Jack's First Day of School

Jack is attending the same preschool that he went to last year, but is now going three mornings a week (instead of two) and for an extra hour each day.  He is in the 4-5 year old class and is preparing for kindergarten next year.  They will continue to work on their letters and letter sounds, along with numbers and more handwriting.  There are also some cute craft projects thrown in there and a few field trips.  It's going to be a great year!

September 11, 2017:

Ready and rearing to go:

Our garden is just about done for the season, but look at the height of those sunflowers (that were planted FROM SEED in May):

James goes with me for the preschool pick-up and drop-off and thinks that he is quite the big boy now that he has his momma to himself for a few hours three mornings a week.  Every day he says, just as clear as can be, "bye, bye Jack!"

Backyard Camping

We didn't go camping this year, even though the kids really wanted to, because I knew that it would be a struggle (more than I wanted to deal with) to take Jimmy with us.  He is into everything lately, moves quickly and it would be an all-consuming job to chase after him at this age.  Next year will be better ... he will be following directions better (hopefully!), be more independent and easier to look after.

In order to not let the whole summer go by without some sort of camping experience, Steve set the tent up in the backyard last month.  The girls, Jack and him slept in the tent for the night and had a great time.  It was a bit chilly and they were happy to come inside first thing the next morning -- to the pancakes that I had waiting for them.  (I had stayed inside all night and it was for the better because Jimmy ended up having a rough time sleeping ... not sure why ... and I was up with him several times before dawn).

The night before, James and I joined them before they hunkered down for the night so that we could enjoy the campfire nearby.  I mean, what is camping without a good campfire and s'mores?!

The humidity was at an all-time high and was wreaking havoc with those of us in this family with curls, but those girls never stopped smiling the whole time.  This was just what they had wanted all summer.

The Walnut Tree

When we moved into this house over 7 years ago, there was a big walnut tree in the front yard.  There was never any real concern over it since it was alive and thriving, but over time, it just continued to get bigger ... and closer to the house.  And we loathed picking up the messy walnuts that fell to the ground every year.  They're squishy when you step on them, make a mess with the lawnmower and kill any surrounding grass if left on it for too long.

Ultimately, we decided to have the tree cut down about three years ago.  All of the wood was cut up and the stump was ground out.  But one lone sprig started to grow in place of the tree.  Steve continued to mow around it and went so far as to put a small tomato cage around the little twig to help it survive.

And it has. 

Today, it serves as a special place where Samantha loves to sit and draw.  If I can't find her, it is the first place that I look. 

She is forever doodling/coloring/designing and I love that about her.  She has an artistic side that complements her logical, straightforward mathematical side.  It's a delicate balance and I hope that she continues to use both.

I've also noticed her reading outside under this tree and that makes me smile.  She is a voracious reader, like her mother, and that is something else that I hope carries her through life.  She has found a few book series that she enjoys and is working on reading through those.  Her vocabulary is pretty large now because of her reading and her spelling tests are nearly perfect every week.  I am so proud of the person that she is becoming.

James is Nineteen Months Old

This picture pretty much sums up what life with the "toddler tornado" is like these days.  He is never sitting still for more than a couple of seconds at a time -- always on the "go" -- and most likely running barefoot.  He climbs onto everything; no distance is too far and no surface is too challenging.  For example, I walked into the dining room to find him just casually sitting in the middle of the table.

I often comment that my life was forever changed when Jack became a toddler.  Following two girls, he was a completely different child to raise.  He was always wanting to be outside, always getting into things, breaking items (not maliciously; just inquisitively) and always keeping me at least two steps ahead of him whenever possible.

But Jimmy is even more challenging.  He wants to do everything that Jack used to do ... but do it at a younger age because he wants to try to be just like his big brother.  The running/climbing/throwing has started a good 6 months earlier than it did with Jack (if not more).  Yes, those two boys can be dangerous together!

Jimmy's vocabulary is still very limited.  His favorite word is "cookie," so much so that I might even consider it one of his first words.  He takes directives well and is very clear on what he wants and doesn't want.  He has three older siblings that talk for him so he is not in a rush to do so.

He still continues to take two naps for me, even though I was sure that he would drop the morning one this summer.  He seems to need both (but can skip the morning one if we need to) and still sleeps about 11-12 hours at night.  He is in his crib and will likely continue to be there for a few more months.  (I transitioned the other kids out between 19-22 months and will do so around the same time or when he attempts to climb out -- whichever comes first).

We have started using the deadbolt on all of the house doors now because James is very good and opening the doors and escaping outside.  The older kids KNOW that the doors must be locked at all times.  He's the happiest outside and our hardest days are usually the ones when it is raining and we are cooped up inside.

This Fall, it will just be him and me three mornings a week and I am excited to have a little one-on-one time with him.  So often, the fourth child gets thrown into the mix and is forced to share me with the others and have no choice in the matter.  But, I have big plans to read lots of books, do lots of puzzles (he is just starting to show an interest in them) and soak up the final days of good weather here as much as we can ...

The New Sandbox

All summer long, Jack has loved using his construction trucks up under the swing in the front yard.  The ground has long since been worn down to just dust there after both our kids and the neighbor kids have used the swing repeatedly almost every single day.  The problem is that it really doesn't have a lot of dirt left in that spot and it is definitely closer to the road than I would like.  (I don't worry about Jack because he has known his "boundaries" for a long time now, but Jimmy has been wandering out there now to join him).

I suggested to Steve that we put together some sort of a real sandbox for Jack ... in the back yard.  It could simply be under the slide on the playground area; kill the weeds, add some sand and it would be just fine.

But Steve had another idea, and before I knew it, he came home from work one day with a big tractor tire.  Jack and him hauled it into the back yard, added some sand the next day and our new sandbox was officially set.

Shoveling anything makes this boy happy.

Yes, Steve just stood back and let Jack do most of the work.

Jack wouldn't have it any other way.  He loves to work.

We weren't in a rush and it kept him occupied for a little while.

And then the other kids joined in.  Before long, it became a team effort with some of the kids using snow shovels and others using beach shovels. 

Jack LOVES it and I find him out there at random times of the day.  I never know which toys he is going to use (tools, beach toys, construction trucks, his wheel barrow, etc), but I feel much better knowing that I can see him out my kitchen window and that Jimmy is not going to wander off into the road if he chooses to join in.