First Day of School 2011

Luke started kindergarten and Lance started 2nd Grade. They both love school and are excited to see old friends and learn new things. This year school starts an hour earlier than last year. That will be an adjustment for all of us. Other things the boys have to look forward to are tumbling on Mondays, Desert Trackers (although that starts half an hour before school and I think it might be hard to get up even earlier), and Luke will be in soccer. Lacey will be in preschool in the afternoon on Tuesday and Thursday, because if she went in the morning my day would look like this: drop off at eight, drop off at nine, pick up at 10:40, pick up at 11:30, then pick up at 2:21. I think it's more efficient to drop off at 8, pick up at 10:40, drop off at 12:30, then pick up at 2:21, then pick up at 2:45. Lia gets to hang out with Mommy all by herself for at a least a little while during the week.

Harvest Time (October 9, 2011)

Lacey was very interested in planting seeds this year. In the spring we found seed starter packs in the dollar aisle. We started them, but I didn't expect them to grow. Then we transplanted them to a planter by the kitchen window, but I still didn't think they would make it. Then we moved them outside and they kept growing and growing. And then in the fall we found three little red tomatoes. That small bit of success has inspired me to try again! Maybe next season we'll get some tomatoes we can actually eat!

Luke and Mommy Day

Luke wanted a day with Mommy after he saw how much fun Lance had. So for Luke's day out we went to Build-A-Bear Workshop. He picked Alvin from "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked." After that we ate lunch at McDonald's in the mall food court. Then, because it was two days before Christmas, we finished up some last minute Christmas shopping. Luke is pretty content to do his own thing most of the time, but it's good to get one-on-one time with him.

Luke Turns Six (November 29)

What a big boy he is getting to be! Luke was due December 21, but I knew he would be early. I had been sleeping on our reclining couch because that was the most comfortable position. At about 4 a.m. I woke up and felt like I had to go to the bathroom. When I stood up my water broke. Another baby three weeks early! We took Lance to Grandma Susan's then went to the hospital, arriving at about 5 a.m. We checked in, got into a delivery room, got hooked up to machines, got some blood drawn, and about ten minutes to 6 Alex decided to go to the 7-11 to get something to eat. Because for sure we had hours to go, right? Wrong! Ten minutes later I felt like I had to push. There was no doctor and no husband there, only the nurse, Rose, and my mom. She told me to stop pushing but I said no way. She scrambled to get ready to deliver the baby. Luke came into the world at 6:13 a.m. and was 7 lbs 3 0z and 19 1/2 inches long. He was just anxious to get here, I guess! I held him right after he was born and when the nurse handed him to me he whacked me in the face with his slimey little hand. But holding him I thought, "Yes, here you are-right where you belong."

Luke is definitely all boy. He likes action and rowdiness. But he also has a sensitive side. He is concerned if he thinks his little sisters are in trouble. He makes friends easily with boys and girls. He was on a soccer team this year and had as much fun socializing on the sidelines as he did playing the game. He is enthusiastic about school and is doing great in kindergarten. He was student of the month in December. He is a great kid and I am blessed to be his mommy!

Broken Collar Bone

Lacey was running around at my mom's house and she ran into the door jamb of the pantry and fractured her collar bone. I wasn't there when that happened, but when I got there Lacey was wimpering and wouldn't let me touch her, but she kept touching her shoulder. I thought she might have dislocated it. I called our pediatrician's office and they said she would need an x-ray to make sure. I decided to go to the quick care, but just as I was getting Lacey in the car, the pediatrician called back and said they had called a pediatric bone doctor and to go there. We went there, waited an hour, and then they had her lay on a table to x-ray. This was all very frightening for Lacey so I held her hand and offered comforting words so she would be still. When the doctor put up the x-ray I could see right where the fracture was. He said no contact sports or outside play at school for six weeks, but dance was okay. I bought a sling so she could keep her arm still, but she would not wear it. Later that night we went to a New Year's Eve party at my brother's house. All the kids were playing Just Dance on the Wii, which is where you have to copy the dance moves on the screen. Lacey kept up but every so often she would wince in pain. In her words, "Boooo!"

Mommy and Lance Day

Lance wanted to have a special day all by himself with Mommy. After dropping off the other kids at Grandma Sharon's, we went on a little adventure. First we went to the Scout office to get Lance a new Cub Scout uniform-blue shirt, yellow handkerchief, and other accessories. Next, we went looking for a place to have hot chocolate. We decided on IHOP. We had hot chocolate and a funny face pancake. Lance got a balloon sword there. Next we went to Toys R Us. Lance bought a stuffed panda. He used his own money and he named it Pandy. Next we went to Wal-Mart to look for a gingerbread house kit, but they didn't have one. Last we sang Christmas carols in the car on the way to pick up the other kids. Both Mommy and Lance had a great time.