Back to School

It's that time of year again, back to school! All three of my kids are in school this year. Time flies, and I tell my boys to stop getting older all of the time. They never listen though.

This year the boys started 2nd grade at a new school that is in our neighborhood. I gave them the option of driving to their old school (8 minutes away) or going to the neighborhood school. They told me they needed to check out the playground at the neighborhood school before making a decision. Understood. Once it checked out okay, they decided to go to the neighborhood school. They really missed being able to ride bikes to/from school last year, and so they are excited to be able to do it again this year.

Palm Valley is a great school. It is in the same district as their previous school, and this district is rated the highest in the state (I believe). This particular elementary is the highest rated in our district. So I feel really good about them going to the new school. Plus, I really enjoyed our bike riding to/from school when they were in kindergarten.

During the open house, we walked all around the school until the boys were comfortable to lead us around. Their classrooms are just around the corner from each other, and their teachers are very good friends with each other. Both teachers already knew that my boys were new to the school, and that they were twins as soon as we arrived at the open house.

Wes with Mrs. Hampton

Calvin with Mrs. Lardner

Since school has started, things have been going really well. The boys are enjoying it and making new friends. With them being twins, and each other's best friend already, they weren't nervous about starting someplace new. That made me feel so good. After the first few days of school, Adam and I would ask them if they talked to any kids. Calvin told me that he talked to a kid at lunch because the kid told Calvin that he LIKED jello (Calvin had it for lunch), and Calvin responded by saying he LOVED jello. Calvin was so proud of that conversation. Since then, the boys have made several new friends and friends come up to them when they arrive and leave the school.

Best Friends

They've had the same backpacks since Kindergarten. We just keep adding patches.

We went to the neighborhood pool this weekend, and one of Wes' friends, a GIRL, was in the pool. She immediately started yelling out for Wes, and he immediately got super shy and wanted me to go in the pool with him. Good boy. Stay away from those crazy girls. As for Calvin, one of his previous classmates moved to this school too -- a GIRL. I'm friends with Calvin's previous teacher from kindergarten and first grade, and she told me that this girl is in love with Calvin and thinks he is really "hot". Hearing Mrs. VanDeCar describe her conversation with this girl about her love for Calvin had me laughing so hard. Calvin has an admirer.

Speaking of Mrs. VanDeCar, she has been an amazing help for me during the first 1 1/2 months of school. She is helping me through any concerns I have, looking at test scores from previous years, and offering to have lunch with the boys. She even visited their new school last year to meet all of the second grade teachers and recommend that best ones for Calvin and Wes. I miss her as Calvin's teacher (and Wes' too), but I am so glad to have the friendship with her.

I can't forget Alemitu. My little girl started pre-school this year. She LOVES it. She talks nonstop after I pick her up, telling me all about what she did and she always repeats the words "friends". It makes me feel so good to know that she is super excited about school. 

Alemitu and her teacher

First day of preschool

Alemitu has also decided to completely potty train herself this month, as well as move to a "big girl" bed without issue. This is happening too fast!! When I was building the bed for her, she was all excited. However, when I moved her blankies and animals over, she started freaking out, crying, and trying to put them all back in her crib. I stayed in her room with her for 10 minutes until she calmed down, and then I left completely expecting her to get out of bed. Nope. Every night stays in her bed and loves it. She always yells "I did it!" in the mornings when I wake her up. She runs to her bed for nap and night time. She loves it! The other day, I heard my mom singing to her on the monitor. I realized she had gotten a book off of her bookshelf to read in bed (my mom had recorded a song on it). So she knows she can get out of bed, but she chooses to stay in it. Pretty cool. And potty training herself? Awesome. She still wears a diaper for nap and night time, but just out of the blue one day she began asking to go on the potty every time.

First night in the bed (after calming down)

She runs and jumps in her bed every chance she gets -- even when we are changing her clothes.

My kids are growing up, but I am so, so proud of them.

Summer Vacation

We've had a great, great summer! It went by way too fast. Here are some highlights:

June was pretty much spent at home. In the beginning of June, the boys went to basketball camp that was sponsored by a former player of the Phoenix Suns. The rest of the month, we spent our time swimming, playing with toys, celebrating Alemitu's birthday, and spending as much time with my sister as we could. My sister moved to Texas mid-month. I miss her, and Alemitu misses my niece Chloe. Those girls love to play together. I'm super happy for my sister and think the move is a good decision, but boy do we miss that family living by us. Later in June, we were supposed to go to San Diego with several friends, but we had to cancel last minute when I got a kidney stone.

Dressing up in Daddy's shoes & Wiggles shirt. She has 2 Wiggles shirts and has to be wearing one of them at all times.

The boys playing with their Batman guys. They stayed in underwear or costumes all summer.

More costumes

Swimming!

Alemitu playing with her birthday party balloons.

The boys watched movies and had a slumber party in our room every single night.

Birthday dinner with Cousin Chloe

This is where we swam all summer

Lunch break, then more swimming

Watching Wiggles and saving a spot for Cousin Chloe -- she had just moved to Texas

On July 1st, we headed out to Nashville to visit some good friends for several days. These are our friends that we met during our first trip to Ethiopia. They adopted a 1 year old son, and they waited for us to travel back together a second time. We bonded quickly, and we couldn't wait to spend a few days with them.

Alemitu and Ty -- they knew each other before we knew them

The boys bonded with Mallory right away.

Enjoying an Ethiopian dinner

Alemitu loved Mallory

Hollie and Alemitu dancing to the music

Sweet Ty and Alemitu

The kids at the Batman building

On July 3rd, we drove to Ohio and met my family. We spent two days at Kings Island amusement park and water park. The first day, we opened the park and closed it down at midnight (minus a few hour break for lunch and nap in the afternoon). It was the best time I've ever had at an amusement park. We paid for passes to get to the front of the line, and the boys thought that was the coolest thing. They rode on anything and everything, and Alemitu enjoyed herself even though she couldn't ride on many rides.

Wes watching a water ride . . . wait for it . . . wait for it

SPLASH!!

On July 6th, we made our way to Indiana. We spent 10 days there visiting extended family. We played games, ate good food, laughed a lot, went swimming, went to a dairy farm, went to lots of parks, went bike riding, picked blackberries, and just spent time enjoying each other. The best part was when my parents surprised my older sister and I by flying in my younger sister and her family. When I saw Jenna walk around the corner, I screamed and gave everyone a heart attack. I immediately started crying hard, and for probably 30-45 minutes after that moment, I still teared up when I talked about it. I miss my sister a lot. Even though she could only be there for 24 hours, it was amazing and I am so grateful my parents flew her in. 

My family - so blessed to have them

Cousins/Best Buds

Alemitu learning how to eat corn on the cob

At the dairy farm

Adam and Christina are both competitive, and Adam likes to talk trash to Christina (super fit sister) about how he could beat her in any fitness challenge. They had been planning a P90X challenge for about 4-5 months. They ended up having a dance off instead, and Adam made sure to dress in his dancing/workout attire.

More dancing.

Cousins having a bath. They've missed each other.

Calvin watering the corn during the drought.

Noble Roman's breadsticks!!!

In late July, we went to a Wiggles concert. Alemitu LOVES the Wiggles. The boys have started enjoying them again now that they see Alemitu watching the Wiggles -- all day long. The concert was so worth the money. As soon as the Wiggles came on stage, Alemitu started screaming, jumping, and waving. It was the cutest thing. She danced to about 2/3 of the concert, and the last 1/3 she sat on Adam's lap in a daze. She was exhausted.

Of course, the boys have Wiggles costumes

We were blessed to be able to spend a lot of Friday nights with our good friends. The boys even had their very first sleepover at a friend's house. It is so nice to have such great friends for us and the kids. They are family.

First Sleepover at Santino's House

Best Friends -- Faith & Alemitu (and Justin)

Adam didn't have to travel much this summer. It was a nice break. He did go on a couple trips in July -- including Comic-Con in San Diego. He got to meet tons and tons of actors. He also went to New York.

Adam leading his production crew at Comic-Con

New York shoot

A few days before school started, I took my boys on a date to Wet N Wild water park. We had a blast. We went on every single ride. There was this one ride that I was so scared to get on, I kept making excuses like "I don't think you are tall enough" or "the line is too long" or "I think it might be closed". The boys had an answer for all of my excuses, but I was truly terrified to go on it. At the end of the day, we got in line for one of our favorite rides and I kept looking at the scary ride. I finally decided that I would regret not experiencing that thrill with my boys . . . so we went. Terrifying, but we survived.

 Wet N Wild Water Park

The terrifying, Mammoth Falls

Wes' lunch that day -- he ate about 1/3

What an amazing summer we have had. Tonight, as I tucked my boys in bed (in their room for the first time all summer), I got a little teary eyed. While I'm enjoy getting back to a routine, I sure will miss having them around all day. I'm already looking forward to next summer!

The Boys Are 7!

 

 Wes and Calvin are now 7 year olds. I can't believe it. When any of my clients ask how old my boys are, I automatically say "5". They've been 5 for three years now. Not seven. No way.

This year we spent their birthday in Ohio at King's Island Amusement park with my family. It was so much fun. We paid for passes that allowed Adam, my dad, and the boys to go to the front of the line for all of the big roller coasters. They are not scared of any ride. The boys had a blast, and my dad and Adam had headaches. :-)

 A few days later, we threw a party in Indiana for the boys' birthday (including birthdays for Alemitu, cousin Sydney, and cousin Carter). The boys have started eating cake this year, so they were able to enjoy their birthday cupcakes.

As for Calvin, he is still a super independent guy. He is quiet, and can sit and play with his toys, draw, or build things for hours. He rarely gets frustrated when trying to figure things out. Some other things about Calvin are:

Costumes:  Calvin dresses up in costumes every single day. He will go to restaurants, shopping, etc. with his costume on. Adam and I completely support this and are not embarrassed when people stare (most people think it is cute). Calvin is being creative, and we encourage that.

Favorite things to do:  Calvin loves to dress up in costumes; draw; and build things like Legos.

Favorite food: Big roni (shells & cheese). He has recently started eating hamburgers. In Indiana on the way to McDonald's he said, "Mom, I think I want one of those things . . . um . . . I think they are called 'burgers'? They have the two pieces of bread and that thing in the middle. I don't want to eat that thing though." When we went to McDonald's, I ordered him a hamburger and made him take two bites of "that thing" (meat), and he ended up really liking it.


Sports:  Calvin really enjoyed playing basketball over football this past spring. He is also interested in skateboarding, and we will pay to get him private lessons this fall.

Personality:  Happy go lucky. Quiet. Detail oriented. Sometimes "in his own world". Rarely ever complains.

Wes has more of an aggressive personality. He is more passionate about certain things, and will tear up if he gets in trouble or can't figure something out. Some other things about Wes are:

Play:  Wes will dress up in costumes if Calvin does. Wes really likes to pretend they are different characters (Mario & Luigi; ghostbusters; etc.) even if they are in regular clothes. He always wants to be playing pretend. He likes to tell Calvin what Calvin is supposed to say, but he is getting better about letting Calvin think of things on his own.

Favorite things to do:  Play with batman guys, ghostbuster guys, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He loves to play the Wii -- especially when I play with him. We defeat the Mario games together.

Favorite Food: Big roni

Sports:  Wes enjoys football and basketball. He enjoys the team sports, has slightly more of a competitive attitude, and can sometimes get frustrated trying to learn the individual sports. He loves to challenge us to races. At times, I can't beat him.

Personality:  Passionate. Loud. Lover. Protector. While he can sometimes talk mean to his brother, he is his brother's biggest protector. At 1 1/2 years old, Kindercare told us that Wes is always protecting Calvin and won't let the other kids near him. Wes' coach in football and basketball is amazed at how much Wes looks out for Calvin, even when they are scrimmaging against each other. At school last year, there was a time when Wes ended a friendship with someone because that person was blaming Calvin for an incident that happened. Wes has the exact same attitude towards Alemitu. He understands her better than anyone. He takes care of her, and can't stand to see her sad.


Anxiety:  Wes has my anxiety. He gets nervous every day that we will wake up late for school (never happened). Tonight, I was having trouble getting his clock to work and he was really worried about not knowing the time throughout the night. Wes always wants to know the time. I brought in my clock for him, and then he was worried about me sleeping too late. Ever single day, Wes gets anxious about what we are having for dinner, and when we are having it. He always likes to know the plan and make sure we are sticking to it. He even asks me questions about how he will find a girl to marry one day. (He also told me that he is never moving out of the house.) The sad part of his anxiety is that he thinks about death a lot. He often talks about how he will be so sad when I die. He wants me to stay the same age so we can die together. He has asked if I will wait for him in heaven. It brings tears to my eyes every single time we have these conversations. I even cried about it to his doctor when I went without Wes. It is completely normal for kids like Wes to have these thoughts. It is more of his personality than it is anxiety. I was told to just keep answering his questions, and he'll move on.

I am so blessed to have such sweet, loving boys. They are so well-behaved, and when they do get in trouble they just sit in time-out quietly without talking back. My boys are so sweet to their little sister. They include her when they play. They get excited for her when she does something new. I'm one lucky mom.