First day of school 2013-2014

The first day of school FINALLY came.  The kids were as excited as I was.  I love my kids more than anything but I am just not cut out to have all of them at home, all day long.  I would be a terrible home school teacher!  Our family day to day activities are still dictated by Brody and Keegan's naps and since they never happen at the same time, it's hard to plan activities outside of the house.

Finn started third grade at a new school, Mount Airy Elementary.  Third through fifth grades attend there.  He has a morning and an afternoon teacher in 3rd grade and switches halfway through the day.  Mornings are English, Literature and social studies.  Afternoons he goes to math and science in the classroom next door.  We are waiting to hear about if he gets accepted into the Gifted and Talented program.  He is being considered for ELA in the G/T program.  I'm really proud of him for that.  I know that if he really paid attention he could also be considered for math/science as well.  It's only been 4 days of school and his two teachers have already mentioned to me that he is having issued keeping his chatting mouth closed.  :0)

Neelah is in first grade this year and has adjusted really well back into the routine of school.  She cried the night before the first day saying, "I won't get to spend as much time with you if I am gone at school all day..."  Bless her sensitive heart.  She loves the days when she goes to Art and will tell  you that she wants to be an artist when she grows up.

Savvy is LOVING Kindergarten.  Her teacher is brand spankin' new, this is her first permanent teaching assignment. She is young and energetic and I think she will be great for Savvy.  This is the first year that the kindergarten teachers don't have full time assistant teachers.  I hope that Savvy isn't too overwhelming.  We all know she can talk anyone to death.

This week has been really nice for me at home.  I have been able to really spend time with Keegan and have one on one time with him.  I have also been able to fully accomplish the tasks that I start.  I have made myself a list of all the deep cleaning I want to get done- the stuff that has been completely neglected for who knows how long!  I have spent the majority of my week paining the dining room chairs and touching up the dining room table that we stained and painted.

I love hearing about my kids favorite part of school was each day.  I love to have them come home and tell me all about something new that they learned.  I am SO THANKFUL that our experience with the local elementary schools have been so wonderful.  Every teacher that I have met has been exceptional and my kids have truly enjoyed.

Keegan has grown into the stage of asking "WHY?" to everything.  The funny thing about this is that where most kids want to know more than the answer "because", he will take the actual answer and then tell ME "because"  He is really starting to talk and use his imagination to play.  His go-to toy is any and all cars.  He is obsessed with cars and spends time each day lining them all up and driving them across the couch.  Another funny thing he says is "I love you too Mom".  This wouldn't be considered funny except that he says it first but includes the "too" as if he was saying it in response to me telling him that I love him.  We are starting to enforce the rule that "blanky" has to stay in his bed.  He is usually pretty good about it.  We don't ever have to battle with him on bringing it with us in the car anymore.  Slow progress...

Brody-slowly making progress...

Since Brody was born, we have had him followed by all sorts of specialists: a nephrologist, neurologist, developmental pediatrician, physical therapist...  The kid is just an attention addict!  ;0)

He has passed all their check ups with flying colors but is still routinely having physical therapy. In the last month he has really showed progress. Being 14.5 months old and not crawling, standing or walking needed to be addressed! 

Since starting, he moves from sitting to laying, reaches over and up in all directions and tries his hardest to wiggle around the room. Before Brody, I took for granted the way that kids just normally pick up on this stuff! 

Just today he pulled himself up to a kneeling position at the couch!  It's such a milestone for him!  YAY!

He was so happy to "vroom" his cars on the cushions!  Today I also moved around the car seats while cleaning out the disgusting thing that is our van. I have had Brody in the infant carrier all this time because the kid only weighs 19.5 lbs!  (The carrier has a weight limit of 22 lbs). So I decided to put him in a regular carseat ( shhh...don't tell my pediatrician that he is forward-facing before the age of two! )

Quiet Time

I have tried my hardest to teach my kids to have quiet, independent time while the younger ones are napping. Finn has always been EXCELLENT at this-entertaining himself even when I was pregnant with Neelah and wanted a nap of my own.

Neelah is hit or miss. As she gets older she is doing much better and sometimes even chooses to play by herself when friends are around. She is one who likes her quiet time as much as crazy play time.

Then there is Savvy. Savvy does not understand the meaning of "alone". I get it- when I was younger I hated to be alone too. For MY sanity, I NEED quiet time. Really what I need is "no talking to Mom" time. It doesn't matter if she plays with the iPad, watches her favorite movie or plays in the toy room- she can't go for more than 15 minuets without having something to say to me.

Often, she just wanders over for an "I love you" and a kiss. I adore that she is so affectionate! Most other times she just has a question about something: "can I have something to eat, can I have gum, will you get me a drink, where is Neelah?" Etc. then there are the times when she is just bored and needs to be bugging someone...anyone. I walk from a room and she and her curiosity follow me.

I'm nervous for her to be at school full time. I hope her teacher is able to kindly teach her to work independently and respect times when she needs to be a listener, not a talker.

To be continued...



Heather
Sent from my iPhone

More of our 2013 Utah trip

 

On our last full day in Utah, we went to Wheeler Farm with Aunt Lyndsay, Felicity, Reagan, Gabe and YaYa.  We got some good pictures and playtime in before this nasty rain storm rolled in.

Neelah's hair didn't love the dry air in Utah but she is sickeningly sweet nevertheless!

Keegan paused for a moment of deep thought here (no he wasn't filling his diaper).  I am not really sure what he was doing but it made for a GREAT picture!

A rare picture of Eric and I

Then the rain came!!  We made it back to YaYa's house and the sky opened up and poured down.  The kids LOVED playing in the summer rain and it was probably the highlight of their trip to Utah!

Doing a little rain dancing....

I'm not sure what Savvy was doing striking a pose in the gutter but it shows her personality to a T! We really cherish cousin time since we don't get it as much as we want.

We also took a trip to Temple Square while in Utah and we happened to run into Sister Wilhelm who is from our Mount Airy ward!  It was so fun to see Susannah.

I am so glad that we were able to go see the Christus and the Temple.  Finn was the only one who remembered having been here before so it was so nice to let the other kids experience it.  We roamed around with Grandma and Grandpa Watson, Aunt April, Nate, Soren and Taos.  It was a wonderful Sunday.

 

These days, trying to get everyone to look at the camera at the same time is near impossible.  After about 12 pictures, this was the best one.  I love this family and cherish each person shown here.  We are blessed to be an Eternal Family.  I still have a hard time believing that I have FIVE kids!

Savvy's 5th Birthday

 This year Savvy wanted a Tangled theme party.  We played pin Pascal on the poster, keep your lantern floating with frying pans, paint the walls and braided hair tug-o-war.

 The painting was a hit with all.  I put butcher paper down and they all went to town with their own set of paints.

 She wouldn't tell her wish!

 Of course, at a Tangled party one MUST wear a Tangled dress!

 I am pretty sure that Finn cheated...

 Savvy was trying to figure out which direction to go.  She kept veering off to the left.

 Benson and Finn were deep in concentration

 Great Grandma Colleen sent Savvy $5 and we went to Walmart to spend it.  She got a cute Hello Kitty Stationary set.

 YaYa gave her a new backpack to start school with and some makeup and nail polish.

From Mom and Dad came the much requested Furby.  All the kids fought over him for the first 2 days.  I had to purchase re-chargeable batteries because this sucker never stops talking! (perfect for Savvy)

March 2013

 This Spring Brody has been ailed with a dripping faucet for a nose.  Poor guy, those snot bubbles can be SO ANNOYING!

 Keegan gets more and more fun each day.  He has such a funny personality and loves to be silly.

 Here he is with one of his MANY accessories-his hat.  He is almost always found wearing a hat, sunglasses, someone's shoes or all of them at once.

 One of the rare moments where the kids all play together joyfully

 Finn is growing up so fast and he has the freckles to prove it.  He excels in school- especially reading and science. His imagination fuels his artwork as well.

 Savvy-girl is a sassy girl, although she looks sweet as pie in this picture.  She wants to be just as old as Neelah is and pretty much plays the part already. 

 Neelah is really growing and learning this year in Kindergarten.  She has a tendency to be a bit sneaky sometimes but makes up for it with her tenderness and empathy for others.

 Fun Guy Keegan

 This is what happened here in Mt Airy, MD in late March!  Just AFTER we planted all our seedlings!  Most didn't survive but it sure made for some beautiful photos.

Spring 2013 / Savvy's PreSchool Graduation

 It was a beautiful Spring this year, complete with wildlife galore.  Each morning the kids would look out on the back deck and watch the different birds come to visit the bird feeder.  They were always hoping to see a Cardinal or a Blue Bird but most were Robins and Blue Jays.  I am so lucky to have this as my backyard view.  It is so peaceful and calming. 

 Savvy graduated from PreK at St James Nursery.  She LOVED going to school and loved being with all her friends. 

 My little sunshine!

 She is such a sweetie and fun to be around.  My little graduate!

This is Savvy's "best friend" Elizabeth.  They were thick as thieves all year long!