Pumpkin Time

I bought some pumpkins for the boys to paint this year. They loved playing with their pumpkins this morning in the crisp, cool air. I went to school Monday and Tuesday but have been home since with Jonathan because he threw up at daycare and is having diarrhea. Ugh! So far no throwing up since daycare on Tuesday but still dealing with "the other." Stephen now has the "the other" so I will probably be home again tomorrow. The boys are playing, laughing and enjoying our time at home. If you were here you wouldn't even know they have this yucky bug. I have wiped down every part of our house. I threw away all toothbrushes last night AFTER making a late grocery run to get everything, including the B.R.A.T diet for my little guys. Daniel is also under the weather and did finally get medicine yesterday morning at the doctor. Jonathan is taking two naps a day while he is home. It is very nice. Maybe I CAN GET SOME LAUNDRY DONE!

On a fun note I have to decorate a pumpkin this year by painting my favorite story book character. I am not really looking forward to all that work since I am not an artist but it will be fun. I want to do something simple so we'll see what I come up with.

Please pray I don't get this. I have parent conference day on Monday with each of my students parents in 15 minute increments. I can't really be absent.

15 months

Jonathan turned 15 months old on Friday. I do not have his stats yet because I completely forgot his appointment on Friday. I even had a confirmation call Thursday and told them I would be there. UGH! I had to call and re-schedule his appointment with another doctor since my doctor is booked for 2 months. This was a little disappointing but I do not have a choice since JD needs his 15 month shots. Jonathan has been so much fun lately. He only has a few words but that's ok. Here is what Jonathan is doing lately.


- words: Mama, dada, ball
- can go get his cup, bring me his shoes, pick up his toys
- can use a spoon
- loves to eat! (finally)
- drinks milk 3 times a day
- favorite snack is yogurt and graham cracker teddy bears
- steels Stephen's sippy cup any chance he can get
- loves fruit; oranges, grapes, small apple chunks, plums
- picky with vegetables but will eat them
- loves pasta
- will look through a book and point
- sleeps 7pm- 5:30 or 6am, sleeps a 2 hour nap at daycare
- is still aggressive at daycare but seems to be doing a lot better
- started time-outs last week for hitting Mom, Dad or brother
- loves his daddy!
- does this funny run with one hand over one of his eyes when he is shy
- runs fast!
- loves to go outside
- loves his light blue blanket for nap and bedtime
- still takes a pacifier for bed and nap
- wears 18 month clothes, size 4 shoe
- loves to ride brother's bike even though his feet don't reach the ground

Ready for cold weather

31 years old

I celebrate my 31st birthday last Friday with my sister and best friend Krista. We joined Jamie and a few of her close friends for dinner at the Cheese Cake Factory.

August

Since I didn't post much in August I wanted to post a few pictures.

Stephen and Jonathan's cousins came to visit from Pearland one day. We call this the "oreo cookie" kids since our kid is the WHITE boy in the middle. Cheri and Brad's little boys have more of an olive skin tone and they love to go outside.

In late July we took the boys to the zoo since we figured we wouldn't go in the month of August or September. Stephen loved the new baby Elephant.


Here is our nightly routine when the boys brush teeth before bed. Now we have a wooden stool with two steps so Jonathan can see himself when he brushes his teeth. He loves to climb up the stool to see himself and he is quick.

Some pool time in our backyard with the boys.

In late July I started setting up my classroom a hours here and there for about 3 weeks. Here are a few pictures of my classroom.

Labor Day Fun

We took the boys bowling since we had Monday off for Labor Day. We all had a lot of fun eating and bowling. Jonathan was a little difficult to manage but it all worked out. All we had to do was put food in front of him so we could all finish bowling. Daniel let Stephen pretty much bowl as much as he wanted so his score is not 100% accurate. Stephen ended up having 4 strikes by the end of our game. I happen to help Stephen granny roll the bowling ball down the center lane just right to get a strike 4 times. Jonathan wanted down to run the entire time.




He ate a slider and many fries.



After passing our Jonathan eating I heard a man go "that was a cute little girl."
I guess this really means he needs a haircut. It's hard to cut off his cute curls in the back.

JD taking it all in as the lights went off and everything glowed.

The first two weeks down

The boys have been going to daycare for 2 weeks. I am happy to say it is going well for Stephen and NOW good for Jonathan. Jonathan's first 6 days didn't go so well but it has worked itself out. He is still biting and head-butting us. He has 3 bruises on his forehead to show for it. He bit 4 times at daycare the first week. He even bit a kid twice in one day. I decided to call my pediatrician for some advice. She reassured me we are doing everything we can do since he is 14 months old. She reminded me to make sure daycare knows what we are doing at home. Which is complete separation from us or the activity when he bites. We say "No biting." I guess they started watching him better so the biting has stopped. I called up to have a parent conference with his teacher but we ended up talking one day after I picked him up. Thankfully they love my little brute and are working with him. I took him in on Tuesday of this week to get checked out since he has had a running nose for 2 weeks. I thought he would work through it but it turns out he needed an antibiotic to help him kick it. He stayed home with me for one day and then went back on Wednesday. It has helped with his sleep!

As for school it has been a rough 2nd week for me as far as grade level deadlines due. My class is great. I had 18 kids but a new student enrolled in my room on Tuesday the day I was absent so it bumped me up to 19. I have had so much to do but not enough time in the day! Imagine that?! I feel horrible if I leave the boys no later than 4 pm at daycare. Daniel has been a trooper and has picked up the boys twice a week for the last two weeks. I also received 8 boxes of curriculum and teaching supplies on Friday. I was able to look through some of the stuff and bring home a binder to skim read and get familiar with since I haven't had a chance to. My room is split by a huge accordion curtain. On the other side is another teacher I will often refer to as "my partner" because we may be splitting up teaching responsibilities in January. We are the only 2 self contained 1st grade classrooms (teach all subjects) the others split by teaching either Math/Science/Social Studies or Reading/Language/Writing.

It's Saturday morning and we are up and running around watching Disney and Nick Jr. Stephen just requested the Cars movie. Jon woke up at 4am hungry so I fed him his breakfast and put him down again. Jamie and Jonathan share a room. He and Stephen woke up at 7:15. I wish WE could call a Saturday morning sitter to watch the boys so WE can sleep? HA HA! Joke.