My Beautiful Mess

Today, unbeknownst to this guy, was “Nerd Day” at school. God love him!

So blogging has not been a big priority for me this month, obviously. Maybe it is because I haven’t felt too good for most of it (sinus stuff); maybe it is because we had a tornado come, once again, way too close to our house; maybe it is because I have been irrationally consumed with books about vampires; maybe it is the grief that can seem to sneak in when I am not looking; OR maybe it is because we have been so stinkin’ busy! Whatever it has been, today seems like the first day I can think clearly and look back at what we have been up to. Care to join me???

The month started off with Cooper’s 1st grade class hosting the school’s weekly Friday assembly. Each class gets a chance to do this throughout the year. Coop’s teacher decided to have them dress-up like what they want to be when they grow up. They are currently working on “publishing” a class book with the same theme. So here is my “National Geographic Scientist who Digs for Dinosaur Bones”….

Next came the 100th Day of School - a little later than planned due to the 3 snow/ice days we had. As soon as Drew knew he could bring something to school, he wanted to bring Dory, the 5-inch stuffed fish with which he sleeps (try finding that thing every night - let me tell ya, Dory is good at hide-n-seek!). So we made a poster with 99 Dories - and his Dory was number 100….

Cooper’s class did all kinds of cute things for 100 Day but this one really hit home with me. He made a picture of himself at 100 years old and then filled in the sentence, “When I am 100 years old, I will…..”

Don’t know if you can read that, but he put “…go to the groshe stor (grocery story).” Oh Lord, I HATE going to the grocery store now - I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to go when I was 100!

Cooper’s class also did a one-song musical performance with the music teacher this month. This also happened to be the same day the tornado came - at least all 3 of us where together in one of the “safe rooms” at the school, which I did consider safer than my entryway coat closet! (sorry for the scary eyes in the pic below! I promise it was not an evil song!)

Did I mention it is only February 16th? Because I still have more to show you…no wonder I am so tired!

In each class The Boys are in, every student gets a turn being the “special student” of the week. In Drew’s class, you are the Super Star of the Week. So home came the star which we decorated with lots of pictures - and then the whole family got to come to his class that morning to see him present his star.

The Pre-K teacher makes it even more special by having each kid in the class say something nice about the Super Star; even the teachers say something about them and then so does the child’s family. She is an incredible teacher! She and her husband also have an incredibe ministry. Check it out here and here.

And then this week, Cooper gets to be the Honeybee Helper of the week. So home comes his scrapbook page to decorate with his choice of pictures.

Not included in here is the Valentine’s Day parties in each of their classrooms, 3 trips to see the doctor for 3 separate family members, the last basketball games of the season, and a lost tooth! ALL in February! And I thought this was a short month…

First-grader. That’s a tough one to type out! Can’t believe he is so big! Now he takes his backpack and a lunchbox. Now he plays on the Big Kids’ playground. Now he sits at a desk.

Now he is more tired, being at school all day. Tired but “good”. That is the word I keep hearing anyway….How was school? Good. How was your day? Good. How’d everything go today? Good.

We did have one not-so-good moment on the first day of school, however. Somewhere between me and the teacher and Big Man, there was confusion about how he was getting home. So while I waited at the bus stop with my camera, he was waiting in the Parent Pick-Up area at the school. After the panic of not seeing him get off the bus passed, the feeling of “shmuckness” settled in. He was much braver than Mom though, as usual. And very forgiving. So this is the pic I got after the second day of school (our ornery neighbor is in the forefront!)…

What an adventure this year will be!

Little Man started Pre-K this week. Slowly but surely, we’ve gradually learned some of what he does during the 2 1/2 hours he is at school. He is a man of few words and has a hard time remembering what happened 5 minutes ago but I have learned a few things over the past three days. I know he has had a snack, played on the playground, played with play dough, dug for sea shells in a tub of dried beans, watched a Clifford The Big Red Dog show, and his teacher read a book.

I have learned to not ask too many questions though. Today during my after-school questioning session, I was told, Mom, I’m done talking now. But then as we quietly sat at the mall food court eating our lunch, he filled me in on some details all on his own.

He came home from his first day of school wearing a “Super Kid” sticker - he was sooo proud of it. He told me about an incident in which some kid tried to take a train away from him. But Little Man proudly stated, I didn’t cry though, Mom. (Little Man is very expressive with his emotions!) I didn’t get sad or mad all day and that’s why I am a Super Kid!

You truly are one Super Kid, baby!

Well, it is the last day of summer vacation. Tomorrow The Boys will begin school, which I can’t even type without getting teary. Tomorrow, The Oldest will begin first grade - he’ll be at school all day - do you hear me, ALL DAY! I know every child has to go through this monumental moment but when it is your child, it’s like you are the only mom going through it.

And then there is The Youngest. He’ll go to Pre-K everyday - do you hear me, EVERY DAY! Luckily, I’ll have him home for lunch - though I don’t think he thinks he’s as lucky - he will definitely miss his brother in the afternoons. He wants to pack his lunch box too!

So since it is raining, raining, raining today and the zoo became out of the question, we met friends for lunch and then came to Unpluggits. Have you been? Well, you need to! We had been only one other time, and I was so impressed! It has a supper huge indoor playground with all kind of slides and tunnels to crawl through. And then there is an arts and crafts area. Included in the price of admission is painting, stamping, stencils, and playdough. But then you can pay extra for such crafts as painting ceramics or leather work or beads. They have free wifi, cheap snacks, and a great area for the parents with leather couches and chairs. You can also do parties here. You pay one price and can stay all day (10am-8pm) if you want or come and go throughout the day! Check out their website and then come on over to play!

But tomorrow you won’t find me here. Tomorrow you’ll find me counting the hours until schools out - out in May for the next summer vacation.