First Day of School

Peter is officially a preschooler (WHAT??!).  Where did the time go?  Anyway, St. Peter’s does two weeks of ‘phase in’, where the kids only go for an hour to get adjusted.  So Peter goes from 10:15-11:45.  Upon picking him up, the teacher told me that around 11 Peter got up went to the door and said, “I’m all done with school can I go home?” We’ll see if he can hang in there on Friday.

On ‘meet the teacher’ day, each kid brought home a ‘mini-me’ to decorate to look like themselves.  Peter is holding his.  Sorry for the weird face, I couldn’t get him to stand still. 

Maybe on friday I can get a better first day of school picture.  These are kind of goofy. 

Canning and complaining

I’ll start by confessing I didn’t take any pictures today. The boys and I went down to Dalton, OH to the Amstutz farm.  My mom’s cousin was gracious enough to teach me how to can fruit.  We did a bushel and a half of peaches today.  24 quart jars.  I am very excited and am already trying to find good deals online for canning supplies.  If my ambition holds strong I’m going to try pears and applesauce yet this fall.  Every nook and cranny of every closet will have a resident in this house.  We’re busting at the seems already and I’m shoving in jars by the dozen.

On another note, for the past few weeks I have been desperately trying to lose the last 5 pounds I gained after Joey and can’t seem to shake them.  Every day after work Mark takes the boys for 45 minutes so I can exercise, so I have no excuse.  I have been watching what I eat and drinking plenty of fluids, but nothing seems to stick.  I lose one pound one week and then gain it back in the next day or two.  Then I get really frustrated and exercise like crazy – lost two pounds and then gain those back.  I’m stuck and frustrated.  I’ve tried everything from counting calories to high protein to no sugar.  So now I’m back to square one and wondering if it’s really worth all the trouble.  If being my goal weight means never eating desert again or never enjoying a glass of wine is the extra 5 pounds just going to stick around (literally around my butt). 

That was probably all a little too personal but I needed to vent and I think Mark is tired of hearing me complain :)

A busy week

It was a busy week around here.  I’ll try to remember everything…

This week we’ve had fun hanging out with our neighbors as they welcomed new baby Catherine into their family.  She’s such a cutie.

On thursday, Peter went to ‘meet the teacher day’ at school.  He is very excited to see his friends and play new games.  (I forgot the camera – hopefully I’m better on the real first day!)

On Saturday, we finished lots of lingering projects.  We started by cleaning out the garage…

 

We made a box tunnel for the boys.

Which then turned into a painting box.

 

 

We enjoyed some beach time and then ate dinner.  All other moms can relate to this phase – Joey refuses to sit in his seat at the table. Saturday, standing was acceptable, but usually he has to be on a lap or eat off the floor. 

And last, the boys put together a book shelf…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow we’re going down to Sylvia’s to can peaches.  And Wednesday is the first day of school.  I’ll try to keep you posted!

Camp Out

Last night, Peter and Mark braved the outdoors and had Peter’s first camp out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peter was pretty excited (and even finished his broccoli so he could roast marshmallows!)

What’s a camp out without a little fire :)

 

  Joey was determined to get his marshmallow on a stick. Although, in hindsight he may have wanted to chose a longer stick.

 

 

 

 

Mommy and Joey went inside while daddy and Peter played cards, ate snacks and shined their flashlights at the bugs around the tent.  I had two midnight visits in the house (daddy’s potty break at 12:30 and Peter’s potty break at 5:30). Otherwise, Peter slept all night in the tent!  Explain to me why at any hour during the day Peter will pee on any tree, bush, plant, bug, etc, in the yard, but in the early morning the pee must go in the potty! Oh, little boys…

 

 

  The next morning, Joey and I went out for a visit after the boys were awake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soon after breakfast, Peter wanted to watch a movie. 

Daddy kindly obliged and the boys enjoyed “Thomas and the Misty Island Rescue.”

 

 

On a different note….

Here is the best picture I could grab of the back yard gang.  Every Tuesday I make a scavenger hunt in the back yard for the boys.  The last clue leads to a treat (hence all of them sitting still for a slight moment). From left to right is: Jack, JT, Peter, Allie and Joey.

African Safari

Come along with us on an African Safari….

  

Joey led the way while Peter and mommy did the feeding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At first Joey was a little unsure about this adventure. (Understandably.  I don’t know if I would want to be strapped down as animals larger than me stuck their head in the window either.) He was much happier driving with daddy.

 

 

 

There were lots of hungry mouths to feed

 

 Carrots are their favorite,

 

    but they’ll eat pellets from a cup too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They are not shy at all!  And are pretty in tune as to whether or not you have your window open.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Daddy, don’t look now, there’s a big one coming!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Thank you – come again”

 

 

 

   This guy wasn’t very hungry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one was :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the drive thru we ate a little lunch, grabbed a pony ride, and caught a quick pig race.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think the boys had a great day.

Booooring…..

It’s a boring day around here.

Peter and Joey are playing trains right now.  Joey has recently figured out what playing trains is all about.  He is happy to watch his brother and then make his own train and push it around the track.  With this revelation comes enormous train tracks in my living room. (The train table just isn’t big enough)

 Sometimes Joey just gets lost amoung the tracks.

 

On another note -  it’s a sad day when you start seeing sesame street segment reruns. hmph.

Gardening

We threw together a mid summer garden and were happy to receive some vermicompost and leaf mulch from my parents (courtesy of Kim and Brian shipping). We planted carrots, beans, tomatoes, lettuce, zucchini, squash, and cucumbers.  Everything has sprouted so hopefully the garden will be full some September.

I was also very excited to get two buckets of tea plants from aunt Mary.  Everywhere we have lived I’ve tried to grow some but never have been successful.  Here’s to one more try!