Fall is here...

We are fully saturated in school now. Thomas is still loving kindergarten and Nolan is adjusted to the new load of homework. They both seem to be learning a lot already. Thomas is making sure he's holding a pencil the right way and Nolan is beginning to work on cursive writing. Thomas even learned to tie his shoes this weekend! He had a good swim lesson on Saturday and is doing great with his arm strokes. They started religion classes on Sunday too. And last night Nolan had his first Cub Scout meeting.

We had fun on Saturday-- a quick trip to the Great Escape and then a glimpse at the hot air balloons at the Adirondack Balloon Festival. We were in traffic forever getting there when we decided to turn around and watch from a pedestrian overpass bridge. It was really cool to see 20+ hot air balloons in the air. There is something about it--there is no purpose in these balloons really except to be beautiful and rise up in the air.

We are all still adjusting I think. Thomas is tired. Nolan has a little cold. I'm still not sure what to do with myself, although I seem to be pretty busy. I think it takes a while to sink into a new season. The days are getting cooler and the garden has been put to bed. I think we're looking into fall with open eyes.

This is for Mike-

I'm told by my friend Mike that he likes it when I make him laugh. And because he is so good to me, I just happen to have a funny story to tell him.

On Thursday morning at 6:50am, I got a phone call from a kid asking to have Nolan over after school. The phone woke me up and I wasn't quite awake when I was talking to him. That afternoon wouldn't work but Friday after school would. I spoke with his mom to iron out the details of a bus pass and hung up. So I make out the bus pass on Friday and told Nolan he's going home with this friend that day. Just after school is dismissed, I get a phone call from the mom, saying they didn't invite Nolan over! They had plans and I needed to come pick him up. I told her I had a whole conversation with her and she thought I was a lunatic! So as soon as Thomas gets home, I go pick up Nolan. On the way home, it dawned on me that this other friend is on the same kid's bus and their names are somewhat similar. So I called that mom and asked her if she was expecting Nolan--yep! So he got his play date after all, albeit late. See, we don't have caller ID anymore so I couldn't tell who it was and I was half asleep! I am really losing it.

On top of that, I sent Thomas to school that day with his underwear on backwards and his shoes on the wrong feet!

Coffee at noon-scandalous!

I'm having coffee with a friend at lunchtime today, and I can't get over it! I've always had my days so busy with the kids that I almost feel guilty taking an hour for coffee. What I'm finding, though, is our after school and evening times are filling with activities. So if I don't grab an hour here and there once in a while, I'm a crazed woman at 9:30 (when I finally got home last night). Nobody wants that! It really is true that if Mama is happy, everyone is happy!

Everyone is really happy in school. Thomas LOVES his teacher and even helped a new friend get on the bus who was having a hard time. He has show n' tell today. This is funny. His teacher is teaching them to do whole body listening in class. So he was getting reprimanded at home because he wasn't listening to me over something, so I told him he had to do whole body listening at home too. He said, "I didn't know you wanted me to do that!". I teach him until I'm blue in the face, but one word from his new teacher and he's got it! :)

Nolan also seems to like school, although he's completely unhappy about the homework. He's got a lot more of it and there's more thinking involved. If he wouldn't complain so much, he would probably be done in 30-40 minutes. But it takes him an hour because of the bellyaching. I'm hoping he'll get used to it and just push through it. If anyone has any ideas in how to make doing homework more fun, I'll all ears! Otherwise, he's making some new friends and it sounds like his teacher is doing a lot of things in class to make learning fun. He's going home with a new friend on the bus today, so Thomas will have to come home alone. Hopefully that will go well!

So we're slowly getting into the school routine. Saturday is my birthday and I plan to spend it shopping with my birthday money (Thanks Mom and Dad!). This is the coolest present, because I get time to myself and money that is all mine!

Too much food!

FYI-Chris posted a video of Thomas getting on the bus in the previous post.

We had a weekend of food and fun, so I'm glad I just got back from a run to get some of it off of me. Saturday, we went to a clambake sponsored by Chris' union. Lots of grilled food and clams (which Chris ate. The rest of us are not clam fans.) That night, we went to Applebee's so the kids could use these coupons they had. Sunday, there was a picnic at our church with GOBS of yummy food. We have such a great parish with lots of wonderful conversation. Last night, we had cereal for supper because we were all so full!

In other news, the fall travel team got canceled for lack of involvement from the other towns. Nolan's really bummed because he's not going to be able to get the fancy uniform and play against other teams (like real professional baseball! he says). But they are still going to have scrimmages against each other which is good practice. This week, Cub Scouts is starting to get off the ground, so that will also keep us busy. We have something happening every night this week. Everyone asks me what I'm going to do now that both boys are in school, but I'm busier now than before!

He's Off to the Races!

Thomas just got on the bus for school. Chris and Gaba were there too, to send him off. The bus was 1/2 hour late, so it was a little hard for him to wait so long. But once it arrived, he gave me a big smile and just trotted right up on that bus like no tomorrow! He had to really pull himself up the steps because he's so little! He got to go in and meet his teacher yesterday, so I think that helped a lot. And Gaba got him a chocolate lollipop for when he gets home, so he has something to look forward to. Now I don't know what to do with myself in this empty house! I think I'm going to walk up to Starbucks and get a smoothie. The bus will be back here in just 2 1/2 hours. I can't wait to hear about his first day!

One down, one to go

Nolan just got on the bus, excited to start school! Who doesn't get excited seeing those yellow buses, patrolling the streets? His backpack was completely loaded with everything he needed. He'll probably come home today with it full of papers to fill out. He gets to be on the other side of the school now, K-2 on one side and 3-5 on the other. Last night he had his first night of baseball practice which went well. He's going to get to wear a jersey and a hat with his name on it! His first game is Saturday, so we'll update with pics soon.

Thomas starts Friday, but he gets to go in and meet his teacher tomorrow for an hour. His best friend Leo (who's going to another school unfortunately) is coming over today. We're going to make cookies for when Nolan comes home. Thomas is also learning to tie his shoes. Loops are tricky.

I can't help but feel a little older this year. It's weird to have 2 kids in school. It's also weird to be answering friends' questions about what to expect with kindergarten. I remember being so nervous! Now I'm a veteran I guess. At least until middle school hits and it starts all over again.

Happy Birthday to Mathew yesterday! 37--wow! I'll be joining you in a couple weeks. Today was my father-in-law's birthday. I wish he could be here to see Thomas getting on the school bus for the first time. He'll be here in spirit. We'll send pics of that soon too.

Portrait of boredom

This is a picture of a very bored child who is extremely ready to go back to school.