Wordless Wednesday

Liam Starts 3-Year-Old Preschool

The big day has come!  Liam gets to start school again.  He was so excited to take his backpack to school today, into his big boy three-year-old classroom, and do something similar to what his big brother has been doing for the last week.  He insisted we do the sign (although I'm out of printer ink so it's handwritten) but of course we took his sweet picture.

The full body shot of his first day of school outfit (his choice), his cool new shoes, 

and of course the picture of his huge backpack with Lightning McQueen on it.  I love to get the picture from the back so I can remember just how little they were compared to their backpacks at one point in their lives.

In the classroom, Liam became pretty shy, although he pointed out his name on the chart of classroom responsibilities. He has had a lot of separation anxiety all throughout his life, and it has not abated as he has gotten older, but we know that his teachers love him and take care of him while he's there so it's not hard for us to leave him.
Something fact we found out today is that his T-Th preschool class is comprised of five children, four boys and one girl.  His M-W-F class, on the other hand, has eight children, seven girls and Liam. Should be an interesting year!

There are trains!  What more could a Black boy want?

Just a few days ago, Tim asked Liam what he wanted to be when he grew up.  We were both surprised when he said, "Doctor."  It was the first time he had mentioned anything about wanting to pursue that.  We were expecting "Train Conductor" or "Policeman".  But he went with doctor.  Coincidentally, this morning he put on a doctor's stethoscope from the dress up box and listened to the dinosaur's heartbeat.

You're such an awesome guy, Liam.  We love you, and we know that you are going to have a fantastic year at school.  You're growing up fast, and we're privileged to watch it as you venture out on your own, going to school for the first time without your brother to guide you.  You will do great.  Just let your heart lead you and you will be just fine.

Tropical Storm Isaac

Schools were cancelled.  Tim and I were home from work.  We all waited out the big storm with the rest of Tampa - and all of those who care about the Republican National Convention.  So we made the most of our day, splitting it into equal parts entertainment and cleaning. Well, two of us (Micah and Liam) focused on the entertainment and two of us (Tim and me) focused on the cleaning.

But we took a break to run some errands and treat the boys to a milkshake.  By the way, Thanks for introducing those to the kids, Mum-Mum and Pop-Pop.  Until you came, they thought McDonald's only served Happy Meals.

We built a wooden track for the trains.

We lined up all the garbage trucks,

and then created a dump out of pink tissue paper for the all the garbage (i.e. Legos) to be transported to.

For his birthday, Micah got a really cool stool from Aunt Heidi, Mum-Mum, and Pop-Pop so that he can safely stand up taller and safer in the kitchen when he helps me cook.  This was the perfect project to put together today.  Liam and his animal beach balls supervised.

Look how awesome!

Liam loves it too, and it safely holds both of them and will adjust to accommodate them as they got taller.  Daddy was proud of his construction job.

They were totally ready to cook.  I didn't get pictures of them actually doing it, but just today they made no-bake cookies and macaroni and cheese.  Super fun.

All in all, a good day.  Thanks, Isaac!  Back to reality tomorrow.

Happy 5th Birthday, Micah

Dear Micah,

Today you are five.  Today you mark the beginning of your sixth year of life, your sixth of figuring out the world, your sixth year of being with us.
Thanks for breaking us in as parents.  Truthfully, you were such a good baby that we were unprepared for your brother, but that's another story.   You've always been equal parts serious and mischievous, which is a fascinating combination.  We can see it reflected in even the earliest pictures of you.

We can hardly remember what life was like before you were in it.  You light everything up and change the way that we see everything and make us want to be the best parents that we can be, because we know that you deserve nothing less.

We would love to write a little bit about how your interests have changed through the years and how you move from one toy to the other, but here's the honest truth.  You have always loved transportation.  You came out of the womb obsessed with cars, trucks, buses, planes, monorails, trams, trains, etc.  Yeah you learned your colors, letters, and numbers, and you played with blocks, instruments, and legos, but nothing has ever held your attention for any length of time unless it is somehow related to transportation.  And I'm totally cool with that.  Because it's who you are.  And I love that, even at the ripe old age of 5, you have made it clear that you are going to be who you are going to be and if someone else doesn't like it, that's perfectly okay.  They just may not play trains with you.

Playtime is your favorite thing ever.  Nothing upsets you more than playtime being cut short or taken away.  And we love to watch you play, because there's seriously nothing comparable to watching pure joy on the face of a boy doing what he loves.  It's magical.

You know exactly what you want and how you want it.  You like cupcakes, but you're only eating the icing.  You like to play airport, but Liam has to put his plane exactly where you tell him. You like to be outside, but you want to tell us exactly when you're ready to come inside and aren't ready a moment before.  You like reading, but don't like to be forced to do it.  You want to eat dinner, but only when you're hungry enough to stop playing and gobble a few bites.  All of these things don't seem like a big deal when they're taken on their own, but together, they're just you.

And now you're five.  You're taking on the world, one day of kindergarten at a time.  Many things have changed about you over the years, but that smile is still mischievous. Your heart is still pure.  You love cars, your brother, your friends, being at church, riding a bus, and running crazy.  But you are really growing up.  And we are so happy to be here to see it and to guide it.

 

Thanks for your patience with us as your parents, as we try to figure out what's best for you.  Thanks for being a light in our lives and a joy for our hearts.  We know how blessed we are to have you for a son, and we pray that we can spend every day letting you know how grateful we are for the gift of you in our lives, and how much we love you.

Happy 5th birthday, Micah. 

Mommy and Daddy

Glimpses of Liam

Since so much of the focus this week has been on Micah starting Kindergarten and turning five, I thought I would spend just a few minutes focused on Liam this morning.  Granted he'll be starting preschool again next week, but a little Liam is good for the soul any time and these random pictures taken over the last couple of months are pretty cute.
Cruising Disney like any young exec - cell phone in one had, obnoxiously huge lollipop in the other.  And a smile on his face!

I think that toy is back here somewhere...

Not sure what he was saying to Tim, but clearly it was very important.

Cute in Daddy's hat.

Riding "Small World" with Mommy.

He loves this light saber.  Loves it.  He's never seen "Star Wars", but it might be in his blood somehow.  Oh, and the fact that it lights up is super cool.  Check out that face - ready to fight the bad guys!

First Day of Kindergarten

It's here!!!  Micah has been sooo excited about this day for so long.  Of course, last week he asked if he could just ride the bus and come home, so we've spent some time talking about all the fun things he gets to do when the bus actually drops him off at school.
He could barely contain his excitement while we were forcing him to take a picture this morning.

I had to get a shot of his backpack.  It still looks so huge on him!  Yes it's Angry Birds, yes he picked it out all by himself, and yes it's actually heavy when he wears it.  He kept talking about how he would have to take it off to ride on the bus.

Liam thinks he's ready for kindergarten too.  He's already talking about going when he's five.  We couldn't keep him out of a picture.  2014 and the start of his kindergarten journey will be here before we know it.

Here he goes!!!

The big moment as he gets on the bus for the first time.  Much to his dismay, the bus driver had him sit in the front with the other kindergarteners as required.  He had already told us how he was going to sit in the back.  Funny how that "cool kids sit in the back" is somehow wired into kids before they even set foot on a bus.





We didn't cry, but we did tear up, watching our little boy get on a bus for the first time.  Only 180 more times this year, and 2160 until he graduates high school.  You know, roughly.
We're so excited for you, Micah, and hope that your school journey is nothing but fun, amazing, and helpful in allowing you to become the incredible person we know God created you to be.