School is exhausting...

School is really taking all my sleepy childrens energy out of them. On this particular day I sent both boys to their rooms to reflect on the bad behavior they were having....just wound up and not listening very well....within 5 minutes it was so quiet I had to go check on them. This is what I found...I guess the exhaustion was to blame for their behavior?

His first fight at school....

Its going to eventually happen right? Getting in your first fight at school? He had started out the morning very emotional already, hitting that phase of 1st grade where he was just so exhausted and couldnt take anymore. Thankfully, Eli's too social and nice to get in a fight with a real person...but a ball is a totally different story right? haha

I got a very nice phone call from his teacher and the front office letting me know that he took a pretty big spill at recess but was ok now. When he came out of school as I picked him up in the afternoon, he looked so sad all covered in bandages. I asked what happened, he said he was "running really fast and tripped over a fast rolling ball...fell on my legs and arms and then smashed my head and then cried a whole whole WHOLE bunch." Poor kid! That should teach him not to pick on balls anymore. He said that they tested his brain to make sure he didnt shake it too much, and then got to sit in the head bonked chair to ice his head for a while. There was already another kid in there in the head bonk chair, but I guess his head bonk wasnt quite as bad so they moved him to the hall and let Eli have the head bonk chair. I just think its funny there a "head bonk chair" at school...and it seems to be pretty popular. Im just very thankful that the school took such great care of my baby boy, if I didnt trust them and know them all so well..Id have gone to pick him up and bring him home I think, because I felt so bad for the little guy. To think he was so hurt and sad without me there to hug him. Im NOT a helicopter mom am I? haha

Here he is putting on the dramatics for the camera...

His head definatley got the worst of it all. He was embarrased this morning and wanted to cover it with a bandaid so no one would see it. I told him it was ok if they saw it, theyd think he was tough...then he was ok with it. Quite the bump, totally scratched up and some broken capilary things...yucky looking...and the best part is school pictures take place next week. Nothing like documenting a spill.

Party in the Park

This last weekend was the local Party in the Park. Its just a fun little gathering that local companies put up booths and fun things for the kids. The farmers market moves to it for the day also, so we stocked up on corn and beautiful flowers while we played. Eli stood in a very long line, and got probably the coolest face paint Id ever seen. He didnt want to wash it off that night it was so cool.

Look at that adorable toothless grin, makes me smile every time I see it.

Chalk art

One of my favorite memories of Eli's preschool year was showing up to see what he drew in chalk on sunny days in front of the building. He'd proudly show Zach and I what he drew every time. So when Zach started preschool he was so excited that he finally got to show me HIS art. He drew a rocket ship on his first day of school..but refused to look at the camera.

"Excuse me, big 4 year old preschooler coming through"

Man on Man, why couldnt Eli's first day of preschool been so simple on Mommy? Today was Zachs first day of preschool. Boy has he been waiting for this day for some time. Yesterday he was very upset with me that Eli got to start school, but he had to wait another day. Today I woke them up and as we walked down the hall to eat breakfast Zach pushes past me and says "excuse me, big 4 year old preschooler coming through!" I think he was a little excited for his big day?

Here we are posing before we get in the car. Again, Zach has a hard time latley taking "nice" pictures...but I guess Id take silly pictures over a rough 1st day anytime!

Walking into his school on his very first day of preschool ever. He was so proud. He told me as soon as we buckled into the car (in his new big 4 year old car seat for the first I must announce!) that it was ok, I didnt need to tell him about the rules and that he already knows them all. (I tend to remind Eli about rules before I drop him off at school in the mornings)

When we got into class he went right on about his duties without a hitch in his step. He hung up his sweatshirt and backpack (that yes, is as big as he is!), took his supplies to his teacher, went over to the puzzle mat (where they start their day every morning while they wait for all the kids to show up) announced to the class "new big 4 year old preschooler is here...thats me!" and totally forgot about kissing Mommy goodbye! I had to go over to him and ASK for a hug and kiss. Yeah Im sad he's growing up, but good greif am I sooooooo thankful that he wasnt like Eli in preschool clinging to my leg screaming as I tried to leave.

So here we are, officially big school boys...both of them. I couldnt be more proud. Now what to do with the few free hours I have all to myself now!?

That sure is a lot of "firsts" for one day!

First day of First grade and he lost his First tooth!

Of course Daddy freaked him out when it fell out. Jake screamed something and Eli threw the tooth. Once I smacked Jake and assured Eli Daddy was teasing, and I controlled my gagging (Im NOT a mouth/teeth person)...we were all good.

We finished up the night with his new tooth fairy book story and put his tooth into the pillow box on the front of the book and went to bed. Eli happily awoke to a dollar bill and a collectors silver dollar in a nifty little case. He's one toothless happy kid, and couldnt wait to show all his friends at school and get his name on the tooth loss chart.

1st grade rocks...lets celebrate with slurpees!

"Everything in 1st grade is my favorite. I want to be in 1st grade with my friends and teacher forever"

...he can't wait to go back tomarrow. I think thats a thumbs up!

First day of 1st Grade!

I can't believe summer is already over...and I can't believe I have a 1st grader. They grow up way too fast!

Eli walking into his new class, such a big 1st grader! Were really looking foward to the year with Mrs Gabrio.

Eli sitting next to some of his buddies, he was so excited so many of his friends were in his class this year. If only he could sit by all of the rest of them too.

Checking out his little paper school house his teacher put on each of their desks.

What a big boy, Im so proud of our 1st grader. He wasnt afraid at all. No first day jitters, no tears....well for him anyways. Jake got a good kick out of my first day jitters...and tears....last week though. What can I say, Im an emotional Mommy...everything makes me tear up.

Now tomarrow...thats the tough day for me. Zachs all packed up and ready to start preschool and he's totally excited. Infact he was mad this morning that he couldnt start today. So tomarrow, Im sure I'll shed some more tears as my BABY starts school for the first time. Gosh what shall I do with all this free time Im going to have this year?

Childrens Museum with friends

Yes, we crammed lots in on the last week of summer before school starts. Partly to get in some last minute fun things, but also to keep us busy and up early to prepare for school schedules. By the weekend the boys were pooped, I bet they will be after a week of school too.

Eli painted a cat face on himself.

These hand gloves were so funny. Dianes boys both loved them.

Zach sat like this on the stage most of the time, when I realized he had on flippers with the drums on the flippers I about pee'd my pants with laughter. And then when he tried to walk in the flippers, even funnier.

Playing with clay.

So Im not sure if you can tell, but Eli's actually all cried out in this picture. He had a total melt down because he wanted to bring his clay home. I probably would have let him, but I had just told Zach no and put his away so it wouldnt have been fair. He cried for a good 5 minutes trying to convince me how special it was and how he had to keep it, I tried everything I could think of to get him to put it away. Finally I told him we'd take a picture so we could build it again next time and bring it home then. So he quickly wiped away some tears and put on the best smile possible for his picture of his special clay face he made.

Making some coffee.

Oaks Park preschool time.

Not sure why its called that, because its open to 6 years and under....Eli was very upset and couldnt figure out why it was called Preschool time when he was a 1st grader NOT a preschooler. I had no answers for his dilema.

This is the rocking boat thingy, you can see Eli on the far left. I was really nervous about him going on this one, being his first real big spinny ride..and alone. He loved it though and had a blast laughing with the random boys next to him.

And where is my actual "preschooler" durring this preschool Oaks Park time you ask?....here, having a preschooler melt down of course.

Apparentley the preschool rides were all "too scary". Maybe we should have gotten more rest the night before.

All in all, it was a hectic busy annoying event that day. Lots of children running around unattended and the lines were so out of control long it almost wasnt worth going. Thats ok, now we know for next year.

Snyder Park

We met up with an old high school friend of mine on one of our last days of summer before school started. She also has a son who's 6 and in 1st grade and his name is Eli as well. When we introduced the boys, they looked slightly confused. Eli told me in the car on the way there, he bets they are twins. Too funny. I unfortunatley didnt get a picture of the two Eli's playing...but here's my boys enjoying the water.

Zach smelling the water, he wanted to know if there was "poison" (clorine) in it.

Showing off the muscles!

Zach's really into posing like a goof latley, you tell him to say cheese and he becomes a statue or a monster of sorts. Its hilarious, yet when he's older and starts dating I will remember to pull out these pictures to get him back for not letting Mommy take any nice pictures when he was 4. HA!

Power Wheels!

I always wanted one of these growing up and swore my kids would get one. Of course when I became a parent I realized why my paents never got me one, they are spendy little cars! Luckily we found a great deal on one through a fellow Relay'er.

Eli LOVES the Jeep, he could drive it all day long. But, being the crazy one he is, he drives like a mad man. This picture is their first drive in it ever, and quickly became one of Zachs last. They started off driving away so slowly and cute, and then Eli cranked it into fast gear and began yelling at the top of his lungs "aaaaaahhhhhh watch out crazy driver coming through" as he swerved from side to side...which in turn FREAKED Zach out...and Zach hasnt gotten back inside it very much since, and most definatley NOT with the crazy driver behind the wheel. So maybe we'll make Eli take EXTRA Drivers Ed when the time comes...

Im sorry, I cant help it...how CUTE is this picture?