This was written last week during one of my insomnia nights worrying about my
Dear Gobbles,
We are less than a week before first grade begins and I'm alternating between excitement and tears at the thought of you growing up and hitting the school on your own. Kindergarten was a nice transition in that I didn't see your teacher every day anyway since you took the van, but I still got my Friday face time with her just to see how you were. But this will be so much different, this is the big time.
Your kindergarten graduation was so emotional for me, I think because we've spent 6 years with some of these families, our village, and we've all helped each other through crazy times. I'm lucky that some will stick around at least through your sister leaving pre-k with the siblings, but at the same time so sad that the relationships will change from daily interactions.
You, however, rocked your Kindergarten year and the graduation. You learned to read and went beyond in math. You stuck tight with your buddies but even branched out to some new friends, and came out of school with a confidence that only 5th year seniors have. You've done your summer reading, but for that pesky paragraph you have to write, probably more mommy's procrastination than yours. Even your reading comprehension is coming along- we're halfway through the 2nd Harry Potter book and each time we pick it back up you are able to recall the pertinent details of the previous chapter. You also try to make predictions on what's going to happen and explain why. Since we know the spoilers Daddy and I just let you go with your theories until they're revealed in the reading.
This summer I've seen your transition from a little boy into a big boy. You help out with your chores (although sometimes begrudgingly), you fly across the monkey bars with the ease of a ninja, and you have free reign at the pool to swim, dive, tread, do anything you want and I am confident that you are totally fine. You keep reminding you that one time I mentioned you should get an allowance when you start first grade. You've started watching Big Brother with me and actually pay attention to what is going on and who is "on the block" (I'm so sorry for dragging you into the dark side of reality t.v.). And speaking of the dark side, you're not phased by and of the horrors in and Star Wars, actually cheer when Kylo Ren kills Han Solo (should I be worried?), and for the 2nd Halloween in a row want to be a bad guy with a lightsaber.
Last weekend, we were at the beach, and the third and final day the water was particularly calm yer frigid. After I declared myself spent in the water (it literally took my breath away it was so cold), you said, "that's fine mom, I can float by myself". And you took your boogie board and did just that. I sat in my chair about a hundred yards from the waters edge and watched, half proud, half petrified. Not soon after, you were joined by a girl who introduced herself the day before (9 years old!) and spend the morning riding waves with her. When I finally came to get you out of the water there was another little boy who you'd made friends with too chatting you up the whole way up the beach. We got home that night and Daddy asked how the beach was (he'd been home with the dogs), and your sister in a sing-songy voice started talking about your girrrrlllfriend. I've never see you so embarrassed. It seems that was a little tidbit you wanted to keep to yourself. I can't believe you are already at an age that you don't want to tell us everything!
Well buddy, you're starting a new phase in your life, and at times it may not be as easy as school has been. I'm not concerned at all about you academically, I know you'll do great if you just keep working hard and not rush through everything- you're very smart, but you have to pay attention to what you're doing. The friendships you've had for so many years may change, and the way you interact with each other in a real school environment will be different. It's the big time now, and you're back to being one of the little guys. Just be confident in yourself and don't take to heart what anyone says. I know I know easier said than done.
I'm so proud of you, I'm a little anxious for you, I'm sad that you're growing up, I'm eager for you to learn, and most of all I'm excited for your new adventure!
I love you so much Gobbles!
Love,
Mom
P.S. Well we survived our first day yesterday, and I have to admit, although you've been in school for 6 years now, I spent more time wondering what you were up to yesterday than I did the whole time you were at daycare. I don't know why, because you did incredibly. You had your boys with you and you branched out and introduced yourself. You inserted yourself into a conversation to defend someone, and you loved music class and recess. I can't wait to go to back to school night and find out what everything is all about. Thanks for being a good kid, buddy!
Showing posts with label thankful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thankful. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Mommyhood
Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small,
And always leave my fingerprints
On furniture and walls.
But everyday I'm growing-
I'll be grown up someday,
And all those tiny handprints
Will simply fade away.
So here's a final handprint
Just so you can recall
Exactly how my fingers looked
When I was so very small.
It started on Friday with the Mothers' Day Tea at the kids' school. Although they don't attend on Fridays, we decided to head up anyway because I love anything that my kids make for me. Gobbles' artwork declared his love that I play games on the weekends with him (true, we play on the weekdays sometimes too!), and the Lobster's had the poem written above. I dare anyone with a soul to read it without bawling.
The kids played with their friends while I chatted with their moms, and although we had to go grocery shopping on the way home, we decided to take a detour to a nearby park first. The playground was small and surrounded by a field of dandelions and had a little pond. We were all kind of surprised at the pretty view since we'd never been there before and it was set back off a major road. The kids played on the playset - Gobbles with a pal and his gal and the Lobster with on of her bffs. The other two moms and I joked that we wished we'd planned ahead and brought some adult beverages with us since it was happy hour, after all. We enjoyed the impromptu playdate, yelling at the kids when they tried to gather "wishies" too close to the road and laughing at the little conversations going on around us. The older kids shared a moment when they all had to pee and we took them down to the woods, poor D being held up in a hoover/squat by her mother, the Lobster and D's sister looking on asking for their turn (our response was, no, you have a pullup on, just use that!).
The kids' happy hour ended and we vowed to do it again sometime, this time with alcohol, all hopeful that it will happen again but at the same time knowing life is hectic and in just another 15 months our kids will all be off to different kindergartens and new friends. Somehow the Lobster Roll and Gobbles still had enough energy to accompany me to the grocery store, provided we could go to the one with a "car cart". We got everything on our list to flavor Sunday's dinner and went home for homemade pizza, some extra TV time, and kids who were extra willing to go to bed.
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| I could just squeeze you two! |
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| Thanks, D for helping me on the computer! but don't you have your own little sister to sit on your lap? |
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| Slide races! |
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| I wish every day could be Friday! |
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| Wishie fight! |
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| See K, this is how you make a wish! |
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| Mom - This picture is from a totally different day in the car cart silly! But, we did hit that grocery store three times that week, so you can use it! |
The next day was planned to keep us busy, as I like to do when hubs is working (there's only so much Frozen one can watch, and I reserve that for Fridays when I have to do actual work). First was Gobbles' soccer game followed by a playdate with my oldest and bestest friend and her Mooshie Man.
Because of the uneven number of teams in his league, Gobbles' soccer team had a practice scrimmage instead of a game. To make up numbers, they allowed siblings to play too. The Lobster was thrilled with the idea and spend the first 30 minutes chasing her brother and his teammates around, and even getting a foot on the ball. She impressed me, not only hanging with the 4 year olds but hanging with their older siblings too!
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| I'm so unprepared in a skirt and no shinguards! But I'll run laps with you guys anyway! |
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| And stretch! |
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| Which one's mine again? |
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| Well maybe I'll just touch it with my hands once! |
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| Good job Lobster! I won't let anyone push you around! |
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| Can you believe my luck of having my favorite color shirt again this season! |
After soccer we went right to meet Mooshie, at a truck event they had at a nearby Lowes. We arrived first and the Lobster made a beeline for the pink limousine, where Sweet and Sassy was giving out glitter tattoos. Gobbles, not afraid in his manhood, also enjoyed the sparkly accessory. Mooshie arrived and the kids explored race cars, fire trucks, tow trucks, ambulances, cranes, and more. The Chick-fil-a cow, which seems to sponsor ever free event we go to, was also in attendance. The Lobster spotted her enemy no. 1 across the crowded parking lot and promptly declared I don't like the cow! Which is what she says whenever you mention Chick-fil-a, Mr. Scott, the mall, chicken nuggets, dancing, or the Easter Bunny. She will vent to her therapist about this one day for sure.
The Lowes build and grow group was also out making cars, but by the time we got to the table they were out of cars and the kids were tired, so we just picked up some packs to go and had lunch at the Lobster's least favorite place - you guessed it - chick-fil-a. After lunch the kids played in the play area, causing Gobbles to declare it his most favorite restaurant ever. By the time the kids were home and bathed, the Lobster was begging for her nap and Gobbles and I got down to hosting prep for the next day's dinner.
This year for Mothers' Day, instead of the elaborate brunch we did last year for our moms, I told hubs I just wanted to have a relaxing afternoon on the sun porch while he grilled, and we invited my family too. With his work Saturday and my soccer game Sunday morning, I wanted to get a jump on the cooking so I could chill out as I wanted. Hubs was in charge of the grilled citrus shrimp and chimichurri skirt steaks (with bonus filet mignon!) and I made a sun dried tomato orzo with kalamata olives and feta. Turns out Gobbles loooves feta, who knew? Anyway, I also wanted to make dessert, which was what Gobbles and I did ahead of time on Saturday while the Lobster napped. Gobbles helped me zest and squeeze the lemons, mix them into the egg mixture, and separately mix the blueberry compote for lemon curd. Then he helped me whip up a strawberry marscapone pie, licking the bowl afterwards of course.
Afterwards, as promised, I helped Gobbles put together the build and grow he'd gotten earlier that day - a miniature grab machine, with which he spent the afternoon scooping up prizes and cheering for his sister to play. The next day went even better than pictured. I got up early and played soccer, returned to find two perfect paintings of trees and a card waiting for me, relaxed with some drinks with my kids and my family, and finally had a delicious meal on the sunporch. Surprisingly I took no pictures on Mothers' day, I just enjoyed the moments in the moment. Two days later, another gift arrived in the mail, hubs' mothers day gift for me - two canvas prints of his favorite pictures of me being a mom - laughing with my lobster and cooking with my Gobbles. These are the moments I could live over and over again.
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| Boy mom, this is a LOT of lemons! |
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| Make sure you only touch the top of the double boiler! |
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| Well, I like the marscapone but the balsamic on the strawberries is a little spicy! |
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| Wearing my awesome sheriff badge from the truck day and building with my mom- so much fun! |
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| Cards from my babies! |
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| Trees and Mommy dedications with Acrylic Paint, Markers, and Scissors |
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| Some of my greatest moments. Captured by hubs. |
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Halloween Recap
This was written the week after Halloween, it just took me that long to get pictures inserted!
Our Halloween festivities actually started when we went pumpkin patching a month ago and continued right on through this past weekend. Our Halloween niece, the Princess Poozers, celebrated her 2nd birthday a few weeks ahead of time with a moon bounce, ice cream party, and pumpkin decorating. The Lobster and Gobbles loved painting the pumpkins and made as much of a mess as they could handle while they did it.
That week during dinner, our doorbell rang and the dogs went nuts. Hubs went to answer it but no one was there, just a bag of goodies - candy, coloring books, and Halloween trinkets. The kids excitedly went through the stuff while I, puzzled, read the note attached, you've been booed! As I read, the doorbell rang again and the same thing happened! I had never heard of this tradition, I assume some pintrest-y mom thing, but we followed the instructions. We proudly hung the sign on our door that we'd been visited by a friendly ghost and proceeded to go out and buy goodie bags for four more neighbors (2 for each boo we got!). Gobbles was SO excited to head out booing a few nights later. Hubs took him to the selected houses and watched from the car as the little flashlight bobbed up the driveway. Gobbles loved knocking on the door and running away, trying not to get caught as the other kids yelled Thanks Mr. Ghost! into the night. He was only chased by one dog that was looking for pets, because he had to run back onto one porch to retrieve his flashlight. When they got home Gobbles was brimming with excitement and relayed his tales of booing with gusto.
That Friday was the annual Fall Festival at school, which is the non-denominational way of saying Halloween parade. I hurried to finish sewing the Lobster's costume that I had started a month prior so that she had it in time for party. We got a lot of comments both at the party and during trick-or-treating on her costume from those who actually recognized the character- Boo from Monster's Inc. Thankfully they had Mike Wazowski costumes readily available on amazon so I didn't have to do double duty and make both. Gobbles loved his store-bought outfit, complete with giant pocket for easy candy access.
This was our fourth year attending school's Halloween festivities, so we knew what we were in for. There were art activities, little games to win prizes, and I made cupcakes for the "cake walk" (musical chairs where you win a cake based on the numbered chair you land in). The kids enjoyed taking part in the little stations, but soon decided they just wanted to chase their friends and play. Soon Gobbles found himself at the cakewalk, but try as he did, the luck of the draw wasn't with him this year and he did not win. When hubs told him it was time to give someone else a turn, I could hear the screaming across the playground - I was on the other slide trying to keep the Lobster from killing herself on the climber. At that point we decided it was time to call it a day!
The next day we had plans to meet a school friend at the zoo for the Boo at the Zoo event. They advertised trick or treating around the zoo, but that part turned out to be pretty lame. Thank goodness for the animals all around to distract the kids from the lack of candy. The candy they did get was eaten immediately, which led to the Lobster attempting the same thing on Halloween night.
Finally, it was actually Halloween, trick or treat night! I picked the kids up early from school and we went home, got dressed, set a bowl of candy outside, and rushed over to a neighbor's house where they had pizza and snacks for pre-trick or treat. This is when the fun began for hubs and I. When I asked the neighbor what I could bring, she told me drinks / juice boxes. We took it a step further and stuffed a case of beer in the cooler as well and loaded it into the wagon.
When it was time to trick or treat, the kids were anti-wagon and just ready to run after the group up to every house to get their candy. Good for us because there was no room after the giant cooler! We made our way from house to house with the group, Gobbles chasing after the big kids and one of us carrying the Lobster up to the house because she could not keep up. I absolutely love our neighborhood, but having every home on an acre of property is really a hindrance on the efficiency of trick or treating. Especially when you really didn't want to walk across people's lawns. But, it was worth it, the kids got a decent amount of candy, including 3 or 4 full sized bars each, and we got our exercise. We must have walked about two miles by the time the night was over, which is a lot for the little legs.
The Lobster still didn't get the fact that the candy was for later and insisted on carrying each piece in her hand instead of in her bucket. She attempted to open quite a few and resorted to chewing clean through the paper when we tried to cut her off. The saving grace of the night was the house that handed out soft pretzels to go with their candy. The lobster then had something to chew on while trick or treating. She'd go up to the step, lay her pretzel down, collect candy, pick her pretzel back up, then move on to the next house.
All the while we were walking around with the giant group of neighbors and interacting with the other groups we passed on the street. We handed out beer from the cooler and their older kids gushed about ours and took their hands to bring them up to the houses, giving us a break. By the end of the night the group roving the neighborhood had grown to about 20 families, all hanging out and laughing while the kids got more sugared up.
The kids grew tired before we were out of houses and my parents and sister had come to see their costumes, so we called it a night and told the group we'd see them later when they made it to our house. When we got back and greeted my family, the Lobster and Gobbles both got a second wind, most likely from the candy overload and Halloween gifts they were given. They hung out while we tended to the stream of trick or treaters that were making their way to our house. Some of the dads came in for a beer with hubs and making plans with him to hang out in the future.
After the doors were closed and my family gone (along with the kids, spending the night at Grandmom's house so I could work the next day, a rare Friday workday), hubs turned to me with a smile on his face and the giddiness of a child, "Sweets, that was the BEST Halloween I can ever remember having."
And just like that, all the anxiety, stress, fears, and impatience we felt while selling our old house became worth it. In the 13 months we've lived here, we've made more friends and gotten more comfortable than in the 7 years at our old place. Our new house in the awesome neighborhood with the best neighbors was only there for us after we went through the year of trials and tribulations in selling. Sometimes it takes hindsight to recognize, but everything really does happen for a reason.
Our Halloween festivities actually started when we went pumpkin patching a month ago and continued right on through this past weekend. Our Halloween niece, the Princess Poozers, celebrated her 2nd birthday a few weeks ahead of time with a moon bounce, ice cream party, and pumpkin decorating. The Lobster and Gobbles loved painting the pumpkins and made as much of a mess as they could handle while they did it.
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| Hey Poozers - what a great messy project your mom thought of for us :) |
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| I love BLUE! |
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| Jumping is SO.MUCH.FUN! |
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| Wiped out from all the fun! |
That week during dinner, our doorbell rang and the dogs went nuts. Hubs went to answer it but no one was there, just a bag of goodies - candy, coloring books, and Halloween trinkets. The kids excitedly went through the stuff while I, puzzled, read the note attached, you've been booed! As I read, the doorbell rang again and the same thing happened! I had never heard of this tradition, I assume some pintrest-y mom thing, but we followed the instructions. We proudly hung the sign on our door that we'd been visited by a friendly ghost and proceeded to go out and buy goodie bags for four more neighbors (2 for each boo we got!). Gobbles was SO excited to head out booing a few nights later. Hubs took him to the selected houses and watched from the car as the little flashlight bobbed up the driveway. Gobbles loved knocking on the door and running away, trying not to get caught as the other kids yelled Thanks Mr. Ghost! into the night. He was only chased by one dog that was looking for pets, because he had to run back onto one porch to retrieve his flashlight. When they got home Gobbles was brimming with excitement and relayed his tales of booing with gusto.
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| Ready to go booing! |
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| Lobster - I'm the one scaring - why are you dressed like Hannibal Lector? |
That Friday was the annual Fall Festival at school, which is the non-denominational way of saying Halloween parade. I hurried to finish sewing the Lobster's costume that I had started a month prior so that she had it in time for party. We got a lot of comments both at the party and during trick-or-treating on her costume from those who actually recognized the character- Boo from Monster's Inc. Thankfully they had Mike Wazowski costumes readily available on amazon so I didn't have to do double duty and make both. Gobbles loved his store-bought outfit, complete with giant pocket for easy candy access.
This was our fourth year attending school's Halloween festivities, so we knew what we were in for. There were art activities, little games to win prizes, and I made cupcakes for the "cake walk" (musical chairs where you win a cake based on the numbered chair you land in). The kids enjoyed taking part in the little stations, but soon decided they just wanted to chase their friends and play. Soon Gobbles found himself at the cakewalk, but try as he did, the luck of the draw wasn't with him this year and he did not win. When hubs told him it was time to give someone else a turn, I could hear the screaming across the playground - I was on the other slide trying to keep the Lobster from killing herself on the climber. At that point we decided it was time to call it a day!
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| It's a lolipop, what are you lookin at? |
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| Of all the fun I can be having - Bubbles are where it's at. Because the container is yellow - my favorite! |
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| Shhhhh. Don't let anyone see us steal candy from this bucket! |
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| Cheese! |
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| Mommy photobomb? wtf! |
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| Where'd Gobbles go? |
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| C'mon daddy! Where to next? |
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| I'll just eat another lolipop! |
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| Faceoff with Jake the Neverland Pirate! |
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| I'm just a sweet lil angel! |
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| Just Hangin' around! |
The next day we had plans to meet a school friend at the zoo for the Boo at the Zoo event. They advertised trick or treating around the zoo, but that part turned out to be pretty lame. Thank goodness for the animals all around to distract the kids from the lack of candy. The candy they did get was eaten immediately, which led to the Lobster attempting the same thing on Halloween night.
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| Why would you think the Boo costume would fall apart before trick or treating? Look how careful I am! |
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| Pixar forever! |
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| Really? More pictures? |
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| Ohh, whacha got in there? |
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| Pumpkins.. or penguins? Hmmmm.. |
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| Look at those Lazy Lions! |
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| Why are they eating all the candy? |
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| Hey Polar bear - over here! |
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| Forget the polar bear - who's that pretty girl in the glass? |
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| Our favorite animal! Besides the otters. But mommy put the camera away by then! |
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| Pizza is good even when you sit on a tree stump! |
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| Now what kind of candy do I have left? |
Finally, it was actually Halloween, trick or treat night! I picked the kids up early from school and we went home, got dressed, set a bowl of candy outside, and rushed over to a neighbor's house where they had pizza and snacks for pre-trick or treat. This is when the fun began for hubs and I. When I asked the neighbor what I could bring, she told me drinks / juice boxes. We took it a step further and stuffed a case of beer in the cooler as well and loaded it into the wagon.
When it was time to trick or treat, the kids were anti-wagon and just ready to run after the group up to every house to get their candy. Good for us because there was no room after the giant cooler! We made our way from house to house with the group, Gobbles chasing after the big kids and one of us carrying the Lobster up to the house because she could not keep up. I absolutely love our neighborhood, but having every home on an acre of property is really a hindrance on the efficiency of trick or treating. Especially when you really didn't want to walk across people's lawns. But, it was worth it, the kids got a decent amount of candy, including 3 or 4 full sized bars each, and we got our exercise. We must have walked about two miles by the time the night was over, which is a lot for the little legs.
The Lobster still didn't get the fact that the candy was for later and insisted on carrying each piece in her hand instead of in her bucket. She attempted to open quite a few and resorted to chewing clean through the paper when we tried to cut her off. The saving grace of the night was the house that handed out soft pretzels to go with their candy. The lobster then had something to chew on while trick or treating. She'd go up to the step, lay her pretzel down, collect candy, pick her pretzel back up, then move on to the next house.
All the while we were walking around with the giant group of neighbors and interacting with the other groups we passed on the street. We handed out beer from the cooler and their older kids gushed about ours and took their hands to bring them up to the houses, giving us a break. By the end of the night the group roving the neighborhood had grown to about 20 families, all hanging out and laughing while the kids got more sugared up.
The kids grew tired before we were out of houses and my parents and sister had come to see their costumes, so we called it a night and told the group we'd see them later when they made it to our house. When we got back and greeted my family, the Lobster and Gobbles both got a second wind, most likely from the candy overload and Halloween gifts they were given. They hung out while we tended to the stream of trick or treaters that were making their way to our house. Some of the dads came in for a beer with hubs and making plans with him to hang out in the future.
After the doors were closed and my family gone (along with the kids, spending the night at Grandmom's house so I could work the next day, a rare Friday workday), hubs turned to me with a smile on his face and the giddiness of a child, "Sweets, that was the BEST Halloween I can ever remember having."
And just like that, all the anxiety, stress, fears, and impatience we felt while selling our old house became worth it. In the 13 months we've lived here, we've made more friends and gotten more comfortable than in the 7 years at our old place. Our new house in the awesome neighborhood with the best neighbors was only there for us after we went through the year of trials and tribulations in selling. Sometimes it takes hindsight to recognize, but everything really does happen for a reason.
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| Don't forget you let us have some candy for breakfast too! |
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| Cheese. For the 5th time! |
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| Mommy - what is with this picture? Something picasa albums does automatically that you couldn't replicate if you wanted?? Neat! Look at our puppies in the background! |
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| The one picture of how the lobster's costume was intended to be worn - hood up! |
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| Chocolate makes us HAPPY!!! |
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| Oh another one of these?! how silly! |
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| A portion of the trick-or-treating group |
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