Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

The weather ain't the only thing changing around here.

When did this happen?

 From baby.....

......to boy.

He doesn't call himself "Na-Na" anymore.  Now he's Mikey.

Or Blue Guy.

He talks CONSTANTLY.  He's started to use the potty.  He will often times refuse to sit in his "baby chair" and demand to be called a "big kid".  Sometimes, the only thing that can slow that boy down is food.

He can also be a pretty nasty little dude.  Yesterday was one of those times.

He walked around the house trashing whatever project Katie happened to be working on or just moseying up to her (or me) and either hitting, pinching or pulling hair.

Nothing I could do would stop him.  I tried basic reprimanding ("NO!  We don't pull hair!").  This progressed to an attempt at Time Outs on the steps.  No such luck. That turned into the "Mommy Catch Me As I Run Away From The Time Out Place Game".

Finally, it ended with me strapping him into his booster chair for a Time Out in the kitchen away from Katie.  That seemed to do the trick.  He actually stopped beating on his sister for a little while.

I know.  This has TWO written all over it.  Huzbend reminded me yesterday that Katie went through the same nastiness.

Moving On.

Last week, he spent his first day at preschool without me and Katie.  It went pretty well.  He stopped crying in less than a minute thanks to the greatness of the teacher and the total awesomeness of my Mommy friends.  He made it all the way until outside time before he broke down.  Um.  Yeah.  I was still there.  I didn't really leave.  I just hid out in the school to see how it went.  This week, I will attempt to actually leave the premises.  I promise.  Maybe.

Katie is still liking kindergarten.  She's made some friends - most of them boys.  I think she really digs math even though she tells me that it's boring.  It's the one thing that she actually seems to want to work on.  Letters and reading....not so much.  It's kinda like pulling teeth.

I visited the teacher this week for "Curriculum Night".  She went over all the stuff that the kids are going to learn this year.  It seems that Kindergarten is now First Grade.  Wow.  I wonder how it will turn out.  Will Katie still dig school four or even eight months from now?

It feels like a lot of that success rests with me and my ability to enforce what she's learned in school at home.  That might be a problem.  You see, I can't get her to do the homework I give her without her turning it into an art project of some kind.

"But, Mommy.  The 'K' is a daisy.  The 'a' is a sunflower.  There's the 't' it's kinda big.  Here's the 'i' with a star on it and the 'e' looks like a clam shell!"

Sigh.

Blog = Good

I just wanted to say that I am SO glad that I started this blog thing.

This year Mikey goes two days a week to preschool.  One day where I go with him and the other day is supposed to be his "drop off" day.  I can leave him and go.

I was curious to see if I had mentioned anything about this process back when I went through it with Katie.  So, I just went back through my blog to see.

I got sucked in and spent thirty minutes reading various entries about Katie as a two year old.  It was awesome.

God.  How quickly you forget what they were like back then because you're too busy looking forward to what's next!

I feel so lucky that I have this record of thoughts and feelings that I can pull up at any time.  It helps me remember the good times and the bad.  Important details (like the fact that Katie called herself "you" all the time when she was two) that are lost to the daily grind are brought back.

I also feel some pressure though.  Some of those posts were quite witty, if I do say so myself.  Did I have more time back then?  I certainly didn't get more sleep.  Hmmm.  Maybe I'm just getting dull in my old age.

So, I gotta do some more posts about life in general and a few less posts with just pictures and captions.

I gotta get more videos too.

Mikey's first day of school was on Tuesday and it was also my "work day" - my day to stay at school with him.  He spent most of the class following me around with his hand grabbing the inside of my shorts.  He DID participate in circle time though, which was great to see.  He danced with me and did all the "action" songs ("touch your ears....touch your nose...").  He also sat quietly and calmly BY HIMSELF to listen to one of his favorite stories, "Owl Babies" - which the Teacher had to cut short because 3/4's of the class were running around like nut cases.  Such is the way with two year olds.

After we took Katie to the bus that afternoon, we came home and he just about passed out on me as I was reading a story before nap time.  The first time that has ever happened.

Katie is loving kindergarten.  She's told me that she wants, "to go to kindergarten FOREVER!"  I told her that, "By the time June rolls around, it will have felt like FOREVER!"

I try to ask her every day what her favorite and not-so-favorite part of kindergarten was that day.  Her first ever response to this question was, "My favorite part was recess.  My not-so-favorite part was when we were coloring our gingerbread man and I could only use scissors and markers but I wanted to use scissors, markers, crayons, pencils, glue...."  Stifling her creativity, they are.  Her recent answers to this same question have been:  favorite - any art project they do or outside activity and her not-so-favorite part - leaving for the day.  Let's hope we can keep that going.

What about me, you ask?  Me?  I'm doing good.  August and the beginning of September were stressful.  All the prep garbage that my preschool job requires me to do, worrying about how Katie would like kindergarten, birthdays, school orientations, Mikey starting preschool and such.  It wore me down.  But, we're past all the work and the worry.  It's just rolling along now.  Getting into a rhythm of sorts.

I completed P90X (the "lean" program) over the summer and now have started running and lifting with Huzbend on odd days during the week.  It's good to get back into some sort of exercise regimen.

Okay.  I did say that I needed to do more text based posts.  But not rambley ones.

I'm off to await the "Awakening".

Soon, Mikey will start putzing around in his crib eventually calling out, "MOMMY!  WANT JUICE & WAFFLE!"

Soon after, Katie will decide that she has had enough sleep and will yell out, "COME WAKE ME UHHHHHH-UP!!!!!" in her sing-songy voice.

And the day will officially start.

East Coast Invasion - Part Two

 Say hello to Aunt Kari and Uncle Andrew.

"Hi, Kehwie an Anndew!"

They came all the way across the country to visit us

and to see a whole bunch of stuff near us.

We joined them for a little Seattle sightseeing.

Here we are on the Seattle Monorail.

FASTER!!!!

We wandered Pike Place Market for a while before sitting

ourselves down to munch some hotdogs, bagel,

mac & cheese and ice cream.

After lunch, it was off to visit some local

sea life at the aquarium.

"HI!  OCKERPUSS!"

Mikey and Andrew had some deep conversations.

Someone was getting pretty tired......

.....so we headed back to Seattle Center.

We hit the Space Needle before we left.

For some reason, Katie was scared of falling so we had to sit inside.

It was then that Mikey decided to start

screaming "NO!" at the top of his lungs.

Hilarious.

Sigh.

It was time to go home to play with blocks

and eat pizza.

The next day we headed on up

to Franklin Falls.

We did a bit of hiking and had 

a picnic lunch on the side of the trail.

"CHEEEESE"

There's always time to stop

and play in a giant hollow tree.

Uncle Andrew was nice enough to snap a pic of

us at the Falls.

Ooops.  Wrong picture.

Here we go.

What a difference three years makes....

We had a good time lounging in the sun

and watching many, MANY, people

fall into the water while climbing on slippery rocks.

The entertainment was endless.

Not sure what they are talking about, but knowing

Mikey it was either about rocks or bugs.

I coulda stayed there all day, but we started to run

out of food.  And kids without snacks

are REALLY cranky.

The next day, Kari and Andrew had to move on to the second part of their

trip and so off they went to Mt. Rainier and points south.

Thanks for coming to visit!

We had a really great time

and the kids miss you.

They say that you can come and play

blocks with them anytime!

The First Day of School

 It was time.

Time for kindergarten.

Katie got out of bed that morning and the first thing she said while bouncing

up and down was, "I want to go to kindergarten, RIGHT NOW!"

Then she got all serious and her next words were, 

"Am I going to learn how to read today?"

To say that she was excited about school would

be an understatement.

Finally, after hours of semi-patiently waiting, it was time

to head to the bus stop.

Off we go!

"YAY!  I CAN'T WAIT!"

"It's okay, bud.  Don't be sad.  I'll be back

after school."

Finally, after an agonizing wait of about 5 minutes,

the bus pulled up.

There is only one other kindie kid that gets

on the bus with Katie.  As the bus driver motioned for the kids

to enter the bus, Katie practically knocked him

down sprinting to get on the bus.

True story.

Her bus to school is not a standard size bus,

and so it has seat belts.

Katie plunked herself down and before I got on board

she had already buckled her seatbelt and 

was working on tightening it.

She plunked her bag on her lap and was ready to go.

I gave her a kiss, said good bye and we got off the bus.

And with a smile and a wave......

.....she was gone.

She's only had two days of school so far.  But, she has really

liked both days.  They've read stories, colored and drew pictures,

done some projects, sung songs and she even has "recess".  

There hasn't been much mention

of "making friends" - but there is a girl

that sits behind her that has a fairy backpack.

She doesn't know anyones name except

the teacher and the kid she rides the bus with.

She seems okay with that.  So, I'm not pushing it.

She does admit that there are some "boring parts."

Specifically the first day when they had to "learn the

rules of the school" and the time they spend in the morning

"going over the calendar and counting the days we've been

in school."

All in all, she's only had positive things to say.

I'm so proud and yet kinda sad at the same time. 

I'm elated that she feels so secure and confident.  That she had virtually

no fear of getting on that bus and traveling to a new place

filled with totally unknown people.

I'm sad at the fact that we get to spend less

time together.  That she now has a part of her

life that is going to be a semi-mystery to me.  I'll only get my information

from what she decides to tell me about every day.  I know the "three R's" are important,

but I'm sad that she won't have as much freedom at school to

choose what she wants concentrate on - like art; which she really loves.

But, I guess this is just the beginning of many such

journeys for us.

She's totally cool with it, it's just me that has to get used to it.

The Giant End Of August Post

Well, we said good bye to the family that were here visiting,

the birthday's were all over, and

now it was time for a little family VAY-CAY!

We hopped in the car and booked it on up

to Deception Pass for a little camping adventure.

Here we see Mikey assisting Daddy with tent set-up.

"I love camping!  I love camping!

Oh, wait a minute.  That's not right.

I love marshmallows!  I love marshmallows!"

Not so fast, missy.

Dinner first.

"Whaddaya mean you didn't bring the parm?"

Mmmmmmmmmmmm.

Double mmmmmmmmmmm.

(We did end up eating marshmallows that night before we went to sleep.

Never fear.  I'll have Marshmallows: Round 2 pictures below.)

Because Katie had to leave her sword and shield at home,

she fashioned a new weapon using some

local sea weed.

Dah-dun-dun-dah!!!!

"Fortune and glory, kid.  Fortune and glory."

We spent all morning exploring the beach

and climbing on the rocks and driftwood.

After lunch, Little Man (with the help of Mommy's company) collapsed for a

nap in the tent.  Huzbend and Katie went off exploring.

When they came back, it was quiet time 'cause Mikey was STILL

asleep.

Katie busied herself

with a princess coloring book.

Huzbend busied himself with a nap.

After dinner that night, it was time for MORE MARSHMALLOWS!!!

Honestly, isn't that really why people go camping?

The next day we said goodbye to Deception Pass,

but not before stopping at its famous landmark.

The Bridge.

Here we are on the bridge.

You can walk across it.

It is high.

And scary.

This is what it looks like from far away.

Yeah.

You can walk on that puppy.

Camping fun was done.

On to the next adventure.

The AMUSEMENT PARK!!!!

First up, freezing cold water rides!

Whoooo-hooooo.....brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Marshmallows are to camping

as ice cream is to amusement parks.

With the ice cream polished off, it was time

for some rides.

We picked this boat on purpose.

You'll know why if you read the name on it.

Katie was tall enough to do a lot more rides this year.

Here she is experiencing "tea cups" for the first time.

Mikey wanted to hit the big rides too.  But no luck.

Just too small.  He had to stick with the lame-o kiddie rides.

"Can't this thing go any faster?  I

think I might RUN faster than this, Mom."

We did get to go on a ride that got you up high.

Mikey liked it.

With all the adventuring done for the week, we decided

it was time to chill at home.

If this doesn't scream rock star, I don't know what does.

This is what happens when you eat chocolate

Easter bunnies in the summer.

Next up it was a trip to the country fair.

Katie is REALLY into rides now.

The kids also fell in love with this calf.

We almost had to take it home with us.

Katie and Mikey spent about 30 minutes petting and talking to it.

"Mommy!  Wook!  A bwack cow laying in da grass!!"

As you can see, we spent a lot of time looking at cows.

All that cow gazing can work up an appetite for dairy products.

It was time for a little frozen treat.

Chocolate ice cream!!

(Well, really it was frozen yogurt.  It's the only thing 

they had in soft serve.  It's an allergy thing.)

You would think that we would be all adventured out by this time.

Nope.  Not us.

We were (actually, I should say Mikey was) invited on a "Potty Chart Reward Boat Ride".

We hopped on a ferry with our pals

Logan and Sienna (and their parents too).

Before we departed, little Baylor joined the party.

What a beautiful PNW day.

We got off the ferry on the other side and

sat down to have a nice

picnic dinner.

The kids had a great time running around like crazy.

Sienna and Mikey got to have some alone time too.

Phew.

What a month it was.

Mikey was so tired that one day

he took a matching game to nap with him........

......and ended up with turnips stuck to his head.