More Random Thoughts

A couple weeks ago, I got to play with an old college roommate and her two cute boys. My boys LOVED them and are still talking about James and how he pretended to be an Angry Bird with them in the backyard. 

I'm working hard to talk the boys into my halloween plan. If I succeed, this Halloween will be filled with less sewing, and more drawing and cutting and painting. Unfortunately Charlie wants to go as Sonic from Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games. Peter changes his mind daily-Super Why, McQueen, Mario, Wall-E again, etc. They were both talking about being super heros yesterday and I may be able to get on board with that one. If I could guarantee that they would stick with it. More likely is the scenario where I slave over the costumes and then the boys decide they want to be something else and cry when I tell them tough luck. Also, I found out Charlie doesn't get to wear his costume to school. Sad. I may have to throw a kids' Halloween party.

Subway art and buntings. I'm sick of seeing them all over blog land. I still think they're cute when I see them in someone's house, but the crafting bloggers need to move on. Oh and chevron print. Cute, but it's EVERYWHERE!

I still haven't figured out Charlie's kindergarten teacher. I don't hate her, I don't like her, I'm just kind of indifferent about her. I haven't said anything to Charlie, but he seems to feel the same way. He talks a lot more about the kindergarten aid than he does about the teacher. Time will tell I guess. I do have a great respect for her taste in picture books though. I see her collection when I go in to help out.  And Charlie came home today with a picture of a flower with the teacher written label, "flower-ish" under it. I love that book! 

Mike and I watched Lord of the Rings the other evening, for lack of something better to do. I realized that when I read the Harry Potter books, I totally picture Ian McKellen (who plays Gandalf) as Dumbledore. He has the love in his voice and the twinkle in his eye that Michael Gambon is missing in the Harry Potter movies. 

Peter is loving pre-school. His favorite part is still getting to take his back pack with him, but I love how he talks about all the things they do. I got to teach this week and we talked about our five senses. He's been getting the activities we did back out to show Charlie and Mike how to do them. I loved watching him sort dry pasta by shape and texture. He's definitely older than I give him credit for. I think sometimes I still think of him as the baby.

I'm taking an online Spanish class to earn the credits I need to keep my teaching certificate current. It's a royal pain trying to learn a language by reading a book. And I keep getting the grammar confused with the French grammar that I learned in high school. I'll admit it. I'm struggling. Not that there's anything any of you can do, it's just on my mind lately. I've got five months to finish the class. And three holidays and a baby have to fit in there. I don't know if I'm going to make it. I wonder how much an extension is . . . hmmm. Luckily I found an easier class to take for the last two credits I need.

We got to see all our nephews a couple of weeks ago. I LOVE all these boys!

Boy names are hard. Especially when you already have this many boys in the family. We don't want one that starts with "ch" or "p." We don't want to pick a name that's too popular. And we want it to sound good with Charlie and Peter. Any and all ideas appreciated in the comments! Please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top? (as Charlie would say)

Peter Pumpkin Eater

If you ask Peter his full name, he'll tell you it's Peter Pumpkin Eater. I guess I've said it too many times. 

Anyway, we're not leaving Peter out of all the back to school fun. We've put together a Joy School with some of the other three-year-olds in the ward. He goes back and forth between being excited and not wanting to go back. But one thing doesn't change. He loves getting to take his back pack with him.

Trying to get a picture of five 3-year-olds smiling is impossible. But they sure are cute.

Walking home after school. 

The nice thing is that joy school and kindergarten overlap. Which means I'm going to have an hour and a half, twice a week, all to myself. With the exception of course of the weeks that I teach joy school. Whatever am I going to do with myself?

On the Bus

I was not prepared for this one. He seemed so small next to all the other kids waiting in line to get on the bus. But he was oh so excited. Peter insisted on wearing his backpack too.

This is the moment my eyes started to well up . . . taking this picture of my baby boy sitting on the bus.

Then, I jumped in the car and followed the bus to school. I'm not proud of it, but I couldn't help myself. I had to make sure that he made it alright and found the place where the kindergartners line up.

So I sat in my car in the school parking and watched him get off the bus. I can't believe I'm admitting to being that parent. But I did and I watched him get confused for a moment. And I watched two of our wonderful neighbors help him figure out where he was supposed to go. At that point, I lost it. I was weepy the entire way home. I blame the extra hormones coursing through my system, but I shouldn't. I would probably have reacted the same without them.

I was ridiculously excited for the bus to come drop him off after school. I sat out on the front porch 20 minutes early, not wanting to miss seeing the bus drive up the road. Are you proud of me for not driving to the school and following the bus home? I almost did it.

Charlie loved this part of his day. I'm so grateful to the sweet bus drivers who put up with my picture taking and smiled the whole time, understanding in their eyes.

Now I'm going to go make cookies for the neighbor kids who helped him find his kindergarten line.