Camera Hogs

I wanted to find something special for ya'll tonight so I started looking at old home video. This one made me laugh so it won for the evening. This is a battle for camera time and you'll be surprised who wins the fight and makes a run for it with the evidence. Watch at your own risk. I will not be responsible for the irritating whining that may cause your ears to bleed.

Run Jabe, run!

Wordless Wednesday

Fashion Lessons From My Kids

I was so excited to go school shopping for Tobin for the first time. Until I came home with shopping bags worth of great deals of stylish clothes that Tobin refuses to wear. Pretty much anything with a collar is unacceptable. And God forbid he wear any shoe that doesn't light up enough to land a plane. It's madding as he turns his nose up at a great striped rugby shirt for ummm lets say a black wolf tee all in the name of "coolness". So my six year old has taken away one of my largest parenting joys of having well dressed kids. But I have come to realize that as he is starting his new school career it should be about his confidence and not about me exerting my taste on him. Thank goodness I still have these three year olds you will wear anything I button on them.

When Jabe walked in to his Sunday school class teacher Kim asked him what was on his tie. Jabe gave the best man-fashion answer for his polka dots, "balls." he says.


I've been laying hands on Phoebe and Jabe that one of them will say no to cartoon t-shirts and plastic light up shoes in the future. But not holding my breath.

The Big Scary World of Kindergarten

Tuesday, Tobin put on his favorite "Rock Star" t-shirt and told me he was nervous. I tried to normalize it and tell him how this was all the Kindergartners first day I am was sure they all felt a little unsure. I asked him to tell me what exactly he was nervous about and then I got an earful.

He was nervous that the other kids would think he was weird.

He was scared the teacher would ask him a question he didn't know the answer to.

He is scared of bullies.

The list went on.

My first reaction to his nervous list was one of pride. His is so articulate. He can name his feelings and feels comfortable sharing them with me. He is ready for this. Because of his late August birthday Matt and I waited for him to be six to start school and that year has added a whole new layer of maturity. Dropping him off in his classroom he told me he was going to need me to stay the whole time. I gave him a squeeze, whispered he was my favorite kid in this whole room and that I couldn't wait to see him in two hours. And I left knowing fully that even though he doesn't know it, I know he is ready for this.

I took all the traditional first day pictures of him. (I think Child Protective Services are called if you don't)

Can you see the I'm-not-so-sure-about-this look in his eyes?

He did great. On his second day of school he told me he met a friend! I asked him what his name was. He rolled his eyes and said, "I don't know HER name, but she looks just like you only with ponytails and a butterfly sweater and a Tinker Bell backpack. And she's sits at the same table as me and I get to see her tomorrow!"

And so it begins.

Five Down

Today we celebrated the last day of Tobin being five. Something magic happens around midnight and he will be six. He is excited to start using two hands to show by fingers how old he is.

Last year when Tobin and I were planning his fifth birthday party, Tobin told me he wanted a surprise party. Then he told me what a surprise party was and that he wasn't going to talk about his birthday anymore because he wanted me to SURPRISE him. I agreed.

It was a challenge but I managed to pull off this doozey of a surprise and he was shocked. Overwhelmed might be the better word. This is him as everyone yelled "surprise!"

Then it quickly turned to this..... a bit of shock.
He warmed right up and we had a great night.
A few weeks after his birthday, Tobin confessed that he never wanted a surprise party again. The five year old surprise party had one big fall back that I didn't see coming, for small kids it's not really about the party; it's about dreaming of the party. The anticipation that it's only months,weeks then days away. It's about wondering what kind of gifts you'll get, who to invite, the attention that will be lavished on you for a whole day.

The surprise party came and went in a few hours and that just wasn't long enough for a five year old.

Now he is phobic when ever we go somewhere and he see's balloons or he doesn't know who's house were at, He says, "Mom, don't tell me. It's my birthday and THIS is my party." I've damaged the boy obviously.

Here's some pictures of Tobin being five.

He's still my pickiest eater. Lives on peanut butter and apple sauce.

Exploring one of the creeks in the backyard.


Meeting neighbor kids and sledding.

First team sport.
Dream trip to Disney with just him and us.

Sea World!

Saying goodbye to pre-school and good buddies.








Here's to six!

A Flying First

This morning Matt drove our first born to the airport and let Tobin board the aircraft all by himself. Matt said he went without hesitation. It went just as the airlines promised, Matt got to take him to the gate and when it was time to board a stewardess took his hand and became his slave for the duration of the flight. Tobin was showered with snacks and a beverage of his choice, (he choose Root Beer at 9 am, the wildman!). I was a bit nervous the night before. I mean what if he were to refuses to get on the plane last minuet? What if he gets sick on the descent? What if terrorist decide that a commuter flight from Portland to Boise is the best way to get our attention? (I've never claimed to be rational.)

Before Matt was even home, we got the call from Grandma Pam that Tobin was in Boise and "had a great flight". I talked with Tobin on the phone and his voice was beaming with bravery and self pride. He sounded older to me. Not as small as the 5 and 11/12th that he is. I think I got a little older too.

Tobin is sure to have a great week in McCall. Grandma has ice cream on the menu everyday and she is picking up a new pug puppy in Boise right now!

Little Bit of Main Street

We took our journey to Mecca this last week. Disneyland! We've been planning and saving and wishing for this trip for months and I can't even believe it's over. We made a decision to only take Tobin on this trip. The twins are still too young to really know what Disneyland is and too small to even remember a trip like this in their long term memory. (We could always photoshop them into a few pictures if they are sensitive to it later.) But even more than that we really just wanted to spend some quality time with Tobin. He's five ....... already. He doesn't give Santa or fairies any more energy to even try to believe in. He told me matter of factly that, "everyone knows that fairies became extinct with the dinosaurs." Well than. He's growing up fast and we wanted to spend a few days with him being 5. In the mean time we all became kids again, yelling on roller coasters, being thrilled on Splash Mountain, defeating Vader, eating ice cream for breakfast, and waking though Main Street until they kicked us out at midnight. We had a blast and I just think my boy started to believe in fairies again. Especially if it means they all looked like this!


A few more pictures of our magical time.

A Disney tip: When you are debating on taking a one day trip away from the park to explore other attractions and your family can't decide between Legoland or Sea World and you really want to take a break from theme parks and have always dreamed of being a dolphin trainer (never mind that I can't swim. The dolphins swim for you right? Right?) but your five year old has been corupted by all his little pre-school buddies that he just HAS to go to Legoland. Solution: take hime to the Lego STORE in Downtown Disney and tell him that it's Legoland. He bought it and we didn't spend a dime.

More to come....

Rookie

Our lives have been invaded by T Ball. Three days a week. Today was the first game. During breakfast I told Tobin he was going to be playing the Giants. His eyes got real big and he asked, "about how big are they mom?". Tobin did well and told me not to cheer so loud, apparently it inhibits him to run in a straight line to first.

Here's some pictures of our Cub.