Welcome to Texas Colleen

My youngest cousin Colleen decided to come to TCU, located here in Fort Worth! She has lived up in Princeton, NJ most of her life, so it is so cool to have her down here with us! The boys and I came up to the TCU campus to walk and around when she first moved here. They loved being on the campus and look forward to more visits. She has been super busy this first semester with school and her sorority and is loving living in Texas! WELCOME COLLEEN!!!

Colleen and Kathy under the welcome Freshman banner!

The boys loved the water fountain.

Ben and Colleen.

The boys playing outside Colleen's dorm.

We couldn't go in just yet, she got the keys the next day, but we enjoyed sitting outside her new dorm.

On another visit we got to come see inside Colleen's dorm room. The boys LOVED it!

Ben found her roommates cowboy hat! :)

They both had to try it on! They think College life is pretty fun!

A visit at Daddy's work

The Friday before Jonathan started school, we went up to see Michael at his work! The boys love seeing daddy at work and talk about it all the time! We got to take a tour and have lunch at the new park across the street from his building. The new park is really cool, it has been built over the freeway.

In Daddy's office, looking at his maps that he makes.

In the map room. Michael is explaining how they file the maps.

Looking out the window.

Window washer! So crazy for the kids to see!

Looking out the window on a different side of the building. That is the new Perot Museum above Jonathan's head.

On another side of the building, looking down at the new Clyde Warren Park. You can see the Food Trucks. We went down there and ate and played.

We are now on the top floor of Michael's building in the cafeteria.

You can see the Reunion Tower behind Benny.

Now we are eating in the park! It was lots of fun!

My yummy lunch! Steak and Mushroom Quesadilla!

Michael's building.

Playing at the park!

Ben's First Day of the Two's Class

I know, I am sorry, I am WAY, WAY behind on posting. Life has gotten so busy since Kindergarten started. I thought I would have more time to blog, craft, paint...CLEAN, turns out I have less somehow. I am still figuring it out. But I wanted to start where I left off, and try to catch up!

Ben started at the Pre-School Two's Class back in September! It's the same 2 day a week class that Jonathan took. It was very nostalgic for me to go back there with Ben. He LOVES school and I love it for him! I am good friends with both of his teachers, so I am very comfortable with having him there. He is such a social kid, he loves all of his friends, class mates, but especially his teachers! Ben is off the charts smart, in this bias mommy's opinion, so school is perfect for his little mind to keep growing!

My little ham!

This is him every day, he just takes off, no looking back! I am totally fine with, the alternative is not fun. And to the right is one of his teachers, Ms. Jill.

Showing me his locker!

Playing with his friends and one of his teachers, Ms. Lindsay.

First Day of Kindergarten

The day had finally come, August 26, 2013, the first day of Kindergarten!! As expected, I photographed every moment of the day. I just couldn't be more proud of my sweet BIG boy!

Jonathan's Kinder Favorites!

And just for comparison - here he on the first day of Pre-K! Doesn't he look like such a baby?

This sandwich stamp is what my mom used on my sandwiches when I was in school.

The note I included in his lunch! :)

Easting breakfast! He didn't want to get his shirt dirty.

The boys right before we left!

We are there! I was a big ball of nerves! But he was excited!

 

Dropping him off at his class. We were allowed to bring him in, but asked to stay at the door and not enter the room.

And then, he turned and walked in and never turned back. I was SO PROUD. You would think I would be sad, but he showed me that he was going to be alright.

He went right to his seat and started his school work!

 

Okay, so I hoovered in the hallway for a little while and then when they stood to do the pledge, I snapped one last photo. He never even saw me! I felt really good about leaving him!

At pick up with his teacher, the sweet Mrs. Kirkpatrick.

And then, we went to Braums for a much deserved ice cream treat.

Kinder? Already??

I know that I have dropped off the face of this earth lately, not just on blogging, but just over all communications. This Kinder stuff, how we got here, how it started, getting used to a new schedule...it has been an adjustment, but it has been good. I am HAPPY> Jonathan is HAPPY! And that makes me SO HAPPY! We have started school!

This has been a monumental year for me and my big boy Jonathan. He turned 5 back in April and in August, he began Kindergarten. The road to getting myself prepared for school was a bit bumpy, stressful, worrisome...I spent morning, noon, and night thinking about it, for months!

Almost 5 years ago, I became an official "stay at home mom". I LOVED it immediately (and still continue to)! I NEVER wanted to return cooperate life! I loved that I was the one taking care of my son full time and not some stranger. I had had the hardest time handing him over every morning for the 2 months that I went back to work. And now I knew what was happening with him every single second. It was great, but I will be honest, while it was a perfect fit, there were days that weren't so easy. I had an inside joke with myself..."ummm, when does kindergarten begin???" I thought it was funny, so I laughed at myself. But I felt guilty for even thinking it, so I didn't share it with anyone, until now.

January of this year it hit me - oh my gosh! He is going to Kindergarten THIS YEAR. And instead of being happy or excited, I was sad, really sad. I became really weepy about the subject. I had knots in my tummy. I just had an overall dread about it. Every activity Jonathan had with Pre-K, I was there and emotional. You might have picked up on that with my earlier posts back in the Spring. One of my friends thought I was crazy, but I told her maybe I am just getting it all out now and I won't be so sad when he actually starts. (which is actually almost what happened!)

Part of my dread had to do with the school we were zoned to attend. While it is an exemplary school on scores and what not, I hadn't heard a positive thing about it, NOT ONE THING! It worried me. The more I talked with other moms the more I learned and none of it was good. Now, I know that NO school is perfect. Some years are just bad for whatever reason. It is a long story, that I will try to not bore you with, but Michael and I finally decided it was worth a shot to try to transfer Jonathan to a different school. Our school district allows you to transfer without penalty. The school we decided to apply to is just the next one over, not too much further. And everyone seems to LOVE it!

Another long story short. We put in the transfer in February and we were told we would not find out until TWO WEEKS BEFORE school started if our transfer request was granted. I finally got to a place where I had peace about it. I felt like God had lead us to this decision and we would get in no problem...Feb to Aug 12th seemed like the LONGEST I have had to wait for something that I really, really, really wanted!

And guess what? We were REJECTED!!!! WHAT??? That was a bad, bad day. Really bad day. I cried A LOT. Michael likes to tell a 'funny' story about the conversation we had that day. He was trying to console me, and I was inconsolable. He says, "it's going to be okay" and I respond through my screaming tears, "NO IT'S NOT!!!!!!" You get the picture? I was upset. I hadn't realized how much I really wanted this for J. And then the tears continued to flow as I told Jonathan and HE CRIED. My heart was broken.

The next day I was resolved to get over it and accept the school that we would be attending and be positive. And I was...Then FOUR DAYS before school started, I got a phone call! It was the school we wanted to attend. They said they had some space open up and they would like Jonathan to come after all!!!!!! WHAT????? I sat there, in shock. She said, "are you there? Would you like to come here still?" ...I finally responded, "YES, of course we do, sorry, I'm just catching up with whats happening here."

Told you it was a long story!!! But we are all so happy! Very, very happy! The school is amazing. We love all the teachers, the principle, and especially his teacher Mrs. Kirkpatrick. It is a perfect fit in every way. I am so thankful that everything has worked out as we had hoped. I am learning that I need to let go and let God's plan play out.

My big Boy and I having lunch at his school!

The Blessing of the Kindergartners

The Blessing of the Kindergartners, All Students and Teachers is a type of ceremony that our church does the Sunday before school starts. I remember last year and I was a mess watching the whole thing! I knew that it would be a special day for our family this year. We invited our local family members to attend with us and we were so happy that Aunt Amy and my Uncle Jim could attend!
I was a big ball of nerves that day, but I was so thankful to be a part of a church that makes it such a special time for the whole family. It really did help me and Jonathan (I Think) prepare our minds and hearts for the next day.

The Kindergartner Sunday School Class.



The Kindergartners up on stage being "Blessed" by the Children's director Holly. An encouraging story and a bag tag with scripture telling them God is always with them.

The they called ALL students of ALL ages to the stage. After more encouraging words, they asked the audience to pick a child that they see on stage and commit to praying for them this year. It is a heart warming ceremony that I still tear up thinking about.

After the service, we went and got Ben out of the nursery! He was so excited to see Jim!!! 

A group shot!

Super Skaters

One of my favorite things to do as a kid was ROLLER SKATE!!! It was on my "Bucket List" of summer to-do's to take the kids skating! They had never been skating before, for shame momma!!! My friend Mandy told me that the Grapevine skating rink as these assist rollers for first time skaters. So we gathered the kids and ran up there, basically the last week of summer! It was a blast!
 
Ben was a natural right out of the gate. He started skating and didn't even look back to see where I was! Which is pretty much how everything goes with Mr. Ben...but oh well!

Jonathan was more cautious, but that is his personality too. Once he got over his initial fears he took off and had fun. He LOVED it when they turned the lights off and the black lights on! He talked about that the most!

ME...I felt OLD! I hadn't done this in 30 years, so I was working muscles that have been asleep all that time! I started getting the hang of it again -- until suddenly -- my feet were no longer under me! I have no idea how it happened, I just know how it ended! ME - flattened out on the floor! I hit my caboose the hardest and it STILL hurts. I must have bruised the bone. It knocked the wind out of me too...so once I got my wits back together I was faced with --HOW DO I STAND BACK UP??? Thankfully Reagan was skating by and gave me a hand! Whew. I took it nice and slow the rest of the time, and despite my fall, I had a BLAST and can't wait to go again!

Ben loved it from the second he started!

Jonathan, Riley and Ben are all practicing.

Loving it!

He is not sure.

Ben and Reagan took off without me!

Gage wasn't having a good time, poor guy.

Ben just going to town and the 2 big boys in the distance with Mandy.

My sweeties!

Our group, minus me and J!