Friday, August 28, 2009

Boys with backpacks






Jacob has started preschool! He wasn't too keen on posing with his backpack, but I got a couple random pics. Jacob was accepted into a program as a model peer. There are 8 kids with speech delays and 8 kids that are model peers. There are 5 teachers/helpers in there. He seems to really like it. I like that he is busy making things and playing with other kids. I like that he is learning schedules and how to listen to a teacher, etc. I love listening to him tell me about the things they did. It is five days a week and I am a little sad about that. I wanted it to be 3 days a week but I feel like this worked out for a reason. It is a hard program to get into since there are so few spots. The program for the model peers was supposed to start on Sept 8, but the head teacher wanted all the kids to start together. So, when I called on Monday, she told me he had a spot, but that I needed to come tomorrow. I was not quite prepared to lose Jacob yet, so I was a little sad to leave him there. But, I feel good about the program and that this is really good for him. And he will be prepared for school next year. And I really like that our cost is a huge $8/month. Isn't that amazing? If we qualified for free lunches, we wouldn't have to pay at all. I really feel like it is a blessing. Some of the preschools I looked into were from $220 for just two days a week all the way to $600 for 5 days.
I am excited for the one on one time with Michael. I can now schedule Michael's speech therapy and physical therapy and drs appts while Jacob is in school. This way Jacob doesn't just have to sit back and watch. Michael's physical therapist suggested for PT one day that Michael wear his little backpack with a couple small books in it for some strength training. He was excited to have a backpack like his brothers. :)
You know, I like change in small amounts, but this week has been too many changes for me. Jeremy started back to work on Monday after being off for most of the summer. And of course, auditions were that same night, then call backs and last night rehearsals started. But, he is excited that he is directing this year. And he is learning a lot about the concept of academic casting and all the details that the director is responsible for. He is directing The Diary of Anne Frank. It is going to be a busy semester for him. We will miss him, we are hoping to see him for dinner every night before he rushes back at 5:30.
Andrew started school last week and this week had his first afterschool art class. They offer it right after school on Wednesdays and they are making insects and reptiles, right up Andrew's alley. It is only $10 a month. We will see how this month goes. He liked making stink bugs and a dragonfly puppet.
And Michael has decided he is too big for his crib and is now sleeping in a big boy bed. I will post a picture later, he is so cute. I sang him to sleep last night and after I finished each song, he would sign more(or it could be that he just wanted the itsy bitsy spider again) until I watched his eyes close and he drifted off to sleep. It was so sweet to watch. It also saves my back from holding/rocking him right before I put him into his crib. :)
So, Jeremy went back to work and right into a play, Andrew is back at school and a new class, Jacob is in preschool, and Michael is sleeping in a big boy bed. And I am left jugglng everything making sure everyone is where they need to be at the right time and picked up at the right time, etc. (Jeremy is riding his bike to the bus stop to get to work, so I have helped him a couple times with drop offs and pick ups too. :) )I will get the hang of the schedule, but it so much all at once. Our summer was so laid back, but I am glad to be back to a schedule again. :)

Thursday, August 20, 2009

1st day of school and haircuts


New haircut!


Needs a trim


Crazy hair!


Look at all those curls!


First day of school and new haircut


New haircut and snapper pants

On Monday, Andrew started first grade. He was ready for the summer to be over and ready to tell everyone that his is six (apparently a requirement for 1st grade) and that Mrs. Nelson is going to be his teacher. He seems to be doing well. He told me that on the first day he only made a couple bad choices. :) They have a color card system for discipline and he says he has always stayed green. So, good news there. The bad news is no more dinosaur toys, but at least they have a whole box of dinosaur books. :) I miss him while he is gone.
Jeremy took the boys out on some errands with him and while out, a nice woman told Jeremy what a cute little girl he had. So, according to Dad that means haircut time. No little girls in this house. And since school was starting we trimmed everybody up. The before and after photos did not load in quite the right order. Oh, well.
Jacob has always been strong willed. He knows what he wants. And what he wanted for the past two weeks are his snapper pants. And Jacob loves them. Some people might call them overalls. I guess I am a little slow, because he became quite frustrated when I did not know where or even what snapper pants could be. His snapper pants were his wardrobe choice every day for the last two weeks. He didn't get to wear them everyday, there were two Sundays in there. :)

Monday, August 17, 2009





I am a little behind posting about our trip to Texas. Right before we left we met up with Lynne, Emily, Armando & Fam, Taylor, Justina and kiddos and celebrated Michael's birthday. So, the picture is of Michael with his birthday cupcake. We had a fun day and it was so nice to have everyone come to party with us. Taylor and his family came home with us that night and we hung out and had such a fun time.
We took our time driving to Texas, it felt like forever, but we finally made it and the kids were so happy to be out of the car. We were to happy to not have to hear are we in that part of Texas yet?
We had a great time. Michael had a hard time adjusting to all the new beds and different places and all of the family at different times. So, I didn't get very many pictures taken. Sad. But here are a few of them. We met the Lowe's at Rudy's, we had to have our Texas BBQ, one day right after we met Gideon for the first time. We all thought he was so adorable. It made me a little baby hungry - the feeling has since worn off :). The boys loved playing with Nathan and Mandy and all over Grandma's house. We met Bella and hung out with the Turpins - sadly I didn't have my camera, but I think Asia took one for me? We had a very fun time at the beach. The boys went to an Astro's game - Andrew didn't love the noise. We loved spending time with aunt Kathie. I am so glad we made it to Texas, but we are glad to be back home and settling back into real life.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

today

today i decided i do not want to have another child. today i can not handle the three i have. today has been full of crying, whining, throwing fits, screaming, biting, giving up. today i want to escape all by myself. today i am grateful that school starts next monday. today i feel like a horrible mother. tomorrow....