Tom discovered the AWESOMEST playground yesterday when he was out driving, and we took the boys today. They had a total blast!!!
Category: Tom and Jodi
Math Night…
Tom took Jonas to Math Night at NES tonight…they enjoyed learning about symmetry by drawing boomerangs and making paper snowflakes, building tetrahedrons and pyramids, etc.
Halloween…
We were SO excited this year to get to celebrate Halloween with my brother, Kerry, who moved back this year after many years in Taiwan!!! It was CRAZY cold and blustery, so it wasn’t quite the party in the streets in our neighborhood that it usually is. But we still had fun dressing up and watching the boys trick or treat around the block, and enjoyed giving out a few pieces of candy and eating a bowl of warm chili on the porch after we got the boys snug in their beds. Here’s to having fun on Halloween with family!
Family Pumpkin Carving Party…
We joined several families from our moms’ group at a church down the road for a Family Pumpkin Carving Party tonight. The food was delicious, and I’m totally going to be hitting some people up for some out-of-this-world cornbread and cobbler recipes. The boys had a blast playing on the playground with friends and were very interested in helping Daddy with the pumpkin design and carving.
Walden Pumpkin Farm…
We took the boys to Walden Pumpkin Farm this afternoon, and they had so much fun that they didn’t want to leave. It’s hard to believe that this has been a fall tradition for us since Jonas was almost one and now he’s in kindergarten. Jonas’ favorite part was walking through the spooky house, Xander’s favorite part was picking out a pumpkin, and Roman’s favorite part was riding the train.
Lunch with Jonas…
I’m so excited to be volunteering at Jonas’ school, helping his precious teacher outside and inside the classroom. (How grateful I am to dear friends for taking such good care of Roman on these days so I can help out!) I got to eat lunch with Jonas for the first time this school year which was such a treat.
Hanging Out With Roman…
While Tom took Jonas and Xander to a birthday party this afternoon, Roman and I headed out to Centennial Park to hear one of my favorite all-time guy voices…Gabe Dixon. It was so sweet and like coming home to be led into the park by his voice…like a warm and delicious smell invites you into the kitchen. It’s not often that I get to go out and soak up music like I used to and not often that I get to share that huge part of my heart with my boys. So, it was such a delight to wander purposefully into the park with my little musical boy, Roman…sit down on a blanket, share a snack, and enjoy a great talent together. We had fun hanging out and dancing to the music. Afterwards, we ran up and down a few hills and fed the ducks. What a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon!
Firefighter Storytime…
Tom read “Firefighters to the Rescue” at “F Is for Firefighter” storytime this morning!!! After that, he and a few other firefighters talked with the kids about fire safety, passed out fire hats, and showed off the fire truck. It was a big hit!!!
Saturday Swim Lessons…
The big boys have started up a round of swim lessons on Saturday mornings. They are having fun and learning a lot. We usually try to get Roman in the pool with one of us during their lesson so he can kick around…otherwise he’s making a mad dash for the pool from the bleachers or he’s squealing and running in the hallways trying to get to the pool…if you can’t beat ’em join ’em. (He’ll be old enough to start lessons in the spring which I know he’ll be beside himself excited about.) Tom went with us today, so he got to join in on the fun.
Nursery Rhyme Parade…
Xander, Roman, and I went to Jonas’ school this morning to watch the kindergarten Nursery Rhyme Parade. It was pretty sweet seeing all of those little people in their costumes. Jonas seemed to speed up every time he walked past me, so it was hard for me to get a good shot…that and the fact that Roman chose that entire time period to meltdown. We got to see Jonas’ shoebox shop in the hallway “village” and check out all of his friends’ creations as well. As I was trying to snap a few pictures in Jonas’ classroom, Roman was trying to sneak candy off of Jonas’ Jelly Beans store. Ah life with kids…what can you do?
Stone Door…
Tom and I were so excited to get to go on a quick backpacking/camping trip this week to Stone Door while Grandma and Grandpa kept the boys for us. It was super challenging as the trail was insanely rocky, but it was so very worth it for the incredible views. It reminded me of life, marriage, and parenting…while you’re in the midst of it sometimes you’re thinking this is so hard I don’t think I’m going to make it through this and why did I do this again but then you emerge from it all for a moment and are able to see where you’ve come from and where you’re going and it’s all so beautiful. Thank God for a little perspective every now and then!
Franklin Classic 5K…
Jackie and Phil surprised me by coming in town to cheer me on in the Franklin Classic 5K!!! It was such a grand gesture that meant the world to me…what special people who teach by example how to love in action and not just in word.
It was a hot morning for a run, and I went too fast out of the gate and ended up almost getting sick and having to walk for a little while about halfway into the second mile which killed my time…oh well, what can you do but live and learn not to give in to the adrenaline. Next time, I’ll try to stick to my best training pace…atleast I beat my time from the last race and hit my goal time on my last training run before the race.
“A real fighter fights whether or not the bell rings…I know why the caged bird sings…” – Matthew Ryan
Lunch with Jonas…
Tom had lunch with Jonas at school today and sent me these pictures…oh how I love those boys.
Xander’s First Day of Preschool…
Xander had his first day of preschool today…
He met his sweet teachers at his allergy meeting and at his Get Acquainted Day last week and had warmed up to them a little bit but DEFINITELY started putting the breaks on this morning when he realized Jonas wasn’t the only one headed to school. On the way there, he said, “Mommy, I want to be a baby so I don’t have to go to school.” How much alike we are…I remember feeling that same way…not wanting to grow up…when I was a little girl. He started bawling as soon as we pulled into the parking lot. Roman started pitching a fit too (oh the timing of siblings), but he just wanted to wear his backpack (my big boy diaper bag for him). So there I was…carrying a crying Xander and his backpack while Roman be bopped in like he owned the place, toting his own and keeping me from losing it while I laughed at his cuteness. Roman even tried to get into the classroom while Xander was sprawled on the floor crying in front of the door. Poor buddy…I’m so thankful for the compassion that God has revisited upon my heart for Xander that’s competing to take the place of the frustration and impatience that tends to crop up when I see so much of my young self in him. I’m just trying to coach him through it…there are great gifts that go along with all of that sensitivity…so I’m just trying to concentrate on those in moments such as these and pray for the wisdom of when to back off and when to give him a gentle (if uncomfortable) nudge. The gentle uncomfortable nudge was definitely the way to go today…when I picked him up, he was all smiles with two pictures in hand that he made for me…dear sweet boy. Tom was at home with a sleeping Roman, so I took Xan-Man to Sweet CeCe’s to celebrate his bravery in making it through his first day even though he was scared. Yay Xander…Mommy’s cheering you on, buddy!
Xander’s Get Acquainted Day…
I went with Xander this morning to his Get Acquainted Day at preschool! He got to meet his teachers and half of his classmates (two of whom were in his class last year), sign in by writing his name on an easel, color a fish for the hallway bulletin board, get his picture taken for the first day of school, work on an art project of his own making, circle up for story time, and find his cubby. He went from hugging me to hugging his teachers in no time. I think he’s going to love what he gets to do and learn about in class this year…I’m so excited for him.
First Day of Kindergarten…
Jonas had his first (half) day of kindergarten today!!!
He asked me yesterday, “Mommy, were you scared when you went to kindergarten? I’m not.” I told him that I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect but that he’s good to go because he’s been in and out of that school since he was a baby, played on the playground, met all of the kindergarten teachers on screening day, and knows a lot of the kids from his preschool and our neighborhood and moms’ group. I’m so excited for him!
(I have been a bit of a nervous wreck this week, but I’ve found myself feeling WAY more happy than sad about this new adventure for Jonas. Having worked at this precious school, I’m thankful for the parent-teacher-staff partnerships and know that he’ll be welcomed into the arms of family and that feels really good.)
He was all smiles this morning and just be bopped right into his classroom. Tom and I got to go in with him and show him his cubby and his desk (a special first half-day perk) and give him a hug and a kiss goodbye…we enjoyed our special morning with just him. Tomorrow, I know his little brothers will be excited to…in the words of Roman “go for school”…and drop him off at his classroom door (a special second half-day perk) with more hugs and kisses. Yay for Jonas!!! What a huge day.
Glo Run…
I did the Glo Run (a fun night run through the city where everyone is decked out in glow in the dark gear) last night with two of my good neighborhood friends, Honora and Kim. My favorite part was seeing all of the creative ways people dressed themselves up just for the fun of it (wild glow paint, bright neon knee-high socks and tutus and capes, and unique hand-made glow stick accessories).
NVFD…
The boys had a BLAST at the NVFD this afternoon with a load of other kids from our moms’ group…checking out the fire trucks and playing in the water from the fire hose. It was so fun (and hot) in fact that several of the moms and dads joined in as well (including Tom and I). Here’s a picture of the boys with Daddy on the fire truck.
Gatorade Stand…
Jonas, Xander, and Daddy ran a Gatorade Stand this afternoon in our driveway (while Roman helped Mommy make some “basagna”). The beautiful sunny day, super low price, and contagious waves and smiles from three cute boys made it a success!!!
Couch to 5K…
I ran my first 5K in years (like since way before marriage and children) this morning!!! Here’s a picture of: Jonas, Xander, and I bright and early before the race (Roman was still sleeping); Kim and I gearing up to head to the starting line (we have been training partners and have kept each other accountable and motivated for the past few months…yay, Kim!); and Jonas, Xander, Roman, and I celebrating after the race. My favorite part was seeing Tom and the boys at the crest of the last hill, cheering for and running with us.
