Captain Hook... with a light saber that Darth Vader gave him

Michael has a great imagination and he's constantly playing pretend.  Just the other night he was playing in the front room when he came into see dad dressed like this...

 In case you are wondering what this is a picture of, according to Michael he is Captain Hook, Red Ranger with a light saber that Darth Vader gave him.

But don't worry, this Captain Hook, Red Ranger with a light Saber should not be feared...

 he reassured us that he does only good things. He promises and you know how you can tell?
He said, "Mom, Captain Hook, Red Ranger only does good tings "things" because it is just Michael underneath, see my eye mom?"

Until next time, we'll be playing pretend and coming up with new names for super heros.

...Angie

Swimming in our PJ's...

This weekend, I asked the boys to help me take on the task of cleaning our backyard.  We've been hit by a few monsoon storms that have left a great dirt and dust pile in our backyard and although the boys don't mind the dirt, mom does. 

Therefore after a few weeks, I finally decided I was tired of the mess and it was time to clean it.  So, yesterday morning we dug out the shop vac, the hose, the scrub brush and started to it.  Given that we wanted to start early, since it seems it is blazing hot by 9:00 a.m. these days, we just went to work right after breakfast.  In fact, we didn't even change out of our PJ's before attacking the backyard.

The boys worked very hard with me, taking turns wiping down the patio furniture, scrubbing the pool deck, the walls, and everything else in the backyard.  As one would scrub, the other would suck up the dirty water from the hose and brush.  As the minutes went by, the sweat continued to roll down our faces, neck and arms but the boys didn't complain and continued to work.  I cautiously waiting for the whining and complaining to start but they seemed just fine to help. 

Given, that I know I can be kind of a "drill Sargent"  (Jarrett's endearing nickname for me), I decided that after we were done, I'd stop with the other list of chores and surprise the boys with something fun. As we cleaned up and hosed off our legs that were covered with splattered dirt, we wrapped up the hose, picked up the vacuum and then I called the boys over to the edge of the pool and asked them to look down at the bottom. 

I said, "Boys, look, do you see that?" And before they could ask, "What mom?"  I playfully, pushed them into the pool, PJ's and all.  It was hilarious as their heads came back up out of the water, afraid that they were going to get in trouble for being in the pool without their swimming suits and I just smiled.  Then I  screamed, "YEA!!!!" and took a running leap and jumped right in too.  It was then that they realized it was for fun and started laughing their heads off. 

"Mom, you are so silly, did you know you pushed us in?  Gabriel said.

"Mommy, it is silly that we are swimming in our pajamas." Michael yelled.

Minutes later as we were swimming around, one by one they'd come up to me, give me a hug and say, "Mommy, I love you!  Thank you for letting me swim in my pajamas"   "Mom, I love you so much.  Thanks for letting us go swimming in our nighties." 

As we tried to cool off and swim in our PJ's, I realized how much fun it was not just for the boys, but for mom too.  It seems the list of chores is never ending and I guess I need to get better at just letting it be.  The boys are growing up in front of our eyes and soon enough, they'll want to spend more time with friends than we us.  I need to remember the lesson of quality time now.  I hope the boys will remember the day we swam in our pajamas... I know I'll remember it for a very very long time.

Until next time
angie

Gabriel and Jack...

Jack continues to do better and we are all thankful.  It seems that we are all much more protective and watchful of Jack than we had been before the attack. 

In fact Gabriel is so protective of Jack, that he's often the one telling Jarrett or I, "Mom, watch out for Jack. "  "Dad, can you move off the couch so Jack can lay on it?"  "Mom, can you give Jack a treat so he feels better."

In fact, the other afternoon, Gabriel went and sat down at his table and was drawing quietly on a his book.  When I walked over to see what he was doing, I see he had drawn a very adorable picture.  Here's what he drew...

That a picture of Jack in the middle with the words "I love Jack... Michael and Gabriel" around him. 

 I guess the saying is, "A man and his best friend."  In this case, I think it would be fair to say, "A boy and his best buddy." 

until next time,
Angie

It was a success!

So Gabriel's day was a big success!  The morning started at 4:40 a.m. as I awoke to his face right in front of mine as he leaned into our bed and whispered, "Mom, today's the day I go to Kindergarten!!!!!!"   Looking at the clock, I sent him back to his bed to go back to sleep and when I finally crawled out of bed at 5:15 a.m. I walked toward their room to find all the lights on.  As I walked in Michael was fast asleep with the lights on and Gabriel was sitting on the edge of his bed, waiting for the moment when I'd give him the okay to start getting ready.

I laughed, turned the light out and told him to rest while I showered.  When I was finished, I came back, and gave him the go ahead.  He insisted on doing everything himself... getting his cereal, changing his clothes behind closed doors so he could give us the big reveal, combing his own hair so it would look handsome, carrying his bag, lunch pack, and water bottle.  He wanted to do it all and I tried to restrain myself to let him do as he wished.

We arrived at school and he was ready to jump out of the car, wave goodbye and never look back.  I guess it was just mom and dad who weren't ready yet to say goodbye.  We walked into the school where we took a few pictures with him and his teacher and then he decided to take some pictures on his own. 

Gabriel's teacher is wonderful and I think will be a great year! With the ring of the bell, the school day had started and Mrs. Smarik read the children a book while the parents watched and soaked up every last second.  The book was called "The Kissing Hand" and it is the story of a raccoon mom and her child.  The child raccoon had to go off to school and was a little worried going to a new strange place.  The momma raccoon kissed her son's hand and put it up to his cheek.  She then told him that if he missed his momma to just put his hand to his cheek and know that his momma was thinking of him.  Although the story is told much more eloquently, it basically caused all of the parents in the room to have tears in their eyes while the children attentively listened to the ending.   And as Mrs. Smarik said, "The end" we knew that was our signal to leave.  Gabriel came up to us and we kissed his hand and then hugged him, wishing him a great day.  And with that he was off to go back to his table and begin his first day at school.  Not a tear, a hesitation or even a look back.  Our little boy was ready and although we felt a heaviness in our hearts, we beamed with pride that he's growing into a great boy. 

Gabriel requested that his first day of school picture be with Jack.

Gabriel and his teacher

Gabriel then decided he wanted to take the camera and here are a few shots of of his classroom.

He LOVES the nametag!

Can you see who wasn't paying attention to the story?

Dad giving Gabriel a kiss on his hand and wishing him well for the day!


Although it was a great day for Gabriel, we also celebrated with Michael and the fact that he would now also have his own school.  We didn't want him to feel bad that we weren't celebrating with him so we tried to make it a big deal also that today was the first day he got to go to HIS own school also. 

Here's a short video of him talking about his excitement about what the day meant for him...

The day was a success for both boys and we look forward to tomorrow to see what new adventures it will bring.

Until next time,
Angie

The next chapter of his life...

This past week, we've been getting ready for Gabriel to move into the next chapter of life.  Although he graduated from pre-school back in May, this last week he attended he final day at pre-school and was thrilled with the idea that he'd soon be starting kindergarden. 

He's been counting down the days for over a week (well actually more than a few months) but now that we were down under the 10 day mark, each morning he'd wake up and say, "Mom, in 5 days I'll be going to Kindergarten", and so on.

Early last week, I make a special effort to take Gabriel school supply shopping all on his own and he was so proud to come home and show Daddy, Michael and even Jack all his necessary supplies.  It was wonderful to watch him celebrate each school supply as he took it from the plastic store sack and shoved them into his over sized, bigger-than-him, backpack (the one he insists on using even though it would better fit a 5th grader). 

Also last week, Gabriel came into my room one morning and said, "look mom!" as he proceeded to open up his mouth, point to one of his molars and wiggle it with his finger.  "Its loose!"  Immediately I decided, we'd better visit the dentist to check into it.  As we arrived to his appointment, I had prepared Gabriel by telling him there was a chance that they might pull it.  Being that this wasn't the first tooth he would have lost, he seemed thrilled with the idea.   In fact, on the way to the dentist office, he and Michael had a conference and decided it would be best to have the dentist pull all of Gabriel's teeth, then they'd get a lot of money from the tooth fairy and then they could buy a "whole bunch of new toys!"  I guess they don't realize how much new toys cost, because their tooth fairy doesn't pay all that well.

Sitting in the dentist chair, the dentist decided the tooth would indeed have to come out and at that point Gabriel decided he didn't want to give up all his teeth.  Pulling one would be okay but not the rest.   (On a side note, Mom decided that after getting the bill of how much it costs just to pull an already loose tooth, that we'll be pulling the rest of the teeth from home.)  Meanwhile Michael sat on my lap and insisted the dentist pull all of Gabriel's teeth.  When I asked if he wanted to have his tooth pulled, he said, "No, Mom, Gabriel's teeth are better, I need mine to eat."  So much for brotherly love huh?

Gabriel putting his daily snack into his backpack and his outfit for the first day sitting on the bed.  But he's not excited or anything!

Practicing for the first day...

See what I mean about the bag being big enough for a 5th grader.

Also last week, Gabriel came into my room one morning and said, "look mom!" as he proceeded to open up his mouth, point to one of his molars and wiggle it with his finger. "Its loose!" Immediately I decided, we'd better visit the dentist to check into it. As we arrived to his appointment, I had prepared Gabriel by telling him there was a chance that they might pull it. Being that this wasn't the first tooth he would have lost, he seemed thrilled with the idea. In fact, on the way to the dentist office, he and Michael had a conference and decided it would be best to have the dentist pull all of Gabriel's teeth, then they'd get a lot of money from the tooth fairy and then they could buy a "whole bunch of new toys!" I guess they don't realize how much new toys cost, because their tooth fairy doesn't pay all that well.
Sitting in the dentist chair, the dentist decided the tooth would indeed have to come out and at that point Gabriel decided he didn't want to give up all his teeth. Pulling one would be okay but not the rest. (On a side note, Mom decided that after getting the bill of how much it costs just to pull an already loose tooth, that we'll be pulling the rest of the teeth from home.) Meanwhile Michael sat on my lap and insisted the dentist pull all of Gabriel's teeth. When I asked if he wanted to have his tooth pulled, he said, "No, Mom, Gabriel's teeth are better, I need mine to eat." So much for brotherly love huh?
Less than 20 minutes later, Gabriel sat with his prized possession, a plastic treasure chest with a tooth inside.  We also learned that his 6 yr molars are starting to come in and the dentist informed me that those teeth are the first of his adult teeth.  Beaming from ear to ear with a bloody gauze in his mouth, he puffed up his chest and walked a little taller as we left the office.  Yet another milestone Gabriel was excited about in his quest to become an "adult" overnight. 

Showing us where the tooth was pulled.

As so tonight, we are preparing for the big day tomorrow.  I'm convinced I'm more filled with nerves and anxiety of what his first day will be like,  I have a feeling I'll be the emotional one tomorrow too.  He's so excited and thrilled to begin his first day at school, I'm excited for all of the fun and learning he'll experience this next year. 

One of my colleagues at work whose daughter graduated from college just last year, warned me and said, "Angie if you can get through the first drop off at kindergarten, you'll be able to handle every other drop off, including the one when they go to college."  So we'll see how tomorrow goes.  I'm so excited and happy for him to be growing into the wonderful student and child he strives to be.

Until next time,
angie

Is that what happens...

The last time we were at church, Gabriel tapped me on the shoulder and motioned for me to bend down so he could tell me something. 

I bent over and he whispered the following...

"Mom, when boys get older and become dads, do all dads lose their hair?"

I looked up to see that of the people sitting hear us, the majority of men around us (not including their dad) were dads with kids who were follically challenged. I guess to a 5-year-old who wasn't too interested in listening to the sermon,it might seem like a good time to make observations.

I smilied at him, nodded yes, and looked back up to listen.

Moments later, he tapped me on the shoulder again, "Mom, does the same thing happen to moms? I hope not mom, cause you won't look very pretty without any hair."

I said, "Don't worry Gabriel, that only happens to Dads." (sorry dad, I just figured this was the best way to answer so he couldn't come back with any more questions)

Until next time,
angie

Kindergarten Prep...

In 9 days Gabriel will start kindergarten.  It seems he's been excited about going for months and now that it is quickly approaching, I don't think he can hardly contain his excitement. Last week, I took the afternoon off and spent time just with him by going school shopping.

He was very excited to look at the list of school supplies he needs and he "read" the list substituting all of the things he actually needed with things he thought he needed or wanted to get. 
"Mom, I really need to get this huge water bottle, she mom, it says it right here."
"Okay Gabriel, actually this says, a box of 24 colors."
and so on we went through the school supplies section.

After purchasing enough supplies that I think will last for the next 3 years of school, we loaded up the car and took off.  I really enjoyed taking Gabriel school shopping as I remember doing it with my mom and siblings.  I'm so excited for him to begin this next journey as I watch him grow into a kid instead of a little child. 

As I started the car and started to drive out of the parking lot, Gabriel began to tell me the following...

"Mom, when I'm in Kindergarten, I'm not going to play outside, or play with my friends."
"Oh?" I responded.
"And Mom, I'm not going to eat snack or talk to my friends."
"Really Gabriel, why?"
"Mom, I'm just going to work, I'm going to work work work work work, all day long.  Mom, I've got to work really hard so I can be ready for 1st grade." 
"Oh wow Gabriel, it is great that you are going to work so hard, I think that will make your teacher proud and your mom, but honey, are you sure you're not going to get too hungry or want to play with your friends."
"Okay Mom, I'll eat lunch and play with my friends just one day Mom okay. Will that make you happy?  Then the rest of the days, I'm just going to work."
"Gabriel, if that's what you want to do, that is okay.  We'll see, though you may change your mind."
"oh and Mom, I'm going to wear my backpack with just one strap like the big kids for one day.  Then the rest I'll wear with two Mom, I know you'll like that better."

I just smiled, laughed to myself and kept driving home.

Until next time,
angie