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catch the moment: wk 31

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

This week’s theme is definitely back to school with a splash of family fun! It’s been stressful, but in a good way for the most part. A whole bunch of transition but so far, so good. I can’t believe I officially have a kid in elementary school and this time a year from now, I’ll have 2. What?

I’m not sure what’s going on with the Catch the Moment link up group but it seems to be fizzling out. I’m still plugging along but hoping to hear and see more from the group sometime soon. Still planning to continue linking up with Mindi,Stephanie, and Carrie for week 31 of Catch the Moment 365.

211/365: Thursday, July 30th. Theo’s first day of Kindergarten! I’ll have to write a separate post all about this major milestone with a few more pictures. I feel like we are over this hump. There was so much anxiety (mine) leading up to this day and I’m glad that we are starting to get into a routine – bumps and all. MAJOR day for the family and I don’t know why I felt so proud of him, because almost every kid goes to Kindergarten. Maybe it’s the anticipation and promise I feel, knowing that he is capable of doing and becoming whatever he chooses. It’s just the beginning and it’s exciting, although bittersweet. 07-30-2015

212/365: Friday, July 31st. We had Dexter’s open house for new and returning students. This will be Dexter’s 2nd year in Montessori pre-school but he has a new teacher so we all wanted to meet her prior to the first day. After reading a book with her and checking out all the changes in his classroom, he wasted no time getting back to his favorite place on campus. The playground! Theo also enjoyed playing at his old stompin’ grounds.07-31-2015

213/365: Saturday, August 1st. This was the first weekend in many that we really had no big plans. Saturday was a perfect day – farmer’s market with friends in the morning then laundry & playing at home all day before grilling a super fresh summery dinner. After that we ended our relaxing day with ice cream at the park. The boys were really into helping me prepare dinner, including setting the table. Where did these big, helpful boys come from? They literally set every bit of the table – I was so proud of them, but not nearly as proud as they were of themselves. Thank you Montessori…08-01-2015

214/365: Sunday, August 2nd. Ryan had lots of work to do around the house so I thought the boys and I would get out of his hair for a few hours. I took them to the best children’s museum in all the world. We got there before they opened at 10 – I thought we’d stay til 1 or so. We didn’t leave til about 3:30! The boys were very entertained (and entertaining) and the hours flew by. We had so much fun. I hope they remember special times with only Mommy or just Daddy. Dexter and I are particularly fond of the Chihuly Exhibit-Fireworks of Glass.08-02-2015

215/365: Monday, August 3rd. Another day, another first-day-of-school dry erase board. And another late night, forgotten photo kind of day. 08-03-2015

216/365: Tuesday, August 4th. The first day of Dexter’s last year of pre-school. The first day of the last year of my kids being in pre-school. All kinds of mixed emotions on this one! This year Dexter did not hesitate for one second when I dropped him off. He met up with one of his favorite friends from last year and they were off. The transition back to school for him so far has been seamless. I was worried that he’d have issues with Theo not being there, but so far he has been fine.08-04-2015

217/365: Wednesday, August 5th. An after dinner, before bed coloring sesh with my sweet 4 year old. 08-05-2015Today after school I asked Theo if anyone at school ever tells him he’s cute and he said “yeah.” When I asked him who, he said the name of his teacher. I asked “Oh? What does she say?” He replied, “she says ‘what would I do without you?’ to me.” Cue my heart melting…she told me on the phone yesterday that he is a great helper. I’m so relieved that Kindergarten is off to a fantastic start.

xo,

~C~

 

 

catch the moment: wk 30

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

What a week of mixed emotions! The weekend was great but these week days have been a different story this past 7 days. We are definitely in a time of transition as a family. Theo starts Kindergarten this year and Dexter will have a new teacher and be brotherless at Montessori School. It’s been an extremely busy week between trying to get things ready but we managed to squeeze in a lot of fun Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Linking up with Mindi,Stephanie, and Carrie for week 30 of Catch the Moment 365.

204/365: Thursday July 23rd. This day marked 8 years since my father passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Ryan knows this day is hard for me. I met a friend for dinner and meanwhile, my 3 special guys picked up a couple of pick-me-ups. Oh, I wish my dad was around to know my kids.07-23-2015

205/365: Friday, July 24th. At work, we had a team-building activity. I had never done one of these canvas class thingies but it was really fun. Another highlight of the day was finally meeting up with the boys’ best friends -another pair of brothers – from Montessori school at the park in the evening. Theo and Dexter had been missing their little buddies and they were so happy to get together after 2+ months apart. 07-24-2015

206/365: Saturday, July 25th. Luke Bryan concert with friends!! An annual tradition. So much fun. 07-25-2015

207/365: Sunday July 26th. Another summer lake day at my in-laws’ house – these are too few and far between. We are trying to squeeze every drop out of summer! I am in love with my mother-in-law’s blue hydrangeas. 07-26-2015

208/365: Monday July 27th. Monday was a Monday in every sense of the word. Little things…big things. It just seemed like everything was going wrong. I overslept. Broke my only ponytail holder with hair that looked like I’d overslept. Spilled coffee all over my white shirt. Found out Dexter’s Montessori teacher is not coming back this year. Got a call from summer camp because Dex had a fever. Took Dex to the doctor to find out he had swimmer’s ear. And on and on and on. Forgot to take a picture until about 1158pm…this was all I could manage. My pathetic countertop.07-27-2015

209/365: Tuesday, July 28th. On Tuesday, we found out that Theo’s Kindergarten teacher had quit and would only be in the classroom the first 2 days of the school year. Of course this didn’t sit well with me. Tuesday was a very emotional and stressful day. Theo was quiet and shy at back to school night, not interested in saying hi to anyone and almost hiding behind me. I know he isn’t like that in my absence. I felt bad, seeing him acting nervous about Kindergarten for the first time. Afterwards, I laid in bed with him for awhile and asked him how he felt in his heart. He said “half red, half blue.” I’m not 100% sure what he meant but I said, “me too.” And I meant it. I know it’s normal…most kids go to Kindergarten. It’s not like we’ve never been apart before. But this feels different than any other change. It’s so big. No one knows him and he knows no one. Who is going to take care of him? Theo is far more confident than I am. I get teary-eyed every time I think of it. I just want it to be a couple months from now when we are in an established routine. We know teachers and expectations and the car pick up and drop off line. I dunno…it’s just hard knowing he is having emotions that he can’t express and there’s not a thing I can do to make this easier for him. He has to figure it out. He has to struggle with uncomfortable feelings. Experiences like this will contribute to the person he becomes. 07-28-2015

210/365: Wednesday, July 29th. Theo woke up with a fresh attitude. He even said “I wish today was my first day of Kindergarten instead of my last day of camp.” That made me feel so much better. Tonight at bedtime we were reading The Night Before Kindergarten and there’s a line that says the kids were excited and scared. I asked him if he felt excited and scared, he said yes. When I asked why scared, he said because he won’t know “one single person.” How does that feel when you’re 5? As an introvert, that feels TERRIBLE at 35. I’m glad he adapts more easily than I do. 07-29-2015Time for bed….I’ve got a Kindergartner to wake up in the morning.

xo,

~C~

 

catch the moment: wk 28

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

Hey there …it’s me again. We have been trying to stay dry here in Central Indiana but we’ve had so much rain this summer. Many below average temp days as well. I am hopeful that summer might still show up but we are running out of time. Speaking of time, how is it possible that Theo starts Kindergarten two weeks from tomorrow? I can’t believe it! The process seems a little overwhelming right now with paying for book fees, registration, online registration (which is apparently different), orientation, back to school night, school supplies, transportation and my current uncertainty about infamous drop off and pick up lines…I have no clue what I’m doing (or about to do) but we’ll get the hang of this, right?? There are other parents who have survived sending their little ones off to the big, big world of elementary school, or so I’m told.

190/365: Thursday, July 9th. It had been WAY too long (3 weeks) since I’d seen Kennedy Noelle so we had a little dinner playdate during which I only let Ryan hold her for 10 minutes so I could shove some food in my piehole. She slept the whole time, until I laid her down to try to take some pictures. And this was what she thought about that. 07-09-2015

191/365: Friday, July 10th. We spent the weekend with our friends, Corey and Melissa, and their kiddos. Unfortunately they live a couple hours away but it’s a nice excuse for a getaway to spend time with them. They had a beautiful custom bar built since our last visit so we spent some time enjoying the new amenities at our B&B. 07-10-2015

192/365: Saturday, July 11th. We were hoping for a hot, sunny day (or “hot and summer day,” as Theo says) but hey – at least it didn’t rain! We were able to let the kids play in the lake and take Corey’s jet ski on a few spins around the lake. Dexter was happy to go slow while Theo, the thrill seeker, wanted max speed. SO. FUN. 07-11-2015

193/365: Sunday, July 12th. Different kind of bar scene – kids coloring. Theo outlasted them all. He loves to color, write, or draw. As sad as I feel about him going to Kindergarten, I am eagerly anticipating the learning and growth that is about to take place.07-12-2015

194/365: Monday, July 13th. I was lucky to be able to grill these beautiful, juicy, savory, delicious pork chops during a break between two BIG storms that rolled through. The first hit around noon and left many trees down, people without power (including my residence briefly as well as my office), and caused severe flooding. The second was right around the boys bedtime and I have never seen anything like it. Lightning was constantly flashing and illuminated the sky almost nonstop for at least an hour. It was amazing and scary at the same time. The light show was followed by extreme winds and torrential rain, neither of which lasted very long. It continued to rain and thunder long after I was able to relax and fall asleep. So much damage has been done and so many crops have been destroyed by this crazy summer weather. Anyway- the pork chops were great.07-13-2015

195/365: Tuesday, July 14th. Boys and their critters.07-14-2015

196/365: Wednesday, July 15th. We were at the splash park with some friends when Theo flashed back to September 2014, recreating the ‘ice bucket challenge’ (without ice) repeatedly. 07-15-2015

Aside from our wild and crazy weather, it’s been a good week. Hope your week has been good too. Linking up with Mindi,Stephanie, and Carrie for week 28 of Catch the Moment 365.

xo,

~C~