Just don't call it preschool

Today Jack started Montessori- not preschool-- Montessori. If you wish to talk to him at all about school you must get the lingo right or you will not be on the same page at all. I tried to gauge how he was feeling about going to school about a week or so before it started and was met with him telling me he wasn't going to go to preschool. I was devastated-- what were we going to do? How horrible was the first day going to be if he just simply refused to go? After us having the same conversation over and over I brought it up in front of Pete. I quickly learned that I was in the wrong-- I had been calling it preschool when it was Montessori. Once I changed the wording my son told me just how excited he was.

The Saturday before school started was Parent Work Day and we all went out to the school to get it ready. I say that we all went-- this is true- but only Pete and Jack did any work. For three hours they mulched and weeded. Luke played on the playground, then he and I left to go buy water, then we all weeded a little, then the boys and I left to go buy lunch, and then we swung back by to pick up Pete and went home.

Then on Monday we got to go and meet his teachers. There are 3 teachers in his classroom and the following animals: a guinea pig named Bunny, a fresh water lobster named Sheldon, a few fish, and in a couple weeks there will be a corn snake named Shaggy. The animals are, of course, Jack's favorite things. We got to play with some of the toys and learn how to do certain things, he got to see his locker, get his Montessori bag that will act as backpack all year, and find his cubby. It was all very exciting. That evening we had to go back for Parent Orientation, which was pretty much a waste of time since we were just there that afternoon, but Jack and Luke had a blast playing on the playground while I signed up for more work hours and went back to meet his teacher again.

Then today he actually got to go! We got there and he became a bit apprehensive, but luckily Pete handed Luke to me and took control of Jack. He was reminding Jack about all sorts of stuff and making jokes with him to put him at ease then he told me to just stay on the playground with Luke while he took Jack inside. This was probably a good idea. Pete said there was only a moment of hesitation before Jack went into the class. So yay!!!!! I was in charge of pick up so I got to hear all about the day. Knowing that if I immediately started driving I would not learn anything I simply sat in the back of the van with him and asked him questions and let him talk about his day. I learned that they played on the playground and he and a boy named David threw sand at each other, but Jack said he didn't get in trouble. (When he told the story to Pete later he did mention that David got in trouble for it, but he didn't so it wasn't a big deal). He said that he and his new friend swept up pretzels because they were all over the floor, but when I asked if he ate pretzels for snack he said no he didn't eat any. Hmm...
They also pet Bunny but once he nibbled a few boys he was put away.  Jack made me a necklace and said that he played for a second on the piano(keyboard) in the class. I don't think that we could have asked for more.

I of course took a few pictures of him before we went to school so here they are.

From Facebook to Blog

I have posted the following things on facebook but felt they should be written down for posterity on the blog. I go to the doctor on the same day and at the same time for every appointment then I head to the grocery store while Pete is at home with the kids. There is a cashier, a women probably in her 50s or early 60s, that I usually go to because she is faster than the kids. A couple weeks ago she started talking to me about the size and positioning of my uterus. It was uncomfortable for me and I sent Pete to the store the next time we needed to go. Then this week I go again after my appointment but go to a different cashier-problem solved right? No! She saw me and walked over to help bag my groceries and talk to me about when I am due and how dilated I am then she encouraged me to keep walking. Oh my!! I think I am done going to the grocery store.

Pete posted this on his facebook but not everyone is friends with him and it is pretty funny. He took Jack to throw frisbees near campus and a policeman was there in his car with his window rolled down. He saw Jack, nodded, and said, 'Morning'. Jack obviously feeling guilty about something responds with a loud-Yikes! This is following an incident a few months ago where he was throwing rocks near a car and Pete told him he better stop because there was a police car nearby and he would arrest Jack. Jack looked around and said- No he won't. Then stuffed the rocks in his hands down his pants.

In preparation for going to the hospital I decided to dye my hair because I hadn't retouched my highlights since January or February. I thought the box would be the best way to go because it was cheap and would be fairly quick. I bought a box called Natural Blonde- not too dark and not too light. I go home dye my hair and then wash it out. As I am combing it I notice that it looks kinda reddish. I get the hair dryer out to see if maybe this is just because it is wet. Nope. My hair is in fact a fake coppery red looking color. This is very sad. So for a week I had fake red hair. I ended up getting it fixed at the salon-- it is a lighter now than it usually is but she had to cover the red and I guess the best way was for her to make it blonder than normal.

It has been cooler lately so we took advantage of the weather to go to the little fake zoo we have here in town. It was a nice little break in our routine. Here are a couple pictures.

Pete has been teaching Jack about magnets and they have been doing a bunch of experiments and tricks. I posted a video on facebook about one of their tricks but thought I would post a picture of it on the blog.

Next week Jack starts preschool and in just a few weeks baby should be arriving-- lots to talk about then.

A visitor, a birthday, and a doctor's appointment

Over the past month things have slowed down to pretty much a stop as far as activities and outings. This is probably a good thing because in a few weeks preschool starts for Jack, school starts for Pete, and then baby arrives. Still we did have a visitor this weekend so that added a little extra fun to our days.

Pete's brother, Joe, came in for the weekend. It was quite a long trip as he lives in Korea, so the jet lag was pretty hard on him, but we are so glad we got to see him and hang out. The first day he was here it rained some, and it hasn't rained here in weeks, so it was an indoors kind of day. Jack really wanted to do science experiments, luckily Joe was game. They made a sunset in a plastic test tube using acids and bases, a volcano inside a test tube, and some type of non-Newtonion fluid. Jack thought all of these were pretty cool. Also, cool but not something we did with Joe, take off the shower head fill it with red Kool-Aid powder, put it back on, and wait for someone to turn the shower on-- it looks like blood!

Then the second day he was here it was back to sunny and super hot so we decided to take Joe to the fountains at school. We went to both fountains and played for awhile then we stopped for some shaved ice and ate it in our front yard. It was a pretty laid back time, but I think everyone enjoyed it.

Walking to the Engineering Fountain

Found a worm and decided to be animal rescuers and save it from drying out in the heat

Back home enjoying the shade and some shaved ice

Then it was my 30th birthday! The boys woke up pretty early, like they normally do, and as I was getting them some breakfast Jack heard that Pete was awake. This, to Jack, was crazy because Pete usually doesn't wake up that early since he studies so late. When Pete came into the kitchen Jack said, "Daddy woke up for your birthday. He never wakes up this early. He didn't even wake up this early for my birthday!" Haha. I thought it was pretty funny that Jack was amazed Pete would wake up early for my birthday and not his. It was a pretty laid back day. Pete took the kids for the morning and then that afternoon I wasn't feeling well at all so it was hang out on the couch while the kids watched a movie then played in the living room. Pete and Jack made me a delicious cheesecake and grilled steaks for dinner. So yummy.

Jack helping with the cheesecake

Getting ready to blow out the candle

Jack thought I needed help

Then today I had my 34 week appointment. I am measuring 35 weeks, so just one week bigger these days. As yesterday was so hard on me I asked the doctor to check things out. He said all looks good and stuff is starting to happen, but nothing too advanced to indicate alarm. Then he said if possible he wants to keep my cerclage in until 37 weeks, but realizes it may have to come out at 36 weeks.

All in all things are going well here. The next couple weeks should be pretty boring and laid back, but come the middle to end of August life will get pretty hectic again.