Potty Training....X2

It's official.......we have begun potty training. The boys have both been interested in potty training since we have started school. They go (as a class) every hour to the bathroom. It seems to have peeked their interest, and they have started to ask to go at home too. Not consistently, but it is a start. When the pee pee goes in the potty, the reward is two jelly beans. It is amazing that two jelly beans is enough incentive for them to want to try. It is a lot of work though, and often times I have two half naked toddlers running around.

Little Gymnast

Here are a few pictures of Caroline at gymnastics tonight. This is her second year to take classes, and she loves it! I hate to say it, but she is not very athletically inclined. She mostly goes for the socialization, and to wear the cute little leotards. As long as she is enjoying it, I guess that is all that matters. It is nice that she gets a little break from her job as big sister to have some fun!

Working Hard!

These are a couple of papers Caroline did last week--her first week back at school. She is very happy and says she loves it. Although many of her friends are not in her class, she gets to play with them every day at before and after school care. She comes home each day telling me what she's learned. She is really into making up "nonsense" rhyming words. It's so cute. She also is learning the sounds that her letters make........and she makes sure she teaches the brothers every day on the way home!!

I took the kids this weekend to the sesame street live show. They loved it. It was great fun for everyone. The kiddos sat absolutely still for 2 hours.......mesmerized by the live performance. Will did get a little uptight when the curtains would close, or the characters would leave the stage. He would holler, Where my friends go? I need my friends. This was after I convinced him that he was not allowed to go up on the stage to sing and dance with Elmo. It was precious!

Here is a picture of the kids waiting for the show to begin. Caroline just giggled about her folding chair. Will was very independent and didn't want any help as his chair engulfed him. Jack, on the other hand, was petrified of the seats.......and snuggled on my lap with his silkie and thumb the entire time.

Elmo was the star, and definitely all the little people's favorite!
However, I was quite partial to Big Bird!

Show and Tell

Tonight we went to Grammie and Pa's house for Grammie's birthday. Happy Birthday Grammie! They had these big worms on their tomato plants, which the kids loved--of course. Caroline brought two home with her to take to show and tell tomorrow. Won't her teacher just love me?!?

A True Picture Of How I Feel Today

This is how a Kindergarten Teacher feels after the 2nd day of Kindergarten! No, really, today was much better. Yesterday we had SEVERAL criers and a couple of "runners"......ya know, the ones who just bolt on ya. Yeah, fun! I think I'm gonna have a great class once we get into the swing of things. It just takes a lot of time and effort to make these little babies into readers and writers!

My own children are adjusting well to their new teachers and classrooms. They all seem happy and well cared for. I see potty training on the horizon for us. Their teacher takes them every hour. Surely they will start getting the hang of it soon. Say what you want about me, but.......I'll wait a few weeks before I start at home--just so they will "get it" more. I can't even think about it until I know they are truly ready. I don't wanna just spin my wheels. They don't talk about the potty much, or seem too interested. Hopefully school will be the push they need. Caroline LOVES her new teacher. She has been very excited to come home and tell me all she's done at school!

Oh, this picture of the boys was on the last day of summer school. They had a party with lots of candy. After they had shoved their mouths so full of candy that I thought they were gonna be sick, I took the rest away. This was the reaction. Go figure!!

Exhaustion!!

That's the only way I can describe today. I can't really even elaborate right now....too mentally and physically spent. Just to get up tomorrow and do it all over again!!!!!!!

What if ........

What if Caroline is sad her friends aren't in her class?
What if Will can't make it up the stairs to his classroom?
What if the teacher can't understand what Jack is trying to tell her?
What if Will is scared to sit on the potty because he is so unsteady?
What if Jack cries for me and misses me?
What if Caroline can't do all that is expected of her?
What if Will gets frustrated and melts down?
What if Jack needs snuggly hugs?
What if Will talks all through nap?

These are things that I struggle with as my children start back to school. Silly, I know, but I can't help it. I am very excited about their teachers though. The boys are in a 3yr. old room, and their teacher is very sweet. She was with the boys last year some during before and after school care. Their room is upstairs though, which should be interesting. Let the potty training begin! Caroline is in a 4yr. old/Kindergarten split. There are only four 4yr. olds (the oldest ones), and the rest are kindergartners. It's almost like my baby is starting Kindergarten. She will basically do kindergarten curriculum, but not be held accountable like the 5 yr. olds. I think it will be very good for her, but only one of her little friends will be in her class. Hopefully she will adjust.

As I reflect on all my worries, I realize that most parents who are sending me their babies tomorrow probably feel just the same as I.

Question........

What is worse than 1 vomiting toddler? 2 vomiting toddlers! Someone forgot to tell my boys that MOMMY DOES NOT DO THROW UP!!! Will started yesterday at about 4 pm. He was crying, so I sat down with him on the couch to comfort him and he projectile vomited all over me. Of course Tim wasn't home, so I had to deal with it on my own. Don't worry, he got plenty of chances to deal with it later! There were several more episodes to follow. Jack started at about 3am. They seem to be fine now, but I'm not taking any chances. Only toast, bananas, and pedialyte for them today. Hopefully Ms. Caroline doesn't get it.......or me--tomorrow is my first day with my new class!
This is the official "throw up" stool. When they get sick, this is where we put them until they are finished and are cleaned up. Will is very familiar with this routine by now.

$106.60

Is how much money I spent on school supplies for 3 preschoolers. This is what it looks like to pack up and take school supplies for 3 preschoolers. I'm off to open house to meet the kids teachers.........and to unload all this stuff!

BED TIME STORY

Last night after I read the kids each a bedtime story, they decided they all wanted to pile up on Caroline's bed and read the books again--all by themselves. How could I say no??? They were very serious about reading their stories. Will did a lot of saying, "Bee End", and Jack does a lot of pointing and jabbering in another language. Caroline is fabulous at retellings!

Motivation

Every year all educators from FSPS gathers together in an assembly to kick off the new school year. There is always a motivational key-note speaker. This year was a little different. Our speaker was Craig Scott. He was a student at Columbine High School when the school shootings occurred. He was in the midst of all the mayhem, and his sister Rachel was killed. He spoke a message of tolerance and compassion. I'm not sure "motivating" is the right word, but his message was very moving. Not a dry eye in the house. His mission now is to carry on his sister's legacy by telling her story. She was very insightful and poetic, especially for a girl of her age. Very kind and strong in her beliefs. She believed that "if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same." Anyway, the presentation really spoke to me, and I just wanted to share. Check out some of the websites about her.
http://www.racheljoyscott.org/
http://www.racheljoyscott.com/index3.htm
http://www.rachelschallenge.com/LearnMore/RachelsEssay/tabid/1701/Default.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Scott

Crayons, Glue Sticks, and Pencils, Oh My!

Oh, the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and brand new pointy crayons in tubs! It's that time again. As I prepare for 20 5yr. olds to enter my classroom on Monday, I hope they are as anxious and excited as I am. I mean, I DO have to go back, so why not get pumped about it?

Every time I think that I don't want to go back, I think of little Ella starting Kindergarten.....That precious and sweet little girl with a new backpack, new school supplies (that I'm sure she is quite proud of), fresh new haircut, and filled with anticipation. And then I remember that every one of my new students are just like Ella. I do believe that I became a very different teacher once I had children of my own. As I'm with my school kids, I think about how much I hope that my own children have a teacher who is kind and caring. It makes me think twice about what I say and how I say it.

All that said, I am already exhausted and am very ready to get into a routine with the kids. Their daycare is closed this week, so they have been here and there. I'm sure next week will be a tough adjustment for ALL of us. Hopefully we'll get into the swing of things soon!

~Writing on the Wall~

~~Or should we say bed? I went to check on the boys because they were being wild in their room during nap time. And this is what I found. William has obviously taken a black crayon to his sheets. When I talked to him about it, he acted like he was asleep because he knew he was in trouble. Well, at least it was the sheet instead of the wall!

When daddy's in charge........

Okay, this morning I was looking through the card on my camera for a pic. I had taken a while back. And this is what I found.......I asked Tim, "What is this, and who took these pictures?" Well, while I was out of town last week apparently Tim let Caroline put ooey gooey makeup on herself and the brothers. Go figure! And......he took pictures for documentation.

Splish Splash!

Here is a pic of the kids taking a bath tonight. Yes, they still all take a bath together. It's much easier this way! And yes, I am aware that the water is blue. I bought these tablets you put in the water to color it. They think a colored bath is mighty special! They are playing with new duckies that I picked up for them while I was on my work trip this week. They are wind up ducks. The feet paddle when you wind them up. I just assumed that they would "swim" in the water. Wrong! I don't think they were meant for the water at all! Oh well, the kids seemed to enjoy them anyway.

I am glad to be back home from my trip. Even though I was only gone a couple of days, it made me realize how much I love being with my family!

**Perfect Timing**

Of course, on my first official week back to work (on Wed.) Caroline has strep throat.......AGAIN! Yesterday she kept saying, "Mom, I have strep throat!" Well, after a sleepless night last night, I began to believe her. We went to the doctor this morning, and low and behold.....strep throat--she diagnosed herself correctly. You go girl!

So.....I am hoping that we don't pass this around and drag this out for two weeks. Although, something tells me we will. Isn't that just the way it works? Nothing like a stressful beginning of school year!

Anyway, that's what's going on around here. Never a dull moment!

Visit with Karsen

Little Karsen came to visit us today. Jack was obsessed with him, and Will was less than enthused to have someone competing for mommy's attention! He is quite adorable!!!

Posing for a photo shoot.

Jack wouldn't put him down!
Little Willie just couldn't deal with company today.
Jack even shared his silkie!
Cooing at Caroline.

Hamming it up for the camera!