like moms that came before.

I know that my mom used to do this.

I know Garran's mom used to do this.

I used to love getting notes in my lunch box growing up. So i decided to continue on the tradition of doing so with Cullan and my other kids as they go through school. 

Today was Cullans first day eating lunch at school because the first day was a half day.

When he got in the van from picking  him up, I asked him how his day went. He began telling me all about his day. Then he said.."Oh yeah mom, I found your note......Thanks". So I decided that meant he liked it. I will keep it up until he tells me to stop or tells me he can draw better than I can which would not be hard. We are pretty close to the same level as it is. ;0)

Walking...

she is really getting the hang of this whole walking thing..darn it.

Kindergarten...

How did we get here?

 He was just my baby the other day. That is how it feels anyways. I swear that I was just bringing him home from the hospital and being paranoid about anyone holding him, watching him, touching him. Now he is not with me for most of the day! Sigh. Time just keeps on ticking I guess. 

(I know he looks in pain in the picture above. It was really cold this morning, but he insisted on wearing shorts.)

 normally i would just drop Cullan off at school, but today I walked up with him. They have two lines for the kindergarten classes. Here is Cullan in his line with all his supplies.

 He was so excited. He did not stop talking the whole time we were in line. Right after I took this picture they told us it was time to go in to the class. 

 Here is his locker that he shares with two other children. 

And here he is with his class and teacher doing opening exercises. They finished and then the excused the parents. I was fine up until that point. The tears started rolling when Mrs. B said, ok turn around and  wave good bye to your parents.

I decided I could not handle staying for the boo hoo breakfast since I was already boo hooing. So I just left. Plus Garran had class. 

So most of you that know us, know that we rarely have a big event or an event in general without some humorous story to go with it. 

So here is how our morning went. 

We get up, get everyone dressed. Double check to make sure that we have everything on the list in the backpack. Garran does school/father blessings and we have a quick dance party before we leave. 

Cullan and I went to the school together. I could tell he was so excited. If I was unsure about that I would have figured it out. At the first stop light I hear this from the back of the van. "Mom, can't this van go any faster, I am not getting any younger back here.". I simply reply that I have to follow the traffic rules...to which I get a sigh.

Then we go and do the line up outside, the walk into the classroom, and the sad goodbye.

Then around 11:00ish I am talking to a friend that also has a son that started kindergarten but that is in the other class. She says to me, "Where was Cullan today? Is he OK?". I say "What do you mean?". She then proceeds to tell me that while she was at the boo hoo breakfast, one of the aides came in asking if Cullan was in there. Of course I am instantly thinking, what WHAT!! they don't know where my kid is???

So I call Garran and explain the conversation to him, because he is the more level headed one when it comes to things like this. To my surprise he told me to call the school immediately and make sure they knew where Cullan was. 

So I call the school and explain the situation. The receptionist that I spoke to sounded concerned, which did not instill confidence and then she left me on hold FOREVER!

Finally a completely different women picked up and was very pleasant. She said there had been a misunderstanding. Apparently about 10 minutes after I left, Cullan got a real gusher of a nose bleed. They went to the boo hoo breakfast looking for me not him.

I guess he got blood all over his shorts and they wanted me to bring him a change of clothes. However, then they checked his backpack and saw that I had packed the emergency clothes they had asked for so they did not call.

Mystery Solved. Heart Attack Averted.

I picked Cullan up after school and he was ecstatic. His teacher said that he did amazing. Even with the bloody nose. She said he had a great day.

He told me that he made a friend, only one, but that I should not feel bad for him because he was happy with just one friend for right now. 

He is such a funny kid. 

This was only a half day.

We will see how the first whole day goes tomorrow!

Trains!!

My dad came to visit of Labor Day weekend. We had a nice visit and while he was here, we decided to go to the train museum. I had heard good things about it, but had never been. 

So we loaded up and headed to Union City.

I had no idea what to expect, but I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised!

 We started off looking at an old subway car from New York. The kids thought it was super cool. I thought we were just going to get on and look around. However when we did the conductor came by and said we were leaving. I did not realize how many different trains you got to ride. If you have kids that love trains, and are in this area, you have to stop.

 This was a re-created old train station.

 Here we are on the subway car getting ready to leave.

 The kids watching a steam engine go by.

 Briea and Daddy watching the stuff go by.

 We went in one of their many buildings and looked at the trains that they had on display. You could spend a very very long time there if you wanted to.

 The kids wanted a picture with this. They liked it because it was a cartoon. I liked it because that is what I say most days, "I think I can, I think I can". ;0)

 Good Advice!

 This was the second to the last train we rode. Not a whole lot of seating but Garran made friends with the conductor and learned all sorts of interesting facts. 

Grandpa and the girls on the last train. 

Thanks Grandpa Jeff for a fun weekend.

Homework!

Ok, so this is Cullan's first homework assignment!

He had to make an "All About Me" poster.

He really enjoyed this.

So here is the finished project first.

 This is his drawing of his family members. There is Garran, who is holding Ayla. then myself, Kael and Briea.

 This is Cullan's self portrait.

 He then had to cut things out of a magazine of some of his favorite things. I thought his selections were pretty accurate.

 Then he had his dislikes. That would be the following.

Coffee, shots, cats (he only dislikes cats, because I am allergic), bugs and lizards!

 The last drawing was what he wanted to do when he grew up and then draw a picture. 

Cullan thought for a little while and then decided that he wanted to be a missionary. I thought he would say a power ranger, fire man or astronaut. I was wrong. I am ok with that!

 On to the questions.

The first set asked if he had 3 wishes what would they be. Cullans were as follows, just in case you can't read them.

1. Go fishing.

2. That he could do everything his mom says.

3. That he could find the toys his sister hides from him!

 The last little bit were questions about him. I actually had to convince Cullan that he did not have black hair. He was pretty sure he did. We came to an agreement that we would put brown down.

I did not get a good picture of Cullan holding this. I will try again on the first day of school. He is so excited and it is coming so quickly!!

the little things

Sometimes it really is the little things that can make such a big difference. 

As you know, September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month.

I am sure it can be overwhelming when wondering what you can do to help. I know I have felt that way watching my friends go through this with their son. I can not always give financially to the cause, but I can give of my time and effort. 

So here is what I decided. I saw that Stacy (Ollie's Mom) had decorated their van to be almost a mobile billboard. I loved the idea. I thought to myself, This is something I can do!!

This cost me $2.95 and about 5 minutes of my time. I plan on leaving it on our van throughout the month of September. I bought these Crayola window crayons. They worked AWESOME!! I have the window markers through crayola as well, but they did not show up that great. 

Anyways, my point is that you never know who may see this message and be willing to give. 

Down in the corner of our van it says, "Every Day Matters". 

It really does to these kids. 

So what is 30 Days of driving around with a great message on my van.

Nothing.

Please consider getting the word out about Pediatric Cancer. It really is under funded in comparison to other cancer research.

 I was on the website today called, I Could Be Your Child.

I just sat on the couch and sobbed. It could be my child. I remember so vividly having the conversation with Stacy before Oliver went to get that first MRI. 

We were sitting together chatting and she said she felt nervous, what if his cross eye was from a tumor. We both dismissed it and said no way. I am sure we were both thinking, that could never be my child.

But it was. 

It could easily be.

There are so many silly things that get reposted on facebook and other social networking areas. Why not take the time to do some good and get a good message out in what ever way you feel comfortable. 

I know it would mean the world to all those families struggling with this horrible disease.

Meet and Greet!

Well, today was the BIG day!!

We went to go meet Cullan's new Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. B. 

I told him to make sure and use his manners as we were going in. Boy did he ever. He even laid it on pretty thick.

Here is the conversation as we first walked in the door. 

Mrs. B- Hi Cullan, nice to meet you.

Cullan- Hi Mrs. B, very nice to meet you.

Mrs. B- Are you excited for kindergarten?

Cullan-Yes

Mrs. B- Well Cullan, did you go to preschool?

Cullan-Well Mrs. B, can I be honest? That is just a long story!

Ahh yes. Starting to school year off on the right foot.

Pretty much from that point on Cullan had her laughing. She commented on how mature and how funny he was. She said she was sure that Cullan would make a wonderful addition to the classroom. 

 Here is Cullan and Mrs. B

Here is Cullan outside his classroom. He was so excited when he saw the apple with his name on it. I had to laugh and think of my mom. I started having flashbacks of myself having an apple in kindergarten and a traumatic experience of it being taken off the board. That is another story for another day. Cullan was so excited about his school that he did not want to leave. I think we checked out the gym twice and stayed in the library for a while. He kept asking me when he could come back and that he desperately wanted to go back to Mrs. B's room. I was surprised. Cullan is not my most affectionate child, but he gave her a hug as we left. You know he is excited when that happens!

I am sure next week can not get her fast enough for him. I on the other hand am going to try and enjoy my last few days with him at home the best that I can. The PTA puts on something called the BOO HOO Breakfast for all the kindergarten parents. I had to laugh when Mrs. B invited me to it. All parents are invited, but I thought I might need a good Boo Hoo that day. ;0)

Cheesin

i love that you can see all of her teeth!

September is...

Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month

Most of you know that some of our Best Friends son has a brain tumor known as DIPG.

It is a terminal brian tumor.

Oliver is 9.

Every year way to many children pass away from cancer that might be solved through research. However instead of giving funding almost every year it is cut in budgets. Our sweet children do not have to suffer and die from this.

I love the GMA segment "Life in 3 Words" that comes on every friday.

I found this video and wanted to share.

Pediatric cancer in three words.

If you want to read about our friends story there is a link at the top left hand corner of our page. 

princess

So in case you are not familiar with my daughter Briea, she is a little obsessed with princesses right now. She LOVES them. She says that we need to call her Princess Briea and she loves her dress up gowns. So after she watched Tangled, she was hooked.

Now when I brush her hair for pretty much any reason she will say, "sing the song mom, the hair song".

So I have slowly started to memorize it.

Here it is if you are not familiar with it.

"Flower Gleam and Glow
Let your power shine
Make the clock reverse
Bring Back what once was mine
Heal what has been hurt
Change the Fates' design
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine
What once was mine"

After we brush her hair and sing the song, (yes she sings along) she will turn around, shaking her head and say "Look Mom, My Hair is LONGER!!".

I love having a girly girl. 

She is so much fun!

what can i say?

my kids like to move!!

do my hair pretty!

the other day briea was playing with one of her dolls. it has very curly blonde hair. so as we were talking I said, "Your doll sure has pretty hair!".

Briea quickly agreed and asked me to do her hair like her dolls. 

so here we go, curly haired briea!

hidden message

cullan greeted me this morning with this picture he had been working on. 

he said it was a picture of me, and him and daddy. we are the three small figures on the bottom.

then he said that he had put a secret message in it. 

do you see it???

i will give you a minute!

you have to look close, i did anyways.

ok i will tell.

next to me there is a circle with a dot in the middle, that is an eye.

next there is a heart circled over cullan's head. 

then next to garrans head is the letter u.

i love you!

he is such a creative kid. 

i just love that about him!

Grandpa

I forgot to post a picture of my dad with the kids while we were there for my grandmothers funeral. Every time we are together he likes to get a group shot. so i thought i would post it on here also. someday everyone will be looking at the camera, but for now this will do! ;0)

she just wont listen

she just refuses to listen when i tell her to slow down. stop growing up so quickly. here she is, my baby, taking not her first steps but her first bunch of steps that we have caught on camera. even though we are cheering her on in excitement, my heart aches a little that she is getting so big. 2 more months and we will be celebrating her 1st birthday. time sure flies when your having fun!

happy.

this girl loves to sleep in laundry baskets.

so we let her ;0)

Kael-isms

Kael has always had a spectacular personality. What I mean by that, is that there is never a dull moment with this boy. I know that every kid goes through a phase of saying things in a silly way, but these are a few that i love and want to remember before he completely grows out of them.

1. smokerretes- as in "mom we don't smoke those smokerrettes!"

2. bugskittos- just another way of say mosquito

3. foodgaser- this would be where you fill up your car with gas, but they also sell food inside.

4. lilly-pop- yep just lolly-pops 

5. hers- he refers to just about every girl this way. "hers is not sharing with me!"
6. chooses- as in "mom, i don't like those chooses."

there are more that i love, but i am to tired to think of them right now. 

maybe i will add to it as they come to me!

SURPRISE!!

while we were in des moines for my grandmothers funeral, our friends the palmers also happened to be in des moines. since we do not get to see them as much as we would like, we got together so the kids could play and so we could visit!

the kids were so excited when they saw the palmers walking up the drive way. 

i told them they had a surprise coming, but i don't think they ever dreamed it would be them!

 Cullan helping Finny go for a ride.

 Ayla desperatly trying to get Ollies attention. He is quite the ladies man! ;0)

 Eden and Cullan playing Taxi!

 Best Buds- Kael and Jaren

Ollie wiggling it!!

these ride things are so much fun. a couple people have asked where you find them. my parents said their neighbor found them at the iowa state fair, however you can find them only as well. i would just google wiggle rider or something similar. 

I was so glad the Palmers came to visit. 

i am hoping it wont be so long until we see them again!

beauty secrets

i guess sisters start sharing their "beauty secrets" early. briea decided to give ayla a pudding and cheese hair scrub. surprisingly all it did was make her scalp very sticky!!

i am sure they will try other things as the years go on ;0)

Really....

i mean really...

this really is what it is like somedays at our house!

it made me laugh, so i thought i would share.