Back in the Saddle Again

We had quite the challenging end to our year, but we made it and here I am, back again! No pictures today, but soon I hope. We enjoyed hearing from everyone through Christmas cards and e-mails, and plan on getting our "New Year" letter out soon! As I've been looking back at 2008 I realized we reached quite a few milestones. To name a few:

1. Ella started walking
2. George started kindergarten
3. Isaac started talking a lot!
4. We had our one year anniversary of home ownership
5. We bought a car

And I'm sure there are many more that I can't think of right now. Some things I'm looking forward to:

1. Isaac starting preschool (Please let him like it!)
2. Learning how to quilt.
3. Warm weather
4. Turning over storytime at the library to another mom. It's been a good experience, but is getting a little overwhelming in view of everything else.

We are excited to see what the new year will bring us.

Votong Day!

I find myself getting all excited to vote. Kind of like on my birthday or something. I just think it's exciting to be able to go out and have my voice heard. Remember to vote!

Halloween

Halloween was super fun this year. The kids got a lot of candy!!! We started the evening in town trick-or-treating on main street and at the Hall of Fame where daddy was handing out candy. Then we participated in the Halloween parade. The kids had fun looking at all of the other costumes and meeting friends from school. After the parade we trick-or-treated in surrounding neighborhoods until the kids had had enough and then headed home.

Ella the pink meowy

When we got home the kids hit the neighbors and visited the firehouse for cider and doughnuts with dad, while mom handed out candy. My favorite part of the night was when the headless horseman came riding up and down the street on his big black horse. I don't know who he was, but he was dressed as the headless horseman, complete with jack o lantern under his arm. The sound of the horse's hooves on the road was very halloween-y. The kids were very impressed.

Superman and the Flash

So far the kids have regulated themselves pretty well with the candy. I wish I could say the same for Mom! :) And of course they are already planning next year's costumes. George wanted to know if we could start making his today. sigh. They don't give me much of a break.

Winter Wonderland

George, Isaac and the neighbor girl by their little snowman

We had our first winter storm this week. We only had about 4 inches at our house, but surrounding areas got a lot more and there were many people without power for awhile. School was canceled much to the joy of the kids who spent hours and hours playing outside.

It was Ella's first time in the snow (she was not walking last winter) and she was a little wary. Once we sat her in the sled she was fine and stayed there for about 45 minutes.

Isaac and Ella on the sled

Preschool

Isaac lived through his first week of preschool! He was so excited to go to school like his brother and seems to be liking school very much. Going 5 mornings a week has made him very tired and we have tried to get him to take a day off to rest, but he refuses to stay home. He's impressed me with abilities heretofor unkown-especially when in comes to drawing. Today he came home with a family portrait that was pretty impressive for a 3 year old.

George is getting braver at soccer. He'll actually kick the ball when it comes to him now. He does really well in practice and is one of the best on the team, but he doesn't like to get into the shuffle around the ball when playing a game. Maybe by the end of the season we'll have broken through his fears. He's a good little athlete.

Cheeky Monkeys

I didn't think my kindergartener coming home with bad habits would start this soon, but apparently I was wrong. G has taken to calling people all sorts of names. This morning when I called him upstairs to comb his hair (he hates combing his hair) he called me a "spit face." I immediately made it very clear that I did not appreciate his behavior. He marched downstairs and announced to Benji that "Mom is a piece of garbage." Needless to say, he was a bit late getting off for school due to his time-out. Help!

On a more positive note-Ella's cheeky-ness is kind of funny. This morning Iyah marched in the room and got as far as, "Mom, Ella..." before Ella, hot on his heals, started yelling, "No talking! No talking Iyah!" I guess she didn't relish being tattled on. She had been stealing army men from George's room. She also said the funniest thing yesterday. We were eating trail mix and she kept asking for "a-b's." What? I finally figured out she meant M&Ms. I guess she remembered that they were called by a letter of the alphabet but could only remember A and B. It's the only part of trail mix she likes.

Kindergarten!

He did it! He survived the first (and second) day of Kindergarten! As you can tell, it was a very sunny and hot day. Cooperstown Elementary does a fun first day. The parents are invited for the whole (shortened) day. We did a bus safety drill, got to know the classroom, had a picnic lunch, and saw a fun concert. It was a good way for the kids to get to know their new surroundings. They also gave the kids a t-shirt that says "Cooperstown Kindergarten" on it and after school we walked up and down center street to different stores who handed out treats to all the new kindergarteners that were wearing their shirt. It made them feel very special.


George was a little nervous this morning going by himself for the first time, but settled right in and got off the bus this afternoon with a big smile and a big hug for mom! When I asked him what he did today he said, " I don't really remember." I'm thinking-you've been gone ALL DAY and you don't "really remember" what you did? I did manage to extract some information: he built a robot with a new friend, Alex, he went to music and art class, and played outside. He also told me, "We haven't really started to learn yet."

I'm so proud of my big boy! What a super kid.