Lesson's From Jake

Most days I ask Jake how school is going.  Who he played with at recess, what he learned about, if he was kind and had good manners. 

A few weeks ago - I picked him up from school and he got in the cry with big tears in his eyes saying this was the worst day ever. 

You see - at recess they have what he calls "Boys Club/Girls Club" the boys go into one area and the girls are in another.  In the past it didn't seem like much happened up to that point.  But today he said they all started hitting each other.  I asked him what he did.  "I went and told the teacher."  I asked what she did "nothing" he said.  So he had gone to play by himself and was so sad and lonely.  My heart just ached - as I didn't think I'd be having to deal with this so early on.  I told Jake I was very proud of him for doing what was right and for not hitting.  For trying to make the situation better. 

The next day he was upset again - told me he started his own club the "super hero club" and no one would join.  It makes me teary just thinking about it now.  I almost wanted to tell him to go back to the old club and hit the girls - to just fit in and not have to worry about being on his own.  I asked him what a few of his friends did at recess - and told him to go find those friends tomorrow.  To stay strong and just play with other kids.  There doesn't need to be a club - just play. 

The next day he told me Katie and Bailey joined the club - and each day after he'd tell me another name or two.  He has a lot of kids in his club now - and even has a cute girl who offers people treats to come join the super hero club.  haha. 

I am so grateful I have such a sweet kind child who knows right from wrong - he has such a good head on his shoulders - and he stayed strong even through a few tough lonely days on the playground.  Instead of giving in to peer pressure and going with the flow - he stood up for what he knows he should do - and was a leader.  I am such a proud mom - and terrified of what the next 16 years will bring.  I mean - if there is this much drama in 3 hours of school a day already ---- heaven help me.

Being a mom is the best. 

Happy Birthday Jake

It's my babies birthday.  He's not such a baby anymore.  Every time I look at him I think he has gotten bigger and seems older then he did the day before.  Watching kids grow up brings on so many emotions.  I love watching him learn and grow, but I also want to bottle up the innocent child I have and keep him this way forever!

I asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday.  He's been invited to a few parties - and I told him he could have a party with his friends if he wanted.  His reply to me was - "I just want to do something with my family - spend the day with you, dad and Sam."

So that is exactly what we did. Mike and I both took the day off. Went to lunch, went bowling, played with his presents, his new Legos, ate cake - whatever he wanted to do today he got. 

I've enjoyed every minute I've had with this boy.  He made me a mother - he turned me into who I am supposed to be.  I love this boy to death. 

On the way to school I told him I was going to interview him and asked him a few questions.  Here are his answers below. 

Name - Jake Latimer

Age - 6

Favorite Color - Red

Favorite Food - Pizza and Pears

Favorite Activity - Playing with my brother

Who do you look forward to seeing the most at school? Centers (they move from group to group working on different activities)

What scares you? - Black Widows - (he had an encounter with one this week - traumatized all of us!)

Happy Birthday Jake!  

First Day of Kindergarten

My little Jake isn't so little anymore.  Yesterday was his first day of Kindergarten!

I can't believe that my little baby is old enough to be dropped off at this big school and be away from us everyday!

He was so excited to go - he woke up on his own about 30 minutes before I had thought I'd have to wake him up "Mom, did I wake up in time to go to school?"  He was excited and happy - and didn't seem nervous at all.  I on the other hand was sick to my stomach and a mess on the inside.

We went to meet his teacher and walk the grounds last week and was given homework to make this gingerbread man.  He decided he wanted clothes sewn onto him, so we made him this cute little outfit.  We stayed up way too late last Saturday coming up with ideas.  Everyone was asleep and he came downstairs to tell me he couldn't sleep at about 10:30pm - so we started on his gingerbread man's clothes.  We had a fun night and hopefully some memories for him.  

I'll admit to getting a little teary after he went inside.  I just can't believe he is big enough to go to school.  He is so ready for this and will love it - but its hard to let your kids grow up and do things on their own sometimes.  

This week has made me want to quit my job (ok I feel that way every week) and homeschool my kids so they are never out of my site.  I've been taking deep breaths knowing this is so good for him and for me - and its all part of growing up - for both of us.  

Next week Sam starts Pre-school and I know the first day of school he will be screaming for me to stay and I'll be bawling, wanting to take him home.  That one is going to be tough!  

At least Jake is easy and excited to be going to school.  This waking up early thing may kill me though!  

The joys of motherhood.

A Little Update in Pictures

Summer is in full swing around these parts and we couldn't be happier.  I wish I had a job that gave me summers off, cause I sure wish I could stay home with these two jokers most days and play.

Between, swimming, BBQing, yard work, get togethers, tball, golf, lagoon, and work - we have a busy few months ahead of us!

So far this summer - we have have put our Lagoon passes to good use.  

Rode a few roller coasters

And the dinosaur egg drop may be the family favorite.  

Love this picture of Sam laughing every time it dropped.  

I have done a little quilting for myself and getting my house ready for summer which screams patriotic themes to me!

 I've been doing a lot of quilting!  This flag quilt I wanted to keep - and this chevron with the circles killed me!

I even got to the shop hop last week!

Jake started t-ball and I'm loving it!

I mean come on...aren't these 2 the cutest looking ball players around? 

We've golfed a little - both regular and mini.  

And spent a few weekends in the pool.  

Summer is in full swing around here and we are loving it!

Motherhood

My boys have been getting along very well lately.  Playing together, laughing together, looking out for each other, excited for each other.  I think watching your kids love being together and having fun together may be the best part of being a mother.  Don't get me wrong - usually the wonderful moment ends in a fight - but the moment was still great.

Last night I was exhausted.  Came home from a long day at work, made dinner, cleaned it up, we ran a few errands and when we got home the kids were playing together.  Not needing any assistance from us parents - just playing and laughing and having a ball together.

I set up shop on the couch and started watching reruns of West Wing on Netflix.  The boys were playing games on the ipad.  Sam sitting next to me humming along to the Star Wars song on Angry Birds.  I paused my show to video him on my phone.  He had no idea - and he LOVES to watch videos of himself.  At the end of the song he saw me holding my phone and said "you can take my picture now".  This boy MELTs my heart.  He is a bundle of energy, stubborn, determined, thinks the world revolves around him.  But he is so much fun.  I love to listen to him talk to Jake and the conversations they have.  I love watching him play games and seeing his face expressions as he gets excited or frustrated.  He is so animated.

The boys went into their room to play together and I continued my show.  Every once in awhile pausing so I could hear their conversation.  My boys are into toys - and they watch kids review toys on YouTube (I blame my husband).  Sam can watch for hours - which is why YouTube has now been removed from the ipad - but last night they were in their room, and had set up toys across the desk.  I could hear them in there practicing their own reviews.  I was laughing out loud listening to my little Sammy describe the toy and what it does - and then you would hear him say "oh look, my brother Jake just came in" like he was introducing Jake into the mix now.  Crazy what these kids pick up at such a young age.  

Mike kept asking me if I was going to go down and quilt.  I needed to - it would have been a perfect night, fairly early, kids were playing well, but I just stayed in bed watching my West Wing, pausing the video to listen to my kids play together.  When it was time for bed - I didn't mind one bit that Sam wanted to sleep in my bed last night.  We snuggled up together and he said "Sure do love you mom".  

Days like this are the best part of being a mom.  I wish I could bottle up these days and keep them forever.  I wish I could be at home with them all day everyday.  Cause you blink and they are grown up - or in really bad moods the next day!  

The joys of motherhood.  

Motherhood

Source: wallsneedlove.com via Abby on Pinterest

I've been getting in some quality time with these two this weekend - its been a great couple of days.  Need to remind myself to do this more often!

Best Friends

Having 2 kids fairly close together in age - I've longed for the days where they get along well and start playing together like buddies.  I'm slowly seeing the benefits of not having an only child - for awhile I wasn't sure there was one...haha

Last weekend we took a little trip down south.  The weather was warm and my kids thought it was summer.  They were so excited to be out and about.  

Playing the water, playing at the park.  

Having fun and being silly together.  

I love the below picture, even though its blurry.  Sam just ran down the waterfall steps which is was nervous to do.  They ran down holding hands and at the bottom Sam was so excited saying "I did it, I did it." and Jake was clapping for him.  Such cute brother love.  

We came home and of course reality sets back in.  I work from home on Tuesdays and in recent months have spent my days on calls, which means I shooing these 2 away all day.  Last Tuesday Jake decided to take on the babysitter role.  While I was downstairs on calls, he made popcorn, put it in a bowl, poured them some drinks and was learning how to turn on their show when I came up to check on them.  They played so good together all day.  Sadly around 4pm Jake goes to his Little Gym class and as he was getting ready all the happiness, togetherness of the day fell apart.  

All day long Sam had been telling Jake that he was his best friend - it is what a mother waits to hear with 2 little toddlers running around.  Well, as we were loading into the car to take Jake - 

Sam says - "Jake, you're not my best friend anymore, dad is"

Jake getting hysterically says he's been replaced.  I tell him to calm down and he says 

"I have done EVERYTHING for him today - and he just replaced me with dad!" 

Needless to say - they were both crying hysterically by the time we got to Little Gym.  So much for having perfect days.  

Today their project of the day was to dump out their piggy banks and count their money.  Trying to put it together in piles that = dollars....We'll see how long this projects lasts today!

The Little Things

Source: quotesandimages.com via Abby on Pinterest

Skiing Surprise

*** I was going through my drafts and found this post I had written last year in February.  With skiing season upon us I thought I need to post this.  I read through it with a smile on my face remembering this fun day.

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Last Thursday I took off the afternoon and hit the slopes with Jake.  It was so much fun!  I can't believe I have never skied before....so peaceful and beautiful. 

It happened to be a blizzard by the time we ended our lessons, but during the lesson there was just a light flurry falling all around us. 

I can't explain in words the pride I felt in watching my little guy learning the ropes.  Funny thing is, the 4 year olds and the adults all start their lessons in the same area.  So Jake and I spent lots of time watching each other race down the little teeny tiny hill.  My class consist of me and one other student plus the instructor and we cheered for Jake so loud.  It was as if he had a fan club. 

There is a little hill that has a jump at the bottom which I SCREAMED as I went off the jump.  So when they sent my little Jake off the jump I was so nervous for him.  As I should have been because he face planted it!  But he got right back up and wanted to go down it again. 


I love watching Jake go down the mountain and up the magic carpet.  He would do it over and over again and didn't want to wait for the instructor, he just kept it right up.  So fun to watch him stick out his tongue to catch the snowflakes.  He loved every minute of it - except the carrying his skis back inside - he just won't do it!  "They are too heavy mom" he says - even the instructors were carrying them in for him as the two other little girls lugged their's up the mountain....we'll have to talk to him about that! 

Ever since Jake started up his lessons as we drive around town he looks up at the mountain - "mom look at all that snow - it would sure be a good day to be skiing" .  I love that he is so into it and love that this is something we can do together for years to come.  He keeps asking when he can go up a lift.  I love his energy and excitment to learn something new!

I hope as I hit more lifts I'll still love it as much as I did last Thursday.  Watching my baby catch snowflakes, and screaming as I go down a bunny hill (if you can even call it that).  I want to stay in the beginner stages for awhile I think! 

The biggest surprise I found about skiing - I never thought I would like it.  I am a warm weather person, don't like to be cold.  I never realized how beautiful it would be and how peaceful it feels to be staring up at those beautiful mountains.  What a wonderful surprise!

Happy Thoughts

I know this picture isn't a great shot or great quality - but it is my two little ones playing together.  Sam playing with this little figurines making some type of noise.  Jake with his headlight on, tongue out putting together his legos.  Playing together - having fun - no fighting (at this moment).  

I've waited FIVE LONG YEARS for this to occur.  

Sewing the other night I sat back and listened to them playing in the exercise room.  They turned the elliptical into Mickey's Fun Wheel from Disneyland and were laughing and playing.  There is nothing better than sitting back and listening to your kids giggle together.  I think this may be my new favorite sound in the world.  Five years of chaos was worth the wait to have them playing happily together each day, even if its only for a few stolen minutes before the fighting starts!  

Photo Shoot

Remember this photo shoot I tried for on my own in Fish Lake?  I will never understand how these professionals are able to get such good shots.  Watching the session take place, I thought to myself multiple times, how are they going to get any good shots with these two crazies?  Luckily for me - I came home with 91 pictures that I can't stop looking at.

LOVE how they turned out.  Here are a few of my favorites.

I can't get over how big these boys are getting!  We used FotoFlyAway.  They are so good with the kids and great at capturing those perfect smiles.  You also walkaway with a CD full of all the pictures they took edited.  For such a great price - why ever go anywhere else!

Problem is now picking a favorite.  I have updated my picture wall  with the new pics and I have to smile now every time I wander through that room.

Love these dang cute kiddos.

Today I Love

Jake

This week we started school up again.  I know he's only in preschool - but sending him off for 3 days a week...boy is he growing up fast.

Can you believe how grown up he looks?  My sweet little 4 year old.

What an imagination this boy has.  Today I came home to him putting together a theater for me.  Yes a movie theater.  He created everything from his trio blocks.  A projector, a popcorn maker, had chairs set up and a screen covered by curtains (closet doors) which he opened up to show me the screen (the ipad) on which we watch Curious George.  He had movie tickets ready which we had to pay for, and he tells me he now goes to work each day just like me at the movie theater.  

He also played me some music on his guitar before the show started just like they did in the 40's (his exact words).  I don't know where this kid comes up with these things, but I am so glad he has such a fun imagination and funny personality.  He is a kind, funny, smart little guy and I love watching him grow up.  I can't wait to see what this year has in store for him.

Love you buddy.

Today I Love