Carsten and I had a funny conversation tonight. It went like this:
C: Where's Jesus at?
K: He's in our hearts.
C: Where's Jesus at?
K: Well, he's in heaven, in the sky, but will come into our hearts if we ask him.
C: Is the sun in my heart, too?
K: No, not the sun. Just Jesus.
C: Someday, will the sun be in my heart with Jesus?
K: Um, I don't think so.
He says all sorts of funny stuff right now. At Thanksgiving he stood up in his chair and yelled "underwear!" "poopie!" "bellybutton!" We of course all laughed. Later I told him it wasn't OK to say those things. And he says to me, "when I say punny (funny) stuff, you laugh, oh tay momma?" Oh tay.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Happy 3rd Birthday, Carsten!
October 8th, 2009
Dear Carsten,
Wow, here it is. Your third birthday. I’m sure I say it every year, but it’s just amazing to me how very quickly time flies by. This morning when you were still sleeping, Alexis snuck downstairs and said to me, “Mom today is Carsten’s birthday, right?” I said “yep, it is. He’s 3 today.” And then she said “right now?” And I looked at the clock and it said 8:30 – the exact time you were born three years ago today!! How cool is that? Just now, you came up to me and asked me to sing “Happy Birthday” to you again.
You’re such a charming little boy, and a flirt at that. You love to have fun and play with your brother and sister. When one of them sits next to you in the van, you make it your plan to continually kick or hit them the entire trip! Right now, your favorite cartoon is Curious George and also Tom & Jerry. You love to read and look at books and play with Play-Doh and ride on your bike. A lot of times you and your cousin Dom fight, but you guys also play together very nicely, too. Sometimes you are a picky eater and mommy and daddy have to coerce you into getting enough food into your belly. I want you to be strong when you grow up!
A cute thing you say a lot right now is “momma, I want to go on the skoo (school) bus.” I told you that you have to get a bit bigger before you can go, and so now all the time you’ll stand on the floor next to a chair and say “I’m getting bigger (then step on the first rung of the chair), and bigger (then climb on the very top of the chair), and BIGGER!” You’ve also recently learned the rhyme “This Little Piggie” and love to say it over and over! Brown Bear, Brown Bear is your favorite story right now and you have the whole thing memorized!
You’ve yet to realize that going potty on the big boy potty is better than going in your diaper, but I’m hopeful that this year you’ll figure that out.
You are such a sweet little guy, and I love you with my whole heart. Happy third birthday, Carsten! Thank you for coming to our family!!!
Love,
Momma
Dear Carsten,
Wow, here it is. Your third birthday. I’m sure I say it every year, but it’s just amazing to me how very quickly time flies by. This morning when you were still sleeping, Alexis snuck downstairs and said to me, “Mom today is Carsten’s birthday, right?” I said “yep, it is. He’s 3 today.” And then she said “right now?” And I looked at the clock and it said 8:30 – the exact time you were born three years ago today!! How cool is that? Just now, you came up to me and asked me to sing “Happy Birthday” to you again.
You’re such a charming little boy, and a flirt at that. You love to have fun and play with your brother and sister. When one of them sits next to you in the van, you make it your plan to continually kick or hit them the entire trip! Right now, your favorite cartoon is Curious George and also Tom & Jerry. You love to read and look at books and play with Play-Doh and ride on your bike. A lot of times you and your cousin Dom fight, but you guys also play together very nicely, too. Sometimes you are a picky eater and mommy and daddy have to coerce you into getting enough food into your belly. I want you to be strong when you grow up!
A cute thing you say a lot right now is “momma, I want to go on the skoo (school) bus.” I told you that you have to get a bit bigger before you can go, and so now all the time you’ll stand on the floor next to a chair and say “I’m getting bigger (then step on the first rung of the chair), and bigger (then climb on the very top of the chair), and BIGGER!” You’ve also recently learned the rhyme “This Little Piggie” and love to say it over and over! Brown Bear, Brown Bear is your favorite story right now and you have the whole thing memorized!
You’ve yet to realize that going potty on the big boy potty is better than going in your diaper, but I’m hopeful that this year you’ll figure that out.
You are such a sweet little guy, and I love you with my whole heart. Happy third birthday, Carsten! Thank you for coming to our family!!!
Love,
Momma
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Whew!
Today was the first day of school for the kids! New school, new teachers, new experiences riding on the bus, etc, and it all went GREAT!
Last night, Alexis was having a bit of a freak out moment when she realized that the next day was school. She kept screaming while sobbing "I DON'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL!" Drama, drama. I just kept telling her that she didn't have a choice, and that she'd have a lovely time.
This morning, Tyrus was up and dressed before the alarm even went off! He was super jolly and ready to face the day's challenges. The bus was quite late to get him, but I enjoyed that quiet time with my little guy. He climbed aboard and then me and Alexis drove to the school to wait for him to get there. It took a while! It seems like we're one of the first picked up on the route. Anyway, we walked to his class and he met his lovely and adorable teacher. She said she knew he was new to this school and because of that, she sat him by a "nice kid named Drew."
Once back home, we got Alexis showered and ready to go. Today she showed no fear at all. She was very matter of fact about the whole thing and was very excited to help me get her back pack ready, etc. Her bus was late too, so when it got here, I told her, "hurry up, climb on, ok, have a good day! I love you!" The bus driver then says to me, "mom, it's okay to take a picture - that's why we're so late, all the moms want to take pictures!" So, I did.
When she left, Carsten burst into tears! "I wanna ride on the skoo bus with you, mamma!" Aww.
Josh and I then went to the school to walk her in. When she got off the bus at the school she proclaimed to me: "That was great! I wanna do it every day!" Little does she know...
Anyway, we got her settled in her classroom, and kissed her good-bye. She seemed perfectly fine and happy. We then snuck a peek in Ty's classroom, and he seemed like he was doing just fine as well.
This afternoon, the bus was super late dropping them off. I'd been told to expect them by 4:15 (45 minutes after school gets out) but they didn't get to our house until almost 5! I was freaking out a bit, that's for sure. Next thing I know, they come bounding out of the bus, full of smiles and chatter and energy!
They both said they had a great day. Alexis said she went to music class and they learned a song in her class about the rules, and that she colored a picture for Mrs. M. Ty said they tested him in reading because he was new to the school, and in his words he "did very good, maybe the best." He said the testing reading book was "super easy" and that it was no big deal. He loved the cafeteria part (Oakland kids eat in their rooms) and overall enjoyed his day. He said his teacher (also Mrs. M) was very nice, like his Kindergarten teachers were. He also said they had to write about what they liked. I asked him how that went. He said, "It was only 3 sentences, mom." Ha! He said he wrote:
I like pizza.
I like basketball.
I like cake.
Anyway, over all, it seems like it was a good day all around. Whew!!
Last night, Alexis was having a bit of a freak out moment when she realized that the next day was school. She kept screaming while sobbing "I DON'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL!" Drama, drama. I just kept telling her that she didn't have a choice, and that she'd have a lovely time.
This morning, Tyrus was up and dressed before the alarm even went off! He was super jolly and ready to face the day's challenges. The bus was quite late to get him, but I enjoyed that quiet time with my little guy. He climbed aboard and then me and Alexis drove to the school to wait for him to get there. It took a while! It seems like we're one of the first picked up on the route. Anyway, we walked to his class and he met his lovely and adorable teacher. She said she knew he was new to this school and because of that, she sat him by a "nice kid named Drew."
Once back home, we got Alexis showered and ready to go. Today she showed no fear at all. She was very matter of fact about the whole thing and was very excited to help me get her back pack ready, etc. Her bus was late too, so when it got here, I told her, "hurry up, climb on, ok, have a good day! I love you!" The bus driver then says to me, "mom, it's okay to take a picture - that's why we're so late, all the moms want to take pictures!" So, I did.
When she left, Carsten burst into tears! "I wanna ride on the skoo bus with you, mamma!" Aww.
Josh and I then went to the school to walk her in. When she got off the bus at the school she proclaimed to me: "That was great! I wanna do it every day!" Little does she know...
Anyway, we got her settled in her classroom, and kissed her good-bye. She seemed perfectly fine and happy. We then snuck a peek in Ty's classroom, and he seemed like he was doing just fine as well.
This afternoon, the bus was super late dropping them off. I'd been told to expect them by 4:15 (45 minutes after school gets out) but they didn't get to our house until almost 5! I was freaking out a bit, that's for sure. Next thing I know, they come bounding out of the bus, full of smiles and chatter and energy!
They both said they had a great day. Alexis said she went to music class and they learned a song in her class about the rules, and that she colored a picture for Mrs. M. Ty said they tested him in reading because he was new to the school, and in his words he "did very good, maybe the best." He said the testing reading book was "super easy" and that it was no big deal. He loved the cafeteria part (Oakland kids eat in their rooms) and overall enjoyed his day. He said his teacher (also Mrs. M) was very nice, like his Kindergarten teachers were. He also said they had to write about what they liked. I asked him how that went. He said, "It was only 3 sentences, mom." Ha! He said he wrote:
I like pizza.
I like basketball.
I like cake.
Anyway, over all, it seems like it was a good day all around. Whew!!
Friday, September 4, 2009
We're almost there!
So school starts Tuesday. We went last Tuesday and met Alexis' teacher. She seems like a very nice lady and everything seemed very organized and thought out. Alexis was super scared/excited to meet her, so that was good. As school approches, I'm freaking out more and more that I hope she knows enough and that she'll do what's right. She's in this funk right now where she doesn't think rules matter or that somehow they don't apply to her or that they are only the rule for today, and not necessarily tomorrow. In some ways, I'm hoping she'll do better in school just having the structure that it provides.
Tyrus' teacher wasn't there, but we were able to peek into his classroom. He seems very nonchalant about the whole thing, so I hope we aren't making a mistake by not making a big deal out of all of it.
Tyrus' teacher wasn't there, but we were able to peek into his classroom. He seems very nonchalant about the whole thing, so I hope we aren't making a mistake by not making a big deal out of all of it.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Bus ride practice
Alexis has gotten the shower thing down pat, I'd say. Yesterday, I stuck her in the kids' shower and Tyrus in ours and both of them just handled it (other than me turning on the water and getting their towels.) It's such a huge burden lifted because for so long, bath time was a huge struggle with her. Now, she feels all big and proud that she can do it herself.
So Tuesday night the kids went over to the transportation garage for our new school district for the "bus ride practice." It was just a time to have a few snacks and have the kids feel comfortable riding the bus for their first day of school. It was geared toward kindergarteners (who were all clinging to their parents legs) but there were some older kids, like Ty, as well. Alexis and Ty were both a bundle of nerves and excitement all rolled into one. But, they did fine, and waved from the window and rode off happily. And me, of course, was quite teary. I'm a sap, I admit it.
I'm hoping the practice ride will help on the 8th when school officially starts. I do plan to drive behind though and make sure she's fine.
The other night Tyrus was in cleaning up his room and he found his stuff from his old school. The next thing I know he's got big fat tears rolling down his cheeks and he's all broken up because he won't be able to go to that school again. The sad part is that at this point, he has no good memories (or any really!) with the new school so there is nothing to compare it to. I'm really hoping we made the right decision in switching the schools.
Carsten was sick yesterday. Threw up 6 times through the night and early morning. He's fine now though.
So Tuesday night the kids went over to the transportation garage for our new school district for the "bus ride practice." It was just a time to have a few snacks and have the kids feel comfortable riding the bus for their first day of school. It was geared toward kindergarteners (who were all clinging to their parents legs) but there were some older kids, like Ty, as well. Alexis and Ty were both a bundle of nerves and excitement all rolled into one. But, they did fine, and waved from the window and rode off happily. And me, of course, was quite teary. I'm a sap, I admit it.
I'm hoping the practice ride will help on the 8th when school officially starts. I do plan to drive behind though and make sure she's fine.
The other night Tyrus was in cleaning up his room and he found his stuff from his old school. The next thing I know he's got big fat tears rolling down his cheeks and he's all broken up because he won't be able to go to that school again. The sad part is that at this point, he has no good memories (or any really!) with the new school so there is nothing to compare it to. I'm really hoping we made the right decision in switching the schools.
Carsten was sick yesterday. Threw up 6 times through the night and early morning. He's fine now though.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
She's growing up!
Alexis very happily informed my dad the other night that she'd
-quit bitting on her nails (go Alexis!)
-had learned how to ride on her bike with no training wheels
-learned how to whistle
and
-has begun to take showers all on her own
-quit bitting on her nails (go Alexis!)
-had learned how to ride on her bike with no training wheels
-learned how to whistle
and
-has begun to take showers all on her own
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Yippee!
Alexis took a shower today all on her own! This is very cool for me because it's just one less thing on my To Do list! She washed and conditioned her hair all on her own (and her hair goes to her rear) but forgot to wash her body! I helped her get the water restarted to do that part, but just felt so proud that she's gotten to this point. Baths in the past have been a pain because she'd just fuss and fuss. But now, she's a happy camper and that in turn makes me a happy camper, too.
