Second day at preschool !

Today when I dropped the little boys off at preschool.  They both jumped out of the car, like their brothers and sister before them....and like little pros, ran to the door and walked in unassisted.

Preschool orientation, ie. sitting on chairs while the kids sat at their "stations", ie. little tables and chairs with random things laid out on them to play with, didn't give me such a warm fuzzy.
Neither little boy would join the others and instead hovered near or on me.    No other child in their class stayed by their mom, but played unfazed.   (there are approx 15 kids in their class)
So that they (Ryan mainly) has gone 2 days now....hasn't cried....and has participated is HUGE people.  HUGE !

I approached Ms. Angela after class today and asked her how things were going.  You know. on day 2.  She said that they were doing great but that they can't sit by each other.   One of them hit the other one and they started fighting.   I asked her if they hit any of the other children to which she assured me that they didn't.  and I high fived them both for only hitting each other.  "way to go for only hitting your brother and not other kids guys."
Again...success stories at their finest.
She started to tell me that they were tracing really well and so on.    I didn't care.   They'll be fine.   As long as they are happy, going willingly and not hurting other children.  to me.  life is GOOD !

My little firecracker !

Wordless Wednesday

What I love about today.
Syd and Spencer playing hide and seek.
Syd walked past me at the kitchen sink and whispered, "mom, where is he ?", I shrugged.  She responded, "He's good."
I listened as she walked down the hall quietly and slowly and smiled as Spencer was just as excited and surprised as Syd when she found him.  Both erupting in laughter before switching turns.
When Spencer was the seeker and hurt his finger, my whole heart lit up when Sydney came to his rescue, immediately getting him a bag of ice.   (something she seems to do often lately.  she also got ice for Cam's bee sting yesterday) 
Mostly.  I love to see their relationship build and grow closer with each game.

Today I love having the cutest-super masked-good-guy with cowboy boots on, in the whole world.
I love it when he says he's going to pernch* someone.   And I love how his character changes as soon as the mask goes on and love watching my sweet, softer, Nate come back when he takes it off.

It's a good day !

* pernch said pernch like perch with an n means punch as in, do you want me to punch you ?

Bucket List 2012

Visit the Great Salt Lake  (check)
I had originally written visit antelope island on my list...but it's on the great salt lake, so visiting Saltair was kinda the same thing.
Ok FINE. it wasn't.  We'll visit antelope island too.
We had to go and check out this phenomenon that happens at the great salt lake every year.

Facts.
The great salt lake is the largest lake west of the Mississippi.   In the ice age it was lake Bonneville after the ice age it receded and became the great salt lake.  (sadly none of this was shown in the Disney movie)
Because water feeds into the lake but does not flow out, the water evaporates and leaves behind salt.
When I was little, there was so much salt in the lake that your whole body could float.   They have removed a lot of the salt so I don't think you can do that any more.
Also due to the high levels of salt....the only things that can really survive are brine shrimp (sea monkeys) and brine flies.  These stupid flies make a ring around the lake a few feet deep (sometimes more) and as you make your way to the lake you have to honestly close your mouth and run through them.   Once to the lake you can usually swim without them bothering you.  Here is a video if you want to see it.
The brine shrimp used to be as thick as the salt...or at least it felt like that when I was young.  They are an important part of the birds migration as they are the nutrition that gets them to where they need to go.
Now that I'm older I am AMAZED that we ever went swimming in it.
Because of the salt it STINKS like a rotten sulphur egg fart.  yuck.
You do get used to it after a while though :)

ANY WAYS...back to my phenomenon.   When it gets hot the flies get to be extremely abundant....so the  spiders come in to help balance things out.  
They are orb weavers.   And they were a sight to see I gotta tell ya.

Just like out of a horror movie....this was looking under from one side of the dock to the other. 

The grasses that surround the lake and rocks were blanketed with these webs and spiders.  

There were thousands and thousands of them.

 Once out on the edge of the lake, away from the flies and the spiders and this stagnant 100 degree dry heat, there was a lovely breeze that cooled us down.

And of course.  there were rocks to throw.  for the next hour.

Spencer trying to see the brine shrimp 

A slurpee was the perfect way to cool down.

As a former arachnophobe....I have to admit....this was even freaky for me.

 

Off the charts cute.

Well, we knew that.
But off the chart in size ?
4 year stats.
Nathan :
43 lbs  put him roughly at 95%
43.3 in. put him off of the charts in height.

Ryan :
39lbs put him roughly at 75%
43 in. put him in the 97%

They don't seem extremely large.  or tall for that matter.
Even though my predictions are somewhat smaller than others, I still think they will sit at just about 6 feet.  give or take an inch.
Jan is still wishing on a star that some how they hit 6'7-7 feet. :)

Both boys see great.  although it was hard testing them, because if one either wasn't paying attention or was trying to one-eye figure a picture out....the other one would lean in and whisper to him...."it's a star Nathan"  or, "heart Ryan..say heart"
and at that moment my decision was clearly made....they will be in separate classrooms in school :)

Speaking of.   Cameron and Spencer got their kindergarten teachers assigned.   When I pulled it up online....I couldn't tell whether it was AM or PM...which was my main concern.  and then it hit me.  they have different teachers.
I can't say that I felt happy or sad.  I just felt, uh.   I had kind of decided that I'd like them in separate classes, but as the reality of it sunk in, I kind of felt.....bluh about it.
The thought of me not being able to help out in their class.  Splitting my time up between now 3 classes instead of 2 to help teachers.  That kinda sucks right ?  but whatever.   we'll all take what we're dealt.  

What had actually happened however.   Cameron was assigned a 1st grade teacher....and as he is definitely not in 1st grade they told me that they would fix it.   They then asked me....."do you have a preference of them being in the same class or not ?"  and I replied simply, "I am mostly concerned with them being in AM kindergarten"
(the littles start pre school and are in an AM class....you see my desperation now don't you)

If they end up in the same class....I'm ok with it.   It's like the friends episode where Rachel doesn't know if she's pregnant.  Pheobe lies to her and tells her she's not and she's sad and then Pheobe tells her she's really pregnant and explains...I just wanted you to know how you really feel.   I know how I'd feel if they were in different classes now.   I know that I'm truly ok with either.
Plus....unlike the littles.....a teacher could handle having both big boys in her class.

At least that's what I'm going to keep telling myself if they do in fact end up in the same class.

This moment

MUST be remembered.

I love what Cam says in the end.  Such a funny kid.  :)

Happy Boythday Babies !

Well waddya know.   You guys are THREE !  Can you believe it.
What ?  whut ?  whathe.  (hold the phone please)
Four ?????!!!! wuhjoosay ?
NO !
No way.
They are NOT four.   They are surely three.....you would think I would know this.
Seriously ?
hmm.

Well waddya know.   You guys are FOUR !  I can't believe it.
I really can't believe it.

Ry guy...this picture captures your personality perfectly.   Well, one of them.
You have this shy, tender side and will choose who you flash that sweet smile to.   You stick close to mom and you take a minute to warm up to new situations.   (praying pre school goes well in a few weeks)
You are definitely the baby of our family and everyone seems perfectly fine with this position.
Including me.  Which is why you are only three years old today.

Nate man....aka. Nater-gator...Nate dog....Nafan...Nafe and Nate.
There is a comedic spark to that smile of yours.   Only time will tell whether it smolders or burns bright.
And if it burns bright honey....please keep it to recess and lunches only.  After school....I'll front row every show and will be your biggest fan.
Your love of weapons is still cute...you know, because you're three....but in a few years it might make me nervous....so lets get that out of your system soon.


My goal this year.....hell...my goal forever, will be to stay one step ahead of you two.   You keep me on my toes and I'm sure you will your whole lives.  I'm just hoping that you stay this cute.....it's a little easier to forgive you with a flash of those smiles.
I love you !

They love each other SO much these two !
Which is why I'm posting this picture.  and not this one....

It just doesn't have that same warm and fuzzy feeling to it.