Tag Archives: Jack

Insta Thursday

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Have I mentioned i love insta-gram?  I could take and post photos sometimes hourly on a good day; but I try not to :) .

I thought I’d share are a few photos captured a weeks ago.  This week there was kind of a pause in picture taking.  I’ve been fighting yet another bad head cold (3rd one this winter) and it was really kicking my rear until today.  Hoping I’m heading in the healing direction.

I love these next 2 shots probably the most in this little grouping.  The first below, is of my dad and Jack.  My dad isn’t the type of grandparent that babysits a lot, or really ever.  If I’m in a jam he will help. But, he is the grandparent that comes to dinner as often as we invite him, has us over to his 5 acre wooded lot to go sledding, makes it to 90% of the kids sports, and is always willing to help us DIY or do a project.

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One day both of my parents came to my house for lunch while the kids were on spring break.  This is rare for me, because my parents divorced when I was in kindergarten.  So, getting them together for a meal doesn’t happen.  In the last few years though, after both of them fighting seperate forms of cancer, and both getting hip replacements (mom is having her’s in April) they have become friends.  So, seeing them together, with just me and the boys, is always a treat.  Here are Nana and Max checking out the never ending snow.

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Here is Lukey sleeping in a chair we were given from my dad.  This makes me laugh, because every piece of furniture in that room, except for an ikea 4 square cube, was given to us for free.  This is actually great because our kids treat it like leaping pads sometimes.

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Here’s Max in a pair of boots my dad got for Jack.  At the time, I thought my dad was nuts. They are Sorel boots and they are tiny.  They cost like 60 bucks at the time.  Yet, they have lived through 3 kids perfectly, and are a favorite of our little man.

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One other thing I love, is that the boys love to help us cook.  I love that Joe cooks, and I mentally thank his mother for this skill on a weekly basis.  I hope my boys will continue this with their partners later in life too. Jack, helping daddy make dinner.

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This one cracks me up.  These two ya-hoos are partners in crime these days.  Chasing each other, snuggling, laughing, playing, and LOVING peanut butter.  By the spoonful, if I let them.  Max’s shirt is also one of my sassy favorites.

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Finally, there are these two lovely beauties.  Wanda the Washer, and Dave the Dryer.  We LOVE them.  They make laundry so much easier.  Wanda likes to leave her doors open so she doesn’t stink (she’s so risque’).  They are made by samsung, and after some research, a recommendation from my neighbor and a big sale, they were also easy on the pocketbook.

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What was your week like?  What are your Easter plans/traditions?

****I was not paid by Samsung or Instagram.  These opinions are my own. 

Summer lovin’ & Pool cool

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This summer is coming to an end.

My blog is revving back up.  You see now, I’m finding I have a bit more time.

Joe and I made a solid agreement that when the pool opened this summer, we would let most everything else go.  (other then the necessary cleaning).  We wouldn’t do any “projects”, or “organizing,” or work on our house.  (we ended up tackling the garage…. more on that later)  We would SWIM, and just simply enjoy the summer.  If there was a day to be swimming, 95% of the time, we were using it.

We loved every single second of it.

Jack went from jumping in, but mostly dog paddling…..to rhythmic breathing and a front crawl that impresses his lifeguard Mother.

Luke went from sitting on the steps, refusing to put in his face…..to walking in the shallow end and playing paper, rock, scissors underwater.

We had many people over.  I think we only spent a total of 7 hours in the pool just the 5 of us.  Which was just fine.  We loved being home, having fun, and just enjoying being outside.

It was the very best thing we could have done.

My only regret, is that the photos you see above (of the pool), are pretty much the only ones I have.

However, this means, that instead of taking pictures, I was making memories.

If we weren’t in the pool, we spent loads of outdoor time here.

I was THAT parent.  Screaming and cheering him on.  Watching him pass and score.  Just being proud of him.

Ironically, she too became very popular on the soccer field AND in the pool.   She couldn’t go anywhere without being petted, or people asking about her.  I was even asked why didn’t we bring her once.  We love her so.  She too LOVED the pool.  Often playing the lifeguard role she was made for.  Wish I had a shot of that.

Now that fall is creeping in, the projects will resume.   Until next spring though, we will long for the steaming hot, smile filled swimming days.

Jack’s 1st day of Kindergarten

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We have been talking about it all summer.  For the last week, we have been practicing using his lunch box, and knowing his code for buying milk at school.  He’s been asking questions, I’ve been crying when folding his clothes, Joe’s been looking at the calendar to see when my monthly “friend” is due.

But let’s back up a week or so……

We attended the school open house, and became excited and overwhelmed at the same time.  We met his teacher (who’s lovely) and picked a locker………………

He designed his locker tag, and got it all ready to go.  So ready in fact, that we accidentally left his book bag there.  Whoops!

Fast forward to today.  I got up and was fighting the tears all morning.  Jack was already up, and dressed, and sitting at the table eating breakfast (which rarely happened pre-school excitement.  (Oatmeal for breakfast)

We got his back pack all packed, with a water bottle for snack, and a lunch…..

Joe reminded me to add a note, and surprise for Jack…

Then we went to find his new shoes (which I got for a great deal… more on that later) and he was starting to tie them all by himself.

Then came the question. “Is it time yet Mom?”  ”How about now?…. Can we leave yet?”

So, to pass the time, we grabbed the printables I had printed the night before from here, and took the following photos.

It’s not Luke’s 1st day… It was 2 days ago, but I had to work) Sorry Luke!

Love this one of all 3 of them :) So bummed that it’s blurry…..

We got to the bus stop, with time to spare, so I snapped these 2 cute photos.

I love them SO much that my heart hurts :)

Then, the buss arrived, but it didn’t say the animal we had told Jack, and we were informed that this new animal was the “morning” animal, and the other one was the afternoon one.  This was the first time Jack looked nervous….. which made me have an even harder time keeping myself in check.  He looked scared, and I was worried too.  He did pause to give me one last look….

The bus pulled away and confirmed what I’d already known…..that I would cry…. the ugly cry.  Jack never saw it, but Luke asked Joe why Mommy was sad.  Joe just said that I was happy for Jack and going to miss him a bit.   I knew it was coming, yet I thought it would be a moment and then it would pass.  I think Jack being worried at the last moment maybe escalated it too.  Either way, we may have gone to the school then and parked far enough off that he wouldn’t know, and maybe we watched as he was greeted by the principal, and given an older buddy to help him on his way…. maybe we did that, or maybe I made it up.  Ahem

We are SO proud of you Jack.  Happy 1st day of school Love!! xoxo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He’s ready, I’m not

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Today was Jack’s 1st day of a wonderful program we have in MN, called “Kindergarten Here We Come.”

He sat in the front room window for 25 minutes waiting to go.  He got dressed and brushed his teeth without being asked several times.  He walked fast down the half block to get to the stop, and CHEERED when the bus arrived.  He’s so ready.  I’m not.

I had spoken to Robin about this very day 3 months ago and my worries/fears about it.  I knew I would be a mess, she told me it was better because it prepares us (meaning the Mommies) for the actual 1st day.

I had fears of him not finding his way, or coming home all “meaned up” like a enlightening post I’d read a while back from Darcie.

The truth is, he will be fine.

As you can see from these photos, he’s grinning from ear to ear.

He’s already asked if I have to meet him at the bus, or can he “walk back home on my own.”

No Jack, your Mother is a bit too helicopter parent for that.  :)

Ironically…..

That was to be the end of the post, other then mentioning that we loved him (which I still do at the end here)…

Then the afternoon happened….

Joe got a 5 yr old guilt trip for not seeing Jack off to the bus, so he rushed home to meet Jack’s bus.  I’d been told by a neighbor with older kids on the bus that he’d be off by “12:15-12:20″.  Joe showed up.  Started the water to boil for lunch, and we headed down the street at 12:12 to met Jack.

We waited.

and waited…………….

In our excitement to see him, I took several photos of this bus coming toward us, which passed us right by.

and at 12:35 Joe said “the water is boiling at home now and I’m worried”  He then walked home and came back.

At 12:45 we called my mom who lives a block from the school to head there, and just as she hung up, here was the bus.

and… to our relief, our sweet boy…….

Happy, Excited, and a little tired.

Jack,

You are a wonderful, outgoing, friendly, caring and a respectful kid.  Daddy and I love you to the moon and back.  We are so very excited for you to be such a big kid and start this wonderful new chapter of your life.  We are proud of the person you are.  We are lucky to call you our son.

Love,

Momma & Dad.

P.S. less then 5 minutes after you left this morning, Luke asked to “go home and get my back pack so I can ride the bus too.”

Mommy is not even close to ready for this Lukey.

Pish update

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This is for Liz…..

Remember back here when I posted about the fishes aka pishes, we bought at Wally World?  Well, recently the status quo changed a bit.

The day started out craptasticly.

Joe, sweet hubby that he is, let me sleep in as late as possible before he headed off to work.  He did this because he knew I’d be working a pick up shift overnight that evening. Love that man.

My plan was to get up, get my food, and get the kids to the park to run off their energy, AND pray that we all got a nap in.

But, from the start, this was not to be.

1st, I lost my glasses.  And friends let me tell you, I’m probably legally blind without them.  My eyes weren’t at all contact ready, because Mr. M has been wanting to feed every 2 hours overnight due to teething.  So, the bags under my eyes looked like I’ve been on a 21 yrd olds drinking binge.

2nd, upon greeting sweet M & picking him up to snuggle, I discovered some lovely “gifts” he’d ever so carefully placed in his bottom region.

After changing him, his clothing, the diaper pad, AND my clothes, I proceeded to get the older boys clothes for the park.  I looked at the fish, and noticed that Jack’s was laying sideways, pretty much begging for his last rites.

To be fair, I’d noticed him sporting spots the night before  asked Joe if we should worry, but dismissed it because I was tired.

Now knowing that we had a flusher on our hands, I did what any mom would do, and called for back up.  Joe said to get him another, and we agreed maybe a seperate tank would be better since they are supposed to have 1 gallon = to 1 inch of fish.  Ours are an inch each, and therefore, we reasoned, too crowded.

As I was gently was breaking the news of the pending death, L came up stairs and informed me (and my nose) that he too had jumped on the crap wagon.  This was only mildy dumbfounding because he’d been potty trained now for a while, but his stools had been a bit looser the last few days, so I reasoned that was the cause.

I cleaned him up, tubbed him, and still tried to balence a sassy 8 month old (crap… he’s 8 months… hold me), comfort a 5 yr old wondering how in the world flushing the fish would get it to heaven, and still not being able to see much in front of me.

Friends, all this happened in the first 45 min of being awake.

It.was.awesome

We went to walmart and on the way there, we OVERLY discussed the fish and why he may have died, and if he’d get to heaven.  Jack also then stated that he was “glad for his fish because it would be with our baby sister and Jesus.  I bet my sister is beautiful mom, I can’t wait to meet her.  Will you tell her hi for me when you get there? Do you know Tukey that she has angel wings and protects us from monsters….”

Yeah, thank goodness for sunglasses, because somehow a dead fish made me cry.

After a nutty ride in the shopping cart, the fish made it home safely, but not without a quick stop at the park.  Upon arrival, karma was once again showing it’s PMS to me.  I hadn’t even gotten Max strapped in the stroller before Luke took a fall that required a bandaid on both knees and one on his hand.

Here’s the new guy….

When we got home I made the excutive decision, that I would flush the newly deceased and not make a big deal about it.  Thankfully, Jack didn’t either.

While I’m still unsure of his name, here is the new guy.  I pray he makes it longer then 18 days. :)

Reason

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When I pout, I look almost exactly like this….

That’s how I’m feeling right now.

I didn’t get my way, and I know there’s a reason.

Maybe it’s not meant to be, or maybe God has a different plan.

But the worst part about this pout….

Is that it really minorly affects me.

The pout is for the face above and below.  Who begins kindergarten in the fall.  We learned today that he did not get into the school we hoped for him.  We can’t afford the one we really wanted.  7600 per year is out of our reach, let alone X 3 when his brothers join him.  So, I put all my hope in today.  And, while PMS is a minor factor, it stands to be told that I am self scolding because I half expected that we would get in.  That the cards we’d been dealt lately were hard, and we maybe deserved it more then others.  But, God’s teaching me different.  That even though I wouldn’t have admitted the above statement to anyone other then my hubby, maybe that’s the reason for this?

There are worse things too.  Not that I can really focus on that.

Instead I linger on the facts.  What number on the wait list is he? Do we try for another school that’s similar but would make life harder because of location? Is this whole thing worth it?  Shouldn’t I go back and work 3 jobs or even 5 to afford him the 7600.00 per year education?  Doesn’t he deserve more?

So many reasons for so much guilt and worry.  Still though, the facts remain.  I CAN’T Change this.  I can Choose something different though.  I just wish sometimes the reasons came with the answers from above.

Till I figure it out though, I have this to keep me light hearted and laughing….

Da’ Boys

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The last few weeks have been NUTS.  Things have finally begun to settle down, and we are getting back to the norm.  I’ve never known how much I’ve appreciated the norm, until lately.

I have begun to snap photos of the babes again and wanted to share some of the favorites lately…

We start with Mr. M and I.  Joe snapped this while we were dancing in the kitchen.  I just love this shot.

Like the first photo of the 2 of us, I just adore this kid.  He loves water.  So, we combined the bumbo and bath stuff to create a fun sink play area.

Max really is just a happy kid and I think this photo captures his spirit.

Ahhh……. Oreo.

I just love her.  I love her soooo much.  She’s the best dog we’ve ever had and just radiates love.  Today she went to Jack’s school because the letter of the day was “O” and she stole the show.

Luke helping Dad and I finish cleaning up the basement.  Love the boots and undies combo.  he’s thrilled to do it.

Jack helping too!

Love the popsicle stick in his mouth, and the smile on his face.  Only my kids request popsicles in the middle of January.

Jack, making one of many shots at the indoor playground.  I loved how proud he was of himself.

On poop

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Today, I left work early to get Jack and have some him and I time.   I also needed to get him ready for what I thought was a kindergarten round up night.  (But, it was a “parent night,” and I was the jack hole who showed up with my 3 kids…late…and with a baby who needed to nurse…it.was.lovely)

Anyway, I was on the phone with my friend C, (talking about life and kindergarden), when all of a sudden I heard something….   I looked at the steps, and saw my 5 yr old, stark naked, with his ass in the air.  He was asking me if his butt is clean.  I say yes, and he says “well that’s good because I use-ded all the toilet paper to get it all clean.”

WHAT?

I set the phone down, and ask him how much is all the toilet paper.  “Um, well a lot, kinda.”

So, I take him to the nearest bathroom, and I grab a small amount of tp.  Like 5 sheets.  I then state the following

“Jack, do you see this amount of toilet paper?  This is all I use, and Mommy’s butt is way bigger then yours.  (this solicits a large giggle from him, and then myself ) “This is all you need, maybe two of these but not anymore.”

He then replies…..

“but Mommy, I just use-ded all of it”

So we walk upstairs.  Me once again explaining how my rear is bigger and doesn’t even use that much.

Then, it dawns on me that I can just use 5 yr old logic.  So, I tell him.

“Jack, just count 5 pieces and that’s fine.”

You can now see the light bulb in his head…. he then replies

“like 5 years old Mom”

Perfect Jack.

****Side note, we got home from said parent night, and came to find my toilet, not the one he’d used was totally plugged.  I have no idea why.