Tree Field Trip

I got to go on Bella's first field trip. She was so excited. The kids just walked across the street to the park, but we got to measure trees, find treasures, look for trees that look like letters. The kids all climbed a tree at the end so they could get a class picture. Bella is second in from the right next to her teacher Mrs. Asta. I'm excited to go on her field trip next week to the police station and fire department. 

 

Gabby and Bella start fall soccer tomorrow. Gabby has had two practices and Bella had a semi-practice this week. It should be interesting to see how much of the game we actually get to watch and how much we are chasing J around. At practice he does not stop...well he never stops. Last night at practice I was getting Bella's uniform. I put Jeremiah down so I could find the right size. I look up and he's walked across the basketball court and to the play ground, up the stairs and is standing on the top of the slide. Of course he slide down and his sisters caught him before I could get over there. He also runs around the field stealing all the balls and water bottles....so this should be interesting...it was easier when he stayed in his stroller.

We went the park the other day to get seeds for Bella's homework project. I love how the girls hold hands. They either love each or pester each other. I climbed the tree with Bella again and Joel spun J around. I am looking forward to it cooling off...but I still can't believe Oct is just about here and Halloween and Christmas decorations are out.

J is into everything

Well Jeremiah is everywhere and into everything. Last week Joel was at the gym and I was home with the kids. After dinner we started baths. J and Gabby were first. When they were done I started rinsing Bella's hair. I thought J and Gabs were playing in the bedroom. Next thing I know my little man is handing me the Lysol tablet from the toilet and his mouth is full of bubbles. Well it was the first time I'd ever had to call poison control. Since he wasn't choking or gagging only burping up bubbles they said to just keep an eye on him. They called back 30 minutes later and there was no change so they said he'd be fine. He went to bed and woke up with a nice rash.

Yesterday as I was trying to corral the kids to the car to drop Bella off, Jeremiah decided it was a good time to try and crawl over a box. Well the box won and scraped right below his eye and down his cheek. He is keeping us on our toes.

I do have to say that he LOVES to eat and sing. When he gets in the car after day care he just sings away...I have no idea what he's singing but he's a happy guy just la-la-la-ing away. He also can put away some food. It is actually really impressive that he can eat more than his sisters. I guess since he always moving he needs the fuel, but I'm not sure how we're going to keep the house stocked with food when he gets bigger. He loves his Einstein ABC book too...he just carries it around and then sits down and opens the pages to look at the pictures...every time he sees the tiger he roars.

First day of big Kindergarten, pre-K and the toddler room

Well today was the start of many changes. Last night the girls laid out their clothes and knew they had to get up early....well Mommy had to get up early they already wake up at the crack of dawn. The girls said their prayers and Bella's prayer was so amazing..."God please be with me tomorrow. Watch over me. I am scared but know you will be there." It was so grown up to hear her ask for God to watch over her.

So it was no surprise when Gabby came in at 5:45 half dressed and wanting the tag cut off her sparkly new skirt. The girls got dressed and Daddy made their breakfast and Bella's lunch. Gabby wanted hair like Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. I took pictures of the girls outside then we woke Jeremiah up and changed his diaper and stuck him in the car with a waffle. I dropped him and Gabby off at Nana's and took Bella to school. I thought I could sneak in a photo of her on the playground, but she rolled her eyes and gave me a look like "come on mom really?". She obliged but the embarrassing parent eye roll already has started in Kindergarten. We found the frog balloon and her line and she put her backpack down. She went to the play ground and played for a bit. She looked a little lost and nervous. The bell rang and she got in line with the rest of the kids. She was so quiet and just looking around and taking it in. She seemed more nervous but I'm sure part of chaos is all the parents that were there and kids were crying. Mrs. Asta, her teacher, took the kids to the class and we waved good-bye. I was so proud of how brave she was.

I picked Gabby and Jeremiah up and headed for Tutor Time. We got there right when they were bringing her new class down. She was so excited and just marched around like she owned the place. We dropped her off and then Jeremiah was last.

I went to work but couldn't seem to focus. I kept wondering what Bella was doing and how Gabby was doing in her class. I seemed to watch the clock all day thinking about her eating lunch in the cafeteria for the first time and then going to recess (and what would happen to her lunch box). Then it was 2:40 and I knew she should be getting on the bus. I prayed for her safety. I prayed for her to find friends. I prayed for her to be brave and to believe in herself.

At 3:00 I headed to pick the girls up. Nana met me there with Hello Kitty suckers. Bella's bus hadn't arrived yet, but Erin told us that they had moved Jeremiah up that morning to the toddler room and he was loving it. Alot more room to walk and new things to climb on. Gabby kept peeking out of her door waiting for Bella. Erin said Gabby had asked where Bella was when the first bus arrived. Erin said her lip started to quiver when they told her Bella wasn't on it, but quickly reassured her that she would be there soon.

When the bus pulled in Gabby could see Bella through the bus window. She got so excited "there she is, I saw her in the bus". I took the girls for frozen yogurt so I could hear about their day. Bella grabbed Gabby's hand as we walked to the store. Bella said she had made friends with all the girls but could only remember one of their names was Savannah and there were alot of other Bella's in the class, so she would have to go by Bella N (makes me think of when Chad always called himself "Chad T"). She hadn't finished her lunch but ate the rest on the bus. Her shoes were full of sand from the playground. They had also had computer lab and worked on reading. She also said daddy had made the best lunch because everyone wanted what she had to eat (PB&J, Strawberries, Carrots, Chips and a few cookies). By the time all the yogurt was eaten both girls looked like they were going to fall asleep, so we opted for no swim lessons and headed to the mall instead to get Gabby a backpack. After the mall we pick up Jeremiah and Gabby fell asleep.

Once we got home and had dinner and baths everyone went to bed early. I am thankful Bella had a great day. I am thankful the girls are so close and even though they fight they would do anything for each other. I am thankful for our little man who just loves to learn and explore. He was so happy when I picked him up and asked him if he was in the big class...he got the biggest grin on his face and got this elated expression on his face that if he could talk he would have shared all his exciting new things he got to do too.

Well tomorrow is Day Two!

Jeremiah One Year

Our little man is One. How fast this year went. He was 23.2 pounds and 31.25 inches at his one year appt. He is an eating machine and I'm not sure how we'll afford to feed him. He loves his fruits (strawberries and bananas) and veggies (especially broccoli and green beans)...however he has yet to turn anything down. His favorite games are catch and cars. Now that's he's walking everywhere he is trying to climb everything. He loves the water - bath tub and swimming (and toilets). He is such a quick learner too...he's signing more and thank you. He loves his sisters and just lights up when he sees them. He also loves to snuggle blankets. He is just growing up too fast.

Jeremiah's first birthday

Last weekend we celebrated the little man's 1st birthday. The day started with Daddy taking J to the barbers to get a trim. His haircut makes him look so big. Pappa and Granna came in for the weekend and since J loves cars it was an appropriate theme. Papa T got Jeremiah a bouncy waterslide for his birthday. He loves it, but I think his sisters love it more.

Hanging out with his friend Jaymin whose 5 months.

Not quite sure about his cake. He had more fun flinging icing all over the place - floors, walls, windows.

One of Papa T's patients makes Indy Car Wagons, so this was his present from Papa and Nana.

This week he has started walking everywhere. He is so funny toddling around. I can't believe my baby is gone and we now have a toddler. I'm cherishing rocking him to sleep and his snuggles because I know they will soon be gone and he'll be too big.

Happy 4th of July

We had a laid back day. It rained on and off most of the morning. We headed over to Papa and Nana's house around 2 and the girls swam while Jeremiah took a nap. We kept it easy and picked up Rudy's BBQ...it really is amazing. The girls made banana splits with sprinkles. We ended the night with a few sparklers and fireworks. Jeremiah did not like the noise, but Bella kept going on and on about how beautiful they were.

Circus

Papa and Nana helped me take the kids to the circus while Joel was in Ohio for his grandpa's 85th birthday. Jeremiah loved it the most. When the horses came out he was jumping up and down, clapping and blowing kisses. He sat through the 2 1/2 hour show. Gabby was so into it too that she completely forgot about her snow cone.