Super Gare




 I had my 6th wedding anniversary coming up at the beginning of August, for which I fully expected to just go out to dinner. I mean, not just, I was expecting it to be awesome. But then I got a phone call from a certain hot man I know who had planned for my kids to be watched for a whole day. Woah! I was nervous at first to "not get anything done" that weekend (I know, it's a problem), but quickly relaxed and had a fantastic time just being with Gary. I enjoyed eating too much steak, talking with my man, wandering around stores (fancy ones, like TJ Maxx and Dick's Sporting Goods),

 . . . Finding a cave full of treasure . . .



 . . . playing cards by a camel . . .



 . . . miniature golfing in gorgeous, though windy, weather . . .

 . . . winning the front 9, but losing overall to this guy . . .

 . . . me and Gare, no kids . . .

The last 6 years have gone by fast, but A LOT has happened. It's so good to get back to just us, just for a little bit. Awesome anniversary, Gary!

Then, near the end of August, Gary did his second triathlon. We woke up early to go cheer him on, and when we pulled up to the race, Josh said, "Hey, I thought Dad said this was supposed to be in a triangle." I taught them what it really was, and they chanted, "Swim, bike, run, swim, bike, run," for days.

Early morning fans watching the swim.

Look how fast he transitioned to the bike . . .

Mission complete! Josh was SO proud of  his dad he went running up to him immediately. Why do the jammies look a little more awkward a couple of hours later?

They made the swim 100 meters longer this year, but Gary still shaved 4 minutes off of his time from last year. He swears he's never doing it again without a road bike, so look for tons of time to come off next year. Hoping to join him . . . yes, I'm probably a fool, but it is so fun. We had fun driving around to cheer Gary on at different places, carrying our box of Cheerios around in our pajamas. Gary's triumphant finish line picture never happened because someone's chubby blonde toddler was running in front of the finishers (oops!), but he was sprinting, and we were proud.

Just a few ways Gary was amazing in August . . .

Knock, Knock

Josh has been very into knock-knock jokes. Josh and Noah, and even Andrew, like to tell them constantly, and laugh. Most of them make a ton of sense. (Spiderman. Spiderman who? Apple pie! Hahahaha!) However, seems that Josh is catching on sometimes. I like this one he made up.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Baby.
Baby who?
Baby, baby, baby, oh, I was like baby, baby, baby, oh .. . .(he'll sing for quite a while sometimes.)

He also does one with Fire, and Fire burning on the dance floor. Not bad for a 5 year old just entering the world of joke-crafting. Which is why it is awesome that Noah made the following joke up today, and they both think it's the most hilarious thing EVER.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Head.
Head who?
He-ead (he sings it to a different tune every time.)

Are you rolling on the floor laughing? This is the one Andrew tells, by the way.

Tale of 3 Doctors (We'll Have Chub to Kiss . . . )

I had an ultrasound yesterday to make sure I didn't have placenta previa because things were a little close at 20 weeks. That's not a problem at all now, phew. However, the neonatologist was concerned about the size of the baby. Seems that she's measuring about two weeks ahead of average, and if delivered yesterday would have been about 5 lbs. 4 oz. (at 32.5 weeks). After making sure I passed my glucose test, she asked about my other babies. When I told her Andrew was 9 lbs. 5 oz. at 39.2 weeks, she said, "It seems like you're on that same trajectory. Okay, well, I have no problems with this ultrasound, good luck!" I can't complain about a healthy baby, but, wow. I was actually already feeling it, but there's always hope for a petite little thing. Oh, well, I do love snuggling chub . . .

Andrew's legs are getting un-bowed! I thought they were improving, so it was great for the orthopedist to confirm it. She is still pretty sure they will self-correct. Good to hear. He jumps and climbs and does everything he should and more, so it hasn't slowed him down. Positive news there.

As for negative news, my eyes are more dry than ever. I've been trying to get back into wearing contacts for a couple of years now (I don't like glasses very much, but due to dry-eye, it's what I have to do). However, this time when I visited the opthamologist, he didn't even present contacts as an option. He said I need to do more eye drops just to save my eyes from scarring. Yipes. I have no business living in the desert. Oh, well, remember the Cambodian missionaries that desperately needed eye correction but never got any until they got to the MTC? Yeah, I'm lucky to have glasses. And eyesight! (And yes, I have tried everything. Duct plugs, Restasis, fish and flax oil . . . gotta buy a whole-house humidifier next. Another day.)

Too Big to Sleep on the Teacher's Desk

Remember when I taught kindergarten and I had a baby named Baby Josh, and he got so tired he slept on my desk? Josh told me today that he has a really big name now, and it's "kindergartener." It's an emotional topic for me. Sometimes, anyway. I am excited to see him excited, and cannot believe how adorable he is walking around with his big superhero backpack. I want him to grow up and do new things and be happy and successful. But he's my buddy. And I'm now officially done with the 5 years of tiny boy where he was mine all the time, and I could hug him whenever, and he would know I love him, and he would be my right-hand man, and I knew he was learning good things, and was safe. And I can't see anymore because of all of this water in my eyes. Oh, Joshy . . . So, how did we get here? Long story, let's start with finishing up preschool in the spring.

Josh got the preschool award for the Most Humorous. I was going to re-take this picture, but I thought it went with the award. We think Josh is pretty amusing, so it was fun to see others picking up on his personality.

Cute little preschool group. Chloe, Chase, Ben, Josh, Kael, Mia, Ian. Cooper was gone.

Shortly after our neighborhood preschool ended, a month long kindergarten preview started at the school. I knew the teacher was amazing, and he really thought he should go to school the second he turned 5, so off he went. It was a good decision, he had a total blast. If I could get video to upload I would show off him singing, his flag of our country song he learned. Too adorable, and I really appreciate his teacher for teaching them a song about God and our country. I cried when he sang it, of course.

The first day of summer preschool at the elementary school. He was SO excited, and he had so much fun, it was ridiculous.

The first day of summer preschool was hard for Noah. He wanted to go somewhere, too, not be left without his playmate! So, I took Noah and Andrew to feed the ducks. It was perfect. Simple - beautiful day, lovely lake, adorable children, and some ducks. The funniest was the next day when Josh said, "I get to go to school today, Noah," and Noah replied, "Well, I'll just be feeding ducks."

These guys were so cute, and so excited to feed the ducks. I loved seeing Noah try so hard to look after Andrew.

Noah was hilarious, he tried very hard to equitably give each duck some bread.

Andrew had to hang on the bridge just like Noah. He was in love with the ducks, and actually said "duckies" for the first time. He would laugh and point and attempt to toss his little bits of bread.

Yet another way to feed the ducks.

We had a fantastic morning feeding the ducks, but the entire time I missed Josh. I didn't expect to feel it so much, but I really did. Even as I looked at adorable pudgy fingers poking through the bridge to show me the ducks, I was happy, but there was a little piece of my happy that was now at school. I watched the clock the entire time, and couldn't believe 3.5 hours could be so long. The feeling was hard to shake, but it went away after a few days. We got used to our new routine, and it sure helped that he was loving it. Plus, it wasn't the real thing . . .

I knew I would have a hard time with the real thing. But, life hit. It was my turn to teach preschool on the first day of kindergarten, so I was crazy busy and Gary actually brought him. No time to think about it. After Gary dropped him off I asked how it went. "Did you cry?" I asked. "It didn't even cross my mind," Gary chuckled. So then I started crying thinking about Josh now in school. But not for more than a second, preschool was coming fast. Since then we have had preschool, doctors appointments, and a holiday, so I actually haven't thought about Josh's absence as much as I thought. We've hardly noticed, actually. Then last night Josh snuggled up to me and said, "Just for one day can I stay home with you?" Oh, man, wasn't thinking about it, but now I am. He will get used to it. So will I. It's life. It's exciting! But it is good to have moments like these when I realize that I shouldn't wish time away, as I have definitely been guilty of. Which is why I had to write it down. Caring enough to write it down is a good thing. So is being a kindergarten mom. New adventures . . .

Josh's first day of kindergarten. This photo was the best I could do because he was determined to do some type of gang pose. He's still adorable, all excited for kindergarten.

Sorry to Noah that this post is so much about Josh. I'm actually really excited to have more time to focus on Noah. He has been talking for months about preschool, so life is pretty good now. He really wanted to go camping for preschool, but I was going to teach about the five senses. Then I thought, why not teach the five senses through a camping theme? It's been really fun. Noah is such a little sponge, and it's great to see him get into all of the activities we do. He does them again after all the kids have left, and talks about things he's learned. He is really looking forward to when he gets to go to someone else's house for preschool, but he has to deal with me for one more week.

Noah's first day of preschool. Since it was at our house he had no need for shoes or a backpack, but he did don this Spanish wineskin for the photo. We did camping as our theme, and this was one of the props, so he immediately put it to use.

Josh came home and immediately started playing in the tent we'd set up for preschool. He actually wrote several field journal pages, whereas the preschoolers didn't do any, so it was perfect. Somebody did it!

What was Andrew doing? Forging onward in his journey to be a real 2 year old by the time he gets there. Here is is covered in grape jelly. The photo in no way shows the true coverage, or the state of the kitchen, but I had to capture what he is learning these days, if imperfectly.