Life in the Here and Now: May 2008

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

On the Brink of Summer

It seems like just yesterday we were moving here from Colorado and I was signing the boys up for preschools here in NC. That's what makes it hard to believe that 4.5 months have passed and the boys had their last day of preschool last Friday. Both Austin and Jacob really liked their preschools and both boys adored their teachers. Austin's teacher was the more firm (but kind) teacher while Jacob's was the more laid back, not so many rules type teacher. Austin is anxiously awaiting starting kindergarten in the fall.
Both boys' preschools had a little end of the year presentation. Austin's class sang some songs, said some verses, etc. and then had a picnic. I was completely amazed to find out that Austin knows the entire Lord's Prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and all the disciples names. It is amazing what a good preschool can do. Jacob's class completed the year in cap and gown. They "graduated" to the next class complete with 2008 tassels. It was so adorable. I couldn't believe how well Jacob knew the songs and that he actually stood in one place for about 10 minutes to sing. He was so excited for us to be there...he was beaming (see picture).
For Memorial Day, we decided to go on our first true family vacation. What I mean by that is that we have been on many vacations with John's parents, my parents, our siblings, etc. but never just the four of us. We went to Williamsburg, Virginia and had a wonderful time. The kids were awesome. They were mostly whine-free the entire time and both Austin and Jacob loved all the rides at Busch Gardens (the amusement park we went to). Austin was able to ride his first adult roller coaster....The Big Bad Wolf. Unfortunately, Jacob was about 1/4 inch too short to ride some of the bigger rides, although he was so borderline in height, they let him get on a couple of the rides he probably shouldn't have ridden. They both were daredevils and wanted to try every ride they could. We did some shopping at the outlets in Williamsburg as well. Of course, that was heaven for me and the boys (John included) were real troopers. We can't wait to go back again sometime soon.

P.S......Be forewarned, there are a lot of pictures :)

Jacob's teacher

Austin's teacher

Jacob singing

And singing

Austin's class

Strawberry Picking

I just realized it has been a month since I last posted. I can't believe it is almost summer. The boys only have one more week of preschool left. Austin is already starting to ask when he will get to go to kindergarten. I just turned in all his paperwork for kindergarten this week. I can't believe it is already time for him to start kindergarten!
I have started working some again, so my mom has been keeping the kids some for me. Of course, the kids LOVE grammy! She gives them 2 bowls of ice cream everyday, lets them watch cartoons, plays with them, and generally is a push over as all grandmothers should be :).
Yesterday was a gorgeous day, so my mom and I decided to take the kids strawberry picking. I, as well as the boys, had never been so it was a new experience. We all had a blast. Needless to say, we all had strawberry stains all over us when we returned home. I definitely saw the very different personalities of my sons when we were strawberry picking. Austin, the driven, more "follow the routine" child was focused on filling up his entire basket with strawberries. He worked diligently until the basket was full and only stopped a couple of times to eat a strawberry. He decided to take the strawberries to his preschool teachers today. Jacob, my laid back, "do his own thing" child, only ended up with two strawberries in his basket and I am pretty sure he ate about two dozen. He would walk right down the middle of the strawberry patch, lean way over, find the perfect strawberry, pick it, and eat most of it, throw it on the ground, and start the process over.