Kindergarten!!!

Can't believe I have a kindergartner let alone a 5 almost 6 year old! Jonah started school a week ago and he seems to be adapting just fine. Mommy likes getting things done around the house but it seems quiet with him gone for much of the day. I didn't cry the first day, although that first week was pretty crazy as far as work schedule and everything going on. I didn't really have time to think much about it. Mainly we are trying to adjust to getting up early and doing things independently. He asked Dad to take his training wheels off his bike but is still trying to master that one. He is learning to tie his shoes and just this morning was thrilled with himself when he actually completed tying one with very little help from Mom. His teacher encourages us to let them come into school by themselves and sends home weekly newsletter on what they are doing. They have been learning to spell their colors this week. We finished our library summer reading program last week and we have been reading books every night. He especially enjoys books that make him laugh. :) Over the summer he started taking gymnastic lessons and seems to really enjoy them. (Go figure since he's a little monkey most of the time) We decided to go ahead and try lessons once a week till Halloween and see if he (and Mom) can juggle it and school. On the home front, I have been trying different cookie recipes, finishing multiple knitting projects, catching up on cleaning and filing, and just this morning I harvested about 10 acorn squash, green onion and some red bell peppers from the garden. I may try to grow green beans next year... we'll see. Loving the early fall weather we've been having the last two days... wish it would last. Anyway... here are pics from first day of school :)

Goodbye DayCare, Hello PreSchool

Jonah is now officially in preschool. He is enjoying his new school and had no trouble adapting at all. He already has made friends and enjoyed a few field trips. The school has set up Pre K - 4 year olds for school the beginning of the week and then they mix with the Pre K - 3 year olds in the middle of the week. He constantly comes home singing new songs and continues to amaze us with his increasing comprehension of language and math. As always it is not all roses. He has had his first encounters with what it is like to get in trouble and get "his card pulled". They have a system of green, yellow, and red cards for discipline. He has landed on yellow twice this year... once for getting in his locker and closing the door and once for leaving the group on a field trip to the library (and scaring his teacher half to death). I couldn't ask for a better teacher. Mrs. L* is great! Daddy has since had a few talks with him about safety issues and Mommy will hopefully attend the next field trip just to keep an eye on how he does. The picture of him with another little boy is his friend R* from his Daycare. I had hoped to get R* Mom's phone # to schedule a playdate but it hasnt' happened yet. However, his teacher from Daycare has been in touch and hopes to babysit for us sometime soon. Maybe Mommy and Daddy can get a romantic dinner in yet...

St. Louis Zoo

The before mentioned family vacation to St. Louis was a 2 day excursion. We went to the zoo the day after the city museum. In hind sight we pushed a little too much into a short time for a 4 year old (even if he is high energy). By the time we got into the zoo and had walked into the areas of interest he was already getting cranky. About half way into it we gave in and rented a stroller to give everyone a break. Even though we were tired we all still enjoyed it and it will always be a great memory. Maybe we will have to make this vacation a yearly repeat with more time for recovery in it. Mommy sure would have liked a day for lounging at the pool! By the way the tigers were awesome. I wish I would've taken video of them. We got lucky on one of the train stops and while we sat and waited for the passengers to get on the tigers decided to get playful. It was a perfect view. They acted just like very large kittens! It made me wonder how many barrels they go through. (they were batting at a barrel on a chain)

St. Louis City Museum

As some of you may know... Shawn and I had to cancel our East coast vacation for our anniversary due to some family illnesses. Instead of moping about it we decided to take Jonah with us on our first family vacation to St. Louis! It was a non stop, fun filled, exhausting, but well worth it vacation! For those who have not visited the St. Louis City Museum I highly recommend it. However, I will warn you it is not for the parent who is faint of heart. The place is 3-4 stories of the ultimate child's playground! In order to keep your child in site you may have to become a child yourself and climb, crawl, and squeeze through the different areas. It is an awesome architectural exhibit which almost overwhelms the senses. I wish I would have stopped to take more pictures but keeping up with Jonah was my first priority. There was an aquarium inside the actual museum which the majority of the pictures are of since it was at a slower pace :)

Scovill Zoo Summer 2009

Every summer we try to make a trip to Scovill Zoo in Decatur. Jonah always enjoys it and he loves the carousel. This year we went with Great Gram "Nena". After we went to McD's for a well deserved lunch and treat. We hope to get a chance to visit again in the fall before the zoo closes for winter. Hope you enjoy...

Bloomington Children's Museum Visit

Early this summer we went to the Bloomington Children's Museum and had a wonderful visit with a bunch of cousins! Jonah had lots of fun with all his cousins, seeing the Amtrak train, the climbing wall, pretending in the pizza place, and probably his favorite was the PVC music tubes. He imitated his favorite music group and DVD "The Blue Man Group". He didn't want to leave. Then we had lunch and celebrated Aunt Cece's birthday at Avanti's. The boys all seemed to have tons of fun together. Definitely something we will have to repeat. Enjoy the pics!

Where did the time go?

So I've not been very good about posting things this summer...but we've been having fun and staying busy! I thought I'd post a quick note to tell all of you that I'll be posting pics soon from all the things we've been doing over summer. On another note, please pray for my neice K*... she will be having major surgery on Sept. 22. We pray that everything goes smoothly and that her recovery will be quick. Hope all of you are doing well. Love ya!