Back to School Haircuts

The boys spent almost an hour perusing Google Images of "2016 cool men haircuts".

"Men."  Because when they looked at "boys", the haircuts weren't "cool" enough.

Finally they picked a current trendy cut with a hard part.  Gavin was the most confident about the choice.  He walked up to the barber, "I want the line!"

I told Gavin I thought his haircut looked good.  He sternly corrected me. 

"It looks COOL Mommy!  My haircut is INTENSE!"

Turned out a lot better than the last time I let them pick their cuts!

Olympic Inspiration

It's Olympics season.

Ethan usually is asleep around 7:30pm.

Tonight he's up well past 9.

Up watching the games?  No, I haven't let on that they are still on after bedtime (even though I'm trying to rush the process to watch myself! ;)

He's up reading, grade appropriate but challenging books that he didn't want to try a couple of weeks ago.

I try to tuck him in again as he debates with me how many more books can he read first.  Then he makes me smile.

"Mommy, it's like the Olympics.  Listen... they said that gymnast [Simone] practices 32 hours a week and I only practice 1 hour.  That's like ALLLL day.  MORE than a day! If I want to be a super fast reader I have to be like an Olympian and stay up later and read more."

He continued, "If I do that then I can become an Olympian.  Not like the sports, like a scientist or something.  That kind."

Needless to say, I let him read another book.

Gavin last day of school 2015

He changed clothes and hair several times before this.

Oh,  wait. He does that EVERY morning.

Mom's night out

Hey,  who said I forgot how to rage?

Ethan's reading!

When he finishes kindergarten he's supposed to be able to read "level 4".  In March he's got level 4 down!  Of course "college ready" for kindergarten is level 6, but he's got time still. I'm proud of my July birthday boy.

Ethan thinks his reading level no big deal, obviously.

Chris has even started reading 10-25pgs outloud a night of James and the Giant Peach,  then Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,  and now Captain Nobody. Next up is the Chronicles of Narnia,  I am dying to join for those!  But a chance to role model men reading and their bonding time?  I'll continue to step back for that.

Ethan's a role model student

In swim class!

Gavin and Ethan just finished swim classes through the county (thanks Pops!) and both did really well. Gavin was fearless and everything clicked for Ethan this time! 

Gavin can blow bubbles underwater for 5 seconds and Ethan can swim on his front and back for 5 yards and float!

They are thrilled with themselves.

Now I have to figure out how to pull this off again. Ethan needs to advance a class and they no longer will have the same schedule. And trying to keep one out of the pool while he watches his brother swim is NOT my idea of a good time.

But reading how Ethan is a "model student" sure is!

Kiss off winter

Wind chill -15 tonight. School delayed two hours tomorrow and for once I agree. At afternoon pick up it started to feel painful waiting outside in the wind for ME. I saw a kindergarten teacher holding hands and huddling together with the kids sent to school without hats or gloves to keep them warm.

I'd take being sick any day

Over my baby being sick! 

The cold turned out to be strep.  Who knew strep was accompanied by vomiting? Apparently that's par for the course along with his fever, chills, aches, and of course, very sore throat.

Three days out this week, two days out for pink eye a week ago. Remember what I said about how do parents keep their jobs?!

I had one very nauseous snuggly boy and another very active boy who wanted the couch cuddles to end and "TACKLE!" 

Sorry Gavin.  I promise we'll play football tomorrow.

I suddenly love worksheets!

I was going through Ethan's schoolwork the teacher sent home. I flipped through the worksheets until I find the cutest drawing EVER he did on the back. "I LOVE MOMMY" with a stick figure opening arms "this much".  Swoon.

Little Letter Lover

Gavin's suddenly passionate about learning his letters. His favorite is "w", maybe because he always goes for the win? Who knows!  I'm just following his lead on interests. But letter practice is great practice for me as I'm tutoring Ethan's classmates who are being on letter identification.

And the snow days begin!

It took a while...But the first school week back from school hasn't had much school! Maybe 3 inches of snow with a wind chill factor down to -10 at night.  The first snow day, a blast. But the next day with cleared roads and no snow, we bundled up for the walk to school.

Uhhh...where are the buses whizzing by?  Quick check on my phone, yup school opening is delayed.

We had the gear on so might as well build a fort!

At least he got to school later right? Nope, they later cancelled the whole day.

 

Gavin's First Day of (Pre)School!

Today our baby boy started his first day of school! He goes two days a week and gets to ride the big yellow school bus!

He chose his clothes, determined to start his academic career as a jock apparently! He called the look, "football boy."

We were able to convince him to leave the helmet at home.

 

When the bus came, he eagerly ran to it, "We're going to miss it!!"

Is it terrible I'm a little sad he wasn't?

His teacher sent me a text with this picture telling me no tears, all smiles at his first day of school!

 

Here's some pictures of his tour we took last week.

 

 

He participated in circle time without pause!

 

Here's the legendary dragon "Bella" he talks about nonstop.

 

 

How could he..Oh wait....

I caught Ethan writing on his door! As I just repainted that room, I was heated.

Then I looked closer. 

It was his first (simple!) math equation and the words LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Well heck, if those two things are THAT important to him, it's ONLY pencil I guess.

Halloween 2014

The older the boys are getting, the more fun the holidays are getting!

This year they each picked their own costumes.

Gavin picked, of course, Superman. He's been practicing this role for the last few months wearing his cape daily!

Ethan threw me for a loop more. "Electricity" was his choice!! I asked him to narrow that down and he picked lightening. Yeah, they don't mass produce lightening costumes.

Off to the craft store for some felt, cotton stuffing, and online shopping for a battery operated LED string light.

A few stitches later and ZAP! Here's Ethan!

Chris and mini-me Gavin were a dynamic duo.

Just as in real life, my little bolt of lightening zapped me!

Chris wasn't going to let some strangers give his boys their first sweets of the night!

The day before was the school party!

They had the cutest school parade.

The kids worked on a spooky craft I had prepped for the class.

"Woah, Mommy really loves holidays with us kids!"

"Guilty as charged!"

 

Ethan's First Day of Kimdergarten!

It's here. Kindergarten. Feels like the real beginning of the long goodbye that is parenthood. As I tearfully told Chris, the next big goodbye is college?! Get it together, lady. Let's cheer up by looking at how cute he is in these pics!

I hope Mrs. B is ready for the many faces that are Ethan!

 

Enough pics Mommy!

Let's jump right into this school thing!!

 

We headed off to our ONE block walk to school (with Gavin uncharacteristically crying most of the way there).

Ethan's lunch was a little heavy with yumminess.

Upon arrival, Ethan gave his teacher a little token of his appreciation.

Someone's printer ran out of red ink ;)

The kids lined up, all 20 of them.

They waited and waited.

Suddenly Ethan remembered something! "Mommy!!! I need a picture if you to keep with me! Can you draw one, QUICK!!!"

I happily scribbled a portrait on a receipt from my purse (he still cares!!!!).

He had new swagger and was ready for the day!

Off they went, Ethan didn't look back once. Chris ran behind him in line and snuck a quick kiss!

With great luck, the only other kindergartener he knew, is in his class. Check out our blonde neighbor Thane's happy dance at the end of the line.

It's real. He's in full day school. My all day everyday partner in crime for the last four years.

Okay, getting it together! Let me show you where he is as I blog. Here are some pics of his room from last weeks orientation.

He has his own locker!

Think he'll notice of I let Gavin really sneak in his locker? He's missing him more than I do!

Snap out of it Gavin! KINDERGARTEN!!

You are welcome to remind me of this post when I'm griping about too many snow days!