They grow up so fast!

First a random picture because I know Elijah loves it so much.  He always wants to take "silly face" pictures with me.

 

 

 

 

My latest creation is one I copied from Aimee.  Mine looks a bit homemade, but hopefully it will be something we can keep forever...

 

 

 

 

Not sure what the deal is with the cheese face, but Sadie pretty much refuses to take a "normal" picture these days...

 

 

Elijah was very excited about this craft.  He is always measuring how tall he is and wants me to measure him every chance we get.  He has wanted to take a new measurement every day...

 

 

 

 

 

I'll have to wait til I can get Jack to stand up to measure him!  He is such a sweet baby!  He loves to grin at anyone who will talk to him.  Beau had him giggling in this picture...

Yesterday I broke out the bouncer...he loved it.  He loves to stand up so it is perfect and his feet actually touch the floor.  I remember having to put a box under Elijah and Sadie's feet!  

Kindergarten!!!

Today was Elijah's first day of Kindergarten.  It was, of course, bitter sweet.  I was so excited for him becaue he has been so excited...counting down the months, weeks, days since May.  But the closer it got the more emotional I got. 

 

Monday morning was Kindercamp.  A time for the new students and their parents to visit the school, meet the teacher and principle and learn all about kindergarten.  Our wonderful friend Judy came over early to keep Jack and Sadie so we could be completely focused on Elijah.  When we arrived we went straight into the gym to find Elijah's teacher.  Then the kids left to go with their teacher to see their room...

The parents went to the cafeteria to meet with the principle and get a ton of information.  I was soaking it all in.  From the front row.  In the middle.  I even pulled out a pen and paper at one point to take notes.  Beau was embarrassed.

 

 

Then the kids were all put on a school bus to take a ride and learn bus etiquette.  While they drove around we went to his classroom to meet with the teacher where I soaked up even more information.

When he came back I wanted to get a few pictures of him in his classroom since I knew I wasn't going to come with him on his first day.

Then he said he wanted a few more pictures...

The reading center...

He looks so grown up!

Mrs. Schwartinsky...or Mrs. S

They also unload all their school supplies so they don't have to carry them on the first day...

Where did the time go??

Just like his dad.  He cannot take a picture outside if its even the least bit sunny.

I just can't believe in a few days he'll just get dropped off to navigate this big ole place by himself.  How on Earth can my baby boy be old enough for that?

 

We went to bed early on Tuesday night to help us with the 6:30am wake up call. Elijah usually wakes up about 7:30am, but the tardy bell rings at 7:45am.  It'll be a big adjustment for us all.  I went into his room and woke him up Wednesday morning and helped him navigate the dark to get dressed and then went to fix his breakfast.  He had requested donuts for breakfast so I found a recipe for strawberry cake donuts and I made eggs and sausage to go along with it. 

 

 

 

(Back story: Tuesday Elijah asked if he could play his computer games.  I said he could on Wednesday.  He asked what time.  I said 3pm)While Beau, Elijah, Jack and I were sitting at the table having breakfast Elijah said "I can't wait to play my computer games later.  Why do I have to wait until 3 to play them?"  I said, "Because you won't be home from school until 3."  "I have to stay until 3o'clock!?!"  "Yes, Elijah, you go to school every day until 3 o'clock."  "I have to go EVERY DAY?!?"  Ha!  Poor kid doesn't know what hit him!

 

 

Practicing tying his shoes before heading out the door...

 

 

 

 

 

 

One last picture before he leaves...

 

 

I knew I would be a mess if I took him and we would have to get Jack and Sadie out the door too so we decided Beau would just take him to school.

 

 

 

I am so proud of my precious boy and can't wait to see what this year holds for him...

 

And by the way...I'm a Room Mom!  Let the party planning begin!

Our Mini-Vacation

 

This past week my parents went on a vacation to the west coast.  So...we decided to take a mini vacation to their house!  We invited our good friends, The Shaw Family and headed to Stephenville.  Lori Anne and I left early with the baby boys and had lunch and went grocery shopping.  When we arrived at the house both boys went down for a nap and Lori Anne and I enjoyed some nice peace and quiet conversation...probably the best (if not most relaxing) part of the week!

 

When the men arrived with the big kids we were promptly told WE would be driving back with the big kids and THEY would get to ride with the babies!  Ha!  We went straight into the pool and stayed for hours.  We cooked fajitas out on the grill and then went back into the pool!  We finally got the kids out around 9pm and put them all to bed.

 

When we got up Tuesday morning it was raining (and had been for hours).  It was only about 65 degrees outside...no swimming.  We had plans to go to Jannie and Larry's for lunch on the patio and to play in their yard.  Nope.  We had to eat inside (we even had to drive in the car to get their because of the rain) and there was definitely no playing in the yard.  However, we did get the kids to rest in the afternoon thanks to the cloudy, cool weather. 

 

Then I had a great idea!  It was still only about 70 degrees, cloudy and damp outside.  We opened up the hot tub and let the kids swim.  We made another pot of coffee.  The men started a fire in the fireplace outside on the porch where we could see the kids...perfect.  We cooked out hamburgers and the kids roasted marshmallows after dinner!  Only in Texas can you have a 2 day vacation where you swim in the sun on one day and curl up by a fire the next!  Ha!

 

We ended up leaving a little earlier than planned on Wednesday because David was invited by Baylor to be in a commercial and who can pass up the opportunity to be a TV star!?  It was a great time and we'll definitely have to do it again!

Activities of Daily Living

Last week I chose to keep the kids home for a few days.  We usually go somewhere at least every morning, but Jack had an ear infection and we needed a few low key days.  Not to mention the housework that desperately needed to be done.  However, it is extremely difficult to get anything done with 3 kids.  So I researched a few activities I could have the "big kids" do while Jack napped.

Day 1: Cloud Dough

You mix flour and baby oil.  It makes a mixture that is somewhat the mold-ability (is that a word) of wet sand.  Its a bit messy, but I just saved the table area for the last place to be cleaned.  It kept them occupied for at least an hour!

I just realized what a horrible picture that is...sorry.

When Jack woke up from his nap I even got him in on helping with the laundry!





Day 2: Balloon Tennis

They decorated their rackets (paper plates) and taped them to paint sticks.  

Day 3:

Shaving cream paint.  This idea also came from Aimee.  Mix shaving cream and food color.  Genius.



While the kids worked on their bath time masterpieces Jack watched me cook, which is apparently very soothing!

Today's activities included a few crafts I needed to finish and pickling some okra for Janice while the kids did great playing together (and Jack napped).  As a thank you to Elijah and Sadie for playing so well together (and leaving me alone to get some work done) I took them for snow cones when Beau got home! 

My growing boy

My boy reached his 2 month mark.  He is growing so fast! 

I love that double chin!

Streeeeeeetch....

Ok, Mom, you're loosing me...wrap it up.

Eat. Him. Up.



Tuesday he had his 2 month check up....

Head 16" = 67%
Length 23.87"  = 83%
Weight 13 lbs 6 oz  = 85%
Weight for length 50%

Dr Popejoy kept talking about how big he is and how serious he looks all the time.  I had to tell her all my kids have those serious looks.  She asked how everything is going.  I said he's a good, easy baby, but in the past week or so he hasn't been sleeping as well and I was just complaining about that.  She put him on the table to do his exam.  I pointed out that one of his eyes was "gooky" and thought he may be suffering with allergies.  After looking in that ear she said he has an ear infection.  I said the other eye was gooky the day before.  She looked in that ear...yup, another infection!!  My poor baby.  He hasn't fussed or anything!  She said his eardrums were bulging!  I felt bad for complaining that he hadn't been sleeping. 

Tuesday night was awful.  I finally got to bed at 11:30pm, only to get up with Jack at 2am, 4am, 6am, 7am and 8am!  He seemed miserable all morning.  Around noon I finally strapped him in his car seat and put him on the running dryer to get him to fall asleep.  I called the Dr and got a prescription for some pain relieving ear drops and called my dad who gave me the name of a chiropractor here in Waco who he went to school with to see if he treats infants.  The chiropractor got us right in.  Jack did great...he didn't seem to mind at all.  By Thursday morning he seemed back to his old self.  The doctor said she is worried that if he had this bad of an infection this young we may have a long winter ahead of us!  Hopefully we can start giving an antihistamine at 6 months (November) and more visits to the chiropractor and avoid multiple ear infections.