We're Still Alive...BARELY!!!

Since school has been in session for almost a month now, I figured I better take some time out of my precious hours of sleep to document what has been happening this past month. To begin, Jakob started 1st grade and is really enjoying it! It is amazing to me how much more work there is from Kindergarten to 1st grade, like more homework, studying for tests, and lots and lots of reading and how quickly Jakob has learned some interesting things from his peers that I'd rather him not know (like armpit farts), but I guess that is what happens at school on the playground! I should just be happy that that's the worst thing he has come home with so far. Having him in school and gone all day has made me realize what an impact your peers can have on you and how important it is to teach my kids the things they need to know to make good choices and to stress the importance that just because someone else is doing it, doesn't make it okay for them to do it to. Jakob's favorite part of the day is recess and eating lunch in the cafeteria. He said his favorite classes are P.E. and music and he is really looking forward to joining the "Milers Club" (this is a little club that meets before school with the P.E. teacher and run laps and earn rewards for each mile they run).
Mason (and Mommy) were really excited when preschool started. He gets to go twice a week and is really enjoying it. As we were prepping Mason for this little adjustment I told him he could take Jakob's old Dash backpack to preschool, he kindly informed me that he needed his own 3-year old backpack and that he wanted a "Smashing Hulk" one. Mason hardly ever gets anything new because he has an older brother, so I thought, what the heck-I'll get the little guy his own backpack and luckily I found the one he requested. The night before his 1st day, as I was tucking him in bed, I asked if he was excited to go to school and he said, "Yeah, but are you and daddy going to miss me while I gone?" I think he thought he was going to be gone all day like Jakob! He has learned some fun songs and loves the days when it's "Show-n-Tell".
Hannah is officially mobile. She has been trying to crawl for the past month and a half, and finally took off about 2 weeks ago! She discovered very quickly were the playroom is and this is what I caught her doing the day after she started crawling-playing in the closet with the puzzles! She loves being able to go where she wants and often crawls to wherever her brothers are.
So not only is she crawling, but is already pulling herself up! What the heck-isn't she too little to be doing this? The other day, it was just me and Hannah at home and I was trying to get ready for the day, so I put her in the toyroom while I did my hair and makeup. All of a sudden I could hear this banging noise and I thought what is she doing in there and I peeked around the corner to find her standing at the train table playing. I love that she is growing and progressing, but I feel like I got jipped out of the immobility stage. I guess it's time to start child-proofing!
Last, but not least I celebrated my 29th birthday on the 5th. Yikes-one year away from the big 3-0! I had a really great birthday this year. To start, two days before my birthday my sister and mom came over and my sister brought Olive Garden for lunch for mine and my mom's birthdays and we got hang out and visit (something we don't get to do often enough), then on my birthday one of my good friends treated me to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory-yum, yum! Then as I was picking kids up from school, I received a phone call from my friend wanting to know where I was and she came and found me and brought me a huge plate of freshly-baked cinnamon rolls on a cute pumpkin platter. That afternoon I kept telling Wade that I couldn't believe that my mom hadn't called me yet to wish me a Happy Birthday, surely a mother wouldn't forget her own daughter's birthday, right? Well it turned out that she never called, because as part of my gift, she surprised me by showing up to babysit my kids so that Wade and I could enjoy an evening out! I was so excited, Wade and I very rarely go out without the kids, so that was one of the best things my mom could have given me. Wade made dinner reservations for us at the Geisha Steakhouse, one of my most favorite places! Then we went and walked around some stores and came home and had some yummy chocolate pie with the kids (Mason's choice for my birthday cake)! Then another of my friends invited me and my kids over for pizza and we were able to visit while the kids played-it was really nice! So a big thanks to everyone who made my birthday a special one, especially Wade and my mom! Thanks for the wonderful gifts Wade, you really spoiled me and I love you with all my heart!

P.S. I made a promise to myself that when school started I was going to start getting up when Wade got home from work and going running before I had to get kids off to school-I must say that I have been pretty successful and have only missed a few days and was starting to feel really good-then I go and have a birthday and as you can read all I did for 3 days was eat, eat and eat some more, so now I am starting over-wish me luck!