First day of Kindergarten

This has been a wonderful day! Cam was off work but he still got up early with me to read our bible together and pray for Andrew as he started Kindergarten today. Andrew has a wonderful teacher. She's very sweet and she's a preacher's wife. God has really given me a joyous peace about Andrew being there. He had a great time today.
Today was also my first day teaching at the high school and I LOVED every minute of it. I taught in the Jr. High for 3 years so I know most of the kids and I was SO happy to see them all again. It was a joy, joy, joy filled day! As soon as I arrived, I checked my mailbox at work and I had the sweetest letter from a student I had a few years ago. It wasn't a student I would ever expect to get something like this from. I had to get onto him several times and even called his parents a few times. The letter talked about how much my love of the Invisible Children of Uganda has caused him to think more about others. He said, "I remember you talking to me about how what I say really has an impact on other's feelings and they may not have other friends". I was so impressed, it was a full page of the sweetest words. I thanked God for letting that be the first thing that came across my desk at my new job. Thank You Lord for placing me where I am. Please use me to point others to You.

All I want for Christmas...

Andrew lost his first tooth Thursday night. Cameron took all the kiddos up to the sports center to play while I had a Christmas program at school. Andrew and Parker were wrestling around and bumped heads and Andrew's tongue pushed his tooth out. Parker totally took credit for it and said, "you're welcome Andrew". It was so sweet!! The tooth fairy came that night and left Andrew $1.35.

He gets it:)... well, sometimes..

I just put Parker and PIper down for their naps and Andrew and I were sitting here watching a little t.v. There was a scary movie on the Disney Channel. It was PG and I didn't realize it was going to be scary until I see these monster type creatures talking pretty scary. I reached over grabbed the remote to change it and Andrew said... "I wanna watch it". I said, "No, it's not a good show". About 2 minutes later he started lightly singing, "Oh be careful little eyes what you see". I said, "why are you singing that?" He said, "Because God doesn't want us seeing bad things like that movie".

Pumpkin Patch...

Last weekend we went to the pumpkin patch. We had a great time. It was late afternoon so it was PERFECT weather and very few people were there. The boys enjoyed looking at all of the pumpkins. We picked out a big one and daddy helped them carve it. Sissy just kind of cruised around in the stroller.





Last night we went to one of Andrew's friends birthday party. Andrew has been excited about it for weeks. He's been asking me, "are we going to Hayes's party tonight?". There were tons of boys there and they had the best time. It was a costume party and it was all outdoors with lots of activities planned. Hayes is in Andrew's class and he is so sweet. He's called and left a few messages on our answering machine. His mom always apologizes because she doesn't even know he's got the phone. It's so sweet! By looking at the pic, you can tell what's on Andrew's mine....

Princess Piper

I'm home again today with poor Andrew:(. He seemed to be getting better but had a really bad night last night. He coughed for about 1 1/2 hours. At times he had a hard time catching his breath because he couldn't quit coughing. It was scary. I took him back this morning to the doc (of course a different doctor/the same one who thought it was croup:/. She gave him an inhaler. She said she would've given him a steroid but hated to because it was his first visit.. I'm like HELLO... we've been here 3 times in 1 week. Anywho, I'm hoping the inhaler works. She seems to be convinced he's going to have asthma. I'm hoping not. She said his lungs were really dark like an asthmatic but it could just be the pneumonia.
We sat outside some this morning and Andrew brought me some flowers for baby Piper:). I took some pics with my phone. She's such a little bundle of sunshine:).

I wish everyday was a weekend day...

I SO enjoy the weekends! I have so much fun hanging out with the kiddos and Cameron. We've pretty much stayed at home all weekend because Andrew was sick. He's feeling MUCH better but still has a terrible cough if he gets to moving around too much. He hasn't ran fever for about 3 days. I'm sending him to school but am making him hang out with me during recess because I don't think his little body can handle too much excitement.
Today I made sissy some baby food. I steamed some carrots and some sweet potatoes and pureed them. She's not eating veggies yet but will be pretty soon. I'm just keeping them in the deep freeze until she's ready. She was eyeing them awful hard though... don't think it will be too long:).

As a mom, I've always said every stage just gets better and better. All weekend Andrew has been writing little stories. Most of them have to do with Spiderman and getting the bad guys. It's so funny!! I was sweeping tonight and found this behind the clothes basket.

Also, today while we were changing Piper she started rolling around the floor before we could get a diaper on her and Andrew said, "Piper has 3 hinies, no wait a minute, she has 6, WOW... she has 7 hinies!!" Poor Sissy, she can't help it she has so many rolls.

Still sick...

Poor Andrew has pneumonia. I had a feeling Monday when the doc said he had croup that she might be wrong. I knew I heard him wheezing last weekend and apparently you don't wheeze with croup. The doctor said I probably heard something while he was coughing but it probably wasn't wheezing... well, today we go BACK to the doc after he's missed a week of school (including the Kindergarten stick rodeo:(. After a different doctor listened to his chest, she ordered x-rays and said that he did have pneumonia. Poor thing, he's been coughing horribly and running fever all week. Please pray with us that it's better by Monday. She talked about the possibility of treating it in the hospital if this medicine doesn't work. Hopefully he'll get well soon and the rest of the kiddos won't get sick.

He's been waiting for so long...

When Andrew woke up this morning I told him, "Happy Birthday". The first thing he said was, "Am I five? Am I five right now??" He was so excited that he was finally FIVE. He's had a great day. I let him choose what we would have for dinner and he chose tacos. Cameron took him and Parker to the sports center to play a little ball tonight. This morning at school, I was peeking in his classroom to see what they were doing and saw him proudly wearing his birthday hat:). He looked so cute with his huge hat on.
Although I'm so sad my little ones are growing so fast, I know that we'll make even more memories the older they get. This weekend we went swimming at a state park and I saw a mom and son spending time together. The son seemed to be around 16 or so. He and his mom were having a great time together. It made Andrew turning five not seem so sad.
Happy Birthday sweet son!! Mommy loves you!!

Birthday Party

Andrew had his birthday party yesterday at Playworld. His 5th birthday is this Tuesday. He had a lot of fun at the party. He got all kinds of cool stuff:
Shaving Kit, Mouse Trap Board Game, Lincoln Logs, Cool Markers, Batman with neato Wings, Fun clothes, Power Ranger, Transformer, Robot, and Legos Helicopter. Uncle Bruce didn't make it to the party but brought him a really fun Nerf Bow and Arrow gun. Believe it or not he's played with EVERY single toy. He's also had a little help from his little brother, Parker:). Parker was upset yesterday at the party. He kept saying, "I want a birthday". He has a short memory and seems to have forgotten he just had a party with Sparky at Playworld in February.

Happy 4 month Sweet Piper Jane & Muffins for Moms

Piper is 4 months old today. She is still just the sweetest little thing. Her favorite things to do right now are talk, pull her tongue out, spit and flip over:).


This morning was "Muffins for Moms" at Kindergarten. It was so much fun. I've got the cutest pictures of Andrew with some of his friends. There are four of them standing by each other with their arms around each other. As I was taking it I was thinking how we'll probably look back on it when he graduates. I would upload it but don't want to put pics of kiddos on the internet that I don't really know well. Maybe I can do some cute censoring:).
God has really burdened me for a couple of kiddos in Andrew's class. One of them is just unruly but he's dealing with a lot of yucky stuff at home. Then there's another one who Andrew talks about some. I noticed today that his mom didn't come to muffins for moms. I can't go into detail but have learned some really heart breaking things about him, also. I have some free time in my schedule and asked Andrew's teacher if it would be okay if I could come in and work with these two. She thought that would be a great idea. I can't share their names but please pray for them. My heart literally just breaks for these sweet babies.

Vroom.. Vroom...

Andrew spends thirty minutes before and after school in my room. We have a lot of fun together. Today I went to get him from class and he said, "Mom, I've got homework. I need to make sure and do it nice and neat so I can get a sticker":). Since he spends so much time in my room, I get a lot of art on the board. Usually he just writes his name but today he drew a picture. This is the first car he has ever drawn. Isn't it sweet? It looks like the driver is in a lazyboy:) I love it!

The first day...

Ohhhh.. I'm so sleepy. This has been a LONG day. I have to say, I have a new respect for elementary teachers. I've always taught in the upper grades and have never experienced standing on my feet EVERY second of the day.
This morning when I went to drop Andrew off, the super excited Kindergartener became pretty clingy and shy. His room was a big cry-fest. There were tears and snotty noses everywhere (parents and kiddos). Andrew did really well, he didn't want me to leave but never broke down and really cried. I was teary eyed several times but didn't break down, either. I stayed in there for about 30 minutes to help soothe other sad, little ones. I just knew I'd want someone soothing my Andrew if I wasn't there so I treated all of them like they were my own.
Last night Andrew and I went and picked out some goodies for his teacher. He was SO excited to give it to her this morning. I took a picture of them together:). She is really sweet and soft spoken. Andrew really likes her a lot. I peaked in his room, thank goodness he's seated by the window, probably 1000 times. He was always happy! My room is right by the playground so I got to watch him while he was out on recess. He saw something he really wanted to do and cut in line to try to do it. He got pushed off that apparatus pretty quickly:). Since he's always been home, he's never really experienced lines and waiting his turn. I think he learned pretty quickly;).
When I went to his classroom after school to get him, I asked him "what was your favorite thing about Kindergarten?" he said, "EVERYTHING"!

Also, THANK YOU to everyone who has been praying for me and Andrew for today! Your prayers definitely helped!

Is he crazy??

So here I am thinking of all the things I forgot to tell Andrew about Kindergarten before he went to bed. I just read an email from a sweet co-worker of mine wishing me luck for tomorrow. I was telling Cameron that I think it will be okay... kids start kindergarten all the time. I'll be just fine. Then all of the sudden out of the blue he says, "Can you imagine when they go to college?" WHAT??!!  I feel like I need a stiff drink, good thing I bought some Oceanspray Cran-Grape today. And yes, Cam will be sleeping on the couch!;) And by the way... while I'm super frustrated about the kids starting college soon... let me just say "Get over with already, Olympics". I can't handle this sleep deprivation!! 

Dear Kindergarten Teacher

Ugghhhh... only a couple of days left until Andrew becomes a Kindergartener:(. I have a lump in my throat, butterflies in my stomach and tears running down my cheek. I just want to hold on extra tight and keep him here forever but he is SO excited about meeting his teacher and new friends. I am SO grateful God has provided the opportunity for me to teach children a few doors down from him. Below, I've copied a letter to his teacher.

Dear Kindergarten Teacher,

I have been praying for you for a while now. Each night when I tuck Andrew into bed, I've said a prayer that goes something like this:

Please Lord, bring my son a Kindergarten teacher that will give him a love of education. Help his teacher to make learning fun and to love her job. Please help him to see Your goodness through his teacher and the friends that he makes. 

I'm sure you've received several letters from other mommies but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to tell you a little about Andrew. He's definitely a pleaser. He always wants to make others happy and gets very sad when he feels he's done something wrong. He can be a chatter box. He is very outgoing and loves making new friends. He loves to build things, climb trees, snuggle mommy and make things out of play-doh. He is very, very excited about Kindergarten and we are excited to have you as a teacher! I was so thankful to hear that you had children of your own because I know becoming a mommy myself has made me a much better teacher. My prayer is that God will bless you with a wonderful year and that Andrew will brighten up your day as much as he does ours.

God Bless-

Jenny

sniff.. sniff..

Tonight was Kindergarten Orientation, except the Kindergarteners weren't invited... go figure. It was sweet though. I got to sit in Andrew's future desk and meet his teacher, actually I met her the other day since I will work at the same school but this time I met her as a mom. The classroom is kind of a mess right now because our new school won't be ready for a few weeks. It will definitely be worth the wait, though, because the new school is going to be amazing!! 

Some observations I gathered tonight:

1. Andrew will be sitting by a red headed boy named Ezra:)... several kids came even though the note said not to (I personally don't blame the parents, I wanted to take Andrew and would've but he was staying with Grandma and Papa tonight).

2. To his right is a pretty little girl named Lauren.

3.  There are twice as many boys in all of the Kindergarten classes than girls. I was kind of shocked by that.

4. Those Kindergarten chairs are getting smaller... or maybe my bum is getting bigger:)

I will need LOTS of prayers this weekend to prepare mommy's heart for the first day of school for little "JuJu".

Just in case you were wondering...

we're still trying to win the war against the brown recluse that are invading our home. Our bug guy came out on Friday and fogged the house and attic. Since then we've found several dead brown recluse and even some dead BABIES!!! great.... no telling how many babies there are crawling around here!!! I was pretty excited thinking that the fog killed them all but then we found some in our glue traps and they were still alive, stuck like there's no tomorrow BUT still ALIVE!! Ugghhh... one of them was in a glue trap right by the foot of our bed. Needless to say I didn't sleep much last night. So since yesterday we know that we have at least 8 less LIVING brown recluse in the house.

Funnies:
Today we were eating fried shrimp and Andrew took a bite and the entire shrimp came out into his mouth and he said, "Look, I took a bite of the shrimp and the whole chicken came out of it":)

Our little Sunfish:)

Andrew's new swim lessons have really paid off. When he was in the "Guppy" class he was really just getting use to the water (putting his face under, swimming with kick board and noodle) but now that he's a "Sunfish", he's really doing some swimming. I'm sure he's learning a lot more b/c there are no other kids in the class. Poor fellow is dead tired when we leave swim lessons because he's at it nonstop for 30 minutes. Here's a video of him swimming at our house. It was his first time to use goggles under the water. He can swim pretty good underwater, doggy paddle and swim on his back!

MAN down!!!

I don't know how much more swim lessons (torture) I can stand. Today I was afraid I was going to have to noodle-whip Andrew's teacher. Kind of hard to explain but she almost let the poor tyke drown. She was suppose to be holding onto him while he was swimming to retrieve his squishy ball. She decided to just go get it herself and left Andrew who continued to try to keep bobbing for it. He kept bobbing his head up out of the water and then going back in and then just went under completely. She was about 6 feet from him and she was walking the other way, while the other 4 year olds were unattended on the steps. Cam and I screamed "HEY" and she finally turned around and went and pulled him up. Bless his soul:(. When we got in the car he said, "I thought I was drowning, I just kept thinking while I was under there that I was going to drown". He did really good, he didn't seem scared at all when she pulled him up. It was scary to us though! A friend of mine that was there said last year her son wandered off of the step and the teacher was out with another kiddo. When her son went down she started running and screaming "Man down" over and over:). She said everybody thought she was a psycho!:)

Waterboarding... I mean swim lessons

Andrew started swim lessons yesterday... poor boy. He was pretty much tortured the whole time with water being dumped in his face:). He hates water being in his face but he did pretty good. When he gets water in his face in the tub, he always wants a towel or something to dry his eyes with so yesterday he decided to use the noodle that was beside the pool:).

Red vs Blue

Well, it looks like JuJu (Andrew) has a girlfriend, or make that two. When Andrew went to VBS last week he came home and told us all about the new friends he met and then kind of smiled and said one of them was his girlfriend. I said, "really" did you talk to that girl a lot, he said, "sure I did... I told her I loved her". I said, "you did, what did she say?" he said, "she said... stop it". :) I said, "why did she say that?" he said, "because we were singing". The same church has a Bible Club on Wednesday nights for Parker and Andrew's age and when they came home I asked Andrew if that same girl was there and he said, "no but there was another one. I have 2 girlfriends, one wears a blue shirt and one wears a red one."