Some of my favorite things we did before school started were...
We have a system down. I load up the car with ride-on toys. The kids go around the track a few times, and do all of the exercises at the different stations. Next we ride down to the play equipment. At the edge of the park is our cute downtown. Our cute downtown has a bakery with cupcakes. They aren't my favorite, but of course the boys think it is such a treat to pick one up. Then I have to carry Drake, Drake's ride-on toy and Dorothy up the huge hill to our car (I haven't exactly got the system down for that part,).
Drake doing the Triceps Dip.
Lincoln enjoying his red velvet cupcake.
Dorothy in the baby carrier. No cupcake for her yet; you can tell she was thrilled.
Our neighbors that live 3 houses up have boys the same age as Lincoln and Drake. We were both feeling sad about having our older boys start kindergarten, so we planned a fun back-to-school party. It was a Wipeout theme, so we had all kinds of obstacles for the kids to do. The obstacle they loved the most was the blow-up slide. After all the fun outside, we enjoyed a picnic on the floor.
Then the day came, that I have been so dreading! The only thing that made it easier for me to take my sweet Lincoln to school was the fact that he was ready. He was so excited to meet new friends and feel like a big kid. I did not cry in front of him, but my tears did start flowing as I pulled out of the parking lot at school. It just felt strange leaving my precious boy at a place I wasn't familiar with and a person I didn't even know!
Oops, I forgot to have him use the bathroom. He assured me he really didn't have to go, even though he was doing the pee pee dance.
Now, that's better!
It was nice having some one-on-one time with Drake. We did some mommy preschool activities and had a great day together. When Lincoln got in the car, he was talking so fast about everything he did. He is one week in now, and he still LOVES it!! He even likes doing homework. He gets in the car and sings the songs he learns and tells me about all the naughty things the other kids did that day, haha! The cutest thing he told me, "Mom, we sit on mats with letters on them, LETTERS MOM!"
Dorothy is 7 months old, and will be 8 months soon. She is starting to wave and say "hi." Oh, she is getting curly hair, like Lincoln!!!
I didn't set up the following picture. I was cleaning upstairs, Dorothy was in the boys room and Lincoln found a hairbrush. Soon Drake wanted part of the action too. Dorothy was thrilled with all of the attention.
Drake is such a fireball! He is doing a great job going to the potty, but will occasionally have an accident. He imitates everything Lincoln does. For some reason, Drake doesn't care for younger kids, except Dorothy. We were at church, and the cutest little 18 month boy was turning around to see what Drake was playing with. Drake gave him a scowl and said, "Turn around, don't look at me!" Dave immediately told him that was not ok, and Drake looked at me and said, "I don't like that guy." Oh dear!! We will work on that, but I'm glad he is sweet with Dorothy. He still loves his bear bear more than anything. He also enjoys being with Dave, working on tools.
I was worried about how Drake would feel with Lincoln at school all day. My good friend Anna started going back to work this year, and I offered to watch her little boy Jack twice a week. We adore Jack! Here are the two blondies enjoying lunch on the front porch, after story time at the library.
Dave and I have been better about having Family Home Evening: a night where we stay at home as a family. We don't have any meetings or sports events on those nights. After dinner we have a song, a short lesson, an activity and then a treat. The boys treasure these Monday nights. Dave had a lesson on choosing good friends. They had to "fish" for good friends and stayed away from the crabs, which pull you down.
Another night we talked about persistence. We talked about how the Wright brothers never gave up, so we made paper airplanes and had airplanes made out of candy.
It has been special to see their faith start to grow, especially Lincoln. I can tell he is paying more attention in his Sunday School class. Once when he rode down a hill on a rickety bike and got hurt, he told me he was sad he didn't have the Holy Ghost to tell him not to do that. He also told me one day he wanted to be "whirley." When I asked him what that meant, he said, "You know, whirley to go to the Temple." Oh, worthy! I explained to him he was worthy to go, and when he turns 12 he can go. To which Drake responded, "I want to be whirley too!"
