Today was the 23rd day

of school, I was informed (but who's counting?). Its already flying by weeks at a time. Life for us has calmed down a bit with O in school for a full day, which is good for my sanity and everyone else around me. Oshyn thinks 1st grade is pretty great--even better than kindergarten. They do have THREE recesses, which is fabulous if you ask me...and Oshyn too. PE and Music are also pluses added for the 1st time for 1st graders. He has started off with a bang, continuing to surprise me with his sponge-like brain for knowledge.

Here are some pics from the first day...

Organized chaos for SURE--everyone has to meet on the black top before school every morning

Where's Waldo

Oshyn?

He survived the 1st day and many after (22 to be exact :)

8 years ago today

I got lucky. Really lucky...I'm still pinching myself.

And I'm at least 8 times happier than I ever knew possible.

Hairy got hurt...

***Update: FYI--He is absolutely fine now!!***

but HOW? Maybe his rejuvenating downward dog gone bad on the wood floor?

We're not quite sure what happened to Tyce but Tuesday morning he woke up in tears and after trying to get him dressed--crying, moving his arm when feeding him--harder crying, and seeing him lift his arm off the ground when he was on his hands and knees, I knew something was wrong--babies don't fake it. I thought maybe he had nursemaid elbow so that is what I called Kaiser about. Well, a few doctors visits and x-rays later, and they think he may have a crack/fracture/whatever on his elbow.

So there you have it.

We will go back for another x-ray this week to see if there is new growth on the bone (confirming a break).

In the mean time he is the cutest maybe-broken-elbow-boy in town.

Just 2 minutes of unedited Tyce for Grandma's, Aunties and whomever else has 120 seconds to spare to make their day better.

Pulled it!

Both Bella and Oshyn had loose teeth that were past the point of needing to come out. So much so that I offered them more money than the tooth fairy gives for whomever pulled their tooth out first. Money talks for Oshyn so he was quickly looking outside for pliers. When that wasn't happening (Beau already went that route once), Sam pulled up a YouTube video of a kid pulling out his tooth with dental floss hooked to a rocket, and Oshyn was pumped. Due to a lack of a rocket in our house, he used Uncle Sam's human rocket abilities and dental floss. In one swift pull, it was out! Bella took a bit more convincing but was won over by an ice cream bribe and yanked hers out by herself.

So August 9, 2010, the day that two best buddies lost a tooth together and went on their first chaperoned date for ice cream.

The Day has Arrived

This day has been years in the making. There is something different about knowing what is to come, rather than not having any idea what is out there.

Cruz has known about Grace Preschool since he was about 8 weeks old. He dropped Oshyn off and picked him up from this fabulous place for two years. He tasted the sweetness of the colorful home-like atmosphere filled with motorcycles, an indoor "tree house", puzzles, bikes to ride, balls to play with and a playground to slide and climb on BUT hasn't been able to sink his teeth into it all fully until TODAY. I didn't have to whisk him away crying because he wanted to stay like so many times before. I got to kiss him goodbye and let him go where he has been waiting oh-so-patiently to go and be. My heart is full and I can still feel his excitement inside of me. Who would have thought preschool would be such a big deal? Well, ask someone who has been waiting their entire life...

Golden Birthday

Wow. What can I say? I was blessed to have 31 family members out to lunch on my 31st birthday on the 31st of July. That sure doesn't happen every year.

Could a "golden birthday" get any better?

Well when Tyce and I arrived home from Kansas, the boys gave me a "golden" birthday party and the excitement was so high from the little men, that although I was tired, it was most excellent. Beau, Ian, Zach, Oshyn, and Cruz did/gave me 31 pressies...ranging from doing all of the laundry to beef jerky to running shorts to dishes done to foot massages to flowers (just to name a few---service is my love language and Beau worked it.) Plus I got some cards and "goodies" from the rest of my fam--including my Grammie (the one that just passed away)--talk about on top of things!

I'll turn 31 again every year!