Impossible

How is it possible that this little fellow who lived with us just yesterday. . .

has finished his first day of preschool?

Andrew's first day was yesterday, and it went great! He took a blueberrry muffin to his teacher with a note that said, "I'm berry glad you're my teacher!" She gave him a big hug when we arrived. Andrew decided that his loaded backpack was too heavy to carry, so I hung it up for him and while I did that he walked right in the room and started playing with the play-doh that was on the tables. I went in to get a kiss, and he said, "I'm ready to get started!"

When I got back to the car, Brent and Cole were waiting. Coleman furrowed his brow and said, "Where Andrew?!" And looked at me like I had lost my mind for leaving his brother. He seemed to understand that Andrew was going to school and that was okay, but while we were eating lunch he asked again. "Where Andrew?"

I picked up Andrew in the carpool line. We have a name tag to hang on our rearview mirror and they call him over the intercom when it's his turn. Here's a picture of him walking out to the stop sign and meeting the lady who walked him to the car.

On the way home he told me a good bit about his day. He played with a bulldozer on the playground. They ate lunch and he had cookies in his lunch! They went to music class and danced but he didn't know the songs and couldn't sing. Then he asked me to stop talking. I think he was worn out! At supper we discovered they also painted a picture, he opened his lunch by himself, and they learned about circles. He's already excited about tomorrow!

Meet the Teacher

Today was Open House at Andrew's preschool. He has been very excited - HUGE understatement - all week. He will go on two days a week this year from 9 to 1. He'll get to eat lunch there and take gymnastics each day. Our first extracurricular activity! Before we left, we made a few pictures. Here is the big boy posing in the new guitar shirt he picked out yesterday.

He also got to pick out his backpack for school. I thought surely he'd choose one with trains or firetrucks, but he wanted the doggie instead. Which works well since we have the matching lunch bag already. He was so excited about taking it with us today! You can see that Coleman wanted in on the pictures too.

Had to have one made by himself also.



Here we are!

The hallway we walked in to get to class was decorated like an ocean. Really great place!

finding his hanger outside the room

The wall outside with his name on a sunshine. Made me tear up a little seeing his name on things just like I used to do for my students. And yes, I was the only one making pictures.

First timer.

Andrew with his teacher, Ms. Sharon. We've heard great things about her from a friend.

playing with some of the things in his classroom

Wordless Wednesday

I.N.K. - Part 1

Gainesville, like Winston Salem, has a great children's museum. It's the Interactive Neighborhood for Kids. INK for short. I think we'll spend a good bit of time here over the next few years.

Here's the view as you walk in. It's a long, warehousey type building with exhibits on either side of the corridor.


They have fixed up an old plane, and the boys loved playing in it.



loading the luggage


Coleman seems a bit concerened that he's been asked to be the pilot.

They also have a great old fire engine. Andrew in particular is very into fire trucks these days, so this was a huge hit.

And they have trains! The boys are watching a huge model train set. There are buttons on the sides of the display that you can press to watch different things happen inside the glass.

Happy Birthday Brent!

Brent's birthday was July 31st this year. Well, it is every year. Anyway, we did some special things to celebrate him. We started out with a picnic lunch in his office. We stopped by Chick-fil-A and the Cookie Company. It was something else getting all of us and the food into the office without causing a major disturbance. I'm glad his birthday is on Saturday next year!

Here's Dr. Brent looking very excited to see us during the day.


I don't have an explanation for why this is sideways. The boys were very excited about the cookie cake!




That night, he ate off the red plate at supper. We ordered Outback Curbside, one of his favorites.

Brent didn't want to risk setting off the fire alarm at the office, so we didn't light the candles there. We waited until after supper and lit them at home and sang again.

Have I mentioned how difficult it is to get a good picture of all of us lately? This is a picture of Brent and his three sons. Andrew has the ultrasound pictures of the new baby, and Coleman is holding a pair of argyle socks. You know, like the TV show, "My Three Sons."

On Saturday, we got to have a family party for Brent. We haven't been able to do that since we've been married, so it was a fun day. For lunch, he wanted a muffaletta, pringles, and tossed salad.

For dessert, he ordered his traditional favorite strawberry cake with homemade ice cream.

opening gifts after lunch

The Library

One of our weekly activities is going to the library. A few weeks ago, the library hosted a pajama storytime. We dressed in our matching monkey pjs and headed off. Andrew thought it was pretty silly to go to the library in our pajamas and sandals after our bath!



Andrew listened very carefully to the first few stories. The librarian had prepared for a school aged audience, so you will notice that our blonde-headed monkey has wandered off in search of the puppet box.

I wasn't sure how Andrew would do since we haven't done many public storytime events. He was mesmorized and sat still just like the big boys and girls. Until he noticed Coleman was playing with Daddy. That was pretty much the end of pajama storytime.

This week when we went to check out books, Andrew got his very own library card! Here he is at home posing with his card and the two train books he chose to check out.

Good News!

Well, good news and bad news. Bad news - our computer will not download anymore pics from our digital camera. Or, I am not able to make it work anyway. Good news - we have a new computer coming this week! So we'll be back up and running as soon as it gets here. We'll catch up on Brent's birthday weekend, pics of the new baby, and some library fun. See you in a few days!