Ben Ben's New Adventure...

Well, as I alluded to in my previous post... Ben Ben embarked upon a new adventure this last week... SCHOOL! It was a last minute decision, one I had not even known I would make, until last week when I was awarded a contract to do some historic preservation work in Arkadelphia. Between that and my growing gymnastics classes, I started to panic and wonder how I would get it all done without alienating my family and being a perpetual stressed out grump... Eventually, I came up with the idea of sending Ben to preschool at Glenwood Christian (where Zachy goes to school) 2 days a week. I made the decision last Wednesday and for the days leading up to Ben's first day of school I was STRESSED OUT! I mean this little guy is my baby, my last one at home, the joy of my days when his bubbas are gone... we both have attachment issues. I stay with him during Sunday School and Big Church because he begs me too through tears. So you can only imagine how I envisioned his first day of preschool with the best K-3 teacher in the world..... one full of tears, drama, the death grip on the leg or around the neck (by both of us), us both clinging to each other.... well I'm happy to report.... it was NOTHING like that.

Ben marched right in the school with Zac and went to his room, hung up his backpack, looked around, and then said, "I go home wi chew"! I told him that this was his big boys school day and that he'd get to have a mommy day the next day. We went to the gym where all of the kiddos were playing and found Zachy and Jeb. They just kind of played around Ben and he watched. I managed to slip away. I stood at the back of the gym and watched and then decided it was best to forgo the goodbyes and leave. So I left, sat in the car and cried, went to Sonic and got a REAL coke, went home and cried some more. After calling the school at 9:00 to see if he was screaming, I found out that he hadn't cried a tear and was fine.... so I decided to be productive and put all of my stress into cleaning the horribly dirty house! Before you know it, it was 2:30!

Yesterday (Thursday) went pretty good too. He was excited until it was time for me to leave. He cried a little and as Zachy pushed him into the classroom and Mrs. Kelly pulled, I left and stood around the corner. After less than a minute I heard no more crying and was informed that he simply had his lip pooched out and was pouting. He had a great day and even laid still during nap time (he did not sleep)!

I know that he will have a fabulous year. Below is my letter to Ben Ben:

Dear sweet Ben Ben:

How can it be time for my baby to go to preschool? It seems like yesterday that you were that little lump of love that just laid in my arms wanting only to be held, fed and changed. Now you are a bundle of energy.

You are so funny and remind me so much of Zac in some ways and Nate in others... and yet there is a big part of you that is simply just BEN. It is so hard to watch you grow up, I guess because you are my last; at the same time it is such a joy to watch you play with your brothers. You can do almost anything they can do and you adore being with them. You are still my baby, and you love to cuddle in my lap and drink your chocolate milk while watching Scooby Doo! You are such a joy and delight and you complete our family.

I know that these first couple of weeks will be an adjustment for both of us but I know that you are going to flourish under the care of Mrs. Kelly and the teachers at GCS. You will learn so many new things this year and I cannot wait to watch. I know you are only gone 2 days a week, but it is such a milestone for us both. I know that this is exactly as it should be and that God is going to begin working miracles in your little life. I love you, mommy

Bye Bye Summer.... Hello School!

Yesterday was our last day of summer and what a FABULOUS summer it has been. We slept late, were lazy, ate donughts, played in the creek, skipped naps, and went to see Toy Story 3 in 3D! Perfect ending to a great summer... except for Ben thought the movie was "too loud" and kept saying "back out" and "I want to go home now"! However, after buying popcorn (because he wasn't interested in the candy I purchased and smuggled in) he finally sat still and did pretty good. I finally was able to sit back and enjoy the movie, until it got to the end, when I was crying like a baby and hoping I had put on waterproof mascara! Then it was back home dinner and time to start the school bedtime routine at 7:00! Everyone was in bed by 8:05 and asleep by 8:30! I however, was wide awake, anxious, and overwhelmed by my new "idea" to send Ben to preschool two days a week so that I can complete some of the contract jobs that I have for this fall without. So after emailing the head of the school several times, we decided that there was a spot for Ben in the K-3 program on T/Th starting next week! I'm still not sure what I think about this "idea" of mine... I'm only hopeing it will be a good one (lots more to come on this)!

This morning the boys were up at 6:00 and were very excited about their first day of school! The morning went smoothly and Tim was able to go in to work late to go with me to take them to school on thier first day. The only one who cried when we were getting ready to leave the house was Ben who said, "I don't want to go to school.... I want to stay home"! Oooohhhh No!

They both had a great day. Zac said his favorite part was "playing on the monkeybars and his lunchable"! (At the Christain School they don't let the little kids play on the monkeybars until they are in K-5). Nate said his favorite part was recess and that "school was good, better than I thought, but not as good as summer!"

Below are my annual letters that I try to remember to write for the boys!

Dear Nate:

It is so hard for me to believe you are starting second grade this year. It seems like such a "big boy" grade to me and you look 5 inches taller than you did this time last year. I think you are excited about school but you keep saying that you had such a good summer that you aren't ready to go back to school. This makes me feel good to know that you had a great time. I must say, "so did I" and it honestly passed to quickly. You love learning and soak up information like a sponge so I know that you are going to love all of the new things that you will learn this year. I love watching you and trying to "figure you out"! You are definitely stubborn when you want to be (you come by this naturally) and you don't really care to be the center of attention. Everyone tends to gravitate towards you; I think this is because you are genuinely a kind person. You do care what people think, and don't really like to stand out. You are definitely a math and science kind of guy. You love to read.... not chapter books or stories so much, but books about animals and places and things crammed full of facts! You love the outdoors and I know that is probably what you enjoyed most about the summer... swimming and fishing and kayaking on the Caddo! I hope that this year brings you lots of new, fun, and interesting challenges and I hope that you enjoy every moment and every minute that you have with your buddies. I love you and I know God has great plans for your precious life! Love, mom

My Zachy:

It was your first day of Kindergarten (K-5) at the Christian School. You have been ready for school to start for at least a week now! You were so cute to watch this morning, you just walked right in the school and went straight to your room, unloaded your backpack and then told me and dad, "see ya later" and you left to go play with the kiddos. You never even looked back. So different from last year when the had to peel you off of me screaming. That was heart breaking so this was a piece of cake. I'm so excited about the things that you will learn this year. You are such a joy not only to me but to everyone you meet. Everyone loves you, you are just funny and cute and so animated. You like being the center of attention and you will help anyone who needs it (especially if it is a girl)! You are very affectionate and are definitely a ladies man. I've got a feeling your social life through the years is going to soar.... we are going to have to make sure you are just as motivated about your academic life! ;-) I think that you are going to amaze me in ways that I cannot even be able to imagine. I love you and your precious little heart. I have a feeling that God is working on that little heart as I type and I know that the Christian School is the perfect place for you this year! I love you so much. Love, Mom

Next week will be a big week as it will be Ben's first week at preschool! More on that later when I can write without crying!

2 Crazy Mommies and 6 Crazy Boys!

Last week I had this idea that it would be fun to take the boys to MidAmerica Museum. Actually, I had been promising Nate all summer that we would go. When I heard Melissa was in Hot Springs for a few days, I asked her if she was up for an adventure; and of course, she always is! So we took 6 Boys 8 and under to MidAmerica! It was crazy and fun. They did really good. About the time we were on the verge of loosing control, we wrapped all up and headed over to the condo for lunch and swimming. The swimming got rained out but we had fun just hanging with the boys and their mama!

Dam Night Run at Degray and Birthday Party in T-town!

Well August has been a busy month! Three weeks ago I ran in the Dam Night Run at Degray Lake and we spent the night at mom and dad's house. Nana and Papa Doc kept the boys so that Tim could watch me run! It was soooooooooooooooooooooo hot! One of those over 100 degree days, so I really appreciate him standing out in the heat waiting for me to cross the finish line about 9:00 that evening! I had a really good run for me, about 25 min. and 20 sec. Not fast for a true runner but fast for this jogger. My best 5K time yet! Another highlight of the race was getting to spend time with my cousin Josh's fiance Ashleigh! She is so stink'in cute and it was her first 5K and she did great.

The next weekend we packed up and went to Texarkana where we celebrated Tim's 35 Birthday with his parents and his sister Julie, and her precious family. It was such a fun weekend. I looooooooooooooooove it when I get to spend time with the girls in Tim's family because they all like to talk just like me and we have the best conversations about serious subjects and funny things too.... we are all over the map! Tim gets tired of walking by and hearing our conversations.... if he comments we just give him a look and he keeps on move'in!

The kids had a wonderful time playing with Grae, Eme and Grandpa! We spent lots of time running outside, running through the house (unfortunately), jumping on beds (after being threatened), and swimming at the pool! Of course there was yummy food and the BEST BIRTHDAY CAKE EVER, baked by none other than Jim Chadwell! It was a great weekend!

Well we've never done the state line picture thing with the kids, so Grandma (I think) had the idea to take the kids down there and put "one foot in Texas and one in Arkansas"! Cute picture of some cute people!

Cowboys.....

This post ocurred at the very beginning of summer but I failed to post some pics. One of my besties (and former OBU roomate) husband has a huge farm in DeQueen, AR. We try to make it up there a couple of times a year.

Mr. Greg always makes sure we have a good time and Mrs. Mica makes sure we have yummy food and treats to eat!









The boys love riding the horses, Polaris, and feeding the cows. The boys love hanging out with Mr. Eli who is an excellent horseman (and Polaris driver)and wonderful friend!

Most of all, we like feeling like cowboys, cowgirls, and ranch hands for a day! Thank you Mica, Greg, and Eli for showing us such a good time!