Out Of The Mouth Of....

Matthew

Matt and I were in the garage waving goodbye to Daddy as he left for another work trip.

As we turned to go back into the house Matt says to me,

 "He is so in love with you." 

Gosh, I sure hope he's right!

Everyday Happenings

*  Matthew seems to be enjoying his preschool, although he doesn't know I actually leave the building while he's there.  As luck would have it I've been able to get the same parking spot when I return to pick him up, so my secret remains safe....for now.

* I went to a PTA meeting on Wednesday.  Woo-hoo!  I can count on one hand (maybe even 2 fingers) how many of these I've been to. 

* On a fun note, I went to breakfast this morning with some friends.  I almost feel guilty for enjoying myself!

* Bill is traveling this month.  I'm thankful for two things....Skype so the kids can "see" Dad; and Vader, so Mom can rest easy when she hears strange noises on the porch late at night.

*  Our new neighbors have moved in.  They have four boys.....big score for Thomas who needs some "buds."

*  I'm loving this September weather.  Opening the windows is always refreshing.  Then I forget they're open and yell and scream at the kids when my patience has worn thin.  And then there's that awful moment when you realize your neighbors had to have heard that and you hope they don't call the police or child social services!

* My eggs had expired and I let Matthew practice his cracking skills.  Who'd a thunk that it would be so much fun.

* We are looking forward to a fun weekend with Dad coming home tonight, hosting our family
prayer group tomorrow, and cross country on Sunday.

Have a great weekend!

Preschool

We did it!  We survived our first day of  Matt going to preschool.

There were no tears from either one of us.

After last week's open house and Sunday's mini class orientation, he was more than ready to go.

I asked Ann to move a bit closer to Tommy.  I had no idea that was his reaction. Nice!

 

 He let go of my hand, walked away, then turned back and gave me a big hug, then walked off again.  I guess I couldn't have asked for a better send off.

Are you wondering what I did for my first 2.5 hours by myself??

I went home, enjoyed the quiet, ate breakfast (and sat the whole time!) and cleaned the kitchen.  One hour in I thought it would be crazy to not do a little window shopping.  So I went to Marshall's.  I like it there.

(I may have done more than just window shop)

I read a little in my car and then it was time to pick him up.  

You could say we celebrated afterwards.

He was excited to show his brothers and sisters what he made....Bear ears and a bee hive to go with the Winnie the Pooh theme in his classroom.

Still wearing a little ice cream on his face.

Congratulations Matthew!  So proud of you today!

  

 

The Pre-Preschool Day

Two nights ago Matthew woke up at 3am crying.  He does this occasionally after a bad dream or when it is "too dark".  He climbed into bed with me (Bill was away for work) and fell back to sleep.  I, however, did not.

It finally hit me.  Next week he will start preschool.  My baby.

Eight years ago when I dropped off Billy at preschool with Mary and Tommy in tow I had been so envious of those other moms who were dropping off their youngest child.  They had those two and a half hours of free time.  Alone.  To do whatever they wanted.  It seemed like a dream.

Now here we are and that time has come for me.  Only I'm not looking forward to it nearly as much as I thought I would.  In fact, I'm pretty sad about it.

So, lying there in bed next to Matt, I cried.  I cried because for the first time in 12 years I will be alone.  I cried because, although nothing is absolute, this stage in my life may be over. 

I had to compose myself because when we woke up later that morning we were off to meet his teachers and see his classroom.  He's been very "anti" preschool and held on very tight to my hand.  But with a wonderful, talented, ice-breaker of a teacher's aide, he let go of it.

He walked away from me and it was hard to watch.  I know I should be grateful.  I know I will eventually enjoy those hours by myself.  But it always hurts a little when they need you less and less.

My, how our perspective can change.  Who'd a thunk it? 

So, here are some pictures of the open house.  I figured I might be too busy fumbling with tissues on his first official day on Monday, so I better take pics now.

Afterward we celebrated with a chocolatey treat at Wegman's.

 Stay tuned for more preschool posts.....

Cross Country

Billy and Mary Kate have started cross country.  Yesterday they had their first meet.  I had never been to one before.  I thought the whole thing was very exciting....from the adorable kindergarteners running their hearts out to the one high school boy tasked with leading every race. (a total of 8 miles for him!)

Mary Kate ran with the 5th and 6th grade girls.  It had rained early on in the meet so the grass was wet.  At the start she got cut off by someone and tried to stop, but slipped an took a big tumble.

 

 The other runners had to jump over her.  You could almost say she was cross country road kill!

In those few seconds  she was down my mind had many thoughts.  I wondered if she would be hurt.  Would she get up?  Would she finish?

Well, she got right up, caught up to the group, and finished her 1.5 miles in less than 13 minutes.  She wasn't even phased by what happened.  I think it was because we watched many track and field events during the Olympics and saw that even the greatest runners can fall.  She knows it happens.  I was so proud of her.  She even wanted me to post the pictures of her falling.  I think she's proud of herself too.

Mary Kate nearing the finish.

Billy did a fabulous job too.  He ran with 7th & 8th grade boys and girls.  He finished his 2 miles in 15:06.  (And his mom enjoys him running much more than him playing football, that's for sure!)

I think they both really enjoyed it.  Hopefully it will be a life long love of the sport for them. 

 

A New Beginning?

The start of the school year is a lot like New Year's Day, isn't it?

Don't you find that when your children go back to school you set yourself on a mission to make this "the" year that you will become more organized?  Perhaps you will mentally arrange in your head a new schedule for yourself to fit in some exercise, or time to volunteer, or simply stay on top of that laundry pile.

I had all these thoughts last Monday on the first day of school.  However, the week consisted of unpacking from vacation, laundry galore, school supply shopping, and endless paperwork to fill out for the schools.  Then, when the kids came home from school I spent a lot of time being a referee.  Literally.  Everything was a problem. There was a lot of:

"I don't want to sit next to a girl."
"Why does she get two?"
"It's the boys turn to go first."
"He always gets what he wants."
"Do I have to eat this?"
"I'm still hungry."
"I need a cell phone."
"Why does Billy get his own room?"

This list could go on and on. 

I must be doing something wrong. 

Or maybe I'm not.  I have no idea. 

Little kids, little problems.  Big kids, big problems.  I think I'm somewhere in between.

I do know this.  I need to get out of my head that there will ever be any kind of new schedule design that goes exactly according my plan.

Matthew will start preschool next week.  Here's a list of everything I'm going to accomplish while he's there.

Repaint the upstairs hallway.
Renovate (on a budget and on my own) the powder room.
Run.
Volunteer.
Mulch.
Clean out garage and have a yard sale.
Take a class.
Paint and redecorate the basement.

Funny, right?  Who am I kidding?  All I really want to do is go to Panera and have breakfast and read a good book for two hours.

I guess it's all about discipline and flexibility.  But at the rate I'm going, I'm not sure how I'm going to fit two more things in the schedule.