the surprise visitor

We have a "surprise visitor" coming on Wednesday. Adam's mom, Carol, is coming for a two week visit, and we couldn't be more excited! The kids have no idea. Well, they may have some idea. We {mainly Adam!;-)} haven't been the best as keeping it a secret! But, the game continues, they still really don't know! We get to drive to LA and pick her up Wednesday afternoon. It's hard not to tell them that Nana is coming, or talk about what we're going to do when she gets here, but it will be well worth it when they see her get of that plane! We like surprises!

And until then, I have a lot cleaning to do, and many unfinished projects to finish...

the bus.

When Noah was first starting school, I was very against him riding the bus. It kind of scared me. But, then I learned that on the way home, it is just the Kindergartners. That made me feel a little better. And Noah REALLY wanted to ride it. I watched how they got the kids on, and they all have a sticker with their address, and they are very careful with these little kids. {I think he was the most excited to get the sticker. It's very coveted in the Kindergarten classes!} So, I caved. I let him ride the bus home. I usually pick him up at 11:40, and the bus dropped him off at 12:03. So, it wasn't too bad, really. And he loved it. I think it will just be a Friday thing, however. I don't know if I'm ready to do it everyday. I was a little nervous until I saw the bus driver waving and Noah's head poke out the window when the bus stopped! This week was definately an emotional one. My little Noah is growing up. I guess it's inevitable.

exhibitionist

Jacob has discovered a new freedom. He loves to be naked. He has learned to not only take his diaper off, but his pants, too. As soon as that diaper is off, so is he. And he's fast these days. He runs and runs and giggles and giggles. We see that little bum running away from us many times a day! He thinks he's a pretty funny kid...and he is. Thankfully, he still has onesies that fit him. Maybe by the time he finally grows out of them, he'll be grown out of the exhibitionist phase.

{as I type this, I have a naked little kid running through the house, dangit!}

Happy Birthday, Mother, Dear.

Today is my mom's birthday.

She's 29. ;-)

We love you and miss you.

We hope that you have the best birthday ever.

You deserve it, ya know.

You're great.

Happy Birthday!

{We're excited for your birthday, too! I hope that it was THIS fun!}

Stan

Macie asked me today, "Why does everyone call me Macie?" I told her that Mommy and Daddy named her Macie, and it would stick with her forever. And she responded, "But what if I change my mind and don't want people to call me Macie?" I pretty much told her touch luck! But, she didn't like that. "I want to be called Stan. Or Turkey Lurkey. Just on some days. Other days I want to be Macie." I asked her what she was today. "Today, I am Turkey Lurkey. You can call me that."

Hopefully this will change. I think I like Macie a lot better than Turkey Lurkey, don't you?

Kindergarten

Noah was so excited for his first day of school. I was not. I still am in shock. MY baby couldn't possibly be this old, can he? We went to orientation and discovered exactly what people had warned me about...Noah was the only blonde kid in the entire Kindergarten program. And, the "English only" students were far an in between. Luckily, of the very few English speakers, we knew one of them from our ward, and she's in Noah's class. Big plus there. Another big plus, the teacher doesn't really speak Spanish either...so at least I know that Noah won't be confused!

When we went backpack shopping, I told Noah he could get any backpack he wanted. After looking at the Buzz Lightyear, Star Wars Clone Wars, Transformers, and all the others, he finally decided on the PLAIN gray one. I asked him many times if he was positive this is the one he wanted...it was the cheapest, I wasn't complaining! And yes, he wanted the plain one. But, he didn't want to keep it plain. He has ambitions. He wants to put a Star Wars patch on the back, and find other patches to put on it. Clever kid! Momo sent him a pirate patch and I sewed it on. We found an 'N' at a discount fabric store for a quarter, so we put that on there too. I'm pretty sure he has the coolest backpack!

Last night before bedtime, we started a tradition. Adam gave Noah the "back to school" blessing. It is such a great tradition and I'm very glad we've started it. If it didn't help him feel better, it sure as heck helped me! And then it was bedtime. Eight is the new time. I, of course, was up all night thinking about it. Dang overactive mind!

Morning came, and it was finally time. Noah was so excited, but I think Macie was more excited and jealous that Noah was actually going to school. She got a little sad at orientation, so I was a little worried about her. Noah got all dressed in his brand new school clothes and we were off. I was taking my son to SCHOOL! We got there a little early, and Noah told me he was fine, he'd wait in line and I could go. I couldn't leave my baby just standing there, so I waited with him, and I just took pictures! Finally 8:00 came, and the teacher came and they all filed in. It was a little emotional when she shut the door. I did shed a few tears, but Macie gave me the best advice. And then I started thinking about next year. Why can't I just get through this one before I start thinking about next? Goodness.

We went to Target, folded a little laundry, started more laundry, and then it was already time to pick him up! We made it. And so did he. He loved every second of his first day of school. Except the moldy bagel I sent him, that upset him a little. {it was not moldy, however, it was just cream cheese, that stinker kid!} And the best part...he wants to go tomorrow!

{can you spot Noah?? ;-)}

First Day.

I did it. I dropped Noah off at school. Yes, school. I cannot believe it. I'm still not sure if I believe that he's already 5 {almost 6}. Did I really have him that long ago? Holy cow. I only cried a little bit. Macie told me not to cry. She was upset too, I think she didn't want me to cry so she wouldn't cry. School started at 8. He didn't even want me to stay, he told me I could leave and he's just wait in line! That stinker. After we dropped him off, and then Adam, we went to the store. I cried some more and Macie reassuringly said, "Noah will be back very soon. It's not like he moved to Utah or something." And she is very right. He's only in half day Kindergarten. He'll be okay. I'll be okay. It's just the getting older bit that I don't like. Why can't they just stay little for just a little bit longer? Next year I'll have a FULL day schooler and a Kindergartner. I have to try not to think about that one...it's too mind boggling!

{Adam has the camera, so I'll be posting pictures later. Don't you worry. I took them. }

Happy S'mores Day.

Today is National S'mores Day. Yeah, really. Google it. There is a holiday for everything, and I want to celebrate each one!;-) So, we're headed to the beach tonight for a little s'mores action. Adam has perfected the s'more, he's got a whole system down!

How will you celebrate?

Happy Birthday Lindsay!

For my 3rd blog ever, I just want to say happy birthday to my sweet, lovely, hilarious, up-beat wife Lindsay! It's 8-9-10 and that for a birhtday is the only thing that could possibly rivals a golden birthday (you were 9 on yours and I was just 6, I guess on 9-6-03 I could have celebrated countdown of 3's or something, but still not as cool as 8-9-10). I hope today was fun (highlights:

1. climbing the hill of Montana de Oro, elevation 40';

2. listening to the radio and they played "open arms" by Journey but upon seeing that it was recorded in '82 and that they played it at every church dance I went to in the 90's I accidently blurted out "it's that old?!" not thinking that that was the year Lindsay was born!;

3. checking out a new resturaunt in Los Osos (Jimmy Bumps - a great Italian hole in the wall); and



4. lastly picking up our kids from some really cool friends and reminding myself of the 4 greatest blessings I have in life, the first being the mother of the other 3.)




Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Papa.

Today is Adam's dad's birthday. He would have been 71. It's kind of been an emotional morning. It's only been nearly 2 months since his passing. We miss him so much. We miss his random phone calls to just check up on us and to ask if the kids can come out to play. We think about him everyday. Multiple time a day. The kids especially. It always makes me so happy when I hear them talking to each other or to Jacob about their Papa. They sure do love their Papa. They have so many memories of him. And I'm sure the memories will stay with them forever. They are pretty young, but surprisingly they understand so much. The other day we were in the car and had picked up some pictures...some were of Papa. Jacob recognized Papa right away, and started pointing and saying, "Papa. Nana. Papa." Macie instantly went into teacher mode. She started "teaching" Jacob. She said, "That's right, that's Papa. He died. But his Spirit is still alive. His body is in the box, but he is happy. He's not sick anymore. He loves us. He's watching us and wriggling his eye brows at you, and smiling at you." Of course, I was bawling. But, she was so right. She had been listening, and she did understand. She wasn't just repeating something that we had told her, it was like she really understood it. She knew what she was talking about.



So, today is a bittersweet day. But, we will be celebrating with Polish sausages at Costco, circus peanuts, and a little lemon meringue pie. I don't think Bryan would have had it any other way! I have many memories of lemon meringue pies and Bryan. He said it was my favorite and always brought one home for me. But I think he liked it a lot, too. ;-) When I eat my hot dog, I'll say, "Well, what did ya think? Pretty good huh? And it's only $1.50." He was such a wonderful man.

Happy Birthday!

mixed feelings...

I don't know if I like this whole growing up thing. Can't my kids just stay little for a long time, and never get older? This morning Jacob slept in. That doesn't happen often. Really, it never happens. But, it was 9 and he was still asleep. I was with the other kids downstairs eating breakfast, and we heard Jacob upstairs, getting some clothes, looking out the window and waving at people at the bus stop across the street, and then then he came downstairs all grins {this doesn't usually happen either...he's a morning crier!} and said hi to all of us, went and got a diaper and brought it to me and laid down. Really?! He got himself out of bed and everything? How old is this kid? What happened to my baby that needed me for everything? It's kind of sad.

And then to top it all off, NOAH STARTS KINDERGARTEN IN 12 DAYS! Oh my goodness. My kids are old. I'm old...