Today was the last day of kindergarten for Jay; on to First Grade for him! Man that flew by!!
Category: School
last day of preschool for charlie
Yesterday was the last day of preschool for Charlie. It’s summer vacation and then on to PreK for him :)
a few more from the last day of school…
happy new year
2015 hasn’t been an easy year for our family. However, regardless of the difficulties there has always been joy. Our three boys bring smiles to our faces and laughter to our house on a daily basis and for that we are always grateful. Regardless of what 2016 brings I hope that we can always focus on what really matters, our family. Happy New Year everyone, here’s to a wonderful 2016.
2015 a year in review…
January
We celebrated Luc’s 1/2 birthday, Jay’s 5th Birthday, he requested a “Blue Heart cake with Flames on it”.
February
We read books, we built a ridiculous amount of things with duplo, enjoyed the cooler weather outside and it even got cold enough one night to freeze water outside. The boys set up an “experiment” and were thrilled that some of the water froze.
March
We played outside in the pool and also in the rain, we raced cars and Kristen finished her first queen sized quilt.
April
April was a crazy month. We hosted the annual Shrimp Boil which also served as George’s retirement party, Jamie got a new standing desk, we rearranged most of the office after getting the desk and created a lego area for Jamie and a sewing area for Kristen, we celebrated Easter and decorated a bunch of eggs, did a heck of a lot of lego building and Kristen finished another quilt.
May
We built a bunch more lego, we swam in the pool for the first time in 2015, finished up a the school year at MSEE, Charlie got a new bike, Jay started riding a bike without training wheels and Luc got his first haircut.
June
We spent a lot of time in the pool and we spent the week on Anna Maria Island with Jamie’s family.
July
We spent the week at the beach with my Mom, celebrated Luc’s 2nd Birthday, Jay’s half birthday and our 9th Wedding Anniversary.
August
We enjoyed some time with cousins visiting from Canada, swam in the pool a WHOLE lot, Charlie started a 3 day 3’s program at MSEE and Jay started Kindergarten at Brookshire Elementary School.
September
We adjusted to our new school schedule, took a trip to Terra Ceia and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
October
We played outside a whole lot, dressed up in both Halloween costumes and a ton of dress up clothes and we took Jay and Charlie to Disney for the first time.
November
We had to say goodbye to our sweet kitty, Bella, and we celebrated Charlie’s 4th Birthday for which he requested a “mouth cake”.
December
We prepared and decorated with the Holidays, Charlie learned to ride a bike without training wheels, we took a trip to Jacksonville to celebrate Memere’s birthday and got to see a lot of family and we celebrated Christmas.
kindergarten
I know I have been terrible at posting things lately but I do still take photos aside from iPhone photos and instagram posts. And since I actually took the time to take a look at them today I thought that I would share. Jay started Kindergarten at Brookshire Elementary today. It’s a day that I have been looking forward to and dreading all at the same time. Jay is SO ready to learn, be in school and soak up any and all information that is thrown at him. Being home with his brothers all summer has had its advantages, they play really well most of the time, but it’s also been hard since they are together all of the time too and have endless hours to push each others’ buttons. So for those reasons I was ready and he was ready to go. However, I don’t ever think any Momma bird is really ever ready to send their little one to kindergarten all day long and for that reason today was tough. I managed to keep it together all of the way to school and up until we had to leave him in the classroom. There were Momma tears on the way home, randomly throughout the day and while waiting to pick him up outside of school (I was 30 min early) when friends asked how I managed throughout the day. I was so thrilled to see him and even more thrilled to hear his excited stories about school. He talked all the way home about his day and then some. Man it is hard to watch my sweet Jay Bird spread his wings and fly but it is also so, so wonderful! I couldn’t be more proud of him than I am right now.
Here’s a few photos (actually more than just a few but it’s my blog and I can do whatever I want), the first from meet the Teacher and the later (with the backpack) from this morning.
Things have been crazy with Jamie in grad school and working a ton, the boys being home all summer- TOGETHER- and well, just life. I have a ton of photos that I would love to share at some point. Fingers crossed I will get to that soon. Like I always say, my older self is bound to thank me for whatever I get the chance to post…
preschool happenings
So this post is ridiculously late. For posterity’s sake let’s just pretend that I have my act together and that this was posted in August when it should have been ;)
Both Jay and Charlie started preschool last week. Jay on Monday, going 4 days (9-12pm) a week and Charlie on Tuesday going 2 days (9-12pm) a week. We met their teachers the week before and they have been so excited about going since!! Both of the boys had fabulous first days and we couldn’t ask for better teachers or a better school!! I am continually grateful that we chose to send our boys to MSEE; there isn’t a better place for them to be!!
Photos from meet the teacher
Jay’s Teachers- Mrs. Hosler and Mrs. Pastore (Charlie joined in for the photo) Jay’s face in this photo pretty much sums up how he feels about school. He loves it SO much! He can’t wait to get out of the house in the morning to go and he talks about it all afternoon when we get home.
Charlie’s Teachers- Mrs. Coutant and Mrs. Stimmel
First Day Photos-
Charlie asked me on the way in to school today if I was going to stay with him and when I told him I wasn’t he looked at me and said “Oh Gosh!”. However, when I was dropping him off in his classroom he looked at Mrs. Stimmel after hugging me goodbye and said “I didn’t want Mommy to walk me in”. Needless to say, Charlie had no “first day jitters” to overcome! And in case you were curious, neither did Jay. He walked right in and had to be reminded to say goodbye to me! I love that they love school!
The boys asked me to take this one when we got to school on Charlie’s first day. Sweet brothers ;)
one (school) years time
It truly is hard to believe that the school year is already over, it feels like just yesterday that we were meeting the teacher and having the first day! Jay had such a wonderful experience at the MSEE and we can’t wait until next year. Also, while I know that he is growing and getting bigger by the day, putting these two photos next to each other makes me want to go cry in the corner! Slow down time, please slow down…
happy new year
2013 year in review…
January
We played outside (in diapers and underwear since it was SO warm), Jay learned how to ride his first bike and we celebrated his 3rd Birthday!
February
We made some updates around the house, I painted some new bedroom furniture, Jay was potty trained and Charlie really started running around.
March
We enjoyed a little bit of a cold front, found out that we would be welcoming another baby boy to the family, built our super cool backyard fort and hosted the shrimp boil.
April
We battled some a nasty cold where Charlie had to do breathing treatments, I finished Jay’s quilt, we played with cars, played outside and enjoyed our new slip and slide.
May
We celebrated Charlie’s half birthday, we grew butterflies, we played out front in our kiddie pool, started swimming again and played outside in the rain.
June
Charlie got his first haircut, we took a trip to Starbucks Springs, we swam a whole lot, I painted the boys joint big boy room and we vacationed in Anna Maria Island with family.
July
We welcomed our third beautiful baby boy, Luc, into the world, Jamie and I celebrated 7 years of marriage and I turned 31 years old.
August
We spent a lot of time in the pool, the boys finished their swimming lessons and Jay started preschool 3 days a week.
September
We visited with extended family while they were in town, attended Jay’s first school parade and swam some more!
October
Jamie celebrated his 33rd birthday, worked out the kinks of our new shared sleeping arrangements and therefore battled with some very tired boys; we built a whole lot of duplo towers, made some pretty adorable Halloween costumes and battled off some terrible preschool germs.
November
Jay attended his first Florida State football game with Jamie, Charlie celebrated his 2nd birthday and we enjoyed visiting with family when they were in town visiting.
December
We decorated our house for the holidays, enjoyed Jay’s preschool Christmas program, took a trip to Terra Ceia and enjoyed holidays with our boys and extended families.
Every January as I look back at our year I can’t help but feel so incredibly blessed. We have had a wonderful 2013 and I can’t wait to see what 2014 is going to bring!
patriotic parade 2013
Today at Jay’s school they had a patriotic parade, complete with festive hats, flags (for some of the classes), hand-painted shirts and then a “parade” of firetrucks and police cars. It was a crazy madehouse of an event with parents everywhere taking photos and kids looking everywhere but it was adorable beyond words and I can’t wait until the next event with MSEE. God Bless those teachers for wrangling all of those kiddos and loving them while they are away from us. Every event/experience that we have with Jay at MSEE further confirms that it is the perfect school for him (us) and right where we need to be right now.
sweet brothers watching the parade
The next few are a series of group shots (on Wednesday his class has more students in it, normally there are only 13 students between the two teachers in his class) in all of their 3/4 year old glory- not looking, not smiling, crying etc and yes Jay seems to be the only kid that looked, and for the most part smiled, for all of the photos. He is such a Hambone!
fly little bird fly
My baby, my first born turned three and a half at the end of last month and headed off to school two weeks ago. I will not lie, I cried big fat Momma tears when we had meet the teacher, a little bit on parent night, in the parking lot after dropping him off in his classroom and again when he was safely in the car after the first day. Okay and maybe a few here and there throughout the week too when I dropped him off and just randomly- what can I say I am a bit of a crier. I knew that this was coming and while I am excited for everything that “school” brings my Momma’s heart just wasn’t ready yet…
Jay Bird,
To say these last few months have been easy would be an understatement. People always mention the terrible two’s but three, the threes have been tough, definitely worse than the twos. You are wild with boundless energy to match. You don’t stop, talking or going, well- ever! There are times when you are literally running circles around me trying to explain something or telling me the plans of your “new game” or just running since I think it is impossible for you sit still these days. You are trying to find your own way and asserting your independence and sometimes that comes out as just plain defiant. It’s exhausting and frequently you leave me and your Daddy staring at each other wondering what we’re ever going to do with you. But for all the wild, crazy, make your head spin moments there are equally as many sane, sweet, melt a Mommy moments too. You’re tenderhearted and imaginative, you love to dress up and make believe and are frequently coming up with new things to play. At one moment we are in our boats (cardboard boxes) sailing away on trips, at other times we are riding our horses in a race. We wear wings, crazy hats, capes and masks here and there and every time they have a different purpose or reason whether it be dancing at the ball or flying away from the hunters. I adore watching your creativity come to life in these new games, the pictures you draw and the stories you tell. Speaking of stories you still LOVE to read. We have been reading chapter books with you for close to 6 months or more now along with the picture books and you love both equally. Jack and Annie books (the Magic Tree House) are probably your favorite in the Chapter book category and I would be hard pressed to name just a few of your picture book favorites, there are so many. I love watching you read with Daddy because I get to see you study each picture so intently while he reads; it’s like I am getting a glimpse at how you think.
You adore your brothers and frequently shower them with affection, most of the time this leads to tears but your intentions are always good. You love playing with Charlie and I can’t count the number of times that I hear you say, “Come on Charlie”, “Charlie, let’s…” etc during the day. You really are each others best friend right now and I can’t wait to see your relationship continue to grow. When it comes to Luc, we have to put limits on how many hugs, kisses, cuddles you can give him. You are frequently asking to hold him, asking where he is and trying to make him quiet when he is fussy. It’s adorable and so precious and I love to watch you help out and “take care” of him. As for Mommy I never limit the amount of kisses and cuddles I get from you; as long as you will give them I will take them. I love that you will be running circles around me one minute and the next stopping for a mid lap smooch. I love that I sometimes I find you wrapped around my legs giving the best bear hugs around. I love that out of the blue you will tell me that you love me. I love when you ask me to stay and cuddle awhile before bed; hearing about your day and talking about the things you love during these times are some of my favorite moments with you. These are the moments I live for, these are the moments that I stop and thank God for; how blessed are we to have YOU in our lives? So while I wasn’t quite ready to kick you out of the nest I know that it is time and I am so anxious to see you fly. So fly my little Jay Bird fly…
I love you,
Momma
half birthday celebrations
photos from the first day of school
flash forward
Jay is spending the day at my Mom’s Fun in the Sun Summer Camp. I packed him a lunch and packed a few things for him in his “packpack” (backpack). When I saw him standing there this morning all ready to go I had just a glimpse of what it’s going to be like in a few years… Not sure when he got so grown up!
being a ham for the camera…
A shot of his lunch- just because I have it :) “Happy Peanut Butter Quesdillas”, Blueberries, Cheese Stars and a mix of yogurt covered and plain raisins.
Oh, and can I just tell you how much it warmed my heart when he introduced himself to one of the teachers as “Jay Bird Puhwoh (his version of Perreault)”- love, love, love this kid!
the perreault family 