Ben’s Big Day!

Today, he started pre-school and I don’t think it could have been possible for him to be more excited.  He was so stinkin’ cute!  Wayne had to work this morning, so Jack and I took Ben to school.  He insisted that we call it school and not pre-school. 

I was a little worried that there might be a few tears, but there weren’t!  Ben was a little bit apprehensive about entering the classroom.  But it didn’t’ take a whole lot of convincing to get him in the room.  Then Ben and Jack cruised around the classroom and took it all in.  Lots of fun stuff to do and play with.  The dinosaurs were a hit.  When it was time for me and Jack to leave, I was at the door and Ben called out because he wanted one more hug.  He has his mommy wrapped around his little finger (and I’m pretty sure he knows it).

Ben wanted absolutely nothing to do with either of his teachers, so they gave him some space and he came around in his own time.  They told me that he was quiet (imagine that!) and kept to himself for awhile and then warmed up and started playing with the other kids.

I cracked up when I picked him up from school and he told me that his teacher was Mrs. Black (who was Jack’s kindergarten teacher last year, and looks nothing even remotely similar to either one of his teachers).

He’s Gonna Be A Part Of It

First Grade, First Grade!  Jack’s class sang that song at kindergarten graduation and it got most of the females in the room misty eyed (at the very least).  Today was the day!  He started the big time….First Grade!

In a way, it was like starting at a new school all over again.  Kindergarten was in its own little world.  A separate playground and a whole wing of the school all to themselves.  Now, he’s going out into the real big kid world.  And would you believe me if I told you that I didn’t even cry.  Until just now…but only a little.

After school, we talked about his day over some Baskin Robbins ice cream and it sounds like he had a great day!  He has a couple of his best buddies from kindergarten in his class and some other familiar faces.  (This mommy is also very happy to be able to have her two best mommy friends from last year’s class in the same class again this year).  One sweet boy from his t-ball team is also in his class.  There are quite a few new faces, too.  It will be fun for him to make new friends while he learns.

After we dropped Jack off, we spent some one-on-one time with Ben at the ‘down park’ just below the school.  He had so much fun that he didn’t want to leave.

Tomorrow is Ben’s big day.  First day of preschool!  He’s very super duper excited to go to school and be a big boy like his brother.  Let’s hope he feels the same when I have to leave him.  He told me tonight that he wants to bring his backpack, TWO lunches and his goggles.  Yes, swim goggles.  He got them at a birthday party a few weeks ago and has taken quite a liking to them. 

6 Years!!

It is so hard to believe that 6 years ago (on July 30th – sorry it’s a bit late, we’ve been busy) we were incredibly blessed with our sweet little man, Jack.  Happy birthday, buddy!

This year we skipped the birthday party (first time ever for him) since we had quite the fun time at the SD Zoo, Sea World and Legoland.  Last year, we all enjoyed the Fireman’s Picnic and Canoe Race in Mammoth so much that we thought it would be fun to do it again.

We started the birthday boy off right…….with a morning of fishing with what felt like a gazillion other people on a tiny pond at the Kids Fishing Festival.

 One happy camper!

Mindy and Hannah caught the first fish.  The silly Park Ranger came over to help out and talked Hannah into kissing her fish!  Yuck!!

Wayne and Jack fished, and fished, and fished some more.  Lots of nibbles, but no fish on a hook.  The birthday boy needed to catch a fish.  The boys moved to another spot on the tiny pond without much luck.  So I talked to another Park Ranger (not the one who talked Hannah into kissing her fish) and he suggested we try a different bait.  Wouldn’t you know it!  A few minutes later, Jack was reeling in his fish.  He was so excited and happy to have FINALLY caught his fish.

Ben wanted in on the action, too.

Then, both Hannah and Jack learned how to fly fish with the help of some really good fly fishermen.  The each caught a fish and released it.  The fish were cleaned up and Grandma got to take them home and freeze them.  She’s going to serve them to her friends, Rose and Leo, who are coming to visit next week.

Once everyone was happy with their fishing experience, we came home to grab a bite to eat before heading out to the canoe race.  The kids had an absolute blast playing in the dirt/sand.  They got sooooo DIRTY!!  Especially Benjamin.  Shocking, I know…..

Wayne knew the guy who was doing the announcing of the canoe race, so he had Jack come up on the platform/stage to make a birthday announcement.  He let Jack choose a couple of tickets for the raffle prizes that were being announced.  Then he even gave him a prize of his very own.  A new set of lovely squirt guns.  The screams, squeals and laughter coming from our backyard as all 3 of my boys (Wayne included) drenched other when we got home have been absolutely priceless!!

Next up, the canoe race…….Auntie Mindy, Uncle Jeremy, Hannah and Cole vs. Wayne, Grandma and Jack.  And they’re off…Auntie Mindy & family are off course and heading for the trees (with a little help from Wayne)They made a quick recovery and are now back in it…But not for long!  Wayne, Grandma and Jack are the winners!!!

The rain and thunder made us pack up early and head back to Grandma’s house.  The kiddos had some pizza and then we all walked over to the village for the rib cook-off.  After we ate and got rained on some more, we headed home again for some tiger cake, ice cream and presents.

Happy Birthday, Jack!  We love you to the moon and the stars.  You make us so proud and bring us more joy than you’ll ever know.  Every.  Single.  Day.   ♥  ♥  ♥

Extended Vacation

Rather than driving from San Diego to Reno and then to Mammoth again, we decided to stay the week in Mammoth.  Wayne’s Mom and sister, Mindy and her kids were waiting for us when we got to Mammoth.  We all spent the week together doing all sorts of fun activities.

Hannah and Jack got to ride the zip line on Mammoth Mountain.  It was so cool that they wanted to do it twice!

Ben was in serious need of some rest, so Grandma was kind enough to stay home with him so he could nap.  We were all very thankful for that!

The highlight of the trip for me was our day trip to Yosemite.  It was the first time for me and the boys.  It was simply breathtaking and I can’t wait to go back.  Unfortunately, it will probably be a few years though.  I have been telling Wayne that I wanted to go visit Yosemite for years and he kept telling me to wait until the boys get a bit older.  He was definitely right, I admit it!  It will be much more enjoyable in a few more years.  Don’t get me wrong, we had a great time, just difficult with two 3 year olds that wanted to be carried everywhere and they both refused to ride in the Kelty pack.

We had some fun playing in the sprinklers and had some ‘old-school’ fun on the slip-n-slide.

We even made some progress in the bike riding department.  Ben actually got on his glide bike and pushed himself around.  Jack got on it and was learning to balance on it.  He even rode down Grandma’s side yard into the neighbor’s yard.  Hopefully we can get those training wheels off by the end of the summer.

One day we rode the trolley (aka “Charlie” by my boys – they have a hard time pronouncing trolley) up to Horseshoe Lake and walked around a little bit.  Jack must have climbed on every single rock and tree stump that we came across.

Jack and Hannah went to art camp for a couple of hours 3 of the days we were there.  Here are some pictures of their artwork.  Jack painted the outline of his body as a tiger and Hannah made Bat Girl.  Ever since Jack did a school project about tigers, he has become rather obsessed with them.  He likes to draw pictures of them, write stories about them and make-believe all sorts of things related to tigers.