So much to be thankful for!

Wishing you all a (belated) Happy Thanksgiving!!

I love this time of year - the chill in the air, the beautiful fall colors, re-visiting all we are thankful for, the excitement of winter sports and activities approaching, Thanksgiving gatherings and our wedding anniversary :)

We had a great Thanksgiving dinner at my Mom and Dad's, so nice that as the kids get older we can stretch bedtime a little later and get more visiting in!  It was fun playing with Connor and visiting Lindsay and Mom and Dad.  The kids were all angels!  We took our annual walk to Forest Green park and the board walk for some fall photos.  Let me tell you, it is not easy getting a 7 month old, 1 1/2 yr old, 3 1/2 yr old and 5 yr old to all look at the camera at the same time ... but we got some cute shots :)  The weather was gorgeous and the kids enjoyed playing in the leaves (and chewing on a few for Connor!)!  Thanks for the great dinner, Mom and Dad!

On Sunday afternoon, Blake, Em and I met Mom, Lindsay and Connor at WEM for lunch and some shopping.  Shopping is not Blake and Em's forte ;)  Some days Emerson is a little shopaholic, but not when it's in Mom/Grandma/Auntie's stores!  Blake, he could just do with out shopping all together, unless it's Toys R Us or the toy section at Walmart!  But I got them a Jugo Juice and took them to the Disney store on the way out of the mall, which are two of their favorite things at the mall, and they had a great time checking everything out and enjoying the free movie and coloring in the Disney store!!  One thing I can say, is I am very proud of them for not whining or crying for something every time we go shopping.  They, of course, ask for things all the time but they accept a reply of, "That is really nice!  We will have to put that on your wishlist!"

On Monday morning it was back to the mall, but this time we went straight to Build-A-Bear!  Lindsay and Jeremy have bought Blake and Emerson Build-A-Bear's and it was now Reese's turn to build a bear with Auntie for her 2nd birthday :)  She was so cute and loves her Rosie bear!  Although she does have a hard time not calling her bear Honey Bear!!  Honey Bear is Em's build a bear, who Reese has played with for the last year!!  So now Rosie is often referred to as, "Rosie Honey Bear!"  Too cute :)  After Build-A-Bear we went for coffee at Timmies and then said good bye to Lindsay and Connor, as they were headed home to Fort McMurray.  I am so grateful that my sister takes time to come to Edmonton and visit us.  It's hard for us to get up there and I miss them dearly but like I said, I am so, so thankful that she visits frequently.  I know it's not easy to travel with a little one, although Mr. Connor is a pretty awesome traveller!!!

The rest of the weekend was pretty low-key, spent building LEGO, watching movies, doing a little bit of yard work, a bike ride, regular house cleaning stuff and just enjoying some down time.  These are some of my favorite days :)

Tuesday was our 8th wedding anniversary!  I still remember our wedding day, as though it was yesterday :)  I had the time of my life, so much fun and so wonderful to have so many of our friends and family all together under one roof!  Ahhh, great memories to cherish forever :)  We pulled out our wedding album to show the kids and had fun reminising and answering a zillion questions!!  To celebrate our anniversary, we decided to take the whole family out for dinner to Red Lobster!  We love seafood and so does Blake!  Emerson tried Blake's shrimp and liked it too, so next time I think she'll get that kids meal!  We had a really great dinner, the kids were so well behaved and cute as could be ;)  I like taking them out once and awhile for a 'nice' dinner (a.k.a not McDonald's)!  I remember as a kid going to one of the 'fancy' restaurants (do you remember the name, Dad??  Not Gentleman Jim's but a different one!  Maybe Flames??) in St. Paul and my Dad teaching Lindsay and I about the different utensils and why there were so many forks!!  Not sure why that has stuck in my brain (Lord knows my memory is terrible!) but I do remember it and that has made me want to teach our kids proper table etiquette and restaurant etiquette!  We had to laugh at the number of trips made to the washroom with Blake and Em!  I think they just wanted to walk past the lobsters ;)  8 years as a married couple - it is amazing to reflect back on the last 8 years and all that we have accomplished, built, felt, dealt with, and enjoyed.  Wow!  Here's to 80 more!

On the 12th I had an opportunity to take Cal to a trial kettlebells class!  I was so excited to show him what I've been up to for the past year!!  Thanks to my Mom for babysitting and putting all 3 to bed!!!  I'm glad Cal got to meet Laurie and Jodi and see what this whole kettlebell thing is about!  It really has changed my life, not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well.  Laurie is such an amazing woman, I can't even put into words how wonderful she is and I am so grateful for meeting her and for the friendship that has developed with my consignment bff, Jodi!!!  Cal enjoyed (I think?!) the class!

And that brings us to the 14th!!  A big day for Blake!!!  He had his 1st hockey game and his 1st school birthday party :)  The hockey game was first and went great!  He touched the puck a few times, made some passes and best of all, came running out of the dressing room with a huge smile on his face :)  So proud of our little #4!!  I loved the game and we all got a kick out of Reese cheering, "GO Blake GO!!"  He has a great group of kids on his team and a Coach who makes them work hard and listen, with a little bit of fun thrown in and an Assistant Coach (aka Coach Dad) who makes sure they're not only working hard and listening but having alot of FUN!!!  Cal is so great with the little guys :)  It will be a great hockey season and I am proud to be a hockey Mom!!

After the game, Blake and I rushed over to Chuck-E-Cheese for his classmates 5th birthday party!  He had so much fun :)  I love watching him having a blast with his friends!  Chuck-E-Cheese is okay in small doses ... this is only the 2nd time I've been there with Blake so it was good.  I wouldn't be able to go too often!!  lol!

We hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving and are enjoying Fall :)  Talk to you soon!

xo
Tracy



    

Fantastic Fall!

The last few weeks have been great!

Emerson is loooooving her dance class!!!  Yesterday as we were leaving the dance studio she said, "I love my dance lessons!  Can I go again tomorrow?"  She's also been asking when she will get to go on stage!  lol!  They have a year end recital the second weekend in June, which we are really looking forward to!!  Emerson is definitely all girl!  I'm not sure, but I do not recall being so 'girly' as a little girl?!  I may need my Mom and Dad to confirm/clear that up!!!  Emerson must wear a dress or skirt every day, it must twirl and she spends a lot of time dancing around the house and saying, "Mom/Dad, watch this!" as she twirls, points her toes, raises her arms, etc.  It is adorable but the constant outfit changes can be frustrating!!  Some days she changes her outfit 4 or 5 times a day.  Emerson is also really enjoying preschool!  I can not say enough about how awesome the Lago Lindo preschool is.  So great!  Her teachers are amazing, Mrs. York and Mrs. Chong (who Em calls Mrs. Charm and insists her name is Mrs. Charm) are so patient and wonderful with the preschoolers!!!  I am excited to accompany Emerson's class on a field trip to John Jantzen Nature Centre at the end of October!  I also signed up to volunteer for the Halloween party :)  Emerson is also really enjoying swimming lessons!  She really has no fear and has a blast at lessons!

Blake is still enjoying Kindergarten!  We hear small amounts of information here and there about his mornings, but often when we ask him what he did today at school he replies, "I forget."  But every now and then he'll come out with something, such as they've been practicing playing an instrument in music class for the Christmas concert, or he'll sing a song in French (head and shoulders knees and toes and has told us he's learning a Thanksgiving song!), tell us about the math stations they did (he says he loves math!) or mention something about his friends!  He was very, very excited when he received a birthday invitation from his classmate Kyle!  He keeps talking about how Max and Ian are also going!  And he continues to enjoy taking the bus home from school ... and I love watching for him and seeing him run off the bus and look back to say goodbye and wave to Max and Mitch (his bus driver)!!  Love seeing him happy and enjoying the entire Kindergarten experience :)  Cal is looking forward to volunteering in Blake's class for their Halloween party :)  Blake's hockey team was set last week!  Cal is an assistant coach and they had their first team practice this past weekend.  They worked hard and both Blake and Cal were sweating when they came off the ice ;)  Blake loves hockey and is pretty excited to play a real game this year!!

Reese is doing great too!  Although she had another 'incident' the other day :(  Poor girl has had more bumps, bruises and falls then her brother and sister combined.  A few days ago she took a bad fall down the stairs.  I saw it and it looked absolutely horrible.  She flipped down the stairs, hit her head in the middle of the fall and then landed at the bottom on her head.  It was very scary.  But she is fine, tough little girl.  Boy oh boy, if I would have fallen like that I would have been hauled away in an ambulance.  Kids are so resilient, it is amazing.  All she has to show for it is a bruised lip and nose.  And for that we are very thankful!!  I think she's more prone to accidents because she does not slow down ... she is keeping up with Blake and Em every step of the way!!  She seems so much more grown up then 21 months.  She plays the same games as they do, loves LEGO, watches their shows with them (although never sits for long!), and repeats EVERYTHING they say!!  For example, when I tell her it is naptime soon she will look at me, hold up 5 of her fingers and say, "5 minutes Momma!  5 minutes!"  Hmmmmm ... I wonder where she got that gift of bargaining from?!  lol!!  But it is so cute, you can't help but smile :)  And another line she says that has me smiling and my heart melting is, "Okay Momma."  If I ask her to do something, help me, lay down in her crib and close her eyes, whatever it may be, she often replies with this line in a very soft, gentle, adorable voice.  I love it :)  She says the same to Cal but "Okay Daddy."  Too cute!  Reese really enjoys "Come Play With Me" at the YMCA!  She knows Miss Christine by name and has a blast singing all the songs and doing the craft.  Of course the glue sticks are a huge attraction ;)  She's a gluing queen, gluing everything and more!!!  Her favorite songs are "Zoom, Zoom" and "Sleeping Bunnies" ... I love how she knows all the actions and just gives 'er ;)  Now, the other 2 munchkins love swimming and are quite fearless in the water but Reese takes it to another level!!  Almost every day she asks, "Swimming?"  And she knows swimming lessons are on Friday!  If you ask her she will tell you, "My swimmin' on Friday!"  She is doing bobs in the water already and zipping down the slide and under the water like nobody's business ;)

Two weekends ago I decided we should take our own fall photos at Lake Beaumaris.  I wasn't sure how they would turn out but we are impressed with the results!  The kids were pretty cooperative and I feel we got some fantastic photos, considering we'd never tried this before and were using a tripod and timer!!!  I love photography but have never really taken much time to learn about my camera.  I'd like to take some sort of course and an editing course!  Maybe that will be one of my 2013 goals :)  Here are a few of my favorites from our photo shoot:

One or a few of these photo's will be seen in our upcoming Christmas card ;)

We had a great time at our niece Jenna's 3rd birthday party, last Saturday!  The kids played and had a lot of fun!  Colby and Blake were inseparable and had a blast :)  It was also nice to see Carmen, Kerri and Kailey and Kathy, Katie and Grayson!  Thanks for a great time, Stony Plain Cameron's!

And we had a great visit with my parents last week, who had just got home from vacation!  It's always strange when they are away because we're so used to seeing them frequently and talking almost every day!!  So it is great to have them home again or at least in the same province, as Dad is up North working for a few weeks!  The kids were very excited to see them and see what surprises they may have brought back from the States!  Blake has been stuck to his new Ninjago book and LEGO and the girls are carting around their Hello Kitty dolls!  We're looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner at their house on Saturday and seeing Lindsay and Connor, too :)

On Sunday we met the Parenteau's at the Edmonton Corn Maze.  It was our first visit to the maze and we had a fun time!  The maze itself was interesting, we took a few wrong turns but after answering 5 trivia questions (thanks to our iPhones and Google!!) we found our way out of the maze!  The jumpy pillow was also a major attraction with the kids, along with the pedal carts!  We will definitely try to visit again next year, it was fun and a nice afternoon outside on a gorgeous Fall day!!

We hope you're having a great week and slowly adjusting to the cooler temp's!!  Although I hear this weekend is going to be significantly warmer ... and for that I will be giving thanks :)

xo
Cal, Tracy, Blake, Emerson and Reese

Imagination

Kids imaginations never shut off!!  I adore witnessing Blake, Emerson and Reese's imaginations at play!  With Blake, we witness his use of imagination most often while he is playing with trucks, cars, trains, Batman toys and LEGO but also when he is playing on the playground with other children.  His imagination takes form in playing out the roles of a police man/fire man/bad guy/robber/train conductor/race car driver/construction worker and other similar roles.  He will often take on 2 or 3 different roles when playing by himself!  Reese is starting to use her imagination, primarily with dolls, barbies and teddy bears!  She pretends they are crying and comforts them and pretends they need their diaper changed, etc.  So sweet to witness :)  But I would have to say that of the 3 kids, Emerson's imagination is the most vivid, or perhaps maybe she just expresses her imagination more freely!?  Regardless, we are constantly entertained by Emerson's imagination.  Mostly by her stories of her friend Belinda.  Belinda came into our life just this past summer.  In fact I remember the first time she mentioned Belinda.  It was one day after Once Upon a Princess camp.  Cal and I both assumed Belinda was a friend Em had made at camp but turns out there was no Belinda in the camp!  Belinda has been around ever since and Emerson's adventures with Belinda and her stories of Belinda's life are extravagant and hilarious at times!  For example, yesterday Emerson went to the dentist for a regular cleaning/check up.  She got a small goody bag when she left.  Today when I was getting ready to take the girls to Come Play With Me, Emerson had packed a few small toys into the plastic bag she got at the dentist.  She held it up and said, "I'm bringing this for Belinda.  We can drop it off at her house."  I asked her where Belinda lived and she quickly replied, "Not too far.  By Canadian Tire."  Okay!!  Once we got in the van she went on and on about how Belinda's daughter Madi was being bad and Belinda was chasing her around allllll day.  ALLLLL day long and Madi pooped in her pants and had an accident.  So I asked her if Madi wore diapers and she said she didn't, she was a big girl not a baby!  Emerson told me all about what Belinda was cooking for dinner and how Belinda likes to sometimes walk over to Emerson's house to play with her toys and have supper, etc, etc, etc!  This is just one story, they vary quite a bit from day to day and some days she doesn't talk about Belinda at all!  But it is fun to play along with and I'm glad she lets us participate ;)  I try to ask open ended questions and hope that all of this is fostering their creativity!!  Just one more fun side to parenting :)

xo Tracy

  

o.m.g.

I almost had a heart attack this morning.  I had taken the glass off our coffee table, to clean it.  I leaned it against the fireplace (stupid Mom).  I looked up and saw Reese touching it and before I knew it, it came crashing down on her and broke into pieces.  Thank GOD I was near by and quickly ran to her and picked her up.  The poor girl, she had a cut on her cheek and a bruise on the other cheek.  I feel terrible, so stupid of me to leave it there and not immediately clean it and put it back :(  But thank goodness she is okay, other then a small cut and a bruise.  It could have been SO much worse, I don't even want to think about it.  That glass is really heavy too.  I'm so sorry Reese but I am glad you are okay!!!  xoxo

Back to school 2012!

Blake and Em's first days of school went great!!

Blake's staggered entry day was Tuesday.  He went to school for 1 hr, 15 min and parents were welcome to stay, so I did!  Cal took Reese out of the school for most of the class, Em was at preschool!  We found Blake's 'hook' where he'll hang his backpack and jacket and leave his indoor shoes and a change of clothes!!  We dropped off his school supplies and met his teacher and the classroom assistant, went over his afternoon busing info and Blake and classmates did a few activities with their teacher.  They started right in with French, learning head, shoulders, knees and toes and please and thank you :)  Blake had a blast and was very excited for day 2!  1/2 of his classmates were with him on Tuesday morning and the other 1/2 were scheduled for an hour and 15 min, later in the day!  Wednesday morning was his first full morning with all 19 of his classmates!!  The girls and I walked him to his classroom and watched for a few minutes, with all the other Mom's, all trying not bawl in the hallway!!!  Before dismissal, I drove back to the school to ensure he got on the bus okay.  I wasn't worried, I just wanted to be there for the first time!!  The teacher assistant walks the kids to their bus and ensures they get on the correct one, so there really isn't much room for error ;)  There's only 7 kids on his bus, as it is a kindergarten bus only.  His bus driver is super nice and had met Blake and Cal when he was reviewing his route last week!  After we watched Blake get on his bus, we zipped home to wait for his arrival!!  He was so excited when he got off the bus, he ran straight into my arms for a big hug :)  He is a boy of few words but when we asked him how school was he said, "Good!" with some enthusiasm ;)  We're so proud of you Blake!!!

Emerson's preschool staggered entry day was also Tuesday, which made for a hectic morning!!  Em's preschool starts at 8:45 and ends at 11:15.  This week, 1/2 of the Tue/Thur a.m. class went on Tue and 1/2 on Thur.  So next week, her regular schedule of every Tue and Thur begins and she couldn't be more excited!!  She wants to go to school every day ... I never really thought about how Emerson would be affected by Blake being in Kindergarten but it has been difficult for her.  She wants to be in school when he is and she misses him :(  So sweet but a little bit sad too!!  With her birthday being in February, she could go to kindergarten next year.  I have a feeling she will be ready but I am hesitant to put her in 'early'!  Every kindergarten teacher I've talked to, suggest waiting ... ??  I'm not sure but I am glad we have some time before we have to decided!  I'm hoping her preschool teachers will have some insight for us!!  But back to preschool on Tuesday, we all dropped Em off on Tuesday morning.  Up until Tuesday morning she was very excited to go to "Lago Lindo preschool" but on the way to school on Tuesday morning she decided she wasn't going to go!!  Once we got there and she remembered this was where her princess camp was, she was excited to get in there!!  She had a blast, and the teachers said she did fantastic and had a lot of fun :)  I'm very excited for her and so proud :)  Her teachers seem very nice and the program looks fantastic!  Em is very excited for the field trips and music class but is not sure about yoga and zumba!!!!  She ask's almost daily, "Are we doing yoga tomorrow?"  I don't think she's too keen on it ... ;)  Love you Em, so proud of how well you adjust to these new situations and this year, without your big bro by your side :)

Reese has been so cute these past few days!  She is right in there for all the back to school pictures and insists on carrying her back pack that Auntie Lindsay bought her!!  It's so cute and just the right size, she looks adorable carrying a little backpack ;)  Reese, Em and I went to our first Come Play With Me class of this session, on Wednesday morning after we dropped Blake off.  We had a blast and the girls were very excited to see Miss Christine!  I will hopefully take Reese to Come Play With Me on Tuesday mornings and both girls on Wednesday mornings!  Before I knew Blake and Emerson's school schedules, I was thinking that I would have a lot of time with just Reese at home but as it turns out I have 2 1/2 hours every Tuesday morning!!!  So not much of a break but that is okay!  In a few years they will all be in school (at least part time) and I will be bawling like a baby and unsure of what to do next!!!  lol!

It will be a busy school year ... on top of kindergarten, preschool and come play with me class, all 3 kids start swimming lessons on Friday, Blake starts hockey on Saturday (which will turn in to Saturday and Sunday in the next few weeks), Emerson starts dance classes on Wednesday, I am back to kettlebell classes 2 evenings a week, fitting in a yoga class here and there and hoping to try Zumba at the YMCA and Cal is keeping up with his running and looking into playing hockey 1 night a week!!  Never mind, Blake and Em want to take music lessons (Blake guitar or drums) and Em is not sure but just wants to play all instruments!!  I'm not sure we'll fit those in just yet, we try to have down time as well and although it might not look like it from the above activities, we do!!!

We hope your back to school week is going smoothly and everyone is enjoying their new adventures :)

xoxo
T C B E R

Posing with goofy faces, before PS and KG :)

My babies :)

Ready to go, backpacks packed!!

My loves

Successful first day, all by himself and took the bus home :)

Kindergarten

Dear Blake,

In just 10 short hours, you start kindergarten. It feels like we've been counting down to this day for so long and yet it has arrived way too fast.  I remember saying a few years ago, "I can't believe that in 2 years Blake will be going to Kindergarten!" and then in June saying, "In just two months Blake will be starting Kindergarten!"  And I remember so many people saying, "Before you know it he will be starting school!"  And here we are.  10 short hours away.  We've bought the school supplies, the brand new clothes (vs. consignment threads ;) ), the fancy new shoes and we've done the back to school hair cut!  We've talked about kindergarten and how fun it will be meeting new friends and learning new things.  You don't appear to be nervous, although you took extra long to fall asleep tonight!

I don't know how you will feel on your first day without me but I do know that when I leave you, you’ll occupy my thoughts for those three hours: what you’re doing, what you’re thinking, if you’re okay, if you’re making friends or feel left out, if you miss me and your sisters, if you're wondering what we're doing without you, if you're nervous to take bus home.  I will be so glad when you step off that bus!

Being a parent can be interesting, frightening, rewarding, and frustrating, and sometimes all those emotions tangled into one!  From early on in my pregnancy I felt that you were a boy, I just had a 'feeling' your Dad and I would be welcoming a son into this crazy world.  You have been such a blessing in our lives.  I often shake my head in wonderment and wipe the tears from my eyes as I witness your kind-hearted nature at play or your gentleness with your sisters and friends.  You are always very quick to please, which I pray will stay with you but that you will also learn to look out for yourself as well and somehow balance that giving, pleasing nature of yours.  

After your sister was born, I briefly returned to work.  But that return was with a heavy heart.  Somehow it just felt wrong and not the right choice for our family.  Your Dad felt it too and we agreed to test out the waters as a single income family.  I do not for one minute regret that choice.  We have spent so much time together, with your sisters and have made so many precious memories at home.  Like so many parents of our generation, we've tried to give you those “must-haves” the experts insisted on: Breastfeeding: Check. Lots of books: Check. Minimal TV: Check (although this has certainly increased over the years!). Early preschool: Check. (Mostly!)Healthy meals: Check. All of the above we have felt are important but most importantly and more then everything we have loved you unconditionally and this I hope you feel.

While we have given you advantages and can buy those school supplies and pack your snack, you will be without us in the classroom.  I fear we are helicopter parents and hope we have given you enough freedom and confidence to spread your wings, because the time has come.  You’ve always been a tad shy, cautious, watching and learning before jumping in. It’s a trait I think you and your Dad share and one that I feel can be very advantageous. I always say your sisters will give us a run for our money, while you will be helping us reel your sisters in.

I found this paragraph on one of the many mom-written blogs I peruse*, "Once I expressed my own hesitations about school to a teacher acquaintance. Her advice stuck with me: The hardest part of releasing you to elementary school — or any new experience — is realizing that I must give you up to the less-than-perfect world that awaits you."  This struck me and hit me hard.  I am so hesitant to release you to the less-than-perfect world and not because our family and our world is perfect but because I want to always be there to wipe your tears, hold your hand, cheer you on and always, always help you to feel important, loved and special.  Because in my world, you are the most important, most loved and most special boy walking this Earth.

Back to that perfect world.  The world will always be imperfect and I too have been an imperfect parent.  But I am always willing to learn, to admit to a mistake, to say sorry and to try harder next time.  And so I have to expect the school, the administration, your teachers, and your peers will also be less-than-perfect, just like me and the rest of the world.  But I can hope that they too will always be willing to learn, admit to a mistake, say sorry and try a little harder next time. I know you will feel frustrated at times, left out, sad, angry, and unimportant but I hope the rewarding, challenging, happy, and fulfilling times will outweigh those less-than-perfect days.

I can not wait until you can read and are able to read not only this letter but this entire blog.  I want you to always carry these thoughts with you: No matter where you go, what you do or what you become we will always be here for you and will always welcome you with open arms and an open mind, ready to listen, ready to help you with whatever it is you may need.  In this less-than-perfect world and with all our less-than-perfect ways, we have been given you and your two sisters, the three most perfect gifts we could have ever hoped for.

I know you will enjoy yourself this school year and I can not wait to hear about the fun you will have and to see you flourish!  I really look forward to watching you learn and grow and learning and growing with you.  Once I wipe these tears from my eyes, I will greet you with a smile tomorrow morning, and let you spread your wings ... just a little.  I love you my boy.

Love always and forever, to the moon and back,

Mom

Way up north ...

To Grande Prairie ... Friday morning we left for G.P.  Our kids are such great travellers, we made a few pit stops and had a pretty uneventful drive north!  We had a great time in Grande Prairie, visiting Cal's Mom, sister Carmen and brother in-law Darren, the Hrdlicka's (met the newest addition - Carson!) and the Bezan/Ross family!  So great to see everyone :)

Last week, we also had a great afternoon with Lesley, Colby and Jenna :)  A lunch/park/Twisted Yogurt date!!  Lots of fun and so great to see 3/4 of the Stony Plain Cameron's!  Blake and Colby are like two peas in a pod when we get together, off having fun and doing their own thing!  Hard to believe both boys will be going to Kindergarten next week ... ?!

Which brings us to this week - our last week of care-free, do what we want, get dressed when we want, stay in our jammies all day if we want, summer 'vacation' ... preschool, kindergarten, dance and swimming lessons ALL start next week!  Which will quickly be followed by hockey  in a few weeks!  We have had a FANTASTIC July and August and have thoroughly enjoyed our break!  On one hand, I'm not ready for it to be over but on the other hand there is part of me that is craving the routine and predictability of the fall and winter months!!  I enjoy looking at our family calendar and seeing everything pencilled in for the remainder of the year, all laid out before my eyes ;)

So, yes ... Blake starts kindergarten on Tuesday!!  Tuesday marks his staggered entry day, when I will go with him for an hour and fifteen minutes.  Wednesday, it is business as usual - class from 8:20 to 11:22 a.m.  I am excited for Blake and I think the transition will be pretty smooth, being that he goes to school 4 mornings a week and I will have him home every afternoon and all day Thursday :)  I love this schedule!!  We got his bus route info last week and due to an early pick up time and riding the bus with all the elementary students in the a.m. we have opted to drive him in the morning.  Most afternoons he will take the bus home, as it is strictly a K bus and he is dropped off at our door!  Tomorrow we are attending 'First Riders' which is an info session on riding the big yellow bus!!  Blake hasn't said too much about attending K.  When asked he says he is excited and that is about it!  He knows what recess is and knows that he will get to enjoy a snack and some play time at recess and that once he's in grade 1 he will have 2 recesses and a lunch break!  That seems to be what he is concentrating on at the moment ;)  Can't wait to hear all about his first day and of course I will be blogging about it :)

Emerson's new preschool does a staggered entry as well and her first day is also Tuesday!  She will attend a full morning class on Tuesday and then start again the following Tuesday, beginning the Tuesday/Thursday morning schedule.  We have a parent meeting tomorrow night.  Em is excited for preschool and likes to tell everyone that she is going to 'Lago Lindo preschool'!!  I am also excited for her and hope that she has a great year :)  Emerson's 1st dance class is next Wednesday, which is very, very exciting for her!!  She practices her moves everyday and asks when her class is starting numerous times a day!  I registered her last week and have to still pick up her 'supplies'!  They are very specific - a red, long-sleeved Mondor bodysuit, white Mondor tights, a specific pair of ballet shoes and a specific pair of tap shoes.  I am a bit scared to see what the cost of all of this will be :s  There is also a specific costume that we will have to buy, which will be worn for the pictures and for the one recital they put on!  Can't wait for that :)  The class is a combination ballet/jazz/tap class.

And Miss Reese is looking forward to a few hours of Mom's sole attention every Tuesday morning!!  Funny, I thought with Blake in K and Em in preschool 2 mornings a week I'd have so much more time to myself/with just one child but it hasn't turned out that way ;)  Which is more then okay!  Reese and I will likely attend Come Play with Me at the YMCA every Tuesday morning and enjoy ourselves :)  The girls and I will probably go to Come Play With Me on Monday's, as well!  Reese is very excited to start swimming lessons next Friday!  Just ask her, she'll tell you!  She looooves swimming!!  I can not believe the changes in Reese, over the past few months.  Her vocabulary is absolutely astounding!!!  She speaks in full sentences and surprises us every day!  Today she asked me, "Mom?  What are you doing?"  I was so surprised, I said, "Pardon me?" to which she replied, "What are you doing, Mom?"  Later in the day she was on the top bunk in Blake and Em's room (she is a MONKEY!  Seriously, climbs everything and anything and is also a daredevil.  Climbs up to the highest slide at the park and scoots down - over and over and over again!!), I went to get her off and she was standing up, jumping up and down, saying, "Look at me!  Look at me!  Look at me!"  What a turkey!!!!  She is fiercely independent, insisting on putting her own clothes on (and she often gets it right!), her own shoes on, brushing her own hair, feeding herself (still very messy at times) and even sitting on the potty!!  She has yet to 'go' in the potty but has spend a lot of time just hanging out, which is fine by me!  We're not pushing the training, just letting her sit on the throne whenever she requests it ;)  Oh and Reese can count to 13.  Really, I was totally surprised by this.  She started counting and I would repeat the number back to her and she would continue all the way to 13!!  She gets mixed up at 3 and 4 but other then that, counts away!  Last night when my parents were over for dinner, she was show casing her counting skills, yelling at the top of her lungs, "ONE ... TWO ... "  We were all laughing and she would pause and laugh with us!  She's so darn cute ;)

Since his half marathon, Cal's been keeping up with his running!  In my opinion, he's lost quite a bit of weight but every time I ask him if he's weighed himself he says he hasn't.  Damn him anyways and men in general ... always seems like they loose weight so easily!!  And speaking of which, I am really excited to start Kettlebells again next week.  I've missed it immensely and can't wait to get back into it!  We also have a family membership at the YMCA now and I plan to try out Zumba!  I've wanted to try Zumba for over a year now and now I can!

Have a great week everyone, I will be thinking of all my fellow Mom's who have kids starting kindergarten next week :)

xo
Tracy