Spring Festival

Each year the elementary school here in town puts on a Spring Festival in which grades Pre-K through fifth perform.

Jack did amazing singing and dancing to Phineas and Ferb's Gitchy-Gitchy-Goo.

Meet Marvin

I am a little behind on posting. One because the weather has been horrible and we haven’t really done too much and two the boys have been sick….constantly. In fact, since it is spring break this week, we were supposed to head to the city to spend the night in Bricktown and then head to Norman the next day to see the science museum; but because Beau was running a high temp and plagued with strep; Josh, Beau and I got to stay home while only Jack got to go with his grandparents, aunt and uncle and cousins. Maybe we’ll try a repeat of the trip this summer. Hopefully by that point-in-time my kids will be well…I’ll keep my fingers crossed but I won’t hold my breath.

Anywho, a couple of weeks ago, the hubby and Jack headed to Colorado to help Josh’s aunt and uncle move to Oklahoma. It happened to be the same weekend Jack got to bring the class pet, Marvin the Monkey, home.

Here are Marvin’s diary entries for their weekend together:

Friday, Feb. 6, 2010 - Today, I got to leave school early with Jack Brookshire. We headed to Jack’s house where we quickly loaded up his daddy’s truck so that we could begin our journey to Colorado in order to help his Aunt Jeannie and Uncle Bill move from Trinidad to Hinton. The trip was long but Jack took good care of me. We watched movies on his DVD player, ate lots of junk food and even took a nap. We reached our destination around 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7, 2010 - Today we all woke up early so that we could get a head start on loading up all the trucks and moving van with furniture, clothes, toys and dishes. Our plan was to leave Colorado around noon but we got held up a little when Jack and I had to make a visit to the Trinidad Emergency Room. While Jack was playing with his cousin Devin, Jack accidentally fell on his arm and everyone was scared he might have broken it. After having x-rays done, we discovered Jack had only sprained his arm. It was a huge relief and we finally got on the road to Oklahoma around 6:00. This time instead of riding in Jack’s daddy’s truck, we got to ride in the big U-Haul moving van with Uncle Bill. We finally got into Oklahoma around 4:30 in the morning and boy were we tired. Since it was so late, Aunt Jeannie and Uncle Bill got to have a sleepover at Jack’s house.

Sunday, Feb. 8, 2010 - Luckily, we all got to sleep in this morning because boy were we tired!. But then it was back to work. Everything we loaded onto the trucks and van yesterday, we had to unload into Uncle Bill and Aunt Jeannie’s new house. Then tonight, we got to go to Jack’s cousin Owen’s house for his third birthday party. It was a Dinosaur party and we ate hotdogs and cake and then played pin the tail on the dinosaur and watched Owen open his gifts. It was so much fun!

 

Field Trip

Regardless of how I feel about the name “Chester’s Party Barn” (admit it, that so does not sound like an appropriate place for little kids…or me for that matter), that is where Jack’s Pre-K class ventured on their very first field trip. 

The parents were asked to come along as well, so I loaded up my camera, lined up behind the school bus and 50 other cars, and off we went.

“Chester’s Party Barn” is located out in the sticks. Literally it was down dirt road after dirt road. And somehow along the way I got lost.

How I lose a big yellow school bus and 50 other cars is beyond me, but I did.

Stick me in a crowded city with road signs and I’m fine. But lead me down dirt roads surrounded by farms, and you might as well blind-fold me.

I digress. So, eventually (after having to ask for directions not once, but twice), I made it.

And despite the weather being crummy, the kids had a blast.

They road hay rides,

pumpkin bowled,

and decorated their own pumpkins among many other things.

And afterwards, miraculously, we all (including myself – although I was 2 miles short of running completely out of gas) found our way home.

Way to go, Jack!!

Last week, when Jack came home with his "naughty note", I quickly e-mailed his teachers and apologized for his behavior. I also asked that if he were to ever have a really good day, that they send home a "good note" as well.

I requested this so that I don't always feel like I am getting on to him. I feel it is important that children know when you are proud of them too and I want to be able to praise his behavior when the circumstances call for such.

So today when I picked up Jack and Beau from Mother's Day Out, Jack was so excited to see me and to tell me that he had gotten a good note today.

"Jack had a VERY good day today! He was attentive in class and played very well with others. Jack is a very sweet boy. We all have our "off days."

I wish I'd had my camera with me to capture how proud he was of himself. He even bragged to his Nana Robin when she came to pick up my nephew.

Way to go, buddy!

At wit's end

I am having such a hard time figuring out how this angelic face



can be such a little terror at his Mother's Day Out Program. In just a four hour period today, my little Jack received not one time-out but five. Reasons ranged from not listening during class to not participating in crafts and apparently he also hit someone.

I just don't know what to do because when we're at home or at church or even out in public he's one of the sweetest kids ever...very polite and for the most part very obedient. In fact, when I talked to him about what happened today at school he was telling me all about it nonchalantly, that is until he realized I was crying - and then he too started to cry and told me he didn't like seeing me upset. Don't get me wrong, he has his ornery moments at home too, but never anything like this.

I am terribly upset and beyond bewildered at how to handle this situation. I feel as if I am failing at being a good parent somehow and I don't know what to do about it.

And just so you all know, it is very hard for me to write all this down for the world to see. I am without a doubt one of those women that likes for others to see me and say "Wow, she really has it together." I guess I'm just trying to keep it real here.

Party pooper

Jack, even though his birthday is not until Monday, got to celebrate his turning four at Mother's Day Out today.

Privileges, like being the line leader, are awarded to you on your special day. There is also singing and blowing out of candles (or rather a candle - and it took him a couple of times but eventually he did get it blown out).

And there is even cake (provided by me of course)...

which Jack ultimately chose not to eat because he would get messy (what can I say? - he is his mother's son);

however, Beau could have cared less if it made him messy (he, without a doubt, is his father's son).

And by the way, have I mentioned I believe in prearranged marriages? When Beau turns 30, this is who he is allowed to marry.Dayona is a sassy little thing who will surely keep Beau in line (plus, I really like her parents).

Party animals

Mother's Day Out celebrated Halloween with a fall party yesterday. The teachers dressed up:

What could be more terrifying than a Doctor to a child? Beau who usually LOVES Mrs. Kimball refused to go to her yesterday morning.

And Jack said to Ms. Taylor, "Ms. Taylor, you look beautiful today"...so sweet, but I am a little worried about his perception of beauty.

As for the rest of the day, the kids enjoyed goodies like cookies, cupcakes and punch (they had a nice little sugar rush going on when they got home). There was also face painting, games, and pumpkin decorating; but neither Jack nor Beau made it home with either a pumkin or a painted face - why, I don't know. Never-the-less, they really seemed to have had a great time and once the sugar rush wore off, it was hello nap time!

Color me happy

Children are so perceptive.

Last week, Jack had a bad day at preschool. Whether it was from a lack of sleep or merely the fact that he is almost four and testing out his independence, I don't know. What I do know is that being informed by a teacher that your child was not on his best behavior that day is highly embarrassing.

So yesterday, when I dropped Jack off at preschool, I reminded him how important it was to be a good boy - follow directions, play nicely, etc. He said okay and off he went.

In the meantime, I went to the dollar store and bought Jack a new coloring book. It was a Disney one containing characters like Robin Hood, Peter Pan, Tarzan and Aladdin. If the teacher's report was better, the new coloring book was to serve as a reward, not a bribe (because the gesture was not premeditated).

Luckily, Jack was able to reap the rewards for his behavior and was so excited about his present.

"Mama, these are all good boys - just like me!" (Sadly, I had not thought of this myself when I bought the book.)

Where's the fire?

After a fireman visited Mother's Day Out today, Jack thought it was imperative that I know what to do in case of a fire:

"You've gotta stop runnin' around"...

"Drop down like this and cover your eyes"... (the covering your eyes thing really was news to me)"And roll on the ground... like this!" "And that's how you do it, mama!"

Draggin' tail

I picked up Jack from Mother's Day Out today and they told me Jack kept asking for a nap. What three-and-a half year old asks for a nap, especially while everyone else is playing? The good news is he did join the rest of his class in making chef hats and he even stepped outside of his comfort zone and colored it purple (normally it would have been blue)!!

As for Beau, I found him today in his toy basket. I'm not so sure he wasn't trying to climb up into his bed and go to sleep as well.

We have all been suffering from a bout of "stomach illness;" so I am sure that has something to do with their being so tired. Poor things...hopefully they will feel better soon, although having the house so quiet is kind of nice...What? - I'm not going to lie!

Big boys

The boys are cashed and my house is close to spotless all because of a little thing called Mother's Day Out. I realize I already wrote about this but I wanted to post of few pictures of Beau on his first day too.

In other news: Beau had his one year check-up yesterday and he is weighing in at a whopping 21 lbs. 8 oz. (he has jumped from being in the 25th percentile to the 30th percentile) and he is 29 inches tall (25th percentile).

Also yesterday, Jack had his very first dental appointment. He has no cavities but from his x-rays we can already see that his permanent teeth are overcrowded. Our poor children are destined to have bad teeth and have like a 1 in one-millionth of a chance of making it out of childhood without having permanent teeth pulled, braces, retainers, possibly gum graphs, etc...for all of that, their father and I can't apologize enough.

Emotional transition

I have been an emotional wreck lately. With Beau celebrating his first birthday, my turning 29 (again) at the end of this week and the thought of Jack going off to school this time next year, I decided I need some kind of transitional period; and a little down time for me to wrap my mind around and pray about all of the life-changes that are being thrown my way isn't such a bad thing either.

So today I dropped Jack off at Mom's Day Out, aka: pre-school. He will attend Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 until 12:30 and Beau will get to go on Thursdays for the same amount of time. Although it was really hard for me to send Jack off this morning, I know this is really a win-win situation for all of us. He and Beau get to be around other children in a Christian atmosphere, Jack is preparing himself for all-day every-day school next year, and after almost four years of playing mommy day-in and day-out, I finally get to have some me time.

Jack has been looking forward to today since open-house since last Thursday. He woke up bright and early this morning and exclaimed "The sun is up, I am ready to go to school right now!" He wasn't too enthused when I told him we had to wait an hour, so I fixed him some chocolate chip pancakes and we sat down for our first before-school breakfast (something my mom did for us every day growing up). Then we got ready for school and off we went. He let me take a few pictures but then he was gone...no kiss, no hug, no "I love you, mom." I hate to say it but I cried a little on the way home but quickly composed myself in order to have a fun play date with Beau.