Preschool!

Today was the first day of preschool for both Graham and Chase.

 

Chase asked for one extra hug and then walked right in. Graham had a hard time letting go of his daddy. All the teachers said they did great and the boys each said they were well-behaved. 

Later, however, Chase said his teacher told him he needed to sit down. Then Graham said his teacher told him the same thing. They also said they didn't learn anything. This could be an interesting year.

Oh, dear.

I'm trying to teach our kids to hold hands as they cross streets and parking lots. This doesn't always work.

Me: Kids, grab on to someone's hand. Here we go!
Chase: I don't wanna hold hands!
Me: Chase, you have to hold hands when we cross the street.
Chase (folds his hands together): I hold my own hand.

In other news, Gabriella has been referring to me as her "big mama."

Mini Will

Graham wants to be like his daddy. Sometimes it is amazing to see this little Will running around, helping in the yard and practicing his casting. If only he would bring home a mini-paycheck, we would be in business.

Well, hello everyone.

Grunt, struggle, stretch. Sigh.

Yes, that is our family, climbing back to reality after a summer of blissful insanity. I still have no idea where July went, and it's already halfway through August. Seriously, how can we misplace 6 weeks? My quest is to answer this question, and I think blogging will help.

I know the summer kicked off with Chris & Kim's wedding over Memorial Day. Yes, Will's sister got married, so Will can't accuse her of freeloading anymore (he was most disappointed about this). The kids miss their Aunt Kim, but we get to see her occasionally. Usually at Chick-fil-a, where she has to avoid getting the kids' greasy fingers on her work clothes.

It was a beautiful wedding and a beautiful reception that was spoiled by two nasty thunderstorms. (Even as I type this, I'm thinking, "Seriously??? There had to be TWO???) Everyone we talked to had so much fun, though, even if the party was crashed by a wet oppossum.

And that was that. The ending wasn't ideal, but they made the best of it and got some awesome mudsliding pictures out of it. We are looking forward to next year's raindate reception. Congratulations, Kim & Chris!

Teeball, Anyone?

Last night, Graham was hitting balls off the tee in the front yard. He's actually pretty good, so they were all over by our neighbor's yard. Here's our conversation:

Me: Now you need to go pick up the balls so you can hit them again!
Graham: It's too hot to pick them up.
Me: Well, if you want to hit them anymore, you'll have to get them.
Graham: Well, on tennis balls (Wimbledon), somebody else picks them up.
Me: You don't have anyone to do that, Graham.
Graham: I thought you were going to do it.

Is there an age limit on the ball kids they use in professional tennis? Obviously, I could be practicing for that job.

Precious Sleep

We recently took the side off Gabriella's crib so that she has a "big girl bed". Whoever thought convertible cribs would make good toddler beds has never heard a child roll out of one multiple times during a night.

She was so excited the first night, and she made it the entire time in bed.

The next night, before we even went to bed, she was on the floor.

I guess we'll work on it.

Things I Learned at the Zoo

Yesterday, I took the kids to the zoo with my friend Amanda and her family. Here are a few things I learned.

1. Put band-aids in my purse. If Graham falls and skins his knee, he will fuss about it for the next hour until the bloody spot is hidden from sight. 
2. Do not let Chase spend time with overweight women in halter tops. He follows them around shouting, "That guy not wearing any clothes!"
3. Listen when Gabriella complains that her bellybutton hurts. Do not feed her lunch. She will vomit all over my shirt and force a smelly, early retreat from the zoo.

It was an experience I will never forget. The people eating lunch while Gabriella was vomiting will probably never forget it, either.