I'm Gonna Miss This

It's been a long 10 days - there were moments I thought I'd never make it through another day during our unexpected ice vacation however there were so many wonderful things about it at the same time. You see tomorrow morning at 6:45 am everything starts back - the kids have to get up and head back to school and the last 10 days will be over.

There will be no more not worrying about bedtimes, not worrying about whether lunches are made, not worrying about if laundry is done or homework is completed. No more sleeping late or having not a care in the world about a schedule - it will all come to a hault at bedtime tonight.

On one hand I'm ready to get back on a schedule - our house has taken a hit over these last 10 days. I haven't done much of anything in the cleaning area other than wiping the kitchen down, cleaning the toilet, doing laundry and cooking dinner. I haven't even taken down our Christmas decorations yet - it's pitiful I know! Things need to be cleaned and scrubbed and organized - it's going to be a long process. I have the big consignment sale coming up that I haven't even started on so it's time to kick my butt into gear. On the other hand I'll miss these days of no schedules and nowhere to go. It'll be back to the grind with homework and car lines and studying for endless tests and projects - that I don't miss!

Is it summer yet?

Caleb and Allie's New School

I'm way behind in blogging right now so I'm going to try to catch up. Caleb and Allie started preschool a few weeks ago and I feel like we're just beginning to get our feet back underneath us. They are going 2 days a week for three hours a day.

I was so excited when I found out I was able to get them enrolled at this preschool - it's by far one of the best around our town and one of the hardest to get into. I have never ever heard a single bad thing about this school. I really wasn't sure that I wanted to put Allie in yet but when I got there and they had an opening I was scared not to take it - my luck I'd have gotten Caleb in and then next year Allie's age group would have been full. I was worried about Allie from the beginning - whether she was ready or not - how she would adjust and exactly how she and I would handle the transition. I knew Caleb would do okay - all I heard was how ready he was to go to school day in and day out all summer while we were waiting for the first day.

We had meet the teacher too. I couldn't be more pleased with their teachers !! They both really like their teachers and surprisingly Allie went straight to hers and gave her a hug - I was shocked!

The first day went great - they both dropped off good with no tears. When I picked them up I heard they only had a few tears throughout the morning but overall did great. Second day wasn't quite as good. It took a few days for Caleb to catch on and want to go without tears but now he's excited and ready to go and can't wait to play when he gets there. He's made a great transition!

       As soon as they walked in the door after their first day they hit the floor - I think they were worn out!

Allie is still adjusting I think - I still worry about her. She's been sick for the last week and a half so I'm sure that has contributed to my worries a little. She has dropped off fine and knows to go to her teacher but has been fussier during the morning while she's there. She has had one great day with no tears at all and then she got sick and fussier as the next school day came up. I picked her up early last week and then she didn't go on Thursday because she was sick so I'm anxious to hear how she does on Tuesday morning when it's time to go back. I hope the fussiness that she developed was just because she didn't feel good and I pray she does well. I have been doing a lot at the older kids school while they are in school and have lots scheduled there to keep me busy. I'm not one that can drop them off and come home until it's time to pick them up again - my lazy days will come soon enough and I dread those!

It's That Time Again

                                                   Both boys at Meet The Teacher night.

Yesterday as the first day of school for Lucas and Jacob - it was a horrible day or at least it started out that way. They were both excited to go to school - Lucas walked to his classroom by himself and was fine. I walked in with Jacob and got all of his stuff put away and ready and as I was getting ready to leave I could tell he was getting nervous. He tried to cover it up but I could still see through. I asked him if he was okay as I left and he said yes but as he spoke I could hear him choking up and it tore into my soul. My heart broke and I wanted to pack his things up and take him back home with me. Instead I picked my heart up off the floor and stumbled out the door.

Then when I got home everything was blah - nothing seemed to go right and all I could think about was the fact that time flies by all too quickly. I was holding together somewhat until I talked to David on the phone and then I lost it. I started worrying about everything and stressing over Caleb and Allie. You see I have enrolled them both in a two day a week program for 3 hours in the morning at a local church preschool in town. One of the biggest reasons I have done it is for the socialization that I feel they both need and also so I can be at the school and not have to call on my mom to come watch them all the time. Caleb is ready - he's excited to go and everytime we drive past he tells everyone in the car that is his school! Allie on the other hand - it gives me panic attacks to think about her. I am going back and forth about her - I'm not sure she's ready. She's such a baby - I know she's 2 but still - I am home and it's my job to care for her. Maybe I should wait another year on her. I don't know what to do - I am not sure I can handle leaving her somewhere crying like that though - I'm not sure I have that in me.

So all that came out yesterday along with the fact of the older boys heading to school and it made for a splendid day!

I was so happy to see the bus pull up yesterday afternoon - which with all the hassle has ended them back in the car line again starting today - I could have cried when I laid eyes on them. The younger ones were so happy to see them too - they missed them so much while they were at school. With all my worry Jacob got off the bus and said 1st grade was the coolest ever! I asked him why he thought so and he said " We get to keep our water bottles on our desks ALL day long and we get to drink them WHENEVER we want to!!!" It just doesn't get any cooler than that!

Jacob's Celebration and Party

Since school has been out for a week now I suppose I should get around to posting about Jacob's celebration day and ice cream party at school.

My mom came and watched the two younger kids so David and I could go to his celebration. We got there and had to wait outside their classrooms until they were all ready for us. When we walked in they were all sitting crisscross applesauce on the carpet :) They sang a few songs and even did a couple of them in French. Their assistant is fluent in French and every week this year they have had a French lesson so they were able to show off their skills! After that they sang a song about going to and leaving Kindergarten which I totally cried at and then it was time for their awards.

Jacob got excellence in P.E. and his certificate for finishing Kindergarten. After that they served us a little snack of pretzels/cookies and cupcakes with lemonade - Jacob ate mine :) and then we were able to take them home with us early.

They had their journals that they had worked on everyday all year and it showcased the improvement they have made since the first day of school - AMAZING to look at!!! Then they also wrote and illustrated their own books - Lucas did this when he was in Kindergarten too and it's one of those things that you keep forever!

I cannot believe that Jacob is going into first grade! So scary to me - I feel like the first day of Kindergarten is among me all over again. Kindergarten was bad enough - I was terrified of letting him go. I could just picture him standing in the middle of the hallway in a huge school with his little body and being scared to death. Now he's leaving the Kindergarten hall and going to first grade and he's not as secluded anymore - panic attacks all over again. He still seems so much like my little baby that it's hard to imagine next year. The first day will surely be interesting :)

This was Jacob's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Betsill. I think she hung the moon - I just love and adore her! I was so terrified that first day of school leaving him but she was so wonderful and always made me feel like he would be taken care of. It is because of his two teachers this year that we made it through. They took him under their wings and made sure he was safe and succeeding! I will never ever be able to repay these two for all they have done.

Mrs. Little - teacher aide - Godsend!!!

Jacob,

I am so incredibly proud of you! The milestones you have accomplished over this past year have amazed me time and time again! I remember the first day when you had to bring your daily books home and you were so frustrated and unhappy about it because you couldn't read it. I told you it was okay that we would work through it together - we sat there and read that book - or I read most of it :) and we made it through. Then at the end of the year you read most of the books to me with me only helping with a few of the harder words! What a jump!!! Then came your flashcards- you would have thought I was torturing you when I told you we had to start flashcards for your popcorn words. Each and everyday you would learn a few more and before we knew it you knew them all and were flying through. You made it to the 100 club by counting to 100 and then to 200. You made it to the popcorn club for knowing all your popcorn words. You read a level 1 and level 2 book for Mrs. Betsill and accomplished so much this year! I will always be your biggest cheerleader no matter the day, month or year of your life. No matter what I'll always be right by your side the second you need me regardless! Always know that you can come talk to me and I will be here anytime anyday. As you head off to first grade next year I am scared once again - it just doesn't seem like the little 7 lb 8 oz baby I held in my arms 6 years ago could possibly be 6 years old let alone going to first grade. We'll face more obstacles next year I'm sure yet we will meet them just as we did this past year - head on together!

I love you the whole wide world!!!!

Mommy

Alive?

Yes it's me and No I'm not dead. Though I have felt that way more times than I can count over these last several weeks. I quickly found out with the kitchen being remodeled and having a house that looked like a tornado had blown through that I could not keep up with blogging and you know me-when I can't keep up with it I stress about it so I just gave up the fight for a while. You'd figure since I'm back that must mean our kitchen is complete,right? NOT - nope - no way - no how. We're still utilizing plywood with a cheap redneck $5 tablecloth tacked down as our countertop. The countertop people obviously don't feel that it is as important to get them down as we do so we're still waiting. It's been delayed several times, this latest one because of the Easter holiday and shipping so we're now waiting on next Monday to come.

For now here's current kitchen pictures for your viewing pleasure :)

This is the way my living room looked for about 2 weeks while we were in the thick of the remodel. Imagine 7 people trying to get around in here. It was INSANE!

New cabinets up and things beginning to take shape. Old countertop still up with sink but everything else gone.

Love how much more room it gave us by pushing cabinets out 2 feet!!!! Such a difference bc now people can actually walk in the kitchen now while I'm cooking without me feeling like they're right on top of me.

New paint color.

And finally, the tile. We had to take every single one of these stickers off and the goo. Lord what a mess what was!

I'm bound and determined to get back into the blogging world though. I've missed everyone so much! Seems like over the past few months it's always been something. I take a break - get back into it - take a break - get back into it again so now my ultimate goal is to not have to take a break again :) I'll probably never catch up completely but I'll be browsing around and slowly catching up with everyone. Spring break is over today and it's the kids first day back at school. I'm surprisingly sad to see them leave again - I got used to having them home and especially loved not having to worry about the 8 pm bedtime every night. I found things were so much easier when we didn't have that time looming over our heads. It is only a short 30 something days before summer though I should probably enjoy them being gone while I can because once June gets here I'm sure they'll be driving me crazy!

Don't Let Him Fool You

Jacob started kindergarten this year and it's been a bit of a challenge. If you've been here a while you remember that I had to pull him from the preschool he was in because it became more of a daycare than a place where they were learning and being prepped for kindergarten. He and I worked on his letters and things throughout the summer before he was going to start school but I knew he was going to be a little further behind some of the other kids in his class. When I took him out of the preschool he didn't even know how to write his name-it took us a couple of hard weeks to get that mastered. All in all I think pulling him was the right decision.

When he started school this year they assessed all of the kids and pulled 5 out of the regular instruction for 30 mins a day for one on one time with the teacher's aide that stays in their classroom. I knew as soon as they said they would be doing that Jacob would be included in that group. He just wasn't retaining the letters like he should be at that point. He went in the group and while I was nervous it proved to be unfounded. The teacher's aide was the best thing to ever happen to us. She is single handedly responsible for putting Jacob where he is today and I am so thankful for her! She did what I couldn't in getting him to understand and retain things that he would need next year and in years to come in school. We have been incredibly lucky with getting two wonderful kindergarten teachers this year and it has been such a breath of fresh air.

Just about 3 weeks ago we received a letter saying that Jacob had been reassessed and no longer needed to be in the group. While I was incredibly proud of the progress he has made I was a little sad too. I worried about him not having the one on one time with someone there to reinforce and teach him things. He's done well since being back in the group all day though so once again concerns unfounded.

Everyday they come home with homework and a book to read. Recently we've added what they call popcorn words to the mix. Those are a group of words that they should know before they move on to 1st grade. I had not worried about them so much during the first part of school because my main concern was making sure he was remembering the letters more than anything. Now that he had those down I knew we had to tackle the words and with how easily frustrated he got when he didn't know something I knew it was going to be difficult. He complains every single day when he comes home about having to do flashcards. He has done very well and now knows all of them until we add new ones to the mix and he doesn't know those yet. He ALWAYS complains about them. Just the other day we finished them and he was telling me how much he hated doing flashcards-until I walked in the room about 10 minutes later and he was standing in the corner playing with them. BUSTED!!!!! Of course he also just came up to me while I was typing this and asked if he could practice them for a while too :) I think there may be hope for him after all!!!

H1N1

Our school district held H1N1 clinics this past week for elementary aged kids. They started on Tuesday and held 4 separate clincs and each school was assigned to a certain one. They held them from 3 until 8 each day and you were supposed to go on your assigned day with your waiver to get the vaccination. I am particularly worried about H1N1 because of the fact that I have Caleb and Allie at home. With Lucas and Jacob being in school and around sick kids on an almost daily basis it worries me what they will bring home and pass onto the younger ones around here. We all know that all parents don't keep their kids home when they're sick. I have not been able to get Caleb and Allie one yet because younger siblings weren't able to get them at the school clinics..only students were eligible.

And let me tell you...it was absolutely INSANE! The kids got out of school at 230 so we headed directly over to the clinic because I was supposed to have Jacob at a birthday party at 430 on Friday afternoon. When we initially got there everyone was parking their cars and crossing the street to stand in an insanely long line. I parked and got all four kids out of the car and crossed the busy street while two schools were in the middle of dismissing and got in line only to be told that we needed to get back in our cars and get in line. I headed back across the street with four kids and put them all back in the car and got in line the way that they told us we were supposed to. Of course not everyone got out of line to begin with. We then had to be routed all around the school and parked in several large fields only to get back out of the car with 4 kids and stand in one of 3 obnoxiously long lines. I stood in line for 2 hours with 4 kids and felt like I was going to pass out by the time I got out of there. There were well over 2000 people at the single clinic that we attended. We were 40 minutes late to the party but eventually made it and of course we got the shots! I dread the booster coming up in 4 weeks!

Jacob's Field Trip

I was able to go on Jacob's first field trip with him last week before the "flu" hit our house. We left first thing in the morning heading to the orchard and Jacob was so excited that I was able to go with him. I headed to school with my camera in tow of course because I couldn't let the day go by without capturing all the memories!

There were many things they did at this orchard that I thought was cheaply put together...I think next year I'm going to look for a really good quality orchard to go visit as a family but his class enjoyed it this year and of course didn't know the difference between cheap and not.

The first thing we did was go on a wagon ride. I think it was technically supposed to be a hay ride but there was no hay!

After that they got to see the bunnies and then we moved to the goats/roosters and there was a baby pig. I could have scooped the pig up and taken him home. Of course as soon as he got huge and fat I would have wanted to get rid of him but he was absolutely adorable as a small little piglet.

Then they went through the maze...supposed to resemble a corn maze but it was just put up with fake walls...not too impressing.

Jacob is on the front row..second from the left.

They finally got to get their apples and a small pumpkin and we had lunch while we were there at the picnic tables. Shortly after they loaded back on the buses and headed back to school.

Since it was so close to dismissal I went ahead and sat in the line waiting on Lucas and Jacob. I brought my book with me and was able to sit in line for an entire hour and read all by myself....it was pure bliss!