KINDERGARTEN!!!

As I write this, I am distraught...I have spent the last hour and a half looking for the CD's that I saved old pictures on (in order to make space on our hard drive), AND I CAN'T FIND THEM ANYWHERE!!! I wanted to put a picture of Wyatt sleeping as a baby as a comparison, because last night, I couldn't help myself and took a picture of my big Kindergartener sleeping:

You can't completely see it, but he's wearing his Montair Elementary T-shirt!

How did this happen?! How did he get so big, so curious, so loving and sweet and infuriating?! I can't beleive 5 years have gone by, and now I have had to relenquish him to "the system". Yep, that same system that was a part of my life for almost 10 years: public education!

I googled first day of school traditions ('cause I'm not creative enough to come up with one on my own!) and found this cute one based on a German tradition. On the morning of the first day of school, children are given a huge cone (Schultuete) filled with all kinds of back to school goodies. It can be whatever you want - candy, school supplies, toys, etc. So I made one for Wyatt and had it on the table for when he woke up in the morning. He LOVED it! I wasn't downstairs, yet, when he got up, but I could hear Wyatt asking Matthew, "What is that?!"

All the goodies dumped out!

It was a great way to start the morning. Wyatt is PM Kinder, so we didn't head to school until about 10:15. At about 9:00 a.m., he was asking if we could just go, yet?! I couldn't have agreed with him more! The build-up and anticipation was excruciating!!!

Matthew came home from work to go with us and we were off. Wyatt was ready to get in there and play on the playground. No hesitations or anything! It was asked of the parents to stay w/their child for the shortened 2 hour morning, so Matthew took Annabelle for a run while I stayed on and explored Kindergarten with Wyatt. It was nice to be there with him, but he really didn't need me to be! I was amazingly calm and not emotional at all. Since this has been a 6 month process of preparation (from getting the reg. packet in February, to the Kinder orientation in May (I teared up at this! how strange is that?!), to the registration in early August), that I was as ready as Wyatt!

Outside his classroom door

Playing some hoops before we went into his classroom (that's Annabelle running in the background).

That's Mrs. Larson, Wyatt's teacher. She had them singing a song for us and doing little motions with it - we got to see it from behind! More than anything, this picture shows how big my little guy is in comparison to all the other kindergarteners!!!

His first day was great and almost like a party (someone had brought cupcakes for them to have at snack time!), and was finished off with a school BBQ put on by the 5th graders. We were done and home by 1:30 - just in time to put on our swimsuits and head to the pool!

It was the second day of school that got me...really dropping him off, him being so big and independent, ready, and willing to go, etc.

On Wednesday when I picked him up and was aksing him all of the questions - very detailed ones based on what I know goes on in a classroom on a regular basis - b/c you know, you can't just ask what you did you do - they don't remember! After about the 6th question, Wyatt said, "How do you know to ask about all of these things?!" I reminded him that I was a teacher once, and that I have a lot of teacher friends, and WE KNOW what goes on in classrooms! He liked that.

So we are adjusting to our new schedule. It is actually really cool that I get good chunks of one on one time with both kids throughout the week. They are on opposite schedules, which means TONS of in and out of the car for me and them, but I think it will work out well. Here's a little taste of a typical Monday for us:

8:30 Take Annabelle to school

9:00-11:35 Hang out with Wyatt

11:50 Take Wyat to school

12:00 - 1:00 Hmmm....an hour by myself - what can you fit into an hour?!

1:00 pick up Annabelle from school

1-3:00 Try to get AB down for a nap - it's about 50/50 right now, which is fine - if not we can play

3:00 Pick up Wyatt

Whew! Lots of starts and stops, but we'll get used to it!!!

So I'm off to yank Annabelle out of bed so we can go pick up Wyatt. I am very lucky that she wakes up happy pretty much no matter what! I will continue to look for those CD's...if anybody has any bright ideas where I could have put them, please drop me an email...you'd think they'd be with the other CD's I have, but they aren't. Go figure...

Last Week of Summer Vacation

Time has just been flying by! Before we know it, it will be November and we'll be in full swing of baby preparations! We're all trying to soak up the time that we have before everybody is thrown in to the chaos of a newborn!!! Yesterday, as I was trying to convince Annabelle that she should start buckling the top part of her carseat buckle when she gets in the car, Wyatt piped in with, "Yeah, Annabelle, you need to start doing that now, because once the baby comes, you're on your own!" How does he know that already???

So our last week of summer vacation was spent with a lot of family time. The oldest cousins were down for their annual week-long visit. We had a lot of time hanging out with all of the cousins, which was really great. They all have such a great time when they're together. This time was the first time, though, that Amanda and Aurora's age difference was really apparent - they're 17 and 15 respectively. They were great, and had a great time, but I think they were ready to go home when the week was over!

On Wednesday of this week, Opa took Wyatt on his birthday Mystery Ride. Amanda and Aurora got to join us, too. It was a guided boat tour down the Napa River. It was fun and informational, and I think the kids enjoyed it! I forgot my camera, of course, so no pictures!

That night we came home to a box on our doorstep from Grandma. She had finished the banner for Wyatt's U6 Ponies soccer team! Michael Ageno designed it and Grandma did the handy work. It turned out awesome! I'm fairly certain our banner will be the best in the league!!!

We had one last family dinner with all the families and cousins on Thursday night. The kids swam and played while the adults ate and drank! Isn't that what it's all about?!!!

Jennifer and Annabelle

Maile by diving board; Amanda, Jennifer & Aurora in middle of pool; Wyatt by side and Annabelle on steps
Jennifer and Annabelle; Wyatt and Aurora

Amanda and Annabelle

Mystery Ride

One of the things we didn't get to do in Tahoe because Matthew was sick, was to go miniature golfing. Wyatt asked about it almost every day (after Matthew had mentioned it), but understood when we couldn't get to it. Matthew decided we'd take the kids on a Mystery Ride to Boomer's. This place has bumper boats, go karts, mini golf and a big arcade. The kids always love going on Mystery Rides, and had some good guesses last night. Wyatt - the thinker - guessed mini golf on our way there, that stinker!!! It was super fun , and made up for missing it in Tahoe!

Ready to get wet on the bumper boats!

Wyatt was able to control the boat really well, and he got his Papa nice and wet!



Off to the races!!





Annabelle's turn!



Wyatt was the only one who got a hole in one!

Annabelle lost interest in golfing pretty quickly, but she occupied herself on the surroundings! (not a big shocker!)


Taking a break in the shade with some much deserved frozen lemonade!

Baby Names

In the past, names had come pretty easily for us, and once we decide, we don't really switch around that much. This time was a little different...it's taken a little more discussion. Matthew came up with a baby girl's name really quickly that we both love - Daphne. For a boy's name, we were tossing around Aidan Patrick for a while, but then we both agreed that we loved Daphne a lot more than we liked Aidan. So it was back to the drawing board for a boy name. Matthew has LOVED Maximus forever, and I have always been hesitant, as it kind of sounds a little arrogant and very full of ego. But, secretly, I have always liked Max. So on our way to Tahoe, I gave in to Maximus, with the full contigency that he will be called Max. Matthew agreed, although he claims he will most likely call him the full Maximus.

So, there you have it. At 25 weeks, we think we will either have a Daphne Kate, or a Maximus Luke. I waffle back and forth by the hour on whether I feel like it's a boy or a girl. Most often, I feel like it's a boy, though. We like both names so much, we may just have to try for the one we don't get this time!!!

Wyatt, of course, still wants a boy; Annabelle, now, has found her own opinion and wants a girl. Both kids enjoy talking about the baby. When we are in public restrooms that have the fold-down changing table, Annabelle talks about how we will put Daphne on it to change her poopy diaper!

Annual Tahoe Vacation

We headed to Tahoe for the week, and had a blast. Annabelle had been sick the week before we left, Wyatt was sick the week we left, and Matthew caught it while we were there. These pregnancy horomones must be something because I (so far) have escaped it. I know I've just jinxed myself!!!

We had so much fun playing at the beach on Donner Lake, swimming at the pools, playing on the playgrounds, attending Bingo Night, rafting down the Truckee River (where poor Annabelle succumbed to the Mundelius motion sickness gene - multiple times!!!), hung out with friends, hiking, etc. The kids were soooo, soooo sad to leave when it was time to go home. I took a lot fewer pictures this time...I'm not sure why...so it's slim pickens here, but you get the gist of how much fun we had!

Hanging out in the morning...

We went on a hike to look for butterflies...there were tons of them!

It tried to rain a little this day, and we heard some good thunder! Great ambience for a hike!

At the beach on Donner Lake. Annabelle had so much fun filling this baggie with water and dumping it in the bucket! Who would have guessed!!!???

Wyatt and Charlie fishing for crawdads!

Rafting down the Truckee. Matthew was great, as this was the first day he wasn't feeling good. Annabelle was in the boat behind us...it was hard to get a picture of her!

Honing his links skills at the driving range!

This little girl can occupy herself ANYWHERE!!!

This pool had a waterslide that Wyatt loved!