First Day of School!

The big day has came and went, the first day of school! This morning Adam started Kindergarten and Tyler started Pre School. It was a great day. Everyone cooperated very well this morning and we even got their early! :) First I have to share a fun story. We were saying our nightly prayers last night and we always let them chime in what they'd like to pray for. Adam promptly says, "dear God help me not to be too nervous." Tyler says, "please help me not to be naughty at school". :) Well, it worked, he was not at all naughty at school today! He did awesome. For the first day the parents get to stay and it's an open house type of day. He had a lot of fun playing with all the stuff and he did just wonderfully listening and following all the instructions. At one point in the morning, he looked at me and asked "am I listening mom?". It was cute. He got pretty tired by the end and just laid down instead of sitting for the story. I figured if that was the worst thing he did all day so be it! I warned the teachers that he was our wild one and they didn't take me one bit seriously because he was a perfect angel today.(I still told them to just wait!) :)
For Adam's first day, we were asked to say goodbye quickly and leave...so I did. He did great. He knew 3 other kids from that he had gone to pre school with. It sounds like he had the greatest day. They did a scavenger hunt and ate cookies was the synopsis I got. Sounded good to me! His teacher has already impressed me quite a lot. I get the impression he will learn much more than academics but how to be a good person and that warms my heart. He brought home a coloring page that said, NUMBER ONE KINDERGARTEN RULE- never hurt anyone on the inside or the outside signed-Adam. This teacher also clearly goes out of her way to make each child feel special, safe and welcome. Here is what she sent home today. A white bag with Adam's name on it and instructions to go through it with your parents. Inside the bag was this letter:

Welcome to your new classroom. Coming home with you today is a surprise bag just for your first day of school. Inside are many items that have very special meanings. Empty the bag with your mom and dad and let them read each special meaning when you find the object to go with the sentence. Always remember, this is your classroom, a place where you can grow, laugh, and learn...a special place for you to belong.
1. The cotton ball is so soft, and will remind you that your classroom is always full of soft, warm feelings.
2. The golden thread is to remind you that friendship ties our hearts and minds together.
3. The life saver is to remind you that you can come to me anytime you need help or someone to talk to.
4. The chocolate kiss is to remind you that you are loved and will make you feel better when you are sad.
5. the tissue is to remind you to always help dry someone else's tears when you see them crying.
6. The eraser is to remind you that it is okay to make mistakes...that's the best way to learn.
7. The shiny star is to remind you to always shine by trying to do your best every time.
8. The bandage is to remind you to help heal hurt feelings in yourself as well as your friends.
9. The rubber band is to remind you to put your arms around another person every day and share a hug.
10. The toothpicks reminds you to "pick out" the good qualities in everyone, including yourself.
11. The sticker is to remind you that we stick together in this room, and we always help each other out.
12. The penny is to remind you that you are very special and valuable, and there is not another one just like you.
13. The candle is to remind you that we are going to celebrate learning this year.
Remember God made you a special person, so let your light shine!
Needless to say I feel very good about our school choice and the first day of school could not have gone better! :)

Snow White...so SCARY?

So I earned the "mom of the year" award this past weekend. Friday, while we were at the library checking out books and movies, I saw the movie Snow White and begged the boys to pick it. After all can you really grow up without watching such a classic? Well, guess what you CAN. I hadn't seen it in quite some time (obviously)and I was shocked at how scary it was. Tyler nearly cried during it and then afterwards they wouldn't go to bed and they are still asking if witches are real and if they can come in our house. Can someone please tell me why every movie has to have a bad buy or scary witch or mean lady on it??? Can't we all just live happily ever after without all the drama of the witch giving us the poison apple? I actually find it challenging to find movies that aren't scary because let me tell you when it comes to Disney...good luck! UGH! Live and learn I guess.

Grace is still challenging us with bedtime. I do have to say we have seen improvement in some areas. I am trying really hard not to jinx myself here but she is going down for naps quite well. Bedtime is hit and miss and at nighttime she is pretty much up twice a night. It is taking less time to get her back down though. So, another thought to ponder and any advice would be appreciated here...shall we just move her to a big girl bed now so that we don't go through all of this again? Currently she is in her crib and the side is down. My fear is that we'll finally conquer this enormous task of getting her to go down nicely and sleep all night in the crib she can get out of, only to move her to a big girl bed and start over. thoughts anyone?

Adam is really really enjoying swimming lessons. He can now tread water for 15 seconds and his swimming is starting to look more graceful(rather than the hard fast swim for your life slaps). He also loves soccer. I sit and watch his soccer deal every week and leave feeling like I wasted my money and time, however, the other night Justin "scrimmaged" with Adam and Justin said he is WAY better and has obviously learned a lot. Shows how much I know! :) I just see them take about 40 water breaks during the 45 min session and play freeze tag while carrying the ball...freeze tag really? and I am sure you are not supposed to touch the ball, that much I do know! :)

Tyler is starting to sound out words! It is very exciting for us all. He is so interested in it all of the sudden. Now, don't get me wrong we are a very long ways from reading but he is getting the basic concepts down of sounding out each letter. So the other night Justin was working with him, helping him sound out TOP. So Tyler is saying ta ah pppp. He does this several times before getting totally stuck on the ppp and then shouts PAPA MURPHY'S! :) We all laughed hysterically and that was the end of that! :) He is also working a lot in the pool while Adam has lessons and is putting his face in the water now. I am proud of him in that he really did do it all on his own. He has his big 4th b-day coming up(seriously how can my second child be 4 already?) and he is already talking about it! He wants a fast bike that will keep up with Adam's! Anyone know where we can find that? :)

I am continuing to really enjoy my weekly pilates class. Now the fact that I do it with my good friend and we always walk up to get a smoothie afterward does play a huge role in that but hey we do still do the pilates. I am also gearing up for the start of the school year. I have taken on the school nurse duties so I have already checked all the immunization records, and next week is one of our orientation fairs where I get to catch all those who need to update their records! It's lots of fun. I enjoy meeting everyone.

So, school starts the 31st and my brain tells me to get these kids back on a schedule like now instead of sunday the 30th but MAN it's hard to get them to bed early when it's summer and so light out. Even I want to be up playing! :) So, wish us luck as we slowly transition the end of summer and welcome in the new and exciting adventure we are about to embark on...Pre School and Kindergarten!!!!!!!!!

Grace's ABC's

Here is Grace "singing" her version of the ABC song with other children playing in the background of course so listen carefully. Don't you love the headband and the dancing? :)

Random Pictures

My Grandma would be oh so proud. We made homemade pizza on Sunday! I made the bread dough and the sauce and the kids helped me assemble. It was SO much fun and very delicious I might add :)

What can I say, making pizza is just in their genes!


Here's our soccer star!



The pigtails are here to STAY. They are now a daily occurance and I LOVE them. They seriously make me smile everytime I look at her...well except when she's gotten out of her bed for the 100th time then I am usually not smiling anymore but she's usually pulled them out by then anyways:)


Don't you love sleeping children...I do. Especially since it's been SO hard to get this one to sleep lately! UGH.

Isn't he so sweet? :)


Okay, so my kids posed for a picture together...YEA! Please note my daughter. I am having the hardest time taking her seriously today. She looks hilarious in her pigtails and cloth headband.

I keep breaking out in song "let's get physical, physical wanna get physical". Doesn't she make you think of 80's rock! :)

She has quite the opinion lately and demanded that she wear this headband all day and how can I argue because she looks adorable! :)

A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned

Well than I did quite well today. Here is a picture of my Albertson's run. This was done using 3 transactions, many coupons, combining promotions and a rebate. Okay, are you ready for the grand total.......$15. If you would like to know details on how I did this I will be happy to share but I won't bore the rest of you with it.
here is what I got:

19 boxes cereal-(8)Honey nut cheerios, (3)Kix, (2)Frosted Flakes, (4)Raisin Bran and (2)Corn Flakes
2 boxes nutrigrain bars
2 brownie mixes
2 packs of yogurt
12 roll Charmin
1 small bottle of All detergent

It was work mind you. First I had to figure it all out, find all the coupons, cut all the coupons, recheck my math 3 times to make sure it would all work...then I took all three kids through that darn line three times plus had to cut out 10 UPC's for a rebate. So I am going to say the many pennies saved I did indeed earn.
Now here is the kicker, the total dollars SAVED on the bottom on my reciepts plus the rebate= $108!!! :) I'll call that success! :)
You can see how proud the boys are in the picture. I did get them involved and I really do hope I am teaching them lots!