10 Days In...

It's Jacob's 10th day of school! He has been talking about all the fun things Mrs. Halstead had planned for the 10th day since the 1st day of school... she really knows how to get them excited about what's to come!

And, apparently in his eyes, today did not disappoint!

As of the 10th day of school:

• Zero the Hero snuck into their classroom last night and left them each a tiny pretzel stick and a lifesaver candy so they could make the number 10 by themselves.
• Jacob has received 10 smiley face stickers, one for each day of good choices.
• He's had homework every night- including Friday - and he's done it without being asked.
• 'H' was the letter of the day.
• In math they've been sorting and grouping by similarities and differences.
• When they read stories they talk about plot, setting, and characters.
• Today was the first day they've been able to play outside for both recesses AND lunch (it's been too hot all the other days!).
• At recess/lunch he plays 'two sf-inger' tag with Jackson, Cash, and Jaylen.
• Each day he has lots to tell about what's going on... but he only talks about it when he feels like it, not when you ask him about it.
• He is loving school!

And we are so glad!
Now... if he'd stop being silly and hold still so I could get a picture of him in his cute Day 10 headband!!

Little stinker!
I love you so much and am so grateful you are such an adaptable kid who is a good boy and loves school!

Potty Training!?!

Although I know she's a little young to be potty training at this point she is determined to sit on that potty every single day - usual 3 or 4 times a day. She has yet to actually use the potty while sitting there, but she is aware when she's gone and asks to use the potty almost immediately afterward.

The book I used to potty train Jake & Georgie (3 Day Potty Training by Lora Jensen) says the best time to potty train is 20 months which is only a few months away. Jake potty trained at 30 months (he was ready earlier but we were traveling all summer so I made him wait) and Georgie at 22 months... so maybe there's a possibility, since Naomi is so eager, to get her potty trained before the baby gets here... or soon after!! (although I know that new baby is going to rock her world, so we shall see!)

{please excuse her crusty snot nose, she's got a bit of a cold thanks to jake going to school.}

The mess that is Naomi's hair

It doesn't matter how many times a day I brush her hair or replace her bow/clip/pony her hair is instantly a rats nest again as soon as I finish. And forget trying to get somewhere with cute hair. She goes in the car with a cute do and comes out at our destination with a rats nest in back.

It's a good thing she's cute because she usually looks pretty unkempt and possibly homeless.

Daddy's Birthday

The kids were so excited to celebrate Daddy's birthday tonight. As soon as Jacob got home from school we hopped in the car and headed to Burbank to get one of Daddy's favorite treats for his birthday cake... Krispy Kreme donuts!! When we got home from our little excursion, Jake and Georgie were eager to wrap Daddy's presents, hang the "Happy Birthday" sign and surprise him as soon as he walked through the door.

Once Daddy finally got home Jake jumped out and yelled, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!", we ate dinner, and then got to the birthday festivities.

Everyone was quite happy!
Happy Birthday Daddy.
We love you,
Jacob, Georgia, & Naomi

Happy Birthday John!

Happy 38th Birthday to this cute little kindergartener!
You've grown into an amazing man.
You're faithful in the Gospel and to your family.
You are the best daddy in the whole wide world.
And the best husband.
Your example is one we want to follow.
We love you with all our hearts.
All our love,
Kelsi, Jacob, Georgia, & Naomi

Homework!

...and so it begins!
Nightly homework.
Today he practiced writing the letter "Aa" and writing numbers "1-10".
He completed it as soon as he walked in the door without a complaint.
Let's see how long that lasts! :)

{Day 3 of school and he's still loving it! He's admitted to being really nervous that first day to meet his teacher, tired because it's hard work, and a little bored because it lasts all day. Today he actually played with other kids whose names he remembered: Jackson and Cash. And... he ate some of his lunch. So that's a good start!}

30 weeks... and counting!

Today marks 30 weeks which means technically I am on the 10 week countdown until the baby gets here, but seeing how I've been late every time it really just means I have less than 12 weeks to go. And as frightening as it is knowing that this baby will be here so soon... it still feels like forever.

I am really achy this time. My hips have been killing me for weeks and my stomach is rock hard all the time. I didn't feel this baby move until I was 24 weeks along because of an anterior placenta but once the moving started it was all the time. This past week its slowed down big time, with only a little thump here and there -- which always makes me very nervous so John has to remind me constantly that I went through this with all the other pregnancies too. (Thank goodness he remembers these things otherwise I'd be even more of a worrying wreck!)

I'm at the point I've been in with all the others where I'm measuring 4 weeks ahead of schedule too, which is always fun when people ask when I'm due... their faces show everything! I know I look like I should be having this baby any day, but I am not. I still have weeks to go (& then some probably!).

The kids, well Jake & Georgia, are very excited about having a new baby again. Naomi has no clue what we're talking about or what's about to rock her world, but she does love patting my tummy and giving it kisses like the other kids do.

We have so many things going on in our lives right now that I often forget that I'm pregnant (I know, crazy since I am so big and achy... but it's true). I feel badly about it but I have to just focus on the things I've got to get accomplished at this point and once the baby gets here I'll be able to focus on it.

We've been throwing names around for a few weeks but nothing is sticking yet. The other kids are all named after someone (well, Jacob isn't but his middle name is my maiden name) so we've talked a lot about different family names, but who knows... maybe we'll go an entirely different direction. We just have no idea yet. Although... it would be helpful to know whether for sure this is a girl or not!!

Hopefully these next 10 weeks will pass without too much stress to my body. I really am done with it all at this point. So I need to buck up and find a way to get comfortable. I hope the time passes quickly... and I am sure it will... but on the other hand... I need more time! Such is life, right?!?!?

Georgie was my photographer this afternoon... she's darn cute and quite capable with the camera!

The rest of the day...

While Jakey was in school the girls and I made him one of his favorites for dessert... chocolate cake. We thought he'd like having a special surprise after dinner tonight after such a big day!

At 2:00pm we left the house -- exactly 6 hours, 40 minutes after we left this morning -- to go pick up our boy from school.

We arrived before school was over so we peeked through the window and watched Jacob sing a few songs with his classmates. And then the door opened and out he walked with a big smile on his face!

{Mrs. Halstead & Jacob}

He was all smiles until he asked me about his scooter and I told him I'd forgotten it at home and he started to break down a little bit. This full-day kindergarten is going to take some getting use to. As we walked home I asked all about his day and he had lots to tell.

Here's what I got out of him:

• Jacob B. is really funny.
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar took them on a tour of the school. They visited the "book store" (library), the cafeteria, and the office and finally the caterpillar led them back to their classroom.
• They didn't get to play outside for very long because it was too hot (over 100* today)
• They have a "rest time" where they had to put their heads down on their desks for a little while and, "Jacob might have fallen asleep for a little minute, but he can't remember".
• I have a lot of papers to sign tonight. I also have a very special treat that I will have to be at his, "school on the third day of school at midnight" to discover. (this oughta be interesting!)
  
• He didn't eat his lunch because they only gave them 5 minutes to eat (which tells me someone realized if he didn't spend his time eating he could play longer...)
• He really likes Mrs. Halstead.
• He doesn't know anyone elses name (other than the other Jacob, because they sit next to each other)
• There are 10 boys and 10 girls in his class.
  
• There was a girl in another class who cried really loud in the cafeteria, "louder than Georgia" (and that means she must've been really, really loud!!)
• He's very excited to go back tomorrow! (hooray!!)
  

Our walk home was hot, but quick.

He came inside, unloaded his backpack, showed us what Mrs. Halstead gave each of the kids,

gave me my monster stack of papers to read and sign, ate his lunch and then the two of us sneaked away for a little one-on-one time together.

It was lots of fun spending time with him and hearing how much he loves kindergarten. He is going to learn so much this year and I am so excited for him.

When we got home Georgie and I decorated his special cake for tonight and then hid it until after dinner. Gram made his favorite dinner especially in honor of his big day: her homemade mac-n-cheese.

After dinner we unveiled the cake and dug in.

I'd say it's been a pretty perfect day for our Bunny Boy.
Let's hope tomorrow is just as exciting... at least the school part!

Kindergarten!

Well, the long awaited day arrived.

It started off bright and early and Jake popped out of bed as excited and anxious as we expected him to!

And when he was all ready it was time to head to school.

While we waited for his teacher to open the classroom door he played for a few minutes.

And when the door opened, he listened to Mrs. Halstead's instructions and went in put his snack in his cubby, hung his backpack on the hook, walked over to find his name tag, and then found his desk.

And got right to coloring.

{of course Georgie had to make sure he was ok}

Then it was time for the parents to leave. Saying goodbye to him brought tears to my eyes but I did my very best not to let him see them. The poor little guy sitting next to Jake was a wreck and I could tell it was making Jacob a little nervous to have him crying.

I gave him a big hug, he waved goodbye and out we went...

(taken with my phone)

And then Gram carried his scooter home... and he stayed behind.

My heart is breaking knowing he's just around the corner and I can't go snatch him away until 2:15pm. But, he is more than ready to be there and he was so excited to be going to kindergarten this morning!

Here's to a wonderful first year of school!!
He'll do fabulously... that's just who he is.