1st Day of School: 1st Grade, 8/19/10

Leyton & Nathaniel started school today. Quite a new adventure as they are in separate classes this year. It will be interesting to see their growth and changes with this experience. I love having them together, but I do think there will be some benefits for them to allow each of their strengths to come out a bit differently. They complement each other well, and they get along great. I think Nathaniel may have been a little nervous today, but he had a great day as I knew he would. I am proud of him because I think it was a little bit more new to him as he started with a new teacher. Leyton has the same teacher they had last year for kindergarten.

The interesting thing about Nathaniel is that I think often times he is the one that looks to Leyton for some guidance or help with decision making. For example, sometimes Nathaniel will decide on his own to play something, choose a color of something, etc., but then there are several times when he'll want to know what Leyton is doing and go from there. Leyton is very much like Patrick in that he's very laid back in choosing things and will pretty much be indifferent with a lot of decisions. Example: getting dressed. Nathaniel will want certain socks or shirt. Leyton is just happy if someone else gets it for him - "Whatever, Mom." So I see this trait with Nathaniel as somewhat of a security zone for him, to have that familiarity with what he's used to, with what Leyton might be doing and want to do the same. Even more interesting is that looking at this "comfort zone" factor, it's actually Nathaniel that seems to be the social guy. Whenever we talked to parents even early last year, they seemed to usually mention that the boys were very nice, but also mention that they had lots to say about Nathaniel. Sometimes it was sweet in that it was the girls' families; nice that we have a number of very good and nice families at school. He always got a shy little grin about him.

And my Leyton. Like I said, a roll with the punches guy. Unless he's tired and/or in a growth spurt that exhausts him, he's pretty low key and laid back. Nothing phases him and frankly, a lot of things come easy to him. He's typically willing to help out, but will use the "in a minute" answer when he's into something else. Just more of the laid back thing, though...i.e. well, you know, I am laying on the couch right now. Hee, hee. He is a very sweet and loving boy.

I feel blessed that they are both very sweet and caring older brothers to all their siblings. I think we expect a lot of them, but I also think they do a great job of being nice young boys. I enjoy where they are in life, but I don't look forward to any first days of school coming too quickly. I'm sure it can be a time to reflect on one year to the next, and I don't want to let the time fly too quickly.

Have a great year, boys! (And tune in tomorrow for Jacob's first day!)

Anne is Growing and Changing

Watching Anne lately has sure been a hoot. She is a sweetie. She loves clapping, playing peek-a-boo, waving, and moving around. Hard to believe she's 13 1/2 months. Still such a happy girl. In the last day or two, she's picked up a new thing - she'll stand up in her high chair. The first time I saw this, it caught me off guard as she is the first of our children to do that! Just stands right up, with the tray on, and looks around to see what everyone is doing if they're not in front of her. Usually, she'll flash a cute wrinkled nose smile when you call out to her. For some reason, too, when I hold her, she just really wants to be perched on my hip and pushes against me until she gets there. For fun, she also plays "equal opportunity parents" with us (i.e. when one of us holds her, she literally reaches out for the other person just until she gets transferred, then wants back again). I have to say, though, I typically get the last hold, and as Mom, I'll love that for as long as it lasts.

Yes, Sweet Pea is definitely just that. I enjoy each stage, but it will be fascinating to hear her thoughts when she starts chattering more words.

Leah on the Phone

When I'm at work, if time permits, I call home to tell the kids good night and to say hi to Patrick. Usually, when Patrick answers, he will say, "Hi, Dreamboat." Well, Leah has been hearing this. On two different occasions (the latter was last night), this is the interpretation:

1) Patrick, "Hi, Dreamboat."
Leah: "I want to talk to Dreamboat, I want to talk." (at this point, she didn't know who
Dreamboat was)
Patrick gives her the phone and she says, "Hello?" I tell her hello and she says, "It's
Mama! Daddy, it's Mama on the phone! Hi, Mama!" ...and the conversation goes on.

2) Patrick, "Hi, Dreamboat." We talk for a few minutes and then it's Leah's turn. She gets on
the phone and says, "Hi Mama. What are you doing? Mom, Dad did call you Rainbow!"
I said, "What did he call me?"
She repeated, "Rainbow!"

Just worth a chuckle or two to me. The actual true nature of each and every phone call with each of the kids is:
1) "Hello."
2) "Mom, what are you working on?", "What kind of medicine?", "Oh."
3) "Mom, will you lay by me _____ (-insert 1st, 2nd, 3rd, last for each conversation) when you get home?"
4) "I love you, bye, I love you, bye, I love you, bye, I love you, bye."
5) "See you in the morning."
Repeat, repeat, etc.

Sunday Afternoon at the Farm

As I mentioned, while we were on our trip to the fair, we were able to stop by our friends' Dwayne & Dawn's house for a little tractor ride. Dwayne was so kind to volunteer this...the kids really liked it and I'm sure will remember it for a long time. I really had no idea the tractor cab was big enough that they could all four ride in there with him at the same time. He took them down the road and they stopped at one of the fields and they each got a corn cob. He's invited us several times before, but the timing just hadn't worked out. He also invited us back in mid-September for harvest - then they could ride in the combine. We're thinking about trying to work that in - sure would be a fun fall activity!

Little Girls are Made of...

...Sugar and spice and everything nice...

We are having a lot of fun exploring Leah's new hair styles. I'm getting some practice! Yesterday, she wanted pig tails for the first time. I told her how nice it looked and how it was different and she'd never had her hair like that. She said, "Yeah, I did see it at the t-ball game, and I thought it was cute." Oh she's precious. Tonight, however, I gave the boys haircuts - 3 buzz cuts as they requested. What did Leah want? Of course, a buzz cut. So, remember these pictures - she sure looks different tonight!

~~~Just kidding. I couldn't do that...even though she said she really wanted it. I gave her a very minor trim for her own sake. Always my fear she'll decide, "Well, if Mom won't cut it, I guess I have to."

Vocabulary Lessons

"Silly beans": Leah's explanation of what caused her horrific breakout of hives at the fair last week. I think it's a combination of her familiarity with silly bandz along with the fact that we think her reaction started when she played in the SOY BEANS in Agriland (i.e. similar to a sand box, but filled with soy beans - next to the corn "box" and the wheat "box").

"Squirt": Leah's term when she got dressed yesterday in a frilly little cute brown SKIRT that I bought her. In context, "Mom, did you buy this squirt for me? And that other one?" Cute.

"Popsicle Juice": Jacob's term for a snack he actually sometimes prefers over the actual popsicle. You know, the kind that are enclosed in plastic that you buy as liquid & freeze them when you get home. Jacob said, "Mom, I saw popsicle juice at the store; can we buy that sometime?"

Whew, time flies when you're having fun!

Wow, so Beth brought to my attention last night that my last post was "July 22 to be exact." Just been busy, I guess. That week after the 22nd, Patrick was gone pretty much all week with work and then last week we made the big trip to the Washington Town & Country F-A-I-R! After a tiring week for all of us, it was nice to take a break and have some fun on a mini-vacation before school starts next week. And, Patrick was even able to take a day off! Yes, that's right; I worked last Monday & Tuesday evening, then I left with the kids on Wednesday morning. Patrick rode the Amtrak into Washington on Thursday evening.

So, updates to be made and pictures to share. I need to get caught up on a lot of things, why not start with memories - before I forget!