Preschool!!!

Emma and Andrew both started preschool yesterday.  They have been waiting a very, very long time.  The start date was supposed to be last Thursday (which was already a full week after Sarah started school), but due to a heat wave the first two days were cancelled and then we had Labor Day... 

In our school district, the state funds a preschool program for all 4-year-olds.  They go 4 days a week for 2 1/2 hours each day.  I opted to put her in afternoon preschool so that she could ride the bus home with Sarah (their schools are on the same campus).  Emma has been ready for this for a long time.  She just loves making new friends and meeting new situations head on.  A couple weeks ago we were able to go to the school and meet her teacher.  She ran right up to her and gave her a big hug.  Luckily, her teacher smiled and gave her a hug back.  I think they are going to be a good fit!

When we moved, I immediately started calling around, looking around, and asking around about a preschool for Andrew.  I only found a couple places that I was interested in and one of them was at inconvenient times, and the other was WAY out of our price range.  I was pretty discouraged, and then heard a little rumor that Emma's preschool would allow 3-year-olds to attend if there was room, and we just had to pay tuition for him.  My original plan was to have Andrew only attend a couple days a week - just something for him to look forward to and a chance to get out of the house and learn to interact with others without me.  But, four 1/2 days a week sounded like a lot for such a little boy.  After weighing it out, Dennis and I thought this would still be the best option.  So, I called the school and they said to wait and call back because they were completely full.  A couple days later, I was at the school for something for Sarah.  That day they told me there really wasn't much of a chance of Andrew getting in... then, the very next morning I got a call telling me that there was room for him!  I could have him attend in the afternoon like Emma, and they could even have different teachers.  What a blessing! 

I dropped the kids off after lunch yesterday, and they ran right to their teachers.  I love that they are both so bold and confident.  I admit it makes me a little sad, but I am definitely grateful for it at the same time.  Little Jared and I had a wonderful afternoon running errands together and then we came back home for his nap and a little silence for me.  It was wonderful. 

I was nervous about my three little people riding the bus home together.  I probably bugged their teachers to death reminding them they all needed to get on together.  Happily, they all arrived back safe and sound with huge smiles on their faces (except for Andrew who was asleep on the bus and I had to walk on and get him).  He gave me the tightest squeeze he's given in a long time, which made my day.

After hearing the report for the day, it was all positive... except for one little tidbit.  Andrew told me his teacher was naughty.  I wondered what on earth she could have done to make him say that.  He told me she put cream all over the tables!  (They "painted" with shaving cream).  Hahaha... I'm glad he knew that making messes is naughty. 

Picture Day!

On our 2nd to last night in Oklahoma, I asked my super talented friend Ashley to take some family pictures for us.  I'd been wanting to do it for a long time, and why not put it off till the last minute when you have a ton of packing to do and nothing else better to do with your time than find coordinating clothes and make everyone look pretty?

Other than the pictures on my side bar that are my favorites, I have just a few more I had to share (okay, there are more than a few).  I'll just mention my favorite part of each photo.

Just because it has all of us

 Sarah's truly happy smile

 Jared - left out and with a sour look about it

 

 Trying to get a picture of Jared, and Andrew jumped in for a squeeze

 Andrew's totally cheesy smile

 Emma pulled them in for a hug

 Looks like they are discussing serious stuff here...

 Andrew's pure delight

Biggest blue eyes (not touched up, by the way)

A glimpse into the true nature of Emma and Jared's relationship... she can't get enough of him, and he deals with it.

Emma smiling with her teeth - very rare

Man... I love my little family.

First Grade - First Day

Sarah started her first day of first grade today!  It has seemed like a very, very long summer for us.  From packing up our house in Oklahoma, to visiting family in Utah, to unpacking our house in Iowa, to a L-O-N-G last three weeks of summer.  I think we were all more than ready for school to finally start.

I think I was just as nervous as Sarah was for the big day.  She's been telling me for a couple weeks that she was sad because she didn't know anyone in her new school.  Every time we'd meet someone new at the park or around town, they would have a kindergarten-age kid or a 2nd grader, but never anyone Sarah's age (or Emma's age for that matter). Sarah has always been a little like me when it comes to making friends.  We feel more comfortable waiting for the other person to approach us than to risk walking up to someone we don't know and might not want to know us!

So, as our whole family went to the school for the send off, I gave Sarah a hug and started tearing up.  I'm so worried for her.  I hope she gets brave today and meets 20 new friends.  When I realized Sarah was about to cry, thankfully, I was able to control my emotions and tell her what a great day she was going to have.  We left her without any tears, only looking slightly nervous.

 We can't wait to hear all about her big day!

Sweet Dreams

In preparation for my parents "speaking assignment" at church and luncheon at their house the day before they were scheduled to leave for the MTC, Dennis and Andrew helped my dad clean up the yard and mow the lawn.  Andrew had already had his bath and was headed to bed when Dennis asked if Andrew wanted to ride for a little while.  That was an easy answer!  Within a few minutes, Andrew was sound asleep.


He dreamt of John Deere all night long.  

Brigham City

During our little visit to Utah (while my sweet husband packed up the moving van and moved all of our stuff to Iowa), the kids and I took a day trip to Brigham City with my parents.

They are building a new LDS temple in Brigham City.  It is gorgeous.  I can't wait to see what it looks like finished, but I love the nostalgic feel to it.  It reminds me so much of some of the first temples that were built more than 100 years ago. 

We had such a fun day... walking around Brigham City a little, visiting a park, seeing the temple, and we capped it all off with a lunch at Maddox.  Their rolls were, as usual, heaven-sent.  I love the memories Maddox brings flooding to me.  Special dinners as a family around Christmas-time, High School graduation lunches for myself and each of my siblings, dinner with Dennis and my family the first time he came to visit, our wedding breakfast... yummy food and great memories.

Pretty Princess Pedi Party

For our very last day in Oklahoma, we had Sarah's two best friends over for a party.  We picked them up and headed to McDonald's for lunch (6 kids at McDonald's + 1 Mom = some very interesting conversation, lots of messes, and some empathetic looks from other adults).  After our lunchtime adventure, we went back to our house and had a pedicure party.  While Jared napped and Andrew entertained himself with his new light saber from his Happy Meal, I gave the four girls a pedicure.  They loved it! 

Sarah really had some great friends in Lauren and Paige, and I hope she can find some more friends in Iowa quickly.

All Our Bags Are Packed...

And we're ready to go...

The house is packed up in boxes, and the kids and I are headed to Utah today.  Two and a half weeks of play, and then on to our Iowa adventure.