Picture Day for Noah!

No smocked outfits or peter pan collars....not even a button-down or golf shirt. I let Noah decide how he'd like to be represented in his 3-year-old preschool picture and he picked one of his favorite t-shirts. When I dropped him off, I told his teacher that he could decide whether or not he wears the hood up for the picture. (I'm actually kind of hoping for it!)

The Early Bird Gets the Sword

Everything starts earlier these days...Miles wakes up at 6:30, is off to school before 7am, has lunch at 10:40am, etc. So tonight, at his request, we had dinner at 4:25pm!


Check out the tables behind Griff -- EMPTY!



Just before we left, the pirate arrived and hooked the kids up with some balloon swords. As we left the restaurant, Miles was so excited that he was shouting out all of the pirate phrases that he knows..."ahoy, matey!", "ah....walk the plank!", "shiver me timbers!". Then, he paused and had a weird look on his face as if something had just clicked in his brain and he yelled "Hello! Welcome to Great Clips!" (......maybe he has some secret pirate handbook?)

A Day of Portraits

The boys loved art class again today. They ran in, hunkered down and weren't phased when Griffin and I left to hang out in the adjacent gym.



Check out Noah, practically laying on the table!



This week's project was "portraits" --- first Miles' rendition, then Noah's (Noah's inspiration may have had a hunchback?). They ferociously colored until the instructor kicked us out and are already talking about next week -- watercolors!

Two Trees, 10 Plants and Flowers Galore

Over the past 2 Saturdays, Mike has been a planting machine!


We tagged along for the buying trip at the nursery.




Griffin discovered a puddle...and by the time we left he was sans pants. It was such a nice day, he didn't seem to care...and with legs that cute, we didn't either.

Spot Sound Challenge

Reading is the big emphasis at school right now and Miles' teacher uses different challenges to get the kids excited about learning. On Friday Miles was so excited to show off his first medal He earned it for successfully completing the "Spot Sound Challenge" (showing proficiency in identifying letters and letter sounds...just the basics this early in the year). He could not stop looking at it!

****

Earlier this week, Mike and I attended an open house at Miles' school. It was amazing to be in his classroom -- to see his table and chair, his seat on the rug, his artwork, the "centers" where he spends time, etc.. Miles' teacher told us a couple of cute stories about him -- and we can tell that she's come to understand his personality quickly. The entire experience made us even more excited about Miles' kindergarten year.

I signed up to volunteer in Miles' class each week and we are now officially able to join our kids for lunch at school. Look out, Miles: here I come!

A+ Art Class

Miles and Noah had their first art class this week. It was amazing. They settled in immediately and were engaged the entire time. Miles was truly in-his-element and in turn was extremely talkative with the instructor and was very supportive and nurturing of Noah. The teacher allowed Griffin and I to hang out in the back of the room and I loved being able to witness everything.



Their first lesson was on drawing portraits.


Noah was disappointed that he was the only one in class that couldn't write his own name (the other kids are 4 & 5). His actual comment the next day was, "mom, I don't like it that everyone writes my name with a lowercase h. I like capital h's." Then, he spent the next 30 minutes practicing writing his name, so that in the future, he can write it however he pleases. He's not there yet...but he's determined!

Boards & Bubbles = Garage Fun!

Yo, yo, yo! Are you sure its bathtime?

Pork Makes You Powerful!

Family dinner time? Game on! These days it takes an hour for Miles and Noah to succumb to eating their dinner (Griff is a rare breed in our home and eats everything immediately). Tonight's tactic was alliteration:

• Pork Makes You Powerful!
• Edamame Gives You Energy!
• Smiley-Face Potatoes Are Stupendous (coined by Miles)...and so on

Typically, these antics get us 90% there. Pushing us to victory tonight was a planned after dinner screening of old-skool-scooby-doo that would have to be missed. The mere idea of this drove Miles to eat an edamame whole (no chewing, thus no tasting?). To each his own, I guess...my kiddos are nourished tonight!



Energized and Powerful, indeed!

Feeling Hot? No Problem!

It was another hot weekend in Charlotte, so we indulged the kids in some impromptu water fun. (Emphasis impromptu -- as its the reason for undies vs swimsuits).

Just before wrapping up, Mike took over the spraying duty and convinced me to play in the water, too. It was great fun and triggered Miles to say, "mom! you're crazy!" How right you are, my friend, how right you are...

Friend Requests: For Facebook and Kindgergarten?
Miles hopped off the bus today and immediately tore into his backpack to show me a picture.
Miles: Mom, Alec made this for me!
Me: That's cool, Miles!
Miles: Yeah. Then I drew a speed racer for him.
Me: Sounds like you made a new friend today!
Miles (while looking at me as if I was covered in purple spots): No, mom. I didn't ask him.



Couple of hide-and-seek cuties!




Miles' chef hat wasn't the only accessory needed to make our pancake dinner -- check out those tongues!


I found both boys asleep in Miles' top bunk last night: Brotherly Love

Moving & Shaking

During the school week, the boys can watch one tv show each day. Their current favorite is "Imagination Movers" -- a show with lots of singing and dancing.


It definitely brings on the smiles!


Pre-game for the show included drawing each of the characters. This guy must be really pensive, as Miles insisted on a "thinking face".


Time for one more show, mom? (Nice try!)

More Picasso than Pele

Today marked the first day of Noah's soccer clinic at the Y. He was interested -- but prefered to watch the other kids or kick with me on the sidelines. As we left he said, "mom, today I watched, next time I'm going to play with the other kids." Either way...it was fun to be out there with him and we learned some games that we can play at home with Miles. Definitely worth it.



After soccer we swung by a paint-your-own pottery place to check it out. Noah was immediately entranced and probably could have stayed for hours. He painted a couple of dinosaur figures while we were there -- and he insisted that we select his 'pieces for next time' before we left. It was definitely a top-notch adventure spot for him!


The boys spent the afternoon running around the house all 'suited up'. Noah wore homemade Buzz Lightyear wings. Miles made them especially for him and made himself a bolt-of-fire ("because, mom, fire is so much faster than Buzz!").

A fun Tuesday!

A Day At The Races!

Our dining room is barely used --- so it was awesome to mess it up today. While Griffin napped, Miles, Noah, and I set up some tracks that we haven't played with in months. Nothing better than being reunited with a forgotten toy!


Noah confirming that his hands are free of paint (our last activity). Let's roll!


Tracks are set-up, Miles (the pirate?) ready to enjoy the races!


On second thought...simply watching is boring, let's shake things up a bit!


Now let's try removing the rubber tire from the car to see how wide I can stretch it across my face....(can't imagine that will even shrink back to size!)


Noah was happy just to turn on the car, place it on the track and then grab it when it came back around. Pure delight!