Where were you?

I was at home in Michigan. My college was starting in a couple of days, and I was enjoying a last day to sleep in. I got a call from my cousin Becky asking kinda panicky where my dad was.

My dad traveled quite a bit for his job, and although he was traveling, my fuzzy brain couldn't remember if he was driving or flying for that trip. And I couldn't figure out why she needed to know. He traveled all the time and I never got a phone call about it.

She told me to turn on the TV because one of the twin towers had been hit by an airplane. Ok, maybe I was dumb, but I had no idea what a twin tower even was. So I turned on the TV...at this point I can't remember if I actually SAW the second plan hit the second tower, or if it had just happened and they were re-playing it. It all happened so fast. I know I was watching when the news broke that the Pentagon had been hit.

I just kinda sat on the couch wrapped in a blanket...really confused...and really scared. I was so relieved when my dad called later that day to say that he was alright...but he had been about 30 minutes from the field where the plane crashed in Pennsylvania. He had driven that day.

Where were you on September 11?

A Little Sacrilegious...But...

My husband. My husband deals with many children on a daily basis. Not just ours, but others as well. And while we both love children (hence the three we currently have)...young children are challenging.

So the other day we are sitting out on the deck sharing a quiet moment together watching several small children run around the backyard with bats and hockey sticks and he turns to me. With a completely straight face he said to me "You know. If God really wanted Pharaoh to let the Israelites go the first time...he would have sent a swarm of pre-schoolers".

I about died. So I've been collecting some pictures to back up his not-so-Biblical-yet-kinda funny statement.
Things like Snug using this cone as a bull horn. Like he needs to be any louder.

Or this Draycare child trying to get this hockey stick stuck in our basketball hoopby throwing it in the air...when unsuccessful he decided to beat it against the pole. (Yes, yes, I stepped in...just had to get the picture.)

There's always driveway hockey...with a basketball.

Or the constant constant constant in and out of the house. For a drink. To go potty. To get their dirty little sandbox feet on the couch.

See the glass? Our broken microwave plate. Yeah, that can send a mom over the edge.

And the tears. Oh the tears.

Tears and time-0uts.

And this cookie tin which had eight sandwich creams...which someone (who will remain anonymous but cannot tolerate even a smidge of gluten) ate and then had diarrhea and all the fun that comes with it for a few days. The cookie tin had been on the back of the stove. Not sure how I didn't lose it-both upon discovery of him eating them in his bed (along with having a pair of scissors stashed in his mattress!) but with the diapers that followed.

There's regression into trying to be the baby...and getting all of the baby things dirty/lost/broken.

And there's jumping off a porch 100 times and hitting 2/3 of the parade goers as they walk by. Cause everyone loves a nearly 40 lbs kid hitting them without notice.

I am not even ready to blog about the BM and urine on my new IKEA rug.

Yep. A swarm of preschoolers really might have gotten Pharaoh to let them go early.

What has your preschooler done lately?

21 Weeks Old

Today Rosebud is 21 weeks old. She weighs 13 lbs, 7 oz and is about 25 inches long. She can roll over both ways, but usually just from back to tummy. She can scoot and "swim" her way to most anything she really wants.
She is beginning to blow raspberries and babbles all the time.

She loves her toys and grabs for them and puts them right into her tiny toothed mouth.

She's not into stuffed toys quite yet, but loves blankets and her RENS from IKEA. It, like her wool diaper cover, are great because they are naturally anti-fungal and very soft to the touch.

So happy 21 week birthday baby. I love you so much.

First Day of School Take 2

Last week I posted Little Monkey Man's first day of pre-school. Today I am (sniff sniff) posting Snug's first day of pre-kindergarten.
After a big day yesterday including a parade and picnic at a friend's house, the kids were out late watching fireworks. Snug was too excited about school to be tired, but I'm sure he'll crash when he gets home. Monkey is still going strong, and after this minor meltdown, Rosebud has adjusted too. Big naps for everyone? I hope so!

So he's off to pre-kindergarten.

He has three kids from church and one of my Draycare kids in his class. Across the hall are two more kids from our church, and yet another boy in the room next door. Here he is with one of his best buds...she is not quite as excited as he to be making this big leap.

Tired of pictures, he just wanted to get in there and get started! When I parked the van (after going the WRONG WAY to his school because I wasn't paying very good attention because I was trying not to cry!) Snug got a little worried. He immediately asked me "Are you going in with me????". Silly mommy was thinking "oh, he's going to miss me!". I told him we'd walk him in and then leave. He then clarified that I was not going to stay. After I assured him that we would all be leaving him there, he cheered right up. He even said "good!".

Ok, so everyone tried to get in the picture at this point; siblings, Draycare children. So that was the end of the pictures. I'm sure he'll have a great day. I'm not sure I can say the same for myself.

First Day of School

If you had told me that my 2 year old would go to school before my 4 year old...I probably wouldn't have believed you. Granted Snug was homeschooled last year for preschool, but this year both boys are going to school.
Little Monkey Man has been receiving services through our county since he was around 9 months old for speech, physical, and social development. Yesterday he went to his first preschool class. His P.L.A.Y. (Play and Learning for Autistic Youngsters) group meets once a week for an hour and a half. There are four 2 year old boys in his class, and four teachers. Nice ratio, huh?

These two wonderful women have been such a blessing. His EIS (early intervention specialist) and speech therapist have been with us since he started getting services. He has discontinued the use of his occupational and physical therapists and his sign language specialist. Although we do not think he is indeed autistic, the class he is in is geared towards the same speech and social aspects that we have been working on at home.

All of these pictures were taken after school...he wasn't up for a photo shoot pre-class...he knew he was getting left and was not very happy about it. However, after school he was all smiles and very proud of the stamps they put on his hands.

He is just growing up so fast. Hooray for a great first day!

Stay tuned...next week Snug starts pre-kindergarten!