labor day weekend: zoo's, pools and roller coasters

A rundown of our Labor Day Weekend... what I considered to be our farewell to Summer and our welcoming of Fall.

Boy, am I giddy it's Fall.

A little over a week ago - with my patience being tested by the extreme heat - I knew that I wanted to do something different with our extended weekend. I wanted to get us out of the house and give the boys a little excitement. We were all getting a little cranky from the 100 degree temperatures, and our lives get really busy when September rolls around so I knew it was our last completely free weekend for a while. We hadn't made it to Adventureland over the Summer months so on a whim, I booked us a hotel room, invited my parents along for the ride and planned to spend two days two hours from our home. I watched the weather forecast all week, keeping my fingers crossed the heat wave would break and we'd be able to enjoy two days comfortably outside - a day at the zoo - a day on the rides - and some hotel pool time in between.

We lucked out. The weather gods were in our favor, and we couldn't have picked a better two days.

And our boys didn't disappoint either. They were such troopers throughout our little experience - watching movies peacefully on the way there - sleeping on the way back - and having a lot of fun while were there. The only hiccup came when we stopped for lunch upon arrival and I realized that I'd left my camera's memory card in my computer at home. After a brief second of panic that I wouldn't be able to take any pictures, we spotted a Best Buy directly across the street, and I was able to pick up a $12.00 500-picture memory card on our way to the Zoo. Disaster averted!

Pictures and memories from the zoo...

This was the boys' first trip to a zoo, and the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines was the perfect size for our first trip. Easy to get through in just a few hours, but lots of different animals to see with a playground thrown in the middle. The only problem we encountered was that Brandon was so anxious to get to the giraffes (which happened to be at the very end of the tour) that we had problems getting him to pause long enough to enjoy the rest of the animals!

This starfish also made Brandon's day. He literally did a happy dance and jumped up and down when he spotted it.

Is he not the cutest little thing?

This might sound odd, but one of the highlights of our visit was feeding these fish. I have never seen such a thing. Talk about a feeding frenzy... these guys couldn't get enough food, and they were wrestling each other for every little bite. Piled one on top of the other and spraying us with water whenever they'd jump up to catch a nibble...

And these poor ducks that were swimming with them... we tried to feed them, too but the fish kept stealing the food right out from under the ducks' noses.

The lions peacefully sleeping...

Jaden's favorite... the sea lions. We were lucky enough to be there for the brief sea lion demonstration, and I think Jaden could have watched these cuties all day.

And my favorites... the penguins. I wish I could bring one home with me. Watching a penguin walk its walk would cheer up any day. :)

Squirrel monkey... these little guys were cute, too.

And finally Brandon did get to see his giraffes, but they kept their backs to us the whole time - soaking up the breeze coming from that direction.

More to come!

Our Kindergarten Rock Star

Jaden had his first day of Kindergarten last Thursday, and when I picked him up at 3:30 it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. He LOVED it. And now four, full days in... he still does.

The morning of, Cody and I took him out for breakfast at Village Inn, and I felt like it was MY first day of school. I had no appetite, could hardly eat and had nervous butterflies in my tummy. Jaden on the other hand... finished his whole plate of eggs, sausage, fruit and toast, orange juice... and was still hungry for more. I was nervous for the little things. Like -- what will the car line be like? Will we be late? Will we have time for pictures in front of the building? Will he cling to me once we get to the door? Will I be able to hold it together in front of him? Does he have the right clothes according to the dress code? Etc. Etc. Etc.

We got to the school in time, took a few pictures in front of the building and then walked him to his classroom. Ms. Kimpston had a coloring page set out for each child with their name on it so he knew which desk to sit at. He hung his bag up in his locker, grabbed his supplies box out of his cubby where we had placed it at the open house the night before, and promptly sat down at the desk across from another little girl to begin coloring. I kissed him on the cheek, didn't look back as we walked out the door and made it all the way to the car before I shed my tears.

I thought about him all day. Prayed that he was happy and knew that we loved him. And couldn't wait for 3:30. When I got there to pick him up, he walked out the door with a huge grin on his face and said, "I LOVED it Mommy!" And every day since, he has said the same thing. He's been at the top of or completely off their "good choices" chart every day. He has been given a super star student sticker one day and a tattoo on his cheek another for being a rock star in class. He's enjoyed gym, art, music and library and loves lunch time. He even loves the dress code, and I must admit that Brandon was right on the first morning when he told Jaden, "You look cool, Jaden!" We've been told by three other teachers -- one of them a retired Kindergarten teacher from the same school - that Jaden was given the best teacher there is, and that he will learn a lot. He's met the principal a few times who calls him by name, and I personally know three teachers in the building that are looking out for him and telling me that he's doing awesome.

We feel so blessed with how all of this came together and worked out. We love his school, I already have a good relationship with his principal, and he's happy there. I'm sure at some point the novelty will wear off, but he's off to a great start.

We made it. He rocked it. All is well.

Brandon the Preschooler

Whew! What a week this has been. Our oldest starting Kindergarten, youngest starting preschool... and a whole lot of rollercoaster emotions to go with it all. We sent Brandon off to preschool on Tuesday for the first time, and I'm so glad that he will be a preschooler for two whole years so that I can still call him my little one for a while longer. ;)

The night before his first class, we took Jaden's bag that he had used for two years of preschool and added Brandon's name to it. This made it official to him, and he was so proud to have his name on that bag. In fact, when he carried it through the hallways after his first day, he was going up to random parents he'd never spoken to before just to show off his bag! "It has my name on it! It's my new preschool bag!" It's not a new bag at all - very used, and we probably should get a new one eventually - but it's new to him, and after watching Jaden use it for two years, you could just see the confidence Brandon felt in himself while holding it.  (Even though it is almost as big as he is!)

In keeping with tradition, I took Brandon out for a special breakfast date the morning of his first day just as I have been doing with Jaden. He was too excited and hyper to eat much, but he did serenade the entire McDonald's with his version of the ABC song... over and over again. ;)

He's three!

(We shared a breakfast... this wasn't all for him!)

 

 

Once it was time to drop him off for class, the nerves started to set in with him. First of all, we could not get him to actually cross the parking lot and go to the doors. He saw dandelions sprinkled throughout and insisted on collecting every single one of them to put in his preschool bag and bring home with him.

 

 

When we finally got him to the building, he was in no mood for pictures.

 



 

 

And by the time we got him inside to line up with his class? This is what he looked like...

 

 

 

He went into a pout before going into complete meltdown mode. Looking back on it now, I chuckle, but it wasn't very funny at the time! He did not want to stand against the wall without me, kept leaving the line to throw his arms around my legs and when Mrs. W started addressing the kids and teaching them the right way to walk in a line, he threw himself on the ground - on his tummy - and refused to follow in line when the kids started walking down the hallway. I had to pick him up off the ground, carry him to the end of the line - and hand him off to the teacher's assistant, walking out the door myself instead of taking cute pictures like the rest of the parents were doing! If I hadn't left at that point, the teachers never would have been able to get him back to the classroom.

 

Needless to say, I was very anxious to pick him up at the end of the day. And when I did, he was in a great mood, talked a lot about preschool, said he was a good boy, that he never got in trouble and that he had fun. He then asked when he would get to go back! And sure enough, I got a good report from his teacher the next day. I knew he would have fun once Cody and I left him. He always puts on such a show for his mommy! ;)

 

 



 

 So hard to believe that my BABY is in preschool! We love you buddy!



Dear Jaden...

My little buddy. Well, It's here. I just dropped you off for your last day of daycare. Your teacher and I got a little emotional -- she doesn't want you to leave her classroom, and I wish we could take her with you to Kindergarten. That teacher and that daycare class have been so good for you for the last year. You have grown so much in her care, and it's a little hard to let go of that.

But you asked me last night if today was the day when I would start calling you a Kindergartner. And today is the day. You are ready, and I'm relieved that you are so excited. For the last 5 1/2 years we have been raising you, watching you grow from infant to toddler to shy preschooler to classroom leader. We have been told by your daycare teacher that she's told other parents that you are the child they should want their son to follow and to be influenced by. In her goodbye card to you, she wrote how much she appreciated having you in class - that she could always count on you and that you are such a good role model. I'm not sure any words can make a parent prouder. You are a joy and a unique little soul and a special light in a big world. You are my heart.

And you're about to take a huge step. Not completely on your own but more independently than any other step you've had to take so far in your young life. A pastor from one of our sister church's sent a letter to us recently. This pastor has been helping lead you in chapel once a week for the past year, and he wrote to us about what a huge event this is coming up -- in your life and in the life of our family. He mentioned that this is the beginning of a new world of experiences outside of our protective environment - that Kindergarten is a huge step in the life of every child and represents a major transition for all of us. I have been anticipating this day for a few months now, and though I pray for you constantly, my prayers for you lately have been more intense - more fervent.

I pray that you will have fun. That you will learn and have a desire to learn. I pray that you work hard, continue to respect authority, trust your gut instincts and stay happy. I pray that you surround yourself with those of good character, that you will always strive to see the good in other people and the good in yourself -- even on your tough days. I pray that you will know the One to turn to when you are afraid, that you draw close to Him, use prayer as your strongest weapon and tool and that you will tell others about Jesus. I pray that you gain an understanding of blessings - both big and small - and the importance of thankfulness. I pray that you make lots of friends -- but that you always come to us when you are lonely. Or even when you're not lonely. I pray that you continue to protect and guide your younger brother, that you find something you are passionate about and run with it and that you treat girls how they should be treated. I pray that you remember right and wrong and continue to love your family as much as you do right now. I pray for your safety and your health. I pray all of this and so much more.

You have a tremendous support system around you. You are so lucky. We are Team Jaden all the way.

We love you. We are so dang proud of you. And we will be here for you and with you throughout this long and beautiful journey ahead. Spread your wings, little man... and let your light shine.