I had no idea how good we had it back before August 13, 2014. Back before "real" school started. We could go aaaaanytime and do what we wanted when we wanted. Now we have to be out THERE vacationing with everyone else; the crowds, the lines, in the sweat of summer. UGH! I know, how dramatic are you? I have my moments. It's just interesting to look back now a year later and realize the journey we were about to take, while awesome, was also a HUGE lifestyle change. Oh well, shoulda, coulda, woulda.
2014 End of Summer Countdown
A few last minute moments of summer fun before we ALL officially start the school rat race.
Facebook - August 4, 2014:
"Look
what happens when I ignore my children to clean the house. They
get...creative? They are SO proud of their invention! What is it?
It's a dinosaur cutter, duh. Oh think of the fun and bonding we will have when we clean it all up! :)"
I am a little OCD and if you go to my house you will learn the rule, "Sit down or get down." but something wonderful happened in this moment. I learned there are times you need to let go and let them get messy and worry about cleaning it up later, no matter how much it goes against every fiber of your being! They had so much fun. They laughed, bonded, and celebrated together when I told them it was ok. They also cried together when I told them we finally had to clean it up. I'm not gonna lie. That was kinda my favorite part. Whaaaat?! They learned a valuable life lesson. Parenting win!
Aquarium 8/5/2014
One more museum before our summer ends with some of our best friends. Watching these little people laugh and explore does the child in your grown up heart good.
Swimming 8/10/2014
This is one of my favorite summer moments. Hanging by the pool with my brother and sisters family watching our kids play. These moments are few and far between so I really cherish them. It's not like they live very far away. It's just the way life happens sometimes. It was a great way to end our summer.
I had no idea how good we had it back before August 13, 2014. Back before "real" school started. We could go aaaaanytime and do what we wanted when we wanted. Now we have to be out THERE vacationing with everyone else; the crowds, the lines, in the sweat of summer. UGH! I know, how dramatic are you? I have my moments. It's just interesting to look back now a year later and realize the journey we were about to take, while awesome, was also a HUGE lifestyle change. Oh well, shoulda, coulda, woulda.
2014 End of Summer Countdown
A few last minute moments of summer fun before we ALL officially start the school rat race.
A few last minute moments of summer fun before we ALL officially start the school rat race.
I am a little OCD and if you go to my house you will learn the rule, "Sit down or get down." but something wonderful happened in this moment. I learned there are times you need to let go and let them get messy and worry about cleaning it up later, no matter how much it goes against every fiber of your being! They had so much fun. They laughed, bonded, and celebrated together when I told them it was ok. They also cried together when I told them we finally had to clean it up. I'm not gonna lie. That was kinda my favorite part. Whaaaat?! They learned a valuable life lesson. Parenting win!
Facebook - August 4, 2014:
"Look what happens when I ignore my children to clean the house. They get...creative? They are SO proud of their invention! What is it? It's a dinosaur cutter, duh. Oh think of the fun and bonding we will have when we clean it all up! :)"
Aquarium 8/5/2014
Swimming 8/10/2014
This is one of my favorite summer moments. Hanging by the pool with my brother and sisters family watching our kids play. These moments are few and far between so I really cherish them. It's not like they live very far away. It's just the way life happens sometimes. It was a great way to end our summer. 
SchoolThe summer is over and jumpin' jehoshaphats we are going to have a kindergartener in our house! Like, he's going to REAL school. That other guy is going to preschool! Oh my there is so much to worry about. Quick, push the parental panic button!
Kinder Pre-Screen: Before our big boy officially became a big bad kindergartener there was a little kindergarten pre screening that took place to make sure that each class gets a good mix of children based on their incoming knowledge. They quiz the kids on upper and lower case letters, shapes, colors, and numbers. Of course Kaz aced it but the evaluator started to notice he was becoming a little agitated. Finally when he was asked to count as high as he could, he stopped and sighed. She turned to me and said, "How high can he count?" "At least to 100, 120 by ones and he can count by 5s, 10s, 100s to 1000, and he can count by 2's up to 20." "Ok, so he's ready for first grade." She tried to reengage him with another question off of her questionnaire and he shut down. I asked Kaz to read the question to her. He did. She then decided at that point there was no need to continue.
Panic button engaged! What in the world are they going to be able to teach him? He's going to be bored and discouraged. He'll never make it into Harvard if they can't keep him engaged now. Silly? Yes, but it's my first time! I'm allowed and EXPECTED to panic a little.
August 7, 2014
Zane attends the "Meet the Teacher" day at his new preschool (wearing the same shirt his brother did on his first day - I couldn't deny myself the cuteness of it all). These teachers have no idea what's coming their way and quite honestly neither do I. Insert parental panic button! Will I get a phone call one day asking me to pick him up and never return him? Will he go InZane in the Membrane? I've been around enough parents to know, kids are "different" when they are not with YOU. Ahhh, the button has been disengaged...FOR NOW.
August 11, 2014
Zane's first official day of preschool! He is READY, excited, and keeps talking about how he's a big boy now. I am MORE than ready! Zane needs this. I need this! I will not apologize for that. So often I see mom's who cry and are torn up about sending their kid to school. NOT ME! I think it's fantastic! HE thinks it's FANTASTIC! Why would I be sad about bringing us so much happiness. Go get em boy! Get your happiness on!
Facebook - August 13, 2014:
"I did NOT cry! Shhhh, don't talk about it...must...hold...it together!"
The day is finally here. First day of kindergarten! Our little guy is officially a BIG guy in the big bad world of public school. He is going to learn awful terrible things that he will think are funny! He will be taught bodily functions are hilarious. Girls are yucky. Boys can be mean. And there is nothing I can do to stop it! I just have to hope we can instill enough confidence in him to stand apart from the nonsense and deprogram him every night the best we can.
Of course the first thing I did was request a mini conference with the teacher. Yes, I did! Stop rolling your eyes. Look, it's my duty as a parent to give my kid and the teacher a leg up. Your eyes are gonna stick like that! As much as it pained me to point out that Kaz was a little different, it was the right thing to do in the long run. We talked about his Hypotonia and Sensory Processing and I gave her tips on how to help him and her. I also let her know that he was not there to learn his ABC's. He was there to focus on writing (fine motor skills), socialization, and problem solving. It's not fair for her to have to figure this stuff out on her own. Okay, I pressed the panic button! Whatever, I felt better!
A couple of weeks later the teacher met with each student to personally assess their level of knowledge. Letters and numbers are flashed up on a screen and the student is suppose to try to read them aloud. There was lots of sighing and in the middle of it Kaz got up out of his chair, started to walk out of the room and said,
"I'm done with this. I'm out of here."
Panic button pressed! The teachers too.
August 14, 2014
Now that Kaz is in school, Zane get's to have his own personal fun. Going to the park is a treat for Zane. I'm an awful Momma. I don't take my boys to the park. Hear me out! Zane is a runner and Kaz is a panic-er (where does he get it). Zane runs away. I run after Zane. Kaz freaks out. Sooooo we don't park when it's just me. With that said, Zane LOVED Kaz's 2nd day of school. A park all to himself! And I didn't have to hit the parental panic button.
Facebook - August 15, 2014:
"Huh? That's what "shhh" sounds like. I'm not gonna lie. I'm a little creeped out."
Just in case you didn't know, the silence of an empty home is DEAFENING. But, I can definitely get used to this. There is a certain level of pride and joy that comes from a moment like this. Our boys are growing up and their independence is flourishing. While that can be frustrating (when they don't tow the line) it's wonderful to watch them figure things out and become the people they are going to be. Lord, let them be good people with loving giving hearts, compassion, and may they posses the strength of confident independence and forward thinking to guide them through their life choices. AAAAAMEN!
I'm hoping as the school years wear on there will be less panic buttons pushed but I know there are whole new set I've yet to see. This is what we signed up for. You are suppose to panic a little when you board the crazy train. Eventually you can just sit back and enjoy the ride, right? RIGHT?!
Say What?
Funny/quirky quirks my kids said and did.
The day is finally here. First day of kindergarten! Our little guy is officially a BIG guy in the big bad world of public school. He is going to learn awful terrible things that he will think are funny! He will be taught bodily functions are hilarious. Girls are yucky. Boys can be mean. And there is nothing I can do to stop it! I just have to hope we can instill enough confidence in him to stand apart from the nonsense and deprogram him every night the best we can.
Of course the first thing I did was request a mini conference with the teacher. Yes, I did! Stop rolling your eyes. Look, it's my duty as a parent to give my kid and the teacher a leg up. Your eyes are gonna stick like that! As much as it pained me to point out that Kaz was a little different, it was the right thing to do in the long run. We talked about his Hypotonia and Sensory Processing and I gave her tips on how to help him and her. I also let her know that he was not there to learn his ABC's. He was there to focus on writing (fine motor skills), socialization, and problem solving. It's not fair for her to have to figure this stuff out on her own. Okay, I pressed the panic button! Whatever, I felt better!
A couple of weeks later the teacher met with each student to personally assess their level of knowledge. Letters and numbers are flashed up on a screen and the student is suppose to try to read them aloud. There was lots of sighing and in the middle of it Kaz got up out of his chair, started to walk out of the room and said,
"I'm done with this. I'm out of here."
Panic button pressed! The teachers too.
August 14, 2014
Now that Kaz is in school, Zane get's to have his own personal fun. Going to the park is a treat for Zane. I'm an awful Momma. I don't take my boys to the park. Hear me out! Zane is a runner and Kaz is a panic-er (where does he get it). Zane runs away. I run after Zane. Kaz freaks out. Sooooo we don't park when it's just me. With that said, Zane LOVED Kaz's 2nd day of school. A park all to himself! And I didn't have to hit the parental panic button.
Of course the first thing I did was request a mini conference with the teacher. Yes, I did! Stop rolling your eyes. Look, it's my duty as a parent to give my kid and the teacher a leg up. Your eyes are gonna stick like that! As much as it pained me to point out that Kaz was a little different, it was the right thing to do in the long run. We talked about his Hypotonia and Sensory Processing and I gave her tips on how to help him and her. I also let her know that he was not there to learn his ABC's. He was there to focus on writing (fine motor skills), socialization, and problem solving. It's not fair for her to have to figure this stuff out on her own. Okay, I pressed the panic button! Whatever, I felt better!
A couple of weeks later the teacher met with each student to personally assess their level of knowledge. Letters and numbers are flashed up on a screen and the student is suppose to try to read them aloud. There was lots of sighing and in the middle of it Kaz got up out of his chair, started to walk out of the room and said,
"I'm done with this. I'm out of here."Panic button pressed! The teachers too.
August 14, 2014Now that Kaz is in school, Zane get's to have his own personal fun. Going to the park is a treat for Zane. I'm an awful Momma. I don't take my boys to the park. Hear me out! Zane is a runner and Kaz is a panic-er (where does he get it). Zane runs away. I run after Zane. Kaz freaks out. Sooooo we don't park when it's just me. With that said, Zane LOVED Kaz's 2nd day of school. A park all to himself! And I didn't have to hit the parental panic button.
Facebook - August 15, 2014:
"Huh? That's what "shhh" sounds like. I'm not gonna lie. I'm a little creeped out."
Just in case you didn't know, the silence of an empty home is DEAFENING. But, I can definitely get used to this. There is a certain level of pride and joy that comes from a moment like this. Our boys are growing up and their independence is flourishing. While that can be frustrating (when they don't tow the line) it's wonderful to watch them figure things out and become the people they are going to be. Lord, let them be good people with loving giving hearts, compassion, and may they posses the strength of confident independence and forward thinking to guide them through their life choices. AAAAAMEN!
I'm hoping as the school years wear on there will be less panic buttons pushed but I know there are whole new set I've yet to see. This is what we signed up for. You are suppose to panic a little when you board the crazy train. Eventually you can just sit back and enjoy the ride, right? RIGHT?!
Say What?
Funny/quirky quirks my kids said and did.
I'm hoping as the school years wear on there will be less panic buttons pushed but I know there are whole new set I've yet to see. This is what we signed up for. You are suppose to panic a little when you board the crazy train. Eventually you can just sit back and enjoy the ride, right? RIGHT?!
Say What?
Funny/quirky quirks my kids said and did.
Facebook - August 15, 2014:
"Did you hear that loud crashing sound about an hour and a half ago? It was my heart breaking. Today Kaz decided he was no longer going to call me "momma." He's FIVE!
Me: "Everyone calls their momma, "Mom". It's special when you call me "Momma."
Kaz: "But Mom you're already special."
I cried."
This month I heard one of the sweetest things in the universe to a momma. From another room I heard Zane say, "I love you Kaz." No prompting. No coaching. He just spoke from the heart in a moment alone between brothers. I know, you got a little something in your eye doncha?
Zane is his father. He looks like his daddy. He talks like his daddy. He ACTS like his daddy (Aaron x2! Lord help me!) but he has 1 quirk that is ALLLLLLL momma. This month a little OCD reared it's ugly head. There can be nothing out of place in his bedroom when he goes to sleep. Nothing on the floor or on the dresser that shouldn't be there. Everything must be cleaned up and put away or he unravels. I wish he felt that way about the rest of the house! LOL
Facebook - August 22, 2014:
(This is a picture I took during this conversation)
"Talking with Zane about a little girl in his class named Ella that apparently he sits next to and holds hands with during reading time:
Zane: "She's beeeeeuuuuutiful. She has a blue shirt. He's a good guy."
OMGosh small people are totes adorbs (I dislike that word immensely but I can't help but use it in this instance.) Doncha just wanna squeeze him!?"
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| Celebratory 1st Day of Kinder Lunch |
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| He (WE) survived his 1st week of school! |
This photo is for my mom. She would have laughed her keester off and made an inappropriate joke. I would have rolled my eyes, shook my head, and not have been surprised at all. That's who she was and she didn't apologize for laughing.
And that about sums up August 2014.
