Such is life in the military.

Well, we are halfway through this deployment and I think that time is finally starting to go quicker.  The kids are back in school and the two younger ones have just started soccer.  Soccer season lasts until the middle of October and Jonah's already talking about wanting to play flag football when soccer's done.  Having a routine and schedule is so helpful!

We also found out this past week that our big move to California and Germany is no longer happening.  For reasons that I'm still trying to fully understand, the military has cancelled our orders and we are staying here in Oklahoma City until further notice.  I am trying very hard to find the bright side in this turn of events.  We were all looking forward to the change and the chance to become a family again in a new place.  But what can you do? 

The kids are currently trying to persuade me to get a second puppy to add to the household.  After looking at puppies from the local animal shelter's website today I have a feeling that I won't be able to hold out until the hubby comes home in a few months.  Wish me luck in that endeavour!

I am really really trying to keep up better on this ol blog but life has a funny way of getting in the way of my good intentions.

Principal's List

Today my little man was awarded a medal and a certificate for making the principal's list at school.

Good job, Noah! We're so proud of you!

Yes, you have to.

Noah had a study guide to fill out for Social Studies and was working on it tonight. He kept asking me for the answers. I told him to look in his book, because everything in the guide came directly from the book. His eyes got as big as dinner plates and he raised his eyebrows as he shrieked, "You mean I actually have to READ the whole chapter? Are you serious?"

Yes, son. You actually have to read.

Friday Finds on Etsy: Teacher Gifts

Today is Jonah's last day of Preschool, so teacher gifts have been on my mind the last couple weeks. I wanted to make them something, but couldn't figure out what. I painted them mugs at Christmas, so I didn't want to do that again. And we're on a pretty tight budget, so it had to be something relatively inexpensive, since there's three teachers to buy for this year. I found this great handprint ribbon from one of my favorite ribbon suppliers, and knew right away what I would make. Teacher key fobs.

I let the boys pick out which backing color they wanted for what teacher, so that each one was a little different. Jonah picked the blue for one of his teachers, and red for the other. Noah picked green. I also have other color choices listed in my shop.

Then I decided to look around on Etsy for other ideas (getting a head start on next year maybe?) And found this great platter from Sweet Pickles Pottery. It's a little more pricey, but maybe you could collect money from all the parents and go in on this one as a class.
And then this awesome clipboard from Kute Klipboards By Amy. What a great idea!!

Down By The Bay

Jonah came home from school today singing a song that brought me back to my childhood. "Down by the bay" was one of my absolute favorite silly songs ever. It goes:

Down by the bay
Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home
I dare not go
For if I do
My mother will say,
"Have you ever seen a mouse
painting a house"
Down by the bay!

You repeat the song over and over, changing "Mother's" sayings to other silly, rhyming sentances ("Llama wearing pajamas", "Snake baking a cake", "frog walking a dog", etc). It was the best and it sure gets lots of laughs out of 4 year olds!

What are some of your favorite songs from when you were a kid?

Jonah's First Day!

Today was my baby boy's first day of school EVER. He is growing up way too quickly! He woke up at 1am and came into my room to ask if it was time for school yet. Think he was just a bit excited?

We all walked to school and lined up with his class. He was anxious to get into the classroom. He didn't shed a single tear, and when they were walking down the hall he didn't even look back. Momma, on the other hand, was fighting back the tears.

Big Bad Second Grader

Today was Noah's first day of second grade. And, despite his best efforts, I could tell he was excited. He actually went to bed on time last night and got up the first time I called him this morning...no small feat might I add.

Last night we met his teacher, Mrs. Newman and he got to pick his seat in the classroom (he picked the seat next to our old neighbor, his friend Lacey). He was a little bummed this morning that Daddy wasn't here, but he cheered up when I took a picture of him on my phone to send to him. He practically ran the whole way to school, even under the weight of his backpack that was loaded down with supplies. I walked him into his classroom (I was carrying the supplies that didn't fit into his backpack) and he almost rushed me out the door. My little boy is growing up, and apparently doesn't need his mommy to make sure he's ok anymore. It's a bittersweet moment when you realize that. Alas, I kept my emotions in check, took Jonah in one hand and had Sophia on my hip, and I walked out of the classroom without looking back.

No guarantees, however, that I will be able to keep said emotions at bay next week, when Jonah starts pre-k!

Hallelujah!

I got a phone call a little while ago from the elementary school Noah goes to. This past spring, we had Jonah tested for the school's Child Development (CD) program-basically pre-k. We were told that there was more testing to do this fall and they wouldn't start classes until September. My friend Caroline called me earlier this morning and said that her son Austin got in, and asked if I heard about Jonah. I said that I wasn't at home so I don't know if they called or not. There were no messages on my answering machine when we got back, so I was a little bummed. But I kept telling myself that I had to be patient. They were probably calling the students in alphabetical order. Austin's last name stars with an "M", so naturally they'd have gotten called before we did. And there are 2 classes, so the teachers might be calling at different times. I texted Bobby that Austin got accepted, and that I was still waiting to hear about Jonah, and as soon as I hit the send button, my house phone rang and it was the school giving me the good news!! Jonah will be starting pre-k next week! I was so ecstatic that I don't even remeber if they told me who his teacher is. As soon as I got off the phone I told Jonah and he got all excited, and I started crying. I am SO happy! My little man needs structure and boundaries that I cannot give him, and I know that when he gets in the classroom he'll do so well.

Hallelujah- my boy is going to school!!