P is for Preschool

 So, we are coming to the end of our 3rd week in Preschool, and Momma is still standing!!  Actually it was pretty hard those first few days, for me - not them, but we have all adjusted pretty well to our new school schedule.

Of course we took lots of pictures of that momentous first day!

.

They are ready to go!

 Momma, can we go now?

Okay, but this is the last one, right?

They were so ready to get there!

 At the doors of the school, sporting identical backpacks, rarely do they pick out exactly the same thing, but they HAD to have these!

At their lockers - yes, my preschoolers have their own lockers!

 Sitting down and signing in for the day! 

 Do you think he is happy to be there?!

 Jack is very happy too!

So, then Momma begs the boys for a hug and a kiss before she leaves and they can barely stand still long enough to do that! 

"Okay Mom, Bye!  See you later!" - My Big Boys!

Momma leaves and saves her tears for the car and drives home :(

After what felt like far more than 3 hours, finally it was time to go out to wait for the bus.

 "Here comes their bus!"

 (Papa came over to see the boys come home on their first day and take pictures of them getting off the bus, that way Momma could just give hugs!)

They are loving getting to ride the school bus!

Momma is so happy to see her hot, tired boys after a long morning of preschool!  

They had so much to tell me and absolutely loved preschool and have been loving it everyday since. Everyday they ask if they are going to preschool.  They have made friends that they regularly talk about.  They come home with new songs and new skills and so much to share!  And everyday they remind us that they get to ride the bus home - that is still the best part for them!

And Momma has slowly eased into letting them go and grow and learn away from me, and enjoy the time that I have to do other things by myself.  

♥

I'll get there...

How did we get from this - 

To this -

Here are some facts that just cannot be ignored:

My babies are 4 years old.

They are starting preschool next week.   

They are super-excited about this.

They have never been in a non-family caregiver situation in their lives.  

I am freaking out.

Don't get me wrong, they are going to school.  I am not going to keep them home just because I am nervous.  We have been preparing them ( and honestly, preparing me too) for this upcoming major milestone and transition.  We have talked about how much fun it will be, how many friends they will have, how much they will learn, AND how Momma does not stay when they go to class, that school is just for the kids and that Momma will be waiting for you when you are done at the end of the day.  And I think that they are okay with the fact that I will be leaving them at preschool 4 days a week for 1/2 a day and that I will be waiting for them to get home on the bus.  

I think THEY are okay with this - but I am feeling doubtful about ME!  I am counting on that I can hold it together until I am out of their sight and then I can go cry like a sissy in the car all I want - just not in front of them.  I am not going to taint what will be an awesome experience for my guys with my fears and worries. 

It's weird because the intense love and need to protect my boys I feel is what makes me worry about them going off without me, but that same love and protectiveness is why I want them to have a great time away from me.  They need this, I know.  I need this, so I am told.  

I'll get there.  I will learn to enjoy their time in school as much as they do.  I will worry less, I will cry less, and I will get there too.  I have come this far as an overprotective Momma.  It was not all that long ago that I would not be able to breathe (physically, literally) when considering the thought of leaving my babies to go back to work.  Leaving them with someone else that was not Gramma or Aunt/Uncle. 

And here we are at the threshold of Preschool.  I have been able to home with them for more than 4 years and what a blessing that has been.  I know how lucky I am.  So, through every tear that I shed (including some as I write this) I will be grateful my boys are getting older and smarter and stronger and more independent.  Grateful, that they are mine and will be home by lunch.

Jack and Quent are going to have an amazing, awesome time in preschool.  

And Momma will get there too ☺

"On our actual birthday"

(OMG - 2 posts in 2 days!  What is going on?!)

The "actual birthday"  was the way that I had described their birthday once, which is on the 7th of June, trying to differentiate it from the 5th, which was the day of their party.  We had a countdown calendar and both days were on it, and after I had referred to the 7th as the "actual birthday" the one time - that was from then on what Quentin called their birthday - their"actual birthday".  Soon enough Jack caught on too.

We spent the day doing what the boys loved the most and luckily the weather was perfect, so our first stop was to take the bikes to the park to ride in the outdoor hockey rink.

First - they love it.

Second - they can't just take off riding out of your reach, they are confined to a safe spot with no cars.  Its perfect for learners!

Just look how cute they are in their little helmets!

They are both getting really good at the bikes, we probably won't attempt to lose the training wheels until next year and they have lots more practice.  They are doing great just the way they are now!

 Then, of course we had to play and swing at the park. 

Daddy was pushing them higher and higher - they were loving it - as you can see by the ginormous smiles!

 

 

I convinced the boys to let me take some pictures of them together for their birthday and thery were a little more than reluctant and quite silly and distracted, but we did manage to get a few really good ones of the two of them on their 4th birthday!

 My ABSOLUTE favorite one of the bunch that we took and it was the 1st one that we took!  This really does capture them perfectly and against the green, green grass - I just LOVE it!

 

 

*love this one too

*another favorite

 

*love the laugh from Quent

 

 

And for their birthday dinner?  

They chose Red Robin, of course!  Where else can you get just what you like (Quent=corndog, Jack=Mac&cheese) and get ice cream along with a song from the servers (that was big fun!) and a balloon to go with it!

Pretty great 4 year old birthday dinner, we think!

An an ice cream sundae to top off the big 4 year old birthday meal!

Yum!

Jack's not a big ice cream eater, he will eat some, but is not into having a lot and did not finish his sundae.

Quent, on the other hand ate every last bite!

Yummy - his favorite part is the whipped cream on top!

Neither one of them liked the cherry though. 

Daddy and a very silly 4 year old Jackson!

Momma posing with her 4 year old Quentin!

What an amazing gift these 4 years have been for us, our boys have brought us more joy and love then we ever thought was possible.  We could not love them more!   These two very different, very special, twin brothers are the perfect dream come true for their Momma and Daddy!

Happy 4th Birthday Jackson and Quentin!

My funny birthday boys!

I have to write this down so that I will always remember the cute, smart, funny stuff that Jack and Quent  have said about their upcoming birthday!

The boys' birthday is about 10 days away, and their party is a week from Saturday.  So, in all the preparations  - sending out invitations, planning the cake, etc. - we have been talking about their birthday  A LOT.  We made a countdown calendar, so that they knew when it was getting closer and cross out the days everyday.  Lately I have been asking them what they might want for their birthday and they minimally answer me, "I want Toy Story 3" (the movie comes out a week after their b-day and we do plan to see it), but they really don't have concrete ideas.  But with all this talk:

The boys have now just realized that they will be getting presents for their birthday. 

So, last night Jack was saying, "Fank you so much Momma for letting us have some presents on our birthday!" 

When I told him that most of his presents would be from other people (not me and Daddy) he gave me a {thumbs-up} and yelled, "That's Awesome, I will love that!" 

He is such a cute, little grateful boy!  


Tonight, after reading Toot and Puddle: A Present for Toot , we were all talking about the book and how silly the little pigs and the bird in the story were.  Then Quent gets an idea, "Momma I REALLY want to have a pet too, for my birthday! Like a big pet, like a big DOG!"
I say, "Well, that would be nice to have a big dog, but we can't have a dog at our house because Momma is allergic.  I am so sorry, but we can visit Bessie* and Laverne*."

Quent's face drops, then he brightens and says, "I know!  I want a Yak!  Wouldn't that be a great idea for my pet!"  (yes the child said YAK)
My eyes grow wide and I laugh a little, but then seriously say, "A yak is a very big animal and would not fit in our house.  Our yard is too small for a yak to be happy in our yard, they like to live in big open fields where they have lots of room.  Also, yak poop is huge- whew - can you imagine if a yak would go poop in our house!  Ewwww, what a stinky mess!"
{Jack and Quent are now laughing like crazy and talking about big, giant poops, no way do they want that!}


Quent gets up to go get his drink before he lays down and he stops at the door.  "Whoa, now this is a great pet for me - how about a dinosaur - a REAL dinosaur!  Wouldn't that be great?!"  
Now you have to imagine his little face, so happy and pleased with all these "great ideas" he has had.  He's so cute it just breaks your heart to have to tell him that he cannot have a real dinosaur.
"Oh, Quentie, real dinosaurs are not alive anymore for us to have as pets.  That would have been a cool pet though.  You know what, when you lay down you can think about and dream about all kinds of good ideas for a pet and we will talk some more about them tomorrow."  (like how I switch back to the 'go to bed' mode)

Tomorrow should be one exciting talk!

* Bess is my parents' dog and Laverne is my brother and his wife's dog

Milestone: Our First ER trip

So, we made it 3 years and 8 months without a visit to the ER.

Not bad.

Then, a week ago Tuesday, the corner of the counter jumped out and crashed into poor Quentin's lip/face and caused a deep gash that, unfortunately, needed stitches.

Of course it happened at the end of the evening so our ER trip was a late night one - and during a pretty crappy snowstorm too!

Don't almost all trips to the ER with kids ended up happening at night?!

We called Gramma and she went with us, driving us there during the crappy weather.  Now, that's one good Gramma!  Quent was fine with going to the hospital and did a great job all around!  We talked a lot about what would happen and he asked a lot of questions, but he really did exceptionally well.  The Dr. who did the stitches said that he was better than some adults at getting stitches in!!  

He really did so great, he was so brave!

Thumbs up Mom!

Waiting for the numbing gel to do its work before getting the stitches, Gramma made him a glove balloon and he had lots of stickers and stuff to do.

Ahhhh, using his glove balloon as a pillow!

Even in the ER late at night (maybe 11:30?) he still was being silly!

You know he actually does sleep like this, with his hands under his face - its pretty sweet!

He was an AWESOME patient!

I was so proud of the great job he did, not only in getting the 3 stitches so calmly, but in the 4 hour wait that we had before (luckily not all of that time in the waiting room). He really wanted to talk and play with the other kids when we were in the waiting room, but they were all there because they were sick and I did not want him to pick up any illness while we were there, so we made him stay with us and kept sanitizing his hands (and ours) while we were there.  He was a trooper though, we just kept saying that we did not want to share their germs and he did pretty well.

We got home that night at about 1:30 am and so he got to bed by about 2am.  Other than making up for some lost sleep he next day, there have been no real problems at all with the "boo-boo".

He is healing well and since they are dissolving stitches, he is already losing some of them.

As you can see - 3 stitches can't hold this boy down!!

(Just so you know: During the whole ordeal, Jackson was at home with Daddy and went to bed.  He gave me and Quent a kiss before we left and said goodbye.  He was pretty fascinated the next morning to see Quent's boo-boo.)

Wrapping up 2009 - Part 1

Here is the first installment of all the awesome pictures and memories that I had not yet included on the blog.  Really, things that I do not want to forget! 

In the last few months I have not been on top of the blogging about all the stuff that I had wanted, I have taken tons of pictures and done lots of fun things with the boys and our family and friends. 

Be prepared to be bombarded!!

In August we attended my Mom's family's reunion.  This is a pic of my Mom's immediate family that came.

In the back row: Uncle Andrew, Aunt Erin, my Dad, Uncle Jim, and Uncle Donnie

In the front row:  Uncle Don, Aunt Barb, Brad, my Gramma (or GG to the boys), my Mom, Aunt Anne, me, and Tom

Alex, Quent, and Jack are in the very front of all of us.

It was a fun time at the park, the weather was beautiful

and we celebrated my Gramma's 80th birthday with a super cute cake -

She was surprised and it was a lot of fun for everyone!

The big downer of the day was my accident at the end of our day.

We were getting into the van to get home and as I leaped into the passenger seat  - and by 'leaped' I truly mean that I really took a leap into the van - I banged my forehead on the door frame.

HARD.

It was very painful, and I definitely saw stars.  The wind blowing on my head hurt.

Well, I ended up with a mild concussion that was painful for days. 

I am still amazed that I did that to myself.

************

We got in some swimming at Aunt Margaret and Uncle Eldon's pool over the summer. 

They live so close and the boys absolutely love swimming, it was always a good time!

Quent in his shades

Jack is debating whether he will actually jump off to Daddy

"no, you go first, no, you go first"

Do you just love those swim floaties?!  I thought they were so cute.

And they work awesome!

Cute little posing Jack.

(Yes, I was swimming that day too.  And yes, there are no pictures of Momma in the bathing suit - and that's the way I like it!)

**********

One day the boys ad I just took off with our zoopass and did a trip on our own for the day.

Just Momma and her boys.  We had a good time, it is so nice that they are at the age that we can do some of that stuff on our own and not have to wait for a time for someone to go with us to help out.

My big boys.

Jack and Quent were both very brave and got their arms painted with a snake for Jack and a tiger for Quent.  Every other time we have visited the zoo ans they have the face/arm painting station open, neither one have wanted to go anywhere near it.  But this time Quent wanted one, and once Quent was doing it, Jack decided he wanted one too.  They were so proud!

**********

You don't turn 80 everyday.

So we had to celebrate GG's (my Gramma) 80th in style!

GG getting some help from  the kids with her gifts.

Another beautiful cake for a beautiful Gramma

(notice Jack mid-run in the background)

Uncle Dan, Aunt Sue, Rob

My Mom and Tessa watch GG blow out her candles.

It's a good thing there are lots of grandkids/ and great grandkids to help GG blow out her candles!!

 

My boys love a good birthday song - you can tell they are just belting it out!

Tessa is patiently waiting for her piece of that cake!

My Mom, Aunt Jean, Gramma, and me

GG with Quent, Tessa, Becky (being held by her dad Tim) and Jack

Quent with his Gramma

And of course there had to be swimming!!

Even though it was pretty chilly, the kids all wanted to swim, so the guys (Tom, Rob, and Len) braved the cool weather to get the kids in the water.

Tessa paddling away for Rob

Is she not the cutest little Tessa Bean?!

Daddy and Quent - just trying not to chatter those little teeth

If you stayed under the water I guess it was pretty warm IN the pool -

these kids did not care, they love the water!

Jack and Len  swimming in the background

Quent and Daddy making their way to the side.

Tessa's big thing that day was "I deed it"  (I did it)

She would yell it out and throw her arms up, "I deed it!!"

It was pretty much adorable.

**********

What's so interesting about a school bus, you say?

Can you see that the top of it says "Old School"?!

And you probably can't see that the inside is totally decked out party bus-style!

What was so hilarious was that it was parked outside of the this establishment -

We were driving by on our way home from GG's birthday party and I was like - 

what is a school bus doing there?!

You don't see many school buses in front of places like this, so I had to have Tom stop so that I could take pictures.  Literally I was thinking "this would be a funny thing to put on the blog".  It was too funny!!

Too bad it took me so long to get it here!