so in a sense it was his first friend sleepover (I think). Either way it was Alex's first sleepover, they also did great. I woke up to pitter patter of feet on my ceiling (their room is above mine) at 3:45 this morning and came up to find them in the toy room getting set up to play! But they got right back in bed just fine and of course were up ready to go at 6:30! Jakeb is a VERY early riser, UGH!

No sleepovers or first day of school for Gavvy Gav but he is having fun with us and running around being his little stinker self. He's a bossy little guy and knows what he wants for sure! But he's so sweet and so darn cute I can't even stand it! Poor baby has had yucky diapers for the past few days, which Zachary had the same problem (well not diapers..but yucky bathroom trips) last week so I guess it's something going around. Gavin IS finally sleeping all night long! YAY! I didn't push it at all and he finally just started sleeping all night, he's never been a big eater so I knew he was waking up legitimatly hungry so it was hard to just let him cry at 5 in the morning. But now he's no longer waking up at 5 and is more like 6:30-7ish. Which is really nice to finally be sleeping all night.

Hope and Brian came over last night also and we got BBQ and made some drinks....they left around 2 and now we all are recovering and feeling the blahs! Either I drank a bit too much or I have what Gavin has because I am quite nauseous this morning, which is the worst feeling! I haven't felt sick from drinking in years though, so I dunno. Either way we had a great time hanging out as always! It's nice they live just down the road....no worries about how to get home hehe!

Robert heads out of the country for his first time tomorrow! He's off to Montreal, Canada...he has proof of his passport and is good to go! He will be home Friday but then goes back the following week. So we will be on our own next week with school and what not, but all will be well here and I know it will be neat for Robert to venture out of the country even if it's not far it still will be a nice experience. That is a nice thing about his job, is he gets to travel around a lot! So cool!

Alrighty guess I better go get going for the day...or something...it's nearly 11am now YIKES!

Room Mother

Yep that's me! How cheesy does that sound? LOL Jakeb's teacher called last night, to let us know what days he goes and about the parent night and what not, she was very nice and I let her know that I was very eager to help and wanted to help anyway I could. So when we came in today she asked if I wanted to be Room Mother since I was so eager haha, so there ya go. She has never done the whole "Room Mother" thing so she isn't too sure how it all will work. But we'll see! So Jakeb's first day is TOMORROW, as in less than 12 hours from now...he will go from 7:30-11:00 tomorrow and then will go all day on Monday. Yikes! He's so cute and so excited! He told Zachary earlier that he was letting him play with his car and he was going to be really nice to him because he is going to Kindergarten tomorrow. SO cute! I am nervous about all of the "little" things, like lunch and him being in the hall alone. Worried he will get lost or won't have help with his lunch. I know he will do just fine but he's my first to go! He did great at his screening, scored in the high range...not to toot his horn but he's a smart cookie so I am anxious to see how he does. So I will have to remember to post tomorrow about his first day...and I will have lots of pictures!

We took the kids to the Adventure Science Center today, they did much better this time than the last. For some reason Jakeb and Zachary end up near tears everytime we go, there are certain noises that seem to freak them both out and it tends to get a little choatic in certain areas and they get very upset, especially Jakeb. They are both pretty sensitive to loud sounds and certain sounds upset them. But they had a fun time and I was glad we were able to go again before school starts up full swing!

Gavin finally seems to be getting over his cold he's had for a week or so now. His nose is still a little "crusty" but I bet by Friday it will be completely cleared up. I hate colds and runny noses and I know it's frustrating for them too. All 3 of them caught it, just a runny nose and cough...but of course Gavin's not gotten to the point of fighting them off quick like Jakeb and Zachary.

So tomorrow is the big day! I can't believe it, it seems like yesterday I was bringing him home from the hospital and I know I will look up soon and he will be off to college! He's ready for school, he's so bright and friendly and such a smart boy. I am very proud of him, so yay Jakeb tomorrow!

Alrighty I guess I am off here to get his things together and set his clothes out...we have to be up and ready to go early!

Good wishes for Jakey boy tomorrow!!

A week ends...A week begins..

Can't believe the weekend is over and another week is starting! This year has absolutely flown by, I think faster than any year in my life thus far. It's August 8 months into the year...leaving only 4 left. I think my head is spinning just thinking about how much time has gone by and it still feels like it should be April! Crazy...I guess time flies when you are having fun.
We have had a pretty good weekend. We moved the boys into the same room yesterday, "the boys"=Jakeb and Zachary. When we bought their bedroom furniture 2 years ago it was purchased with the intent of bunking the beds and them sharing a room. I didn't feel comfortable doing that then and when we moved here we have plenty of room for them to all have their own room. But they are at an age were it's still fun to share a room, so we are giving it a try. Plus we are thinking about baby #4 (which is a year or so away!) and the sleeping arrangements and what not when that time comes. We have enough rooms for everyone to have their own room BUT that would mean no office, which is fine but is quite nice to have. SO Jakeb and Zachary are currently sharing a room...this is night 2. It didn't go down very well, Zachary screamed about how he didn't want to sleep in there, I hoped those battles would settle down with them sharing but apparently not and now Jakeb is having to suffer through listening to him. Eh well hence the "trial" we'll see how it goes.
We let them stay up tonight and watch Star Wars with us for the first time. Jakeb's friend Alex is very much into Star Wars so Jakeb of course needs to see the movie! We watched the old one...I guess the 4th technically. Robert and I have seen them all but now are ready to watch them all again after seeing this one. I hope the movie didn't freak them out too bad, they have never watched anything but cartoons and non-"scary" movies, I guess we'll see on that also. Other kids their age watch it so I THINK they will be ok...out of their sheltered little TV world LOL.
So T-minus 4 days til the first day of Kindergarden! We won't know til Wednesday at the Open House which day Jakeb starts on...Either Thurs or Fri for 1/2 a day. The closer it gets the more nervous and worried I get! Zachary starts Tuesday...I am ready for him to start but not ready for him to be sad about going either. Right now he's VERY excited, but I know him and I can just about guarantee he will not be happy about me leaving him Tuesday. He cried almost everyday last year, oy vey! I will be glad to get into the swing of things and everybody adjusted and situated in our routines w/ school!
Robert is off this week, I hope we don't both cry on Jakeb's first day! It will be nice having him home this week, we of course love when he is here! Gavin has turned into quite the daddy's boy lately. It's so cute but I must admit I am a little sad he's already to that point...of snubbing mommy for Daddy, Jakeb and Zachary were both older before they went thru this! I think he's cutting his molars, poor baby has been so fussy lately. I don't know if it's teeth or just a phase, he's quite grumpy. And I know he wants to talk so bad he tries to tell us stuff and get so mad about things. His favorite thing is being outside and wants his shoes on all day so he is ready for going outside! We have to sneak out anytime we need to run out because he will just cry and cry if he can't come, and bringing him back in watch out...he will NOT be happy! I love that he's trying to talk more but I know he's frustrated. He won't know what to do with himself on Tues/Thurs when Jakeb and Zachary are in school!

Alrighty it's bed time for this chick! Happy Monday in about 45 min!

One week to go...

Til Jakeb is officially in Kindergarden...YIKES! The closer I get the more not ready I feel. It's a big deal, him being gone all day, 5 days a week. His school day will be from 7:30-2:30, that's a LONG time. Zachary, Gavin, and I will be like little lost puppies waiting for our big boy Jakeb to get out of school, all in awe of him as he tells about his day and what he's learning. Part of me can't wait and the other part of me wants to just say the heck with education he can stay home with me til he's 30...or til the next time he gets his 'tude with me and then I am ready to send him! Zachary starts real preschool next Tuesday, I am excited for him that's just 2 days a week from 9-2 THAT I can handle, THAT I look forward to. I am looking forward to be able to focus some time for Zachary, some time to teach him all the things Jakeb knew by his age. Poor Zachary doesn't get me handing him shapes and telling him what they are over and over and over and over again, LOL...he gets "here is a circle put it away", so it will be nice to have some time to help him and Gavin for that matter!
We have gotten all of his schools supplies (minus the tissues and a few extra's from the "wishlist") he has a few new clothes to wear so he's ready to go!
My classes start 2 weeks after he does so that will give us time to get him in school and situated before I start having to run around like a mad woman.
I had a dermatologist appt today. Jakeb came with me and we made a day of it together. Several years ago I got sunburned really badly and ever since I have been worried about moles and sunspots that have popped up, I also have had some other spots on my shoulders and neck that keep recurring and what not so I decided to make an appt. With things that have happened over the last month or so I just worry more. So I go in expecting them to say nope you are fine and be on my way. I also have 3 itty bitty warts on my elbow that have been there since high school that I remembered to ask about, she says oh we'll freeze those off...ok sounds good. Well the spots on my shoulders and neck are ACNE..what? no way! So ok they give me some gel/cream stuff to use everyday then 2 times a day, which to me is a bit extreme being that it's not THAT bad, so I will use it to get it gone and go from there. The moles, all look ok except one so she tells me ok we'll remove that and have it checked out, I said ok thinking they are going to make another appt...5 min later they come in with liquid nitrogen and stuff to cut the mole off!? Talk about not prepared! Poor Jakeb started crying when she started getting ready to take the mole off my back. So liquid nitrogen hurts...and hurts even worse about 20 min later, YOWCH! The mole was pretty painless and has been sent off to be checked out...if in 2 weeks I get a phone call from Murfreesboro Dermatology I will freak out...they won't call if it's fine. Jakeb was so sweet, on the way out I put my purse on my shoulder and he stops and asks me if he can carry it for me. Later I asked him why and he said he didn't want it to hurt my elbow and shoulder! AWWW! My sweet boy!
He got a big surprise today also. A few weeks ago we sold his Power Wheel Jeep and I told him we could save some money (selling some other things also) and would buy him a new 4-wheeler (Power Wheel's not a big one!). So I surprised him today and we picked it up after my appt. He loves it and is so cute on it. Gotta love craigslist, because I got all kinds of stuff sold so we could get it for him.

So overall good day here...Robert is home for the next week and half, he took off so he could go to Jakeb's first day of school with me. Yes we are cheeseballs! I love it!

Onto the weekend baby!

Monday, Monday...

Been a few days since my last "update". Things are trucking along like normal. We had a busy weekend, Robert got home Friday evening. It was tax free weekend here so the boys and I went w/ Hope Friday afternoon to Opry Mills mall to take advantage of it and bought the boys a few things, well Jakeb mostly. I am trying to be good about buying less for Zachary and Gavin since they get all of Jakeb's clothes. I do sell some things in consignment so I can get them so new things and not all hand-me-downs. They like that...well Zachary does...and so do I :)
Saturday we had a birthday party and then got to rush around getting ready for our big "date night" w/ Hope and Brian. We all were excited! We went to Big River Grille for dinner and it was DELICIOUS, love the Hazelcrusted Chicken and the Tropical Cosmo's. YUM! Afterward we went to Big Bang--a dueling piano bar--I went to Big Bang a few weeks back when my girlfriends from college came into town and the second I walked in I couldn't wait to bring Robert back because I knew he would love it. And he did, we had the best time Saturday night! We just listened to music and laughed and had a great time! Thanks to my mom for coming down and staying the night w/ the boys so we could go out, it was very much needed. It was nice to visit w/ friends--Robert's friend Ryan and his bro Bryan came as well--so yes we had Robert, Brian, Ryan, and Bryan. It was a lot of fun!
Robert took Jakeb and Zachary to the Discovery Center Sunday afternoon for a little while to get some "bonding" time in w/ them. Then we head over to his parents house to fix dinner for his Mom for her birthday. It was nice to visit w/ them and dinner was yummy!
Gavin had his 15 month check-up this morning, he's still a peanut and not quite 20lbs which puts him in the 3rd percentile (meaning 97% of kids his age are bigger) but he looks great he's just little! He's so dang cute w/ his itty bitty self so I don't mind the peanut boy, plus it makes him seem like a baby that much longer! Even if he's getting to the fit throwing stage...well he's pretty much right in it! LOL!
Poor Zachary got stung by another bug today....last weekend he tried to pick up a "Velvet Ant" and it stung him. The Velvet Ant is also called a "Cow Killer" because the sting hurts SOOO bad. He's just a magnet for these things! He fell and skinned his knee and ankle twice yesterday...he's definetly a boy!
Jakeb is ready for school to start....some days I am and others I am not. I know he will do great, he's a good kid and listens (for the most part) so I am sure he will do just fine. He's so smart I am excited to see how he does when he's learning things everyday. I have always said if I worked w/ him everyday at home he would know so much--obvious yes but he's such a fast learner! Of course I am biased, he's smart for sure...no genius (well maybe..hehe) but he's a bright kid so I am anxious to see how he does when school starts and he's doing stuff everyday. AND it will give me the chance to focus some time w/ helping Zachary learning his things that he will be doing in preschool.

Alrighty...well I just noticed Robert drove off and left the sprinkler on so I guess I should go shut that off....now that our bill will be $150 again....

Tuesday Today

We had a busy day today! Zachary had his gymnastics this morning, after gym class we went to the library w/ Hope and her boys, then to McD's for lunch (bleh!), and headed to the Discovery Center. Jakeb went back to play with Alex at Hope's and while Zachary rested and Gavin napped...neither of which were done! Darn car naps! The boys had a fun day and are now snuggled down w/ a special treat: sleeping in the "toy room bed"...ie the sleeper sofa w/ a movie. Which is a rare treat and is usually reserved for nights that they are extra tired or they would never go to sleep!
It's supposed to be HOT this week! The past two days have been sweltering so we are playing pretty low key indoor activities. Yesterday we didn't do a thing and the kids didn't even go out to play til after dinner around 7, at that point it was very comfortable out.
I am trying to get more into my scrapbooking lately..or I should say pick it up again. I guess I started about 3-4 months ago and it's a lot of fun but I don't know if I have that "creative gene" to do the artsy fartsy cool pages people do! I try but get so stumped and it just doesn't come to me, I like the pages I have but some are just not what I was imaging. It is fun to do and that's all that matters! And fun to shop for which we all know is something I LOVE to do, haha!
One of these days I will get some more pictures up, I need to post some from the other day of Slipn'sliding!

Well not much to ramble on about tonight, the dog is outside doing his barking routine which is distracting and maddening! He will stand at the door and bark and bark until we let him in...grr! So I guess I should go do that so I don't loose it.
Oh! Zachary starts school on the 14th and has his orientation on the 7th, his teacher called tonight. She wasn't as talkative and friendly as I had hoped but then again I am comparing from last year and when she called we talked for a good 5-10 minutes! So hopefully she is more friendly in person!

ALrighty he's barking louder.....have a good one!

Grab it..

I was just putting Gavin down for a nap, rocking him, like I always do, for a few minutes before I lay him down. I was looking at him realizing that in a few days he will be 15 months old and in the same amount of time since he turned 1 he will be 18 months old...which is also the same time I will be graduating and Jakeb will be getting ready for his Christmas break from kindergarden. The same time, I have been so anxiously waiting for and wishing would hurry up and get here. So I am looking at Gavin and realizing that 3 months have passed by so quickly and the next 3 will be just as fast and wishing I wasn't so anxious for it to go by! Because I will never get those 3 months back, never will have Gavin be 15 months then 16 months etc again. Never will take Jakeb to his first day of kindergarden again and watch him change and grow as he gets into his school years and never will have Zachary going to his first year of "real" preschool again. I know that everyone gets caught up in the day to day things and is ready for the next day, the next month, often the next year and it's hard to stop, slow down and take it all in but I hope at least for today (and many more to come) I have.
We have had a great morning. I got up this morning and made us pancakes, bacon, and eggs...which is our routine for either Sat/Sun mornings. Robert has to leave in about an hour so he headed out w/ the boys to mow the back yard, I picked up a bit in here, and then came out with them and set the slip n slide up for them to play in. I really didn't think anyone but Gavin would play in it, it squirts water out so he likes to walk thru it. But Zachary and he both had a great time in it. After Robert got finished mowing we talked him into "showing them how it's done" and then he proceded to drag Zachary down and then even Jakeb! Both of them thought it was great and took turns having Daddy push them down the slip n' slide, they were so cute laughing and giggling. I got the video camera out and also snapped a few photos. I eventually decided to give it a little try and that water was FREEZING, Robert had to wrestle me in brrrr! But it was a lot of fun!
We cleaned up and had some lunch and now the boys are down for their naps (or actually UP from their naps claiming they need to go potty...of course!).

Weekend is nearly over and Robert heads out to Greenville, SC this week!

Whew

It's Thursday night....ALMOST Friday! YAY! Zachary had his post op appt today for his tonsilectomy, he looks great and we are done with the ENT! After his appt we ate lunch with our friends down the street, rushed home for naps, everyone got woken up to head out to Franklin for Jakeb and Zachary's Sport Skills Development Class at the Little Gym. It's a great class, it's been WONDERFUL for Jakeb. I see him feeling more confident in his physical activities and more eager to do things...he even says he wants to play soccer, with other kids, on a team! That's big for him! Our friends from down the street, Hope, Alex, and Evan have come with us the past 2 times and Alex has joined the class with us. The kids really seem to love it and it's fun to have some one to chit chat with while the kids are in class. Gavin and Evan wander around playing and getting into things like 1 year olds do! After gym class we all (Robert, Hope, Alex, Evan, Jakeb, Zachary, Gavin, and I) all piled back into the van to grab dinner and head to the park. Where we ate, the kids got wet and muddy playing and then we drove our loud, wet, muddy kids home and here I sit! Kids are bathed and in bed and I am unwinding from our busy day. It's thundering now so I may not get the quiet not I am hoping for...Jakeb and Zachary are afraid of the thunder...in fact Jakeb just walked in telling me about it...oy vey!
I am SO ready for my classes to start, I am very anxious to get back into my photography class and learn some more...it's a film class but I learned a lot in B&W film, I really like film...I wish I had the means to have a blackroom and develop my own. Shooting digital is much more cost effective but I almost feel like it's cheating...I can go in and edit a near crap picture to nearly perfect so I feel like that's not good photography that's good editing, so I try to edit as little as possible. There is a lot that can be done in the dark room too so I try to remember that and stick to what can be done there...but I want to be taking GOOD photos not taking ok photos and editing them into good ones...which I know a large part of the picture taking process is in the developing so. I love taking pictures but I feel a bit discouraged with so many other photographers out there, they are a dime a dozen these days. I am certainly no pro nor do I really aim to be one but it's a fun hobby and maybe one day will be something I pick up even more once the kids start school. With the technology we have now in cameras and what not it's much easier for people to pick up their camera and grab great shots. I remember chasing my brothers around and making them pose with my little pink 110 camera and my friends in elementary school...I have all kinds of goofy photos that I took as a kid LOL!
My other class is a cultural geography class which should be pretty interesting, it' s with the same professor I had in the spring so that will be nice...I got an A in that class and I expect it to be the same style which is good!
3 more weeks til Jakeb has his very first day of school! Zachary keeps telling everyone he is going to kindergarden as well, so hopefully his excitment will still be there when he goes back to Preschool, he wasn't happy about going last year. And still has issues with me leaving him, praying that isn't the case this year!

Ok I think I am rambling at this point. Nighty...night :)

Light the Night

On the day I started this very blog site, a friend from my playgroup (actually the one who created the group) passed away due to complications from Leukemia. She left behind 3 small children, her husband, her family, and many friends who all miss her greatly. It was very sudden and has left so many in shock and disbelief. I wish I had posted before about this but quite honestly I wasn't sure what to say and still am not. Jenna was a wonderful mother, wife, and friend. I wasn't close with Jenna but when anyone you know dies it's hard, especially someone you share common things with someone you "see" everyday. Someone *I* felt like I knew more than she knew me, she has a blog and I like so many others followed it nearly daily, as well as her postings on the board. It was and is a very sad thing, I still don't understand why it happened and probably never will. A large group of Jenna's friends (myself included) are gathering together to do the Light the Night Walk in Jenna's honor. Raising money to be donated to Leukemia research. Here is a link for any wanting to donate or who would like to walk and raise money: http://www.active.com/donate/ltnNashvi/2024_rae7anne

I appreciate ANY support you can offer and please continue to keep Jenna and her family in your prayers.

Baba

Gavin is starting to talk more! Just a few moments ago he said Baby...or technically "baba" but at 14 months that is close enough and he pointed to a picture of a baby and said it so it counts! The other day as I was leaving I said "I love you" to him and he responded with "iaaahh ooo" in the sing songy voice w/ the same "tune" obviously trying to say "I love you" back to me. Even Robert heard him! He says "ta oo"--Thank You, and of course Uh-oh and has said Mommy and Daddy (not just Mama, Dada) but only once! He seems to try to say Jakeb but I couldn't even begin to spell it but he gets A for effort. He says his version of boat, ball, catch, and hush...all of which *I* understand but anyone else would be clueless but he is putting the sound/word with the object (or action). So that is exciting! He is a little later to talk than Jakeb and Zachary did but with all these other people talking and doing for him all he needs to do is squeal and squeek.
Jakeb has less than a month and he will be in FULL time kindergarden, I can't believe it and while I am not ready for him to be gone all day all the time I am ready to get him started and "get it over with". He's very excited to go and I think he will do great...we'll see how we do at home with out him. I hope school doesn't make his sassy attitude worse. He's such a good helper with his brothers though!
Zachary is being his usual silly boy self, he fell off the hammock yesterday and chipped a good chunk out of his front tooth...large enough to warrant a trip to the dentist to have it checked out. All is good with it and we will go back sometime soon to have them file it down a bit. He's been quite the character lately, while on vacation we were at dinner and Jakeb was talking away about something and Zachary leans up to the table and asks him "What are you babbling about?" It cracked us up! And his new argument for not having to go to bed at night is that he is not tired and "People who aren't tired do not have to go to bed!!" He's at that funny 3 year old stage...and also at the not so funny fit throwing 3 year old stage...bleh!
Robert and I are both doing well, he will be of the week Jakeb starts school. So he can go with us on his first day of Kindergarden and will also be able to go with me to the Open House. I start classes on the 28th and Donna (Robert's mom) and a friend who lives on the neighborhood's daughter will both help out with the boys. Our original plan fell thru so we are having to figure things out with that a little last minute, not fun! But darnit with 2 more classes and 5 months before I graduate I WILL figure it out.

Vacation was very nice...we definetly would love to vacation at Anna Maria Island again, it was so pretty and quaint and just a cute little place to go. It was wonderful to see my family, i wish we could have visited more. The boys loved the beachbut I think we are all glad to be home!

Alrighty it's dinner time...so until next time!

On vacation! Currently am sitting in our hotel...laptop in lap (very fitting eh?), feet propped up on the table enjoying a relaxing afternoon while the kids nap after a tuckering morning swimming in the Gulf of Mexico! We have had a very busy week, Disney World and Epcot last week. We are not right on the beach so we have to drive 20-25 min to get to the beach which isn't too bad. Because of Robert's hotel points we are somewhat limited to our hotel choices unless we want to foot the bill ourselves, which we don't so we will make the drive! The boys have had a great time, LOVED Disney World of course. Zachary did just what he said he wanted to do and hugged Mickey, Jakeb drove the race cars, and Gavin took it all in and enjoyed his very first lolipop at Disney which for him was enough fun! The are loving the beach and this year both Jakeb and Zachary are jumping right in and swimming around like they have been here a million times, just having so much fun. It's great watching them. Gavin likes the water but isn't too keen on the sand but he's getting used to it as the week goes.

Tomorrow we are checking out of our hotel in Clearwater and heading down to Anna Maria Island to the Tortuga Inn for my cousin Kate's wedding, we will be there until Saturday when we head home. My mom is coming down tomorrow as well and I am really looking forward to seeing all of our family.

Trying it out

I have seen several family blogs floating around and I find them quite interesting and have been toying with the idea of this and finally decided to give it a shot! Just a spot for me/us to update what's going on with us/the kids/the family, our lives overall. It's a nice way for everyone to stay updated, I hope!

So here we go...today is Wednesday-- middle of the week, the boys are napping and I am trying to unwind for a bit. We haven't done too much today really I thought it would be nice to let them paint for a little while and let Gavin has his first artistic experience with painting. His mouth ended up a nice shade of yellow because he thought he first needed to taste the paint on the brush and wasn't quite sure what to do with it. Jakeb and Zachary love painting and finally are at an age where they can paint without making a huge mess, thank goodness! So they had a good time doing that and I have yet to finish cleaning up the mess...which is what I should be doing.
Robert is in Columbus, Georgia this week and will be home next week doing a remote training and then off the next. We leave for Florida Tuesday evening woohoo!! My dad is coming down with us for a few days and treating us to a day or two at Disney, which in July will be very hot but it will be fun anyway! We are all very very excited! It will be nice to hit up the beach and just relax away from home.
My friend, Jennifer, from college was in town for the afternoon yesterday and we hung out with her. It was so nice to visit with her and the boys just thought she was sooo cool! I miss my friends from school, I love that we have all been so good about keeping in touch with each other. Of course we could do better but I could not talk to them for a year and still call any one of them up and pick up right where we left off. So it was nice to see her and visit and catch up. I am the only one with multiple children, which is always a little odd I think!
So hmm let's see some other recent tidbits to share. Gavin is walking and is very proud of himself as are all of us! Zachary had his tonsils out 2 1/2 weeks ago and was a trooper, he's doing very well now and totally back to normal. Jakeb is now 5 1/2 and is starting kindergarden this fall, which he is VERY excited about! Me...not much going on with me really, I start my last semester of school on the 28th of August, which I am VERY excited about. Have been trying to get a little more into my photography but it seems everyone is wanting to do the same which deters me a bit. But I'll figure out my niche one of these days :)

Alrighty I guess I will quit slacking and get to picking up! We'll see how this does, I probably won't update everyday but here and there is good!