A boy and a brush

A week of school in the books

Did I seriously not post something about your first day of school? Let's shoot for as much as I can remember about your first week.

Top 10 moments

10. You begged us to wake you up in the morning because you didn't want to miss the bus or the event of going to kindergarten!

9. Your teacher asked if you were all by yourself on the first day...seriously? You were one of the only kindergarteners without a parent to say goodbye too? 

8. Jacob...you are working on having a bus stop to yourself because you want to be the first in line! 

7. Jacob, you actually wanted to find books by a certain author in the library and had me help you find them (a momma dream)

6. Both of you made it off of the bus with all of your belongings each day...impressive.

5. Julia earned a bracelet for being one of the only students to walk to the carpet or something like that. A treat out of the treasure box makes for a pretty awesome day!

4. You managed to get a bloody nose at school but was able to walk back to your classroom all by yourself. 

3. Julia you are super proud of every piece of work you bring home and have managed to sing every song that you have learned...which is like 7

"Mom, I'm really good at making the 1's...they are pretty easy!"

2. I love hearing about your day Julia...especially about the recess parts when you chase boys! 

1. I am just happy that you both love going to school and look forward to packing fun treats on fridays because you got ready for school on time each day! Totally worth the unhealthy splurge. 

Sunflowers

Whenever I look at a sunflower from now on I hope I will remember our bike rides together...especially the one where we ended up at the local nursery to grab a couple seed packets.  It's hard to believe that our first attempt at planting sunflowers was over two years ago! I barely remember what you were like yet alone your sister! 

This time when you planted the seeds you actually cared for them for almost a week. Then it was "mom you water them" as you were off to play with neighbors. 

As this seed was growing so were you. You are nearly 60 lbs and I already forgot how many inches. You still love noodles with a touch of butter. Anytime I feed you white meat you call it "shicken." You still love to catch creatures and don't always like to share them with friends. You are into a cartoon that drives me crazy (but I think dad deleted it so we are good) the last of our pbs cartoons that you watch is wild krats. If you get ahold of our phones you usually ask google to find catching turtle or fish videos. We buy things that are turquoise just to hear you say it. You dream of more fidget spinners...usually the ones  your friends have and you don't. You trade Pokémon on occasion, but I don't see that being a bus trend this year. You love a good outfit that matches and a pair of slick boxer briefs to go with it...unless it's summer or the weekend and you prefer going commando. You are not a big fan of taking orders...EVER...unless you want me to buy you something. You still crunch peppers and peas like you did when you were two. In fact you ate one straight from our friends garden and you said it was so good and it was the best one you have ever tasted. 

You like sports when they are in season and I wonder if you will talk football with dad this fall. You would rather spend time with your friends instead of us. When you are hungry you are hungry...but mostly you are a grazer. 

You still love your hands and feet to be tickled at night before bed and you aren't a fan of me cutting your hair or nails. Other than that it doesn't seem like you have changed too much. 

One more day with my little explorer

We definitely had a lot of time together this summer...maybe too much. This summer I dreamt of books being read together, math wars, cleaning and cooking  together and a few more peaceful mornings together than we had. Don't get me wrong, I love every minute i am able to be with you two...but I think we needed more breaks than we had. 

However, I somehow forced you to come along with me so we could give your sister some time to play with a friend. It involved a bribe and something to do with a container and a net! You were thinking you would catch a mole, while I was thinking more along the lines of a grasshopper or butterfly. On the way to this little spot near campus you were asking google to locate places to find turtles in cedar falls! You are too much. I love it! How long will this last? I'm thinking our Florida trip might need to involve more spots to explore...and some many trips in the spring might too! 

After a successful hunt of one small and one large grasshopper that leaked its vomit on you...you were ready to move to our next stop. Sunflowers in the UNI garden! This is the closest thing I'll get to taking pictures in field of sunflowers but I'll keep dreaming. I can't wait to snap your picture by the one in our backyard when it decides to pop! 

2017 Eclipse

What will you two remember from this day? Will it be the fact that you viewed it from the TV set safely? Or you told dad you didn't want to go outside because everyone kept telling you about going blind? Will you get sleep tonight because you mentioned your eyes hurt after we took a walk during the eclipse? 

Instead of driving to a crowded destination to take the chance with clear skies, we stayed in and made it to the ice arena one last time before school starts. Thanks to Julia's little fall on her knee, I was more likely to treat you to a treat that involved sugar and some time with Pa. I'm pretty sure you will remember your milkshakes more than the eclipse, but maybe I'm wrong. 

In case you forget. This is what you may have seen if we had some glasses. 

Because we stayed put this is what I heard out of your mouths today.

"How come I haven't flown in an airplane?" -Julia 

"Mom, you're a genius!" - Jacob

"Buster's penis feels like Jello!" -Jacob 

Wrapping up summer

It's the last two weeks of summer and we are trying to squeeze some of those special visits in with people who make you happy. 

You two decided to squeeze in a sinus cold which knocked me and your dad's sleep habits out of whack. In addition we had to make sure we had all of the cold items to make your lives easier. So $20 dollars in tissues and cough drops along with a copay to confirm we didn't have strep...I wanted to get you something a little more useful than a bag of candy like your dad suggested.

Tennis rackets it is! 

Remember when...

The other day we were at the old house cleaning up the spiders before the open house. Julia made a trip to the restroom and commented on how much she missed our old bathroom. I know. It was nice. It was my oasis at the end of the day. We had some good times in that bathroom. It usually involves bubbles and the two of you soaking together. Dad even made it into the bath when we weren't quite sure how to give a bath to Jacob without a drowning issue. 

Tonights tub brought back some memories of high pitched squeels, laughter and some conspiring. 

You two do get along! 

Music

Yesterday Glen Campbell left behind a Musial legacy. His musical talent fills our  memories with sweet tunes and smiles for sure, especially your dad. Both he and your grandpa have done an excellent job immersing your brain with melodies that sound even sweeter when they come from your little voice. How can we forget you two requesting "Rhinestone Cowboy" and hearing you shout the lyrics out during many of our road trips. 

Campbell's sweet tunes will take us back in time when you would crawl up on the bed or couch and listen to grandpa strum and sing. This usually included a lot of patience for little fingers that wanted to do it, or instruction that involved learning all the words to the song. 

These days your music requests are usually the kid versions of hip tunes. Last week it was Elton John and I'm Still Standing,  thanks to the movie, Sing. 

When it comes to music, I wish I remembered to turn it on every morning and every evening. It definitely brings smiles, some dancing and a whole lot of happy! 

Bug BOY

Somehow you always find a way to make being outside a little more exciting. Today, while waiting for me to take pictures, you found a cicada escaping from its shell. It was pretty cool. Later on you both led the way to the UNI botanical center and gave our country friends a taste of living in town next to campus. Thanks. So after earning a little bit of money on my own, I was able to pick up a friend of yours for a little ice cream and tennis fun!


Will you remember finding walnuts and hitting them into the woods or spending the evening with friends watching a movie under the moon.