Sad Story followed by Big News

DON'T SCROLL DOWN TO THE BIG NEWS...PLEASE READ THE SAD STORY FIRST!

Last week Ben, Talon and I were leaving to pick up Simon from school. I was buckling Talon into his carseat when Ben yells "Mom! There's a caterpillar!" "Okay Ben. I'll be right there." Not believing him really.

There was indeed a caterpillar. Right where I was going to drive down the driveway. Ben was so excited. For a split-second I thought about getting jar and poking holes in the top. Ben didn't mention keeping it so I decided to get a stick and a cup - slid the caterpillar into the cup with the stick and put it in the grass. The caterpillar curled up and I thought died. So I put the cup next to it to see if it was still there when we got home.

We got home a few minutes later and I checked it immediately. Gone! Oh yea, I thought, it was fine! I looked around to see if I could find it - I was sure it hadn't gotten very far.

It didn't get very far at all - it was flattened by our dear neighbor Jim's car. I didn't tell Jim. He would have been so upset. I felt horrible enough for both of us I'm sure. I kept thinking that I should have just relented and kept it but I really didn't want a caterpillar in a jar on my kitchen counter. Now the caterpillar was dead and it was all my fault.

And now...on to the BIG NEWS!

Thursday, while I was with Simon at the eye doctor, Jon and Ben found a new caterpillar! And don't you know that as soon as I got home I found a jar and poked some holes in the lid. And now we have a green caterpillar - who has now been named Slimey (thanks Angie!) - happily munching on leaves and grass in a jar on my kitchen counter. I was not going to let this one get smashed by our neighbor's car. No sir...not on my watch!

So I guess we officially have our first pet! That's our big news! You can't see it in these pictures, but it's in there! I could actually hear it crunching when I checked on it for the 20th time today - that's what made me think to take some pictures of it.

And since I wrote this post, we thought it was dead. But really it was just resting from all of it's hard work making a chrysalis! YES! It's making a cocoon right there in a jar on my kitchen counter!!!

Kindergarten Boy!

Here's Simon's school pic.

He's doing really well in school so far. Every day when I ask how school was he says, "Oh, it was great!" He's making some new friends and really enjoying it. He's growing up so fast!

Good Ol' Jim

Okay, so who remembers this?

My boys just love our neighbor Jim. Last week we were having a few more minutes outside after everyone was ready for bed. Jim was taking his garbage out with his wagon and of course Talon wanted to get in on the way back. Then Simon got in too. Ben was a little nervous about it.

He did get in for these pictures. You can tell he's nervous. Not Talon though. He's having a blast!

Ben got out when he decided it would be better if he was in charge and pulled the others around.

Then Simon wanted to pull it and nearly flipped it over - with Talon still inside!

The end.

Good Night!

Finally...The Big Wheel 500!

The weather was perfect. The kids were so excited and happy. I just got back from our MOPS Steering retreat where I only got 4 hours (if that!) of sleep but we still had a great day!

Our neighbor Wylie's group went first. He had the most determined look on his face when he took off. He was 1st and didn't stop. His mom was like Wylie STOP! He looked at her like she was nuts, said "why?" and continued pedaling like a mad man! She said, "Wylie Stop! You won!" He finally stopped and said "I did!?!?!" Man, he is so cute!

Ben doesn't have a big wheel. He wanted to take his tricycle and for some reason, he thought he was racing too. Here he is thinking he's getting ready for the big race!

When we told him he wasn't he started crying. He was so upset. The people in charge let him pretend he was racing. (How nice is that?!) He started just like the other kids and pedaled his little heart out (after waving at me, of course)

until he was about a quarter of the way around and stopped and said, "hey, there's the park!" and made a beeline for it. That was enough for him!

So, we had been practicing with Simon once around the track but when we got there we found out that he actually had to go around TWICE....that's a 1/2 mile!On your marks... Get set...GO! Simon did not win, but he was an amazing sport. There were a few kids bawling when they didn't win - and there were a few very cocky kids that did win but weren't very good sports about it. Simon finished the race nearly last and said "Man, that was so fun!" My heart was so happy - because you can talk about it for days on end and you really never know how it's going to end up. So needless to say I was so proud of my boy!

In Training

Simon is "in training" for the Big Wheel 500 to be held in THIS Saturday! I love that his "training" is doing something he loves to do anyway. He's really excited about it. I hope it doesn't rain!


All loaded up and ready to go. Ben had to take his tricycle along too. These pics are from a couple weeks ago. We went last night too - and there was competition there! We had to talk Simon into asking them to race. He did really well. His only problem is waving to us and giving us thumbs up at the end! :)











Ben likes to "race" with Simon. His legs aren't long enough for the Big Wheel...yet! Simon always wins. Poor Benny. He doesn't mind too much, not yet anyway!












All Talon wanted to do was jump in this puddle. He actually screamed and threw himself on the ground when I tried to get him away from it to go to the park. The PARK Talon! It's much better than this muddy old puddle. Apparently not to him though.











Seriously, I've never seen a kid pedal like Simon so in my opinion...he has a good chance! He'll definitely have fun, that's for sure.

Photos from the big day coming soon. I promise!

Tag - I'M it!

My sister Aimee nominated me for the Nice Award! As I was reading her blog I thought, funnily enough, "How nice!" Then I noticed that she tagged ME! Awwww, how nice!




"This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world.”

Well, thanks sister!

And I now need to give this award to 3 other people, so I will pick...Kristin, Kathy and Candi!

And my darling sister also tagged me for The Middle Name Meme! Oh the fun I'm having today!!!


Post these rules before you give the facts.

You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.) When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post and then choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

J - Jesus, Jon and Jumping Boys! Yep, that's my life!!!

O - Open. I'm usually pretty open, sometimes outspoken too I guess!

Y - Yum-O! I'm a Rachael Ray freak - and I absolutely LOVE food!

My sister should have tagged 9!!! people but I only have to tag 3. Whew. I'll tag the same as above. So have fun girls and thanks Aim!

40 Years!

Happy 40th Anniversary

Grandma & Grandpa!

In 40 years, Mike & Penny went from this...

...to this!

When you stop to think about it, it's amazing really. Not to mention all the other things they've accomplished toegther over the last 40 years!

We had a lovely party at their house on Sunday to celebrate. I couldn't resist insisting on a family picture - it's so rare that we're ALL together. And it's also a nice way to remember the day too!

Mike & Penny, you are an inspiration to all of us! We love and appreciate you so much.

All Smooth!

So the boys found their pretend shavers the other day and wanted to shave before bed.





















Ben said "Mom, I'm going to be all smoove!"












Talon thought it was weird that his mommy was putting this stuff on his face. Then he got a taste of it - and he was done!

They were so cute sitting on the vanity together "shaving", trying to be just like daddy.

I guess Jon won't have to teach them much when they actually get hair on their faces. Yikes! I don't even want to think about that!

Simon's First Day

Simon had his first day of Kindergarten on the 24th of August. I started this post immediately after I dropped him off with every intention to add the photos and post it. But those of you that check my blog (Hi Tara, happy now?!) know that I am not so good at keeping it current.

Anyway, back to the 1st day...

He woke up at the crack of dawn and said "Mom, it's my school day today!"
























I didn't get choked up until I was at the school. My baby is going to school (only for a 1/2 day but still). Not Preschool, not Pre-K...but Kindergarten!

He had to line up in the gym with all the other grades - up to 5th! I think that's when I lost it. I went to his line and said bye. That's it! Thank God that a girl from his Pre-K was in the row next to him and she was right across from him so he had someone to talk to.









So here's me - sweating bullets, taking pictures, weaving in and out of other crazy parents (with my stroller no less), biting the inside of my lip to choke back sobs and Ben is screaming "I want to go with Simon!" I explained 3 or 4 times why he couldn't go with Simon then he yelled at the top of his lungs "Mommy, this is really boring!" I guess it helped me in the long run because I wasn't totally focused on Simon standing in a line to go to Kindergarten.

He proudly walked in the line with his new class and his new teacher, gave me a high-five and was gone! Sorry it's blurry but he was so excited and going so fast!












I had to keep myself busy for the next few hours or I'd start sobbing. Why is this so hard for me? I don't think I cried at all when he went to Pre-K last year.

Finally, it was time to pick him up. FINALLY! Imagine if he was in full-day Kindergarten. Man am I dreading 1st grade. There isn't a choice there! Okay, back to picking him up. He spots me, smiles, comes running, my heart swells at the sight of my baby and he says to me..."Oh hey mom. Could you go home? I want to take the bus."

WHAT!?!?!!!! Could I go home? I've been waiting for this morning to be over, watching the clock. Is it time yet? Wondering what he's doing, how he's doing and he says he wants to take the bus?!?! Now I understand that to a 5 year old boy a bus probably means "field trip" but still.
Anyway, he had a great 1st day! And many great days since. :)