"Come Here Witto Buckin' Bull!"

That's what Mikey was saying over and over as he reached for and fed the Jersey calf at the petting farm.  His Joyschool class (a co-op preschool I'm teaching with 5 other moms) went there for a field trip and getting-to-know-you activity.  The kids had a blast, though I could tell they were overwhelming the owner as she showed them around the farm.  Could her anxiety have anything to do with my sweet Mikey chasing her little lambs all around? ("Oh, no little boy, please don't scare them like that!")  He was just being friendly, I mean, who doesn't like a game of tag?  So although we didn't spend too long at the Petting Farm, we ended the outing nicely at the nearby dairy with some free ice cream cones (part of the field trip package).

Spencer Starts School!!

 


 All those sleepless nights when Spencer was a newborn, how I longed for the time when I could get a little "break" from being an over-time mom.  Now my first "break" has come, with Spencer starting Kindergarten, and I've missed him like crazy (Note picture to left).

Since I did home-preschool with him and Mikey last year, we've never really been apart, and Mikey misses his "Bubba" and so do I.  But we're adjusting, I'm enjoying quieter rides in the car and one-on-one time with Mikey.  And Spencer is loving his school.  If you ask him what his favorite thing about school is he'll probably tell you it's the lunches!  I've bought his lunch several days this week and Spencer thinks he's going to a restaurant each day!  Chicken nuggets, hamburger, pizza, desserts...it's heaven to a growing, hungry boy!

I'm so proud of Spencer and love him so much.  He's growing to become a kind, loving brother and son.  I also love his excitement for life, his vivid imagination (he loves to "build" things in our garage or yard and to draw anything that he imagines), and his sensitivity to others.  I'm sure he'll do great in school this year!

Mikey Turns 3!!

Mikey's birthday was August 16th, but we celebrated it a couple days early so Jaron would be home with us (he was on call on the 16th).  We had just gotten back from our trip to Texas (which was a blast and wonderful to be with Jaron's sister Jenna at her reception!), so we hadn't had much time to shop.  First thing in the morning we headed out to Wal-Mart, I did some grocery shopping while Jaron took the boys to check out the "big-boy bikes".  I hadn't finished my produce shopping when I hear, "Beep! Beep! Wook (look) OUT!!"  and "Varooooom! I go so fast daddy!!" Here comes Mikey, tearing through the apple and orange stands on the smallest "big-boy bike" they make.  Mikey beamed ear-to-ear as he pumped his little legs harder and harder on the pedals.  The customers beamed (and chuckled and pointed) as they saw this little speed-racer on his new big-boy bike.  As soon as Mikey saw me he exclaimed, "Wook Mommy!  I got a new big-boy bike!!"  He was so proud, and I felt one of the many joys of parenthood: arguably having more fun watching my child enjoy his present than he was actually experiencing himself.

As I'm writing this, I realize that I haven't taken any pictures of Mikey's bike yet (shame on me), but we did capture the "Dino-Cake" (Mikey requested it--and it's RED, not pink!).  

IOWA PARTY!!

Jaron officially started residency, hence I (Em) have taken over the blogging indefinitely.  The boys and I wanted to celebrate Jaron's first day, so I went to a consignment store and bought us all "Iowa Hawkeye" shirts and whipped up (with what I had in my kitchen) an "Iowa" rice-crispie frosted cake.  After getting to the hospital at 5:30 that morning, Jaron came home after 8 pm.  We partied hard for about 20 min until Jaron said he had studying to do, and that has pretty much been the tune we've been singing all week (minus the daily parties).  But we (and especially ME) are so proud of Jaron for getting here in his career and we especially love that, although he's been busy, he finds simple ways to show us that he loves and cherishes us.  WE LOVE YOU, JARON!!

House in the Projects, pt 2

Here's some more before and after pictures of the dining area, kitchen, and another one of the Great Room.

Coralville House Project ("Before" and "After")

I don't mean "Livin' in the Projects" here, but the fun of moving into our new house in Iowa and working Nana Runyan like crazy so we could have some fun color on our walls.  It's taken me a while to post these, and not much has changed since Nana left 2 weeks ago, but I thought I'd give y'all an idea of how much "fun" we had (and "fun" IS the operative word here, since each new project I was scheming in my mind I would present to Jaron as "Wouldn't it be FUN if....", such as "Wouldn't it be FUN if...we hung shelves in the garage

                                        ....we replaced all the light fixtures in the house

                                        ....painted our 17-foot walls--you paint, honey, I'll hold the ladder...)

Anyway, enjoy these "before" and "after" pics of our Great Room, the Boys' room, and in the next post, our dining area and kitchen.  (We haven't hung any pics or decor yet, so it's pretty much just paint at this point).

Mikey Takes a Nap!!

Extra! Extra!  You read it here first!  That's right, folks.  Mikey Sullivan actually took a nap!!  We had gone swimming and when we came home I (Em) took a shower.  When I got out I noticed it was strangely quiet in the house, and knowing my little mischief-makers I thought the boys must be in the basement sneaking some TV time.  So I went to bust them but they weren't there!  I started getting nervous and went to the backyard, but they were nowhere outside.  Then I was REALLY wondering what was going on.  I came inside the front door, wondering what my next move should be, when I was startled to discover this scene.  Not staged, completely real, and yes, that is Spencer's foot pressed up against Mikey's face (Spence is asleep too).  I couldn't resist the photo op.