Mardi Gras 2011, part 1

A Mardi Gras post in November? Yes, you read that right. So...as we have already discussed, 2011 has not exactly been "my year" for blogging. But as the year is approaching its end, I am feeling a huge urgency to get it documented. Why? I'm not quite sure, especially since there are certainly a thousand other things going on this time of year--and it's not like I am sitting here twiddling my thumbs. :) But I am feeling highly motivated to get some catching up done right now, so let's hope the motivation sticks. :) I'd like to get as close to caught up by the end of the year as possible. So now anyone who still read this--you'll just have to bear with me as I trudge through the last 8 months. I may go back later and change the dates on the posts so they post chronologically (so as to fool myself and others that I actually posted them in a timely manner!), but for now, they are going to post as is.

But now, let's get back to the subject at hand, shall we? When I left off my last big push to get caught up, I had just finished blogging Valentine's Day, which means Mardi Gras was next in line. So, with Fat Tuesday (which was March 8 this year) quickly approaching, Tyler's school was in full swing with festivities. This year, instead of just watching the school's parade, he got to be in it. His class was the Kermit Kazoo Krewe and played the Mardi Gras song on kazoos to start the parade. And the teachers had their umbrellas in a second line. I loved it! They did the parade on 2 days and we decided to go on the second day. Bummer for us, since it was raining that day and they had to do it inside instead of outside. If we had gone the first day, we would have watched outside. Darn! But it was still fun and I loved that his school got really into it!

"The Kazoo Krewe"

This is just a sample of one of the floats. The younger pre-school kids got to do floats and throw beads. Some of the floats they came up with were pretty impressive!

After his class was done with their assignment of getting the parade under way, he was able to come watch the rest of the parade with Sam and me. Sam was sure glad to have him watch with him!

And after we got home, we relaxed knowing that Tyler was out of school for the entire week of Mardi Gras week! Yes, that's just as long of a break as he got at Thanksgiving and Easter. We take Mardi Gras seriously here, folks! And of course, both of the boys had to play with Tyler's super cool hat and home made kazoo! :)

Silly boys! And our Fat Tuesday recap will be coming up next. Stay tuned!

Let's Pretend

So, let's pretend for one minute that I have not been terrible about updating this blog this year. And let's pretend it's all caught up and you haven't missed out on roughly 7 months of our lives. Let's pretend that is the case so we can jump right in to today as these pictures were taken. So now you're feeling all caught up, right?! And while we're on the subject of pretending, our Halloween costumes arrived in the mail today and it took all of 2 seconds for my boys to have them on and fall right into their roles. It is the first year in maybe ever that I haven't tried somehow to coordinate the two costumes. I let them pick what they wanted to be. They browsed through the costume catalog a thousand times over and their minds changed just as many times before they finally settled on these...a spy and a UPS man! And at first it was a spy, but after Tyler got into the role for a little while, it was then announced that he was not a spy--he was a secret agent working for the President of the United States! So, now we're clear on that. Phew! So, in true character, they had no trouble pretending to the fullest.

And things got really rough when the secret agent had to arrest the poor UPS man for attempting to deliver explosive devices. (true story--his words, not mine. I truly just sat back and took pictures. Because if they're going to let me, you bet I'm gonna!)

But then I seriously doubted the skill of our secret agent working for the US President as he handcuffed himself to a tree. Perhaps we need a further background check on this guy.

But the UPS man sure did his job well (who cares if it was explosive devices in the package!). He happily delivered his packages with a smile! A UPS man this cute could probably get away with delivering explosive devices to my door and I wouldn't mind one bit!

But things were still a little tense around here, as you can see.

I was told on several occasions: "Mom, spies don't smile". I guess he has a point.

Busted, again!

Poor UPS man!

Look who's busted now! It looks like spies really do smile every once in a while after all, eh?!

So, while we're at it, let's pretend that this post makes up for my lack of performance in the blogging field this year, mmmkay? All right, I knew you'd all be on board with that plan!

Dear Sam...

I'm not sure who gave you permission to do so, but you've done it again. And I can't quite believe myself. I told you you couldn't, but you did it anyways. You've gone and turned 4 like it was no big deal. And you did it even though I asked you not to! But to see how happy it makes you to be 4, it kind of softens my heart just a little and I might let this one slip by. Maybe. But turning 5? That's outta the question, you hear me? No way, nuh uh, nope, not happening. You can just stay 4 for a long, long time, okay? Because, to be honest, I kind of like you at 4. You are full of questions, you keep me on my toes, you keep me company throughout the day, you love pretending and have a wild imagination sometimes, and boy, do you love your cars--every last one of them. Yeah, come to think of it, I think it is sort of a tiny bit okay that you've turned 4 because I am pretty smitten by you at the age of 4. So, let's just keep it that way, all righty? And just so you know, I feel like I am the luckiest mama in the whole wide world to have called you mine for four whole years. I love you to the moon and back a thousand times. Happy birthday, Sam.

The 1st Day of 1st Grade

Well, I had been telling myself I was definitely going to write about the first day of school during August, so it would be posted at least some time around the time it actually happened.  It was my goal, you see.  But then August kind of laughed in my face and now it's September and I'm posting this almost a month after the fact.  Oh well!  It's a lot better than the updating from March through August that I still have to do.  :)

So, August 8 was the big, anticipated day.  I tell you I was a bundle of nerves.  It had been a really crazy summer, as I know I've already mentioned.  But this was the day that it all came to be, ready or not.  So, of course the morning was much more rushed than I was hoping it to be.  We rushed through breakfast and rushed to get in the car, not knowing for sure how long it would take us to get there since there would be a million other parents driving their kids to school that day.  So, my pictures were rushed, my lens was fogged up from the humidity (I didn't take my own advice I had given someone the day before...rushed, I tell you!), but we made do.  So, we headed out the door...we were on our way!  (And so glad Garrett could come with us this day!)

So, we arrive, and did find out that yes, one million other parents had driven their kids to school this day as well.  So we hiked across the parking lot to find his class.  We had been to the school for a tour and seen the 1st grade hallway, but hadn't been in his classroom or met his teacher yet.  So, this was a big first for all of us.

And this was where my picture taking was really starting to annoy a bit, I think.  :)

So, we made it!  We met the teacher, found his desk, ensured him that he would be able to eat school lunch that day (he was wanting to eat at the cafeteria SO bad, so we made sure that he could, which really put him at ease, I think!), and just like that...we told him good bye and left. Left him there in that big classroom in that big school, where he didn't know a single soul.  And I lost it in the car.  I really did.  This was so hard for me this year.  I knew I would miss him during the day and stuff, but more than anything, I was just worried about the adjustment of all of this.  All those worries got the best of me.  And as we pulled up to our house, Sam said "now I can't even ride bikes because Tyler's not here".  Yeah, that didn't help.  Those two sure are good little buddies.

So, I spent a quiet day with this little cutie.  And reminded myself several times how lucky I am.  He went outside for a bit and came in with a surprise behind his back.  He had picked a flower for me from the yard and said "this is for you since you're sad and missing Tyler and Dad (because Dad was at work)".  Seriously, what a blessing this boy is!

I just love him!

So, then the real nerve wracking part came...Tyler really, really, really wanted to ride the bus home.  The bus will pick him up and drop him off at the end of our driveway, and I am super excited about that, but of course the first day was all about worrying whether he made it on the right bus and all that jazz.  I talked to the bus driver and he said he'd be home around 4:15.  So a few minutes after 4:00, I went out to wait just in case.  And I waited, and waited, and waited.  Sam rode his bike while we waited.

You see, we had a lonely bike without a rider (which Sam brought to the end of the driveway so it would be waiting there for Tyler to get home!).

And finally!!!  The moment we had been waiting for!  At nearly 5:00, we finally saw that bus.  I thought it would never come!  Of course, they just had some first day things to work through, but oh my goodness, it was just a long wait (and a HOT one, too, I might add!).

And there he was!  He had survived!

He was on his bike in no time, and also giving his dad a recap of the day's events.  He seemed to be in good spirits, but also seemed to be really worn out.  I imagine it was pretty tiring!

And the success of the first day was celebrated with chocolate chip cookies, of course.  No matter how the day is, it is always a little better with a cookie, I'm pretty sure.  :)

And that is a recap of the big first day of school.  Tyler was worn out and cried the next morning when I woke him up for school because he was so tired.  I thought it was really odd, but still sent him that day and the next.  He just seemed so tired...but it wasn't until the school nurse called in the middle of the day on Wednesday saying he had a 103.2 fever that it all made sense.  So the first day of school was a success, but I now realize he really didn't feel well at all those first few days and then ended up missing the last half of the week.  It was rough!  But a month into it now, it seems to be much better and he's really gotten in his groove.  He loves school and loves riding the bus and I love spending some time with Sam.  Although, I am pretty sure he is pretty bored with me. But I'm lucky he's still around!