Gearing Up for Halloween

Schools were closed today (teacher workday) so we decided to decorate for Halloween. The boys loved it and truly delighted in everything we pulled out of the storage bin. I can't count the number of times I heard Miles yell, "whoa! that's awesome!"


Miles & Noah spent the rest of the day dressing up in different costumes (a favorite pastime).



At one point the boys decided to pretend that they were camping. They got their sleeping bags, pillows and some roasting skewers. I told them to tell me when they were set up and I'd come in with two marshmallow to 'pretend cook'. They were taking a little longer than I thought to set up, so I checked on them. I found them nestled in, pounding down marshmallows....sneaky little guys!


A fun day, indeed!

Kindergarten Fun!

Kindergarten is in full swing! Last week, everyone's pets were invited to the classroom, so Griffin and I swung by with Bodie. It was hard to tell who loved it more -- Miles or Bodie.



We also had our first playdate with one of Miles' new friends. Alec and his brother met us for some fun at the park. The boys had a blast running around together -- and Alec taught Miles how to launch out of a swing. The first time Miles tried it he didn't go very far. He said, "mom, how come Alec isn't afraid when he jumps high?" I said, "well, he's probably practiced it a lot." Miles said, "oh, right!" and then ran off to do it another dozen times. Gotta love the positive influences of friends!

Miles Lost His 2nd Tooth!

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!

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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!)