Last FirstDay of Preschool

Last first day of preschool for Coop.  I can't believe it.  Next year we'll be posting pictures of kindergarten.  What?!  So not ready for that...  Let's just focus on this year...

I am so excited about this year for Cooper.  His class is great, his teacher is amazing and it's just going to be a great year for him, I know it.  And the field trips they take this year--wow!  So much fun!  They go about once a month and get to learn and experience so much--the zoo, museums, opera, pet store, dance show, several children's musicals, fire station (Coop is already asking how many days until this one), Japanese lunch outing, and several others.  I really, really like his teacher for this year.  She's all about empowering them to make their own decisions and encouraging their creative problem solving.  And she's great, great at teaching them through such fun and playful ways, which is what the school is all about--learning through play and through experiences as opposed to sitting at tables and looking at a chalkboard.  Ugh...I'm dreading that day for him.  For all the boys...  I love that Coop comes home from school with paint on his clothes, dirt on his hands and full of fun stories about he learned that day.  Can he just stay in preschool forever?

Coop began drawing our family on the board, so I took that opportunity to take a quick "first day of school" pic.

 After I picked Cooper up, I attempted a grocery store run with all three.  I've done it a couple of times, but the amount of looks I/we get doesn't change.  I'm not sure if people look at me thinking I'm brave...or crazy...shopping with three kids.  Maybe both?  (Or maybe it's because Cooper was acting like a pirate...)  Luckily, the few times I've done this everyone has been well behaved.  But it's an adventure doing any outing with three!  It's where we are in life, and I would want it any other way! 

 

09.03.2013

Ready for Baseball

While playing outside, Austin asked me to open our outdoor toy chest.  I did and watched him rummage around in it for a few minutes, noticing that he was looking for something in particular.  But, then Coop needed help with his bike, so I walked around the corner to help.  And then, turned back around to see this... and hear, "Baseball!  Hit ball!"  So that's what we did.

He had all the gear he needed to play baseball.  And, apparently in Austin's world, you need goggles to play ball.  Love him so much.

It was Only a Matter of Time...

...until Austin began taking his diaper off during naptime.  It's something that every toddler does and a phase that every toddler goes through.  I remember when Coop first did this, at about the same age as Austin is now, and he was just so proud of himself for getting off that diaper.  It was like....whoo hoo!  I'm free!!  Who needs to nap?!  On this particular day with Austin, I heard him on the monitor calling for his blankie, so I went in his room thinking I would pick up the blankie he'd thrown on the floor, rub his back and he'd be off to dreamland.  But nope.  I walked in and found the biggest, proudest expression on his face.  And he quickly exclaimed, "Uh oh!  Diaper!  Off!"  And there it was.  On the floor.  And his little hiney was free.  I think we might need to go back to wearing shorts during naptime.  Now I'm just waiting for him to discover how to remove his jammies at night...

09.10.2013

Austin and Mommy

 Austin at 10 days old and at almost two months old.

 And at 21 months old.

This is What Happens When ... You Take Three Kids to the Car Wash

The scene...my car was filthy, desperate for a good outside wash and inside vacuum.  Sure, it was lunch time and quickly approaching nap time, but I thought, "Why not.  This will be fun.  The boys will be entertained outside while my car is quickly washed."  W.R.O.N.G.  The boys quickly became bored outside, and it was super hot.  We headed inside, and I told the boys they could share my phone and play games.  I thought, "Oh, this will work.  They will nicely share and all will be good."  W.R.O.N.G.  Coop shared...tired and hungry Austin didn't.  And man did he let everyone in the waiting area know that he didn't want to share and wasn't happy about it.  Coop had the phone and began taking pictures of the unfolding...uummm...display by Austin.

When I decided everyone inside had had enough of Austin's "show," we headed back outside.  Luckily, my Joyful Mess calmed down.  Phew.  And Coop continued taking pictures of things he found "interesting."  (His description.)

And finally DONE.  Phew.  Note to self: don't take three kids, all hungry and tired, to get a "quick" car wash that ends up taking half an hour.  Lesson learned.

 

09.12.2013

 

Somebody Loves His Activity Mat

Grayson loves his play mat.  However, Grayson's time on his activity mat is oh so different than when Cooper was this age enjoying the activity mat...

Cooper didn't have two big brothers to show him all the cool toys.

 Cooper didn't have two big brothers who knock down the toy bars.

 

(But Cooper is happy to fix the bars for his baby brother.)

 Cooper didn't have a big brother trying to tickle him with a "claw" grabber thing.

Cooper didn't have two entertainers while playing on the mat: one pretending the toy chime is a fire alarm, and the other pretending the toy bar is an airplane.

 (Little One sometimes gives this look to Coop when he's not sure what Austin Boo will do next...

 ...I can't blame him.  And, don't worry, the foot was actually not even close to Grayson's head.)

 

08.13.2013