Children's Museum

On Friday while Ethan was at school, I took Carter to the Children's Museum with a friend of mine and her little boy. There was a Curious George exhibit and many other fun things to do. But of course, they had the most fun in the play center just running around!!

This was in the Curious George's exhibit. You put a package on the conveyor belt...

then turn the wheel and watch it go up. When it gets to the top, you get to watch it fall down different levels.

Shopping in the mini-Krogers...

and scanning the items at checkout!

Listening to a story during story time

Practicing the technique of brushing teeth

Community Helper

Ethan has been learning about community helpers at school. So on Friday, he had to pick a community helper he wanted to be and dress up like them. When I asked Ethan who he wanted to dress up as, I thought for sure he'd say a policeman. No... A fireman? No... A doctor? No... So I asked him and he told me he wanted to be a builder. Here is a picture of him Friday morning before going to school. He thought he looked tough as nails (no pun intended). Beaming as he walked into school, several teachers stopped him and commented on his outfit. He gets so proud. I love this age where kids are not fully aware of what's cool and what's not!! He told me a lot of kids loved his outfit and noone else was a builder in his class. He also liked singing the song, "Efie the Builder" to the tune of "Bob the Builder"!!

Hunter in Training

I forgot to post Donnie's birthday gift to Ethan. Unfortunately for Donnie, I think this will be the closest Ethan comes to killing an animal. Carter, on the other hand,...

Carter's Hidden Talent

Carter has been doing this for the last several days and he's really good!! I'm so proud! He can even jump and it stays on his nose! (OK, I'm a little too proud!) I caught him watching TV today, just like this. Also notice the crayon crown--he wore it all day today!!

Ethan is SIX!!

Ethan has looked forward to this day for, well probably the last 364 days!!! But for the last 3 weeks, it's really been all he's talked about. We've been to Toys 'R Us, Kohl's, Wal-Mart, and Target and have a jam packed two page list of stuff that he wants for his birthday. He has talked about and planned what he wants at his party, in the goody bags, you name it, I'm sure he's thought about it!

Usually I have to wake him up for school, but not today! He came running down the stairs saying something about his birthday, but don't worry, he informed me the night before that I had to sing him happy birthday as soon as he got up! Carter was already up, so of course we both sang to him. We knew we better follow through with all the plans Efie had! After singing, he wanted to open my present to him. I told him to go out in the living room, and as he was walking away I heard him say, "Wow-I'm really six!!" He also said that before he came down, he was looking at himself in the mirror and thought he looked bigger. When he opened my present, he just started screaming and shaking!! I got him a complete Darth Vader outfit and he was so surprised. He even got tears in his eyes he was so happy!! His reaction was priceless, and of course I don't have it on film! However, I think I will remember it always! He kept thanking me and asking how I knew that's what he wanted.

On his way to school he told me he gets to be the boss of his class. The only thing he wasn't allowed to do was ask someone else to do his work. He loves to be the boss so this was right up his alley. I dropped him off, and as I glanced back at him walking in, he just had an incredible smile on his face!! (When he got home, he told me he decided he didn't want to be the boss at school. Oh how I wish that was the same here at home!)

Carter and I went to his school to have lunch with him. He was proudly wearing his birthday crown. I got him a McDonalds Happy Meal and brought cupcakes and cookies for his class. It was so cute to see him interacting with his class-he had a perma-smile on his face when he gave them each a cupcake.

When he got home, he put on his Darth Vader costume and ran up to his room. That is because he told me earlier to put any presents he gets in the mail up in his room. And of course I obeyed!! He opened them all up and was overly excited about everything. He played for a little, but then it was time for soccer practice. We had enough cupcakes and cookies left over, so I took them to practice and after it was over his team sang happy birthday and then ate their treats. I don't think Efie could've planned it any better himself! When we got home, Donnie gave him his presents, which I will write about later. I forgot to get pictures, so I will do that and write again tomorrow. If you know Donnie, I'm sure you can get some ideas as to what his presents dealt with! I also rented a Star Wars movie, but there was not time to watch that today. Luckily, we get to keep it until Sunday.

It was a fun-filled day and I think it all turned out how Ethan hoped it would. But I'm sure he'll be thinking about birthday #7 tomorrow morning!!!

Darth Vader!!

Opening presents from Grandma and Grandpa Darell, Kissy, Jamie, Hunter, Chase, and Theron, and Maga and Pap-Pap. He got Hulk Walkie-Talkies last week from Jack, Kristen, Gracie, and Emmie Juice

He got Kung Fu Panda and Scooby Doo Characters, Mystery Machine, Darth Vader, C3PO, his own Geoboard (b/c he loved playing with one on his first day of school), and a Spongebob stuffed animal

Efie saying "I love all my presents!"

Carter's First Day of School

Today was Carter's first day of preschool and my first day of teaching preschool. All I can say about my day was that it is such a different world from teaching 2nd grade. Why preschool teachers make so much less than elementary school teachers is beyond me. Definitely more challenging than most of my years teaching, but then again I'm not really used to a room full of 4 year olds.

Cartie started off great. He woke up in a great mood and was really excited to go to school. Last night Ethan even reminded him (several times) that I would not be in his room with him, and he said that was OK b/c it would be fun to be with his teachers. We were the first to arrive in the room, and he was in good spirits. He talked to his teachers, took a picture with them, and started playing with the toys. But then at 9:30 they opened the doors and a flood of parents and kids came barreling down the hall. Carter doesn't deal well with crowds or unfamiliar people, plus I had to get down to my room. So it came as no surprise when he started crying and clinging to my skirt when I had to leave. It was expected, but no matter how much you prepare yourself, it still isn't any easier in that moment. One of his teachers had to peel him off me, and I left.

A major bonus to his room is that there is a large window that I can look in to check on him, but he can't see me. So I went down after 5 minutes, and he was standing in the doorway still crying and calling for me. It took all I had not to just walk in there and give him the biggest hug ever and tell him it was going to be OK, but I knew that would make it worse, so again I left.

After another 5 minutes, I went down again and this time he wasn't crying. He wasn't doing much of anything, but he wasn't crying and I was proud. Occasionally some other teachers would come by my room and let me know that he was doing well. Once I checked on him during snack time and I could read his lips through the window and he was saying he wanted his mommy, and then there were tears. Another time, the teacher was blowing his nose! But more often than not, he was just fine, sitting at the table listening to the teacher and looking like a big boy. At the end of the day during rest time, he fell asleep. I guess all that crying does take it out of you!

When I went to get him, he was so excited, and a little sleepy, but seemed really happy! He said he had a great day and had fun, but didn't learn anything! He talked nonstop about his day and says he wants to go back. He really does feel like a big boy now and you can tell he's proud of himself. He talked on the phone to his whole family and went on and on about his day. We shall see what Wednesday brings, hopefully it will be much easier on him. I am very proud of you, Doodle Bug!!

Ethan was such a great big brother this morning. He kept telling Carter how proud he was of him and how much he was going to miss him. But he reminded Carter of all the fun toys in the room and told him he was going to make lots of friends. He also went over some rules like if Carter wanted to ask the teacher something, raise his hand. He was very sweet!!

Doodle in his Wall-E shirt that makes noise and his new Wall-E crocs!

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Carter with Ms. Stephanie

And with Ms. Renee

Back at home wearing his crayon crown he made at school and his Wonder Pets backpack!

Quote of the Day

Lately my boys have been a little emotional about growing up and getting big. They tell me they want to stay little forever. Their reasons include wanting to always live with me, always wanting to play with toys, and so on. Today Carter was in the middle of playing so I have no idea what sparked his most recent concern of growing older. I looked down at him and he had tears in his eyes. When I asked him what was wrong he replied, "I don't want to grow up and get bald."