The Thomas' Train: Growing on UP

Showing posts with label Growing on UP. Show all posts

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Things don't seem right....

There are a few things that have come to surface in my life lately that just don't seem quite right...

Landen started preschool yesterday. PRESCHOOL! wasn't he like, JUST BORN?!? How is he old enough to be starting school? The night before, he just up and decided to write his name. He wrote every letter, in the right order, and it was totally legible! He also drew a picture of himself that consisted of a head with his glasses, eyes, and a mouth, a body, two arms with hands and fingers, two legs with feet and toes.

***More about Landen's first day at the bottom of this post***
Flexible drinking straws are apparently dangerous devices that can be abused by or cause injury to children younger than middle school age. Who knew?
In order to pick up Landen from school, we have carpool signs. After looking at his sign, I realized that the school inadvertently renamed my child. What's worse, though was the fact that I showed it to Keith and he thought it looked correct...
We went to the library yesterday (Brayden, Declen, and me) while Landen was at school and we didn't disturb anyone. No one ran away, no one screamed, no one ran or jumped off anything; it was a calm, pleasant experience. The librarians even commented on how calm we were!! It's amazing what having the same number children as I do arms`can do for public behavior!!
We were in the car driving to Declen's 9 month doctor appointment and Landen randomly starts asking questions about ant eaters... where on earth did he hear anything about ant eaters? About five minutes after the ant eater discussion, Landen asks, "What does blood taste like?" Where do these thoughts come from!?
Landen had to go potty while Declen and Brayden were eating yesterday, suddenly in a very excited voice Landen calls out, "HEY!! I have Mickey Mouse poo-poo!!!" Me, thinking I had to have heard that wrong: "WHAT?!?" Landen, still super excited: "Mommy, my poo-poo looks like Mickey Mouse! Come look! It's so silly!!" I chose to refrain from viewing the septic childhood icon, and just told him I'd take his word for it, though the mental image haunts me. I don't think I'll look at Mickey the same way again.

Landen's Goes to Preschool

Bright and early in the morning

Landen has been so excited counting down the days to preschool. I have been ~~scared~~ excited for him, too. I had everything planned out in my head as to how it would play out... none of it happened that way though.

Meet the Teacher - Though it was no one's fault, we had quite possibly the world's worst meet the teacher experience:

The kids were starving, Brayden and Declen had disgusting diapers, Declen had just received his round of shots and felt icky, the kids had pent up energy from being confined all morning at the doctors office, we were in a new environment FULL of meticulously organized toys and books (none of which were appropriate for a 9 month old or a 2 year old), and mommy was attempting to listen to the teacher's parent presentation. The classroom was destroyed, there was screaming, crying, arguing, choking on tiny Legos, stinking, and interrupting... not to mention, Declen crawled under the table and bit the toe of one of the other moms! Then as we were starting to leave, Landen and Brayden ran away... down a hall in a building I was completely unfamiliar with... TWICE!

First Day - the morning experience:

See, when we got to the school, Landen hopped right out of the car said, "I love you, Brayden" and walked right on in without looking back. You read that right. He said I love you, BRAYDEN, not mommy. Ouch! (Given, he DID say I love you, mommy like 500 times at home and on the way, but once we got to the school, it was Brayden). Brayden was a bit traumatized that Landen left us and that Brayden didn't get to go to school, too; He cried and I fought back tears. All day, I kept thinking: "What if he doesn't like his teacher?" What if his teacher has already made her impression of Landen based on Meet the Teacher?" "What if the other kids are mean... don't share... laugh at his glasses... etc?" "What if he has a potty accident?" "What if he gets homesick?" "What if he can'at get his lunch box opened?" "What if he doesn't have enough food in his lunch?"

First Day - the afternoon experience:

We waited in the carpool line for what seemed like an eternity, though we were car #9 so obviously it wasn't' really that long for us. Then FINALLY they walked Landen out to our car. He was SO HAPPY! SO PROUD OF HIMSELF! SO EXCITED! As he got in the car, I told him how proud of him I was and how I missed him. He climbed on in to his and said, "I didn't miss you at all, mommy!" Ouch, AGAIN! Then he looked at me and said, "I said the wrong words mommy, I did miss you today, a lot, but I had SO MUCH FUN at school!!" YAY!! My heart melted. All of my worries were gone! And he still needs me :) (I know, just a selfish little need of mine, to still be needed by my babies)

Friday, August 1, 2014

Summer Time Photo Dump.... (seriously over due)

Posting on a blog (or anything on the internet) is REALLY difficult when we don't have a working computer at home in addition to no internet... this is NOT a forever situation, and I am determined that I will get back to regular posting. SOON!

Photo Dump BOMBARDMENT

Here we go...

May 2014: Brayden had his first haircut(age 2 years 3 months),
June 2014: Landen turned 4! On his actual birthday we went out to Johnny Rockets and ate dinner. He had a Super Hero party and (among other things) received train tickets, we rode the train to Tuscaloosa (but didn't take any pictures once we arrived there), Declen turned 7 months old and decided to sit up on his own
July 2014: We went to Oak Mountain State Park for the Fourth of July and went fishing (for the first time ever for the kids) and Landen caught two tiny fish, Keith and I celebrated our 5th anniversary and took a spontaneous family vacation to Panama City Beach (as in, "I wanna do something" "Like what?" "um... lets go to the beach" "OK..." and we made reservations as we packed). It was our first EVER vacation!! IT WAS AWESOME and we took like three pictures the whole time.... yeah. We got to go out fishing/boating/island hopping with my cousin who owns Salt Shaker Charters and that was AMAZING! Our car keys are in the Gulf of Mexico down there, so if you find them, please return them! Keith turned 28! We went to dinner at a mexican restaurant and took pictures outside and with the sombraro on his head :). Declen turned 8 months old and decided to belly crawl. He's currently learning to crawl on hands and knees, but sometimes just ends up either planking or with his bottom straight up in the air! He feeds himself all the time... eating just about anything he can get his hands on (except ham. he hates it!), and finally, Declen has 2 teeth! WOOHOO!

Enjoy the pictures!

Baked beans

My life... everyday!

we dress alike at the park so I can find them

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

New Career: Stay At Home Mom

So it's been almost 2 months since I swapped job titles. I can honestly say that what I perceived of life at home and what it is actually like.... is COMPLETELY different!

Okay, so yeah there are SOME similarities in what I had envisioned... we're at home, I'm there, the kids are there, the cats are there, I'm actually able to spend time with my kids for the first time, but that's pretty much where the similarities end. See, I thought we'd have all this time to do things,

In my head: we would do "preschool" in the morning with Landen while the baby slept and Brayden played on his own... WRONG.
In reality: The baby DOESN'T sleep (unless he is being held and usually only when I'm standing up holding him). Brayden doesn't just play on his own... he "helps" Landen/mommy/baby in all sorts of creative/destructive ways.
In my head: we would actually be able to keep the house clean
In reality: it's messier than it has ever been. EVER.
In my head: I would have all this time to cook a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner... and we could all eat together at the table at the same time and learn manners
In reality: If I get around to eating, the kids eat my food, but I usually don't get to eat until WAY after lunch if ever. We are eating an insane amount of hot dogs, PB&J's, grilled cheese sandwiches, and spoonfuls of peanut butter. And if I can keep them from climbing on/under the table or throwing food during the meal, I think I need an award!
In my head: the kids would be on a schedule and each transition from nap to playtime to school time to meal time, etc would go smoothly
In reality: Ha! Not.even.close.
In my head: I was concerned that I might get bored being at home all day.
In reality: I'm doing good to get a bathroom break! (though it is bitter sweet because that's when all the "fun" takes place)

Things have been challenging, frustrating, overwhelming, etc. BUT these have also been some of the most enjoyable 2 months of my entire life!

As it turns out, my kids are actually really precious during the day! They ARE kids though and I have to remind myself of that, regularly because I seem to want them to be perfect at all times and that just doesn't happen. For their entire lives up to now, I've only seen them at the end of the day when they're exhausted and acting their worst or on the weekends when their routine is off or when they are sick.

I love my kids and my new job! I'm busier than I have ever been in my life, but it is definitely worth it!

PICTURES!!