Reading

Noah read me his first book last night. It's called "Lunch". Have you read it? I highly recommend it - one of the best I've ever heard. Or maybe that is just because of the one who was reading it... Hmmm...

Abby's First Day

Little Miss Abby started Parent's Day Out today. She was pretty excited about it - mostly about having her very own backpack and lunch box. (If there is one word this girl knows, it is "MINE!" and she is not afraid to use it! Just make sure she doesn't see this.) She choose today of all days to sleep in and, therefore, had only one brother to pose with this morning.

(I know most of you will be surprised that I did not wake her up early just for the sake of a picture. Don't think I didn't think about it...) Benjamin was really quite proud to be leading his sister off to school. He told her she looked like a cowboy with her backpack on, so everyone we passed that commented about it, she'd say, "Cowboy." She insisted on saying "cheese" for every picture. Well, unless she was more interested in the bugs on the porch. Daddy met us at school to help escort her in. She did stop to make sure mommy was still coming - and to say, "cheese". We were a little early so she had some free time to do two of her favorite things - fishgaze(complete with swinging legs while she chatters to them through the glass) and rocka-rocka-to-and-fro. Finally, it was time for her to go in and "p-way". I'm pretty sure she forgot to look back, but we didn't take it too personally. Daddy helped get her hands washed and she was off. She had most things checked over before her last pep talk and we left. She looked pretty sweet standing in there with a big smile on her face. I peeked in on their play time when I came to pick up Benjamin. She was playing with a ball and the slide - two more of her favorite things. When we came back to get her, they said she did not nap. (No surprise there, ladies - I live with her, remember?) But that she did stay on her cot the whole time and chattered away. They said she had a great day and seemed to really enjoy herself. She told me "toys". And when I asked if she'd made lots of new friends she said, "Yes." What more could a mommy ask for? She couldn't tell me what she wanted to be when she grows up, so her daddy is going to guess - a cowboy. Yee-haw!

How Do You Clean the Bathroom?

This is the easiest way I have found to get it done.

Now daddy doesn't think this is a good idea. But I have to ask - did you watch this without laughing?

Benjamin's First Day of Preschool

Today our sweet Benjamin started preschool. He has waited patiently for years and was so excited that today was finally his big day.

We packed his backpack last night and he didn't really want to part with it. I guess that is why he was up at 6:15 this morning. (Maybe I should have let him sleep with the backpack...) He was all too proud to pose with his siblings. (Even Abby participated. Amazing!) I asked his big brother if he had any advice for the newest preschool pupil. He cleared his throat and said, "Play with your friends. Work when your teacher tells you to - and I don't mean just scribbling. That doesn't count. You have to really try. And don't tease your friends. That's not nice." Couldn't have said it better myself, Noah. Daddy had to be out of town for work this week so he called Benjamin to wish him well on his big day.Benjamin is attending Valley View. He has spent a lot of time here over the last two years so he had no qualms about going in. He marched right across the parking lot. And in the front door. He humored mom for a picture. (Although he didn't stop talking long enough for it...) We headed down the hall to his new room - the same room Noah has been in for two years. But he was pretty pleased to see his name on the wall this time. He got his backpack placed on his chair, found his apple to put on the attendance board, washed his hands, and went out to greet his new classmates. Benjamin was very excited to find out his good friend Maeric from his Parents' Day Out class would be in his class again. Not to mention she had a birthday on the first day and brought doughnut holes. (No wonder Benjamin liked her...) When Abby and I left, there was not a sound in the room. It was pretty cute how they all just fit right in and started playing like old friends. There was no discussion, they all just knew what they were supposed to do. When we went back to pick him up he had the biggest smile on his face. He said he had a great day. His favorite part was the doughnut holes, the Clifford story, and the animal song that they learned. (Does anybody else wish they could get videos of their kids at school???) We celebrated his big day with spaghetti for dinner - his favorite. So how does Abby feel about another big brother starting school? Tell me about it, Abs... Tell me about it... But he is happy and we couldn't ask for any more than that.