Friday Photo Fiesta: Two Front Teeth

I hear the song echo in my head like a bad Menudo song that just won't quit. All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth. . My two front teeth. . .see my two front teeth.

My son Brendan has adopted that song as his mantra as of this week.

Unfortunately for my personal delight, Brendan doesn't completely don the gapped teeth look because his tooth growth pattern is unusual. When he lost his two bottom front teeth, he was already sporting two "backups" in the second row of his mouth. Yes, you heard it! Like a shark, he had two rows of teeth. Eventually, his teeth moved forward.

Losing his top teeth was not quite as hilarious. One he lost on our vacation. The tooth fairy had to travel long and far to find him in our one-man tent at Custer State Park. This week, he lost the other front tooth.

Isn't he adorable?

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A Bummer of a Way to Start the Day

Andrew and I got in a fight this morning.

My schedule is one this year where I need to leave home by 7:20 in order to get Evan to preschool and get myself to work just a little late. (I haven't seen on time with kids!) I knew going in to the year that many components need to work just right for me to leave at 7:20 on a daily basis.

Today, only one week after school started, things fell apart. Admittedly, I made some mistakes to assist with the undoing.

Mistake One: Andrew woke up this morning at 6:30 and wanted to check his Fantasy Football team first before doing anything else. Silly me, I let him. 20 minutes later I had to kick him off.

Mistake Two: I allowed Andrew to then eat breakfast before getting dressed. Andrew is the entire reason I instituted a "get-dressed-before-you-eat" policy. He is notoriously slow and working at his own pace.

Mistake Three: At 7:10 when Andrew was still not dressed, I lost my patience.

Of course, Andrew is not without blame in this matter as well. Our morning continued when finally dressed Andrew at 7:19-- yes, ONE minute before I am ready to leave-- decides to do his homework that is not due until Thursday. I see him standing there with no shoes, no coat, no lunch packed, using a yellow pencil to answer the questions. I not-so-calmly explained that the teacher won't be able to read yellow, and that I am walking out the door now. It was time to leave.

He gets ready quickly and starts walking to school. Evan and I do our normal drive-by before we continue on our way, and Andrew was sobbing, tears just streaming down his cheeks.

I brake the car. My heart plummets.

I ask him why he is crying. His response: "Because if we have an argument, we usually work it out. We don't have time to work it out now."

I felt my own tears now brimming, threatening to spill. I end up getting out of the car and embracing Andrew on the side of the road. I invite him in the car for us to talk it out together. I drive him further up to road to catch up with Brendan who had been on time and walking by himself. By the end, his sad eyes looked at me with resolution. We were better.

All the way to work, I stewed on this. I despise starting morning with so much anxiety. My heart is heavy even now, but I had hoped that blogging would have a cathartic effect.

What did I learn from today? I learned a few positive notions. 1. Andrew wants to have a positive relationship with me. He was most troubled that we had argued and left things poorly.
2. He wants to talk to me. How blessed am I to have a child who wants to communicate?

At the end of the day today, all I am looking for is a hug from one special little guy.

Another First

With back to school, the "firsts" just keep piling up! This weekend, Evan played in his first organized sport: Soccer! We were fortunate to find a league for 4 year olds, so he is playing for the next few Saturdays.

He handled the league like a pro. While his mom and dad were busily catching up with other parents we knew there, Evan guided himself into the group and was right at home.

For so long he has had to follow Andrew and Brendan and watch their every move. (He even watched their Flag Football debut tonight!) Yet, Saturday was all about him. He savored the moment.

With Evan starting sports, Chris and I realize how chaotic our world is becoming. Before we know it, we won't be watching the boys as a family because we will have to run to different events. For now, our fall schedule is not terrible:

Monday, Andrew and Brendan have Flag Football.

Tuesday, Andrew and Brendan have Soccer.

Saturday, Evan has Soccer.

We are thrilled that still leaves us with a few free evenings! Now, I am off to collapse asleep. This week has taken its toll on my energy!

It All Makes Sense Now

I am always busy. Now, I know people always claim to be busy all the time, but I promise, I really am.

I have always found ways to be involved with every committee and activity I could. With school back in session, I begin busily grading essays at a frenetic pace. With only one week down, I have 125 multi-paragraph essays in my current possession to grade! Besides the demands of grading and lesson planning, I also volunteer as co-president as my kids PTO, teach Sunday school at the local church, and play chauffeur for the boys' every activity at home. Phew!

Sometimes I wonder where I learned this crazy pace for life.

Then, I thought about my mom.

Memories of my mom from childhood reveal that she never sat down. My siblings and I used to joke about it. Mom was always busy around the house doing anything she could while we all casually reclined. (We helped sometimes.)

Mom retired last year from being a teacher, so I thought it would be easier to reach her at home. I called her last week and spoke with dad. He informed me that mom wasn't yet home from her long-term subbing that she is currently doing for a kindergarten teacher because she was at a church committee meeting. It was 8 pm! I told him to have her call me, and he replied that she may be busy packing because the next evening after she subs, she would be going on a trip to New York City for her part-time tour guide job she has also taken.

Yes, it all made sense to me then. But, where did mom get this?

Then, I thought about my grandma.

My Grandma Dilley is mom's mom. She is a dear 85-year old woman who makes me smile just thinking of her! She has always been extremely active with church as the organist and working two jobs until only about ten years ago when she quit one of them.

Gram had surgery on Friday to open up a couple of her arteries that were clogged. I've been told that she asked the doctor if she could play the organ on SUNDAY in church! Sunday?? She may still be in the hospital? Then, she told him that if she couldn't do that, she did plan to go to work on Tuesday. The doctor kindly informed her that she may be tired, but she insisted. They compromised that if she felt Ok, maybe she could work a half day.

It all makes sense now.

Friday Photo Fiesta: Tranquility

Welcome Candid Carrie visitors for a special Friday posting.

I am feeling sentimental with nearing the completion of the kids' and mine (I teach high school) first week back to school. I decided that today's photos would be inspired from the concept of new beginnings. I also wanted to remember our vacation that was nearly a month ago already by looking at those pictures as well.

What I came up with was a series of sunrises that my family and I were blessed to witness. Sunrises serve as an excellent reminder that a new day is a new beginning.

This first picture was a sunrise at the Badlands. We arrived at 4:30 am and were able to watch the sun peek over the ridges and illuminate the florid hills. Amazing!

Not to be outdone, Yellowstone graces this next photo. Again, we arrived there to witness a beautiful sunrise. My husband captured this beautiful photo as we began driving through the park.
The Grand Tetons were magnificent in the morning sun. I was captivated by how the clouds would gather today atop the mountains in the morning. I am sure there is a scientific reason for it; I just thought it was pretty!
Finally, the ultimate sign of a new beginning is a rainbow. Chris captured this photo at Yellowstone.

Thanks for joining me for a sentimental look at new beginnings this week! Head back to Candid Carrie's here.

A Day of Firsts

Yesterday was brimming with "firsts" in our household. All the boys and I started school. Year to year, I look forward to hearing the first words that the boys choose to tell me about their day. I find those initial reactions and intense desire to share those words endearing and telling. I'll never forget Andrew after his first day of kindergarten looking at me excitedly saying, "This was, like, the best day of my whole life!"

This year they also had exciting words to say.

Evan: "Mom, there are so many new books there. I don't know the names. They are all great!" These are the first words he chose to talk to me about. He babbled all the way home about eating tacos for lunch and getting burned on the HOT slide at recess. He later stated that his favorite parts of the day were nap time and the tacos! (I think the playdoh residue on his clothes indicates that he also enjoyed that activity!) Brendan: "Mom, Ms. Bohlman is awesome!" These were B's chosen words. He was thrilled with his new teacher and regaled us with stories at dinner of her Nascar pitstop theme in her room. (It is actually a discipline system- smart lady!) He loved recess. He loved gym. He loved it all.
Andrew: "Mom, How much is my Scholastic book budget?" Yes, those were his first words to me. He got the Scholastic book order and was working an angle to get a few new books. Later, he discussed how much he liked Mrs. Sonsolla and was thrilled that he will be on the same flag football team as her son this year. He laughed about his "easy" Geography homework. I think he is going to like 3rd grade.

Mom -- Me!: I also had many firsts yesterday. I had my first class of my sixth year of teaching. I had three writing classes yesterday, and they are big classes, so I experienced my first moment of panic about how I am ever going to get the grading done. I had my first smile from a student who was excited to have me again as a teacher. (I love that!) I had my first belly laugh in the classroom. As a teacher, I laugh and smile profusely. I missed that over the summer. I had my first great, exhausting, exhilarating, draining day.

Welcome Back to another year of awesome firsts.

Last Blast

Tomorrow we celebrate the first day of school in our house, which is a major occasion especially since I teach and celebrate right along with the boys. Yet "with every beginning comes and end." I noticed that this week we also commemorated many "last"s.

When I was younger and attended school, I nostalgically remember having a Last Blast at Conneaut Lake Park where we would go ride amusement park rides all day. Generally, the night would conclude with a late night ride on the Ferris Wheel. I loved that.

I don't have that sort of finale for the boys. However, we did have some great "lasts" in the final few days before summer.

*We had the last day at the pool today. We swam both yesterday and today as the temps soared near 90. Gotta love the pool!

*We had a last (and first of the summer) visit to the Children's museum and the zoo, which I had been promising all summer.

* We had our last round of bowling as I referenced in yesterday's post.

* We had our last evening with no mention of homework!

Even though these "lasts" were great, there were a few more maybe less noticeable.

* I had my last night of restful sleep. Now marks my "busy season" of grading and mental to-do lists.
* I kissed my boys good night for the last time as 1st and 2nd graders. Andrew looked at me tonight and said, "I am going to the big playground tomorrow." Yep kiddo! You are growing up too fast for me, too!
* My last child starts preschool tomorrow. Really? How is that possible?

With all of these awesome lasts, I am sure that tomorrow will bring some incredible "firsts" that I can post. Stay tuned. . .