Birthday Boy.....

Because Eli's birthday fell smack dab in the middle of the week - and a CRAZY week at that, we got to celebrate twice! It was the week that they BOTH started school & we also had an open house for Kindergarten in there too, so it was hectic! But we made it easy on his actual birthday & let him open a box that was mailed to him from his Nanny. He was thrilled! He got a pirate hat... (which he loves yet everytime we go into Michaels he says over & over , "i not like da piwates"....... (from the creepy halloween decor!)) He also got a Backyardigans blankie (score!), blue ball**, and a box of stamps & washable ink pads! (super score!) That box has been out EVERYDAY since! {** i didn't post a picture of the blue ball but i have to give you the story behind it. The last time we were at Nanny's house we had gone to Michaels to get some craft supplies. The boys beg to go to the clearance aisle because they know there is more chance of buying them something there! (haven't i trained them well??) Anyway... this night they were bouncing these balls all over the aisle (driving me nuts, i might add) and then Jackson asked if we could get them. I quickly said, "No, & put them back" but then i noticed the price tag.... which read .27c..... and then i thought... what a cheap prize... so i said, 'Yeah we can get them." They bounced them all over the store until we checked out & they rang up for a PENNY! Seriously! While we were at Nanny's Eli threw his on top of the house! (sigh) and we couldn't retrieve it as much as we tried.... so Nanny must have gone back & found another for a penny! Yay!}

Back to the birthday though.....
All the other gifts/cards that had arrived before his big day were already packed in the camper at Jeremy & Marie's because we were going camping for the Labor Day weekend, where we planned to have an actual "party." But on his actual birthday, we also let him choose where to go eat for dinner & we ended up at Moe's where he (& his Mommy) LOVE! Even though Mema & Grandad don't care for Moe's, they came along in celebration! And after dinner (where Eli got a cookie in his kids meal i might add....) Grandad got the boys some ice cream from Coldstone (and mommy too!) yumm-o! (note that Eli is bundled up in his backyardigan blankie... it was kinda breezy out there!When we went camping... i turned the mickey sticks from this post.... into these fun cupcakes!!They were a hit & every last one of the 18 cupcakes were eaten over the weekend of camping. We had Mickey plates & cups & even had hot dogs for dinner in honor of the "hot dog dance/song" from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.Blowing out his three candles.....

Opening his presents..... He has also used this book/marker set that Peto sent to him for his birthday everyday! He is definitely in an arts/crafts phase!
We got him this set of stamps... (mickey mouse!) and a matchbox cars travel town...And Theresa, Bastian, & Aedon sent him this book that he was eyeballing at Aedon's birthday last week!!
And if you can believe it.... he opened 3 cards & ended up getting $20 from Grandma & Papa Evans, $20 from Mema & Grandad, and a $20 gift card to Target from Aunt Debbie & Uncle Wayne. He is loaded.... and he was proud of it!
So much for low key birthdays, eh? I try, i do....

First Day of Kindergarten!!

I can NOT believe that today was Jackson's first day of Kindergarten! This morning, i was pretty anxious. Actually, let's face it, i have been anxious for weeks! Last night i couldn't sleep & i just laid there and prayed. And prayed. And prayed. I really didn't want to make a blubbering idiot of myself, & i wanted Jackson to be excited & calm, so i decided to leave it up to the Lord! And guess what.... it worked!!!
This morning, he started saying, "I not know about this, mama." And he kept saying it. So i kept telling him he was going to have a great day! This started about the time that i was getting ready for his "official" picture....He looked so handsome this morning! I convinced him to wear a polo on his first day to look nice with the bargain that next week he could pick out his own clothes. The only problem was that it was cool this morning & he really needed to wear pants. This is a problem because he thinks that pants that actually FIT him, are too long. (i guess i kept him in his old high waters too long, eh?) So this started a mini-meltdown, but we got it together... whew!

I prayed more on the way to school because i had a pit in my stomach & i was pretty shaky! On the way in the car he started again with the "i not know about this" thing, and said, "You're gonna leave me here all day? All by myself??" (Turn the knife, big guy!) So i told him that he was going to have a great time & that he wasn't going to be alone- he would be there making new friends & playing fun games & learning new things. About this time, we were parking & he looked like he was getting ready to cry, but he held it together & slowly got his bookbag & got out of the car. I let him lead the way, just making sure he knew where he was going. I made sure to tell him that i would be picking him up in the car pool line in the afternoon, so to make sure he looked for my car. Then he wanted to know how "they" would know which car was his? So I told him that he knew what my car looked like, right? Still, he wanted more... "But what if there is another car like yours? How will they know this one is yours?" So i told him i had a sign with is name on it so they knew Jackson went in this car. He walked ever so slowly into the school....At this point... i was feeling like maybe i could tear up, but pushed it down! He just looked so grown walking in there with all those big kids! Then we ran into our neighbor from next door so this got him more excited when he saw a face he knew.... so then he was a little more chipper walking the rest of the way....He actually smiled when he recognized his classroom & the teacher from next door was outside her door & spoke sweetly to him....So he walked in... and he put his lunch box where it belonged & his bookbag in his cubby.... but was grinning this nervous grin & chuckling his nervous chuckle.....So i told the teacher he was a little nervous when she walked over, but when i asked Jackson if i could take his picture with Mrs. Byrd, he grinned & said, "yeah!!!!"..... Of course i told her i was a scrapbooker, but i would have gotten this shot if it killed me, scrapbook or not!Then he remembered where his seat was & slowly walked over to sit in it. I grabbed him, hugged him, kissed him, & told him that i loved him, that he was going to have a FABULOUS day & that i would miss him. Then I asked if i could take one more picture before we left....Cutie patootie, huh? He just sat there, nervous looking when i walked out the door... still not coloring, so i stopped, whispered, "Jackson!" and when he looked over, i said, "color!!" & he grinned & nodded.
I couldn't believe i got out of there with no tears! Truly, the Lord was by my side, being faithful because i have been a basket case for weeks... even yesterday i was crying all over the place anytime i talked about it!!

WHen 3:45pm rolled around i couldn't wait to get him. I missed him terribly!! So when i saw this....I did MY nervous chuckle laugh to keep from crying myself! And i told him as he was climbing in the car.... "Jackson, i have never been so excited to see you in ALL my life!!! How was your day???"
His response??? "Mama, i loved Kindergarten first day..... (pause).... FOR REAL!" And he gave me a big high five!
And now i can breathe again.......


oh.... and in the car later this evening he actually told his Daddy that he made a friend... that her name was Kennedy & "not the Kennedy from next door to Emma." (his cousins have a neighbor, Kennedy). When i asked if she sat at his table, he nodded.... come to find out, i even got a picture of her... she is up there in that picture where he was grinning at the table just before i left.....

Terrific Three!

Here is my terrific THREE year old...

I can't believe that Eli is already 3- time is just flying by. But he still wants to be my baby, so i will soak it up as long as he will let me! Happy Birthday, Big Boy! We love you more than we can ever thought possible & can't imagine how we ever lived without you!

Meet & Greet

Today was Kindergarten Open House.... which was more like an information session for parents on the actual class Jackson will be going into. He was able to find his cubby & his seat, all labeled with his name of course.... He was officially embarrased for me to take his picture (gasp!) ... so i only took one & he told me i could take his picture with the teacher.. tomorrow please...

That's right, folks.....
Kindergarten starts tomorrow. I can't believe it! I am trying to stay positive, because really, all i want to do is curl up & suck my thumb.

I do not want my child to go to school.
I do not want to leave my child with a total stranger for the entire day. I do not want to worry that he is making friends & standing up for himself (& what he knows is right!)

I do not like it. I do not like it Sam, I am. I do not like Green Eggs & Ham.

I know this is for his own good in order to be a productive member of society, but who wants to think about that with a 5 year old? And i know these things are harder on mom's than on the kids. But let me tell you... the first word i get that someone is being mean to my boy.... oooooooohhh.... i am marching right up there to see who it is & who's mama i need to talk to.

He is still my first baby & i can't BELIEVE he is old enough to go off to school. He is supposed to stay mine forever! And now he is going to see & learn all kinds of new things that are going to make him a "kid"- not my baby! He is going to lose some of that innocence.

However... he is excited, so i am trying to go with that. At least in front of him. And i know he will learn lots of positive things. He is excited that he gets to go to the library once a week & to the computer "room" as he calls it, & he is excited about the cafeteria (of all things! ha!) , and all the Lego's he sees! And he is excited about the playground he saw in the school yard. So, if he can be happy.... then i will try to be happy for him!

Oh, but i pray for peace- for me & for him. And i pray that he will make friends & that he won't be fearful or anxious. Oh, Lord..... take care of my baby!

A big surprise on the porch.....

Eli was pretty excited to find this on the porch when we got home from his first day of preschool....

First Day of Preschool for Eli

Today was Eli's first day of preschool! He was super excited & woke up ready to go! He helped me get his lunch in the bookbag & was very cooperative for all my picture taking! I was fairly nervous about how this was going to go because he has been having separation issues again at church.... but....
He walked right in! And he did seem a little nervous, so i made a quick getaway & when i came back .....
He was all smiles! He had a great day, Ms. Beverly said & he even pottied for her! yay! She said there were no tears either after i left. So it was a great day! I hope Thursday goes just as smoothly!

"Mittey Mouth Birfday"

Translation: Mickey Mouse Birthday! Eli's Birthday is this week.... so here is a little forshadowing.... Any guesses as to what i will be doing with these?


You are free to guess... but you'll have to check back to see how it turns out....

We have decided not to do a big party this year though. We are going camping over the weekend & are going to "celebrate" with a mini party while we are there. I have already packed my gifts & the gifts that Peto & Aunt Debbie sent his way..... I am sure we will have a great "party!"

More crafty goodness...

So, the crafty bug hasn't left me just yet..... I have made a few more fun projects.....

I made some coasters (& i think i will make some more for teacher presents and/or Christmas gifts)..... They are made out of tiles using a permanent ink pad for non-porous surfaces. Then i heat set the ink so they wouldn't run when a glass is placed on the coaster.

I added felt tabs to the backside corners so that they won't scratch each other or the tables.
I also tried out a new product that i had been eyeing for awhile. I made magnets out of 2 inch tiles. I used alcohol inks & a blending solution to make the background color. Then stamped the image with the same non-porous ink pad. Heat set these also, but i am not sure it was necessary...Then i had the idea to try a coat of diamond glaze to the top for a shine & it turned out pretty well...
It dried so shiny & I love the glass look it gave them. The possibilities for this project are endless!! I am pretty excited, can you tell?

We also had a birthday party to go to for a 5 year old boy in the Jackson & Eli's bible class.... so i decided to decorate another paint can & fill it with goodies. I put smarties, some push up pencils, little notepad, & a nerf ball inside.
I couldn't help myself... i HAD to use stickles.... on the cupcake liner & the "flame"...
And i added his name to the top (put stickles dots on the letters too) & then added a little ribbon love to the handle.
After that project, i did this little project... I made little goodie bags that i am going to hand out to the little kids in the bible class i am teaching this quarter. Next Sunday is the last Sunday of the quarter so this gave me an excuse to make something!! So i made another project with the labels that i have been stamping.... homemade goodie bags with covered Hershey's nuggets!

FUN TIMES!!

Poor Kitty...

Tuesday morning Jackson let Lola in to feed her. She was fine, i promise. But when i came in after work, she came to me limping. She was hopping actually... she didn't want to put any weight on her hind leg. She didn't really want me to look at it or touch it either, & kept jerking away & meowing. From the first glimpses i was able to get at her foot, i thought she was having another allergic reaction to a bee sting or something (this happened earlier last month) & figured that the swelling would go away in 48 hours like it did before.

Nope... try again. By Wednesday evening, she was laying around, & i had to carry her up & down the stairs. She was pitiful, so i called the vet first thing Thursday morning & they fit her in. Thankfully, she was eating & drinking as normal, so they weren't too concerned. But they had to shave her paw, & "drain" it because she had punctured it on something. What? I have no idea! But she was sent home with 3 days of pain meds (2 times a day in liquid form).... and 10 days of antibiotics (2 times a day in pill form). And she is on "house arrest" for at least 5 days because "feet are tricky" & are hard to get well. So thankfully she has done this alot for the first 3 days thanks to the pain meds.....She would just lay around, looking miserable for the next couple of days.

Her foot looks great here.... It was cleaned up & drained... & this was a couple days later. Those antibiotics worked fast!

But now that she is done with those pain meds & the antibiotics are working, she feels better & is VERY ready to go back outside. She is frisky & chasing things, chewing on things, meowing incessantly (at the door), & stalking. One thing i don't like about cats (& i like most everything about cats) is the stalking. I don't like that anticipation of being pounced at! There is a reason that she is an indoor/outdoor cat... she NEEDS to get her energy out - outdoors! But in the meantime, she is having a blast...

What a week!

Hopefully this week won't be as eventful as last week. In one week we had a pool date planned, 2 work days for me (kids to Mema), speech which we had to cancel because i forgot i had to switch a work day to accomodate the kindergarten assessement. We also had preschool orientation for Eli! It was going to be busy for sure.... but i had no idea JUST how crazy it would because....

I literally locked my keys in my Jeep twice in one week. We have no spare key & no AAA. And the fact that i did it once, much less twice, tells you that i was stressed & fretting around & was just being forgetful! (Technically once was Jackson's fault, but we won't go there.) We were locked out after trying to get into 3 different pools that were closed for maintenance in our final attempt to hit the pool this summer (poor Emma was soooo sad), but after Randy finally rescued us all, we ended up hitting Pullen Park & making the best of the rest of that afternoon. But then..... i did it again - only 3 days later while i was parked at the elementary school..... That time, i actually cried. I had had enough for one week & was just coming out of the school after hearing all about sending my kid to Kindergarten. Thankfully, my sister rescued me this time.

In fact, she not only rescued me, but she stopped by my house on the way to the rescue to get the cat so that i wouldn't miss the appointment that i had scheduled for her since she had come in limping the day before. She picked me up, Lola in tow, & took us all to the vet, waited in the waiting area with the kids while i had Lola's foot checked out. (I have decided that it is impossible to EVER get out of the vet's office for cheaper than $100 bucks!!) Then she took us home. Isn't she the best sister ever??? Nevermind that Jackson had to ride with no car seat, just the seat belt. And Eli rode in Emma's no-back booster. What else were we supossed to do? Randy got the Jeep unlocked after work... He left his truck in the school parking lot & drove the Jeep home. But then he had to do this......

Apparently after having to "jimmy" the door twice.... the locks didn't like us so much. He had to take the entire door apart to fix it. So, it was just icing on the cake, really! All in all, it just wasn't a great week.

At least the preschool orientation went well for Eli. He is totally geared up & ready to "paint at my kool (translation: school)." I guess if i am going for the glass half full approach here, then technically the K assessement went well also. Jackson teared up a bit when he had to leave me to go with the other kids & a teacher, but when he came back he immediately said, "I got to play with LEGO's!" It was pretty dreadful to hear about all the rules & technicalities of public school while we waited, which just furthers my whole dread about Jackson losing his child qualities. He is going to have to start growing up & beginning this week. I hate that- but i know he is ready for this, but is a mom ever ready??