Category Archives: Picture Perfect

Alex, Brotherly Love, From the Mouths of Babes, KidsBlog, Milestones, Nate, Picture Perfect

First Day of School!

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Alex and Nate both had their first day of school today. Alex started second grade, and is a proud new member of the Starfish Pod. Nate started VPK, the state’s voluntary pre-k program.

On Saturday, we went shopping for school clothes, and I had quite a lot of convincing to do to get the boys to understand that they would be wearing these button-down shirts as their first day of school outfits. They have no problem matching each other, but they don’t like button shirts! They were bribed, in part, with the fact that they finally got to wear their new sneakers. This year’s new sneakers are very special — Alex got himself hooked up with glow in the dark laces, and Nate’s are firefighter-themed and have blinking lights.

Last night, as we were cuddling and getting ready for bed, I was explaining to Nate how his first day of VPK was very cool but that he had no reason to worry because he was going to the same class where he spent the summer, and would have the same teacher, and he got to be a leader in his class for some of the new kids who may not be used to going to school. I thought this would make him proud and help him step up to the plate, so I was a bit surprised when he burst into tears when I said it. The reason? “I may not know their naammmmes!” Poor dear. I told him he would learn their names, and it would be fine.

This morning, I made cinnamon buns for breakfast as a celebration of our first day. Not, perhaps, the healthiest breakfast, but on Saturday as we were leaving Ikea on Alex went nuts over the smell of the cinnamon buns, and we didn’t get any then, but I tried to make up for it today.

Drop off went surprisingly well for both boys. I dropped Nate off first, as he has the bigger time constraint now that his school starts earlier. He marched right into his class with just a blown kiss from me, to the great chagrin of some of the other parents who were stressed to the max about leaving their babies for the first time.

The staff and Alex’s before school program were suitably impressed with the fact that I got him into a button shirt and shorts. Mr. Patrick remarked “my goodness, he has legs under there!” Alex insists on wearing sweatpants about 95% of the time, so the fact that I got him to wear shorts to school was a minor miracle.

Nate informed me that he didn’t get to use his new scissors and glue today, but otherwise, he had a good nap and a lovely day. Alex exclaimed that he had a GREAT day and could not wait to go back and have a great day every day. Here’s hoping that this trend continues for them both!

Alex, Literary Allusions, Picture Perfect

The Giant Waterslide

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Waterslide Book Cover

Originally uploaded by Dineen.

Yesterday after school, Alex decided to write a book. Just because. I think it might be influenced, in part, by Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk. I recommend this book to any parent of kindergarten to second grade or so. It really is a sweet story, and also encourages kids to realize they can write stories, too. I love that he wanted to do this! Click through to read all of the pages of the short book, which is “By and illusterated by Alex.”

(Disclaimer and disclosure: Most links to Amazon are through Amazon associates and I get a very small kickback if you buy there — it’s never even enough to cover hosting this site, but no skin off your nose if you were going to buy anyway!)

Arts & Crafts, Mommy Musings, Nate, Picture Perfect

Why I Do This to Myself

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Nate as Superwhy!

Originally uploaded by Dineen.

I know I have turned into my mother when I am sneaking into the rooms where my children are sleeping to measure them for Halloween costumes. In Nate’s sleep, I fitted the elastic for his face mask, and double checked the length of his belt. In Alex’s sleep, I took hip and chest measurements to make sure I was cutting the right sized pattern. I also made a 3:30 am trip to Wal-Mart to secure a notion had forgotten to purchase earlier (for the record, skirt fasteners for Nate’s belt).

This, of course, came on the heels of the 8 pm trip to Wal-Mart where I thought I had gotten everything I had forgotten two weeks earlier. And the drama of getting my sewing machine serviced on Thursday after it died on me Tuesday night, putting me far behind on costume making. I did not sleep last night.

Why do I put myself through this torture each year rather than just plunking down bucks at Target? My son sitting upright in bed and exclaiming “I’m gonna have the power to READ!” The sound of my son saying “Mommy! You made it JUST RIGHT!” upon gleefully running out of his bed in the morning. The look on that adorable masked face. These things are worth every bit of stress.

Superwhy! down, Luke Skywalker to go!