Excited does not adequately describe how the boys felt about going to Kindergarten. Saturday I broke out their new backpacks and school supplies that they would need for school. Ever since then, they would ask about every hour if they were going to school yet. Today could have not gotten here fast enough for them. But for me, I wanted to hold onto every last minute before we took this big step into Kindergarten. Last night they kept asking me "Are you going to miss us very much mom?" Yep, I sure will.
We got into their classroom this morning and they got a name tag to wear for this first week of school. It will be interesting to see next week if the teacher can tell who is who without their name tags. The teacher and I talked about their differences and maybe how to tell them apart but most people who ask me that still get them wrong. Today was a minimum day at school. It was only supposed to be an hour but it lasted about 2 hours. The parents talked to the teacher while the kids went outside and played on the playground a bit. Then the kids came back in the room and took some time to explore the room. They had several projects to make and also just play in different learning areas of the classroom. As we were getting in the car to leave Jack asked "Mom, why did you stay with us?" Ouch! I had talked to them about how mom's and dad's don't stay at school but that they will be with their teacher during the day. I guess they didn't want me there today :( Like I said, they are ready, I'm not.
Did you know that in Kindergarten you get homework?! It seems kind of crazy but it is true. We get a packet every Monday and that packet needs to be done by the end of the week. So this afternoon we broke out the homework. That was just weird to say the least. My babies are doing homework and they love it! Grant almost did his whole packet and that was supposed to last him the whole week. It's kind of chaotic trying to help 3 kids at once with their homework. "Mom, what about this? How do I do that? What's the next page?" Then if their brother is doing a page they already did, they try to help him out. It's pretty funny. I want them to learn on their own at their own pace. The school also has you commit to reading a book everyday for at least 15 minutes. You have to log the book on a sheet they give you and turn it in at the end of the month. So of course our book choices were "My Truck is Stuck", "If I Could Drive a Tanker Truck" and "If I Could Drive a Crane".
It was a fantastic day. They are looking forward to tomorrow and I guess I am too. It will be my first day with 4 hours to myself! What will I do......
I've had this song stuck in my head for the last week. It's a song that I used when I did a photo montage for the boys 4th birthday. The words are so appropriate for how I feel right now. The song is called "Let Them Be Little" by Billy Dean.
I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand.
You felt so good in it; no bigger than a minute.
How it amazes me you're changin' with every blink.
Faster than a flower blooms, they grow up all too soon.
So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give 'em hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.
I never felt so much in one little tender touch.
I live for those kisses, your prayers an' your wishes.
An' now you're teachin' me how only a child can see.
Tonight, while we're on our knees, all I ask is:
Please, let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.
The so innocent, precious soul:
You turn around, an' it's time to let them go.
So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give 'em praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let them sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.
Let them be little
Monday, August 10, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Super Fair = Super Time!
Yesterday Curtis and I took the boys to the Orange County Fair. There were many "firsts" which were really unexpected. The first "first" was that we went without a stroller! The only time we use our jogging stroller is when we take the boys to Disneyland, and I really do think they are getting too big for it. But, it's a way to keep them all together and from not getting so tired walking around all day. Curtis and I were really impressed with how well they did. It was pretty hot and we walked around quite a bit.
We entered the gate where all the rides and games were. The boys wanted to play the games but didn't want the prizes at first (I know, weird!). I have to say that the people working at the booths and rides were really generous to us. They would give us extra darts, rings, rides, etc. for no extra charge. So it was a "first" to play carnival games. Another "first" was riding the carnival rides. To my amazement, they rode a roller coaster by themselves! It was hilarious. I think Grant really liked it but Nolan and Jack had enough by the first couple times around. One of their favorite rides of the day was the mini bumper cars. I think we must have rode that ride 10 times. Jack really just wanted to drive around and not bump into anyone. He was very serious and determined to drive the car around. Grant loved to bump into people (definitely his personality trait coming out!) and Nolan liked to drive around and bump into people. The boys also rode bumper boats which was fun but not as exciting as the bumper cars. The last ride they rode was the big slide that you ride down on a potato sack. Nolan kept asking to ride the slide but I wasn't sure about it. It was really high! I let my motherly fears go and sent Curtis and the boys off to ride the slide. There were 3 lanes so each of the boys had their own lane. I watched them go down so fast and I couldn't stop smiling. I was so proud of them.
Later we went to the kid zone where they had a reptile display. If you know me, you know I don't like reptiles! They had huge snakes and geckos on display. Then they also had a place where you could take a picture with a huge snake. Curtis encouraged them to take a picture with the snake so up they went to sit by the snake. The handlers started to wrap the snake around their neck and they kind of freaked out (or maybe that was me!). Then they tried to lay the snake in their lap but Nolan started yelling "get me out of here!" and then Grant started to freak out too. I got both of them down but Jack hung back. He was up there petting the snake and making friends with it! It was hilarious. We also watched the pig races earlier in the day. At the end of the show the boys took a picture with "Strawberry" the swine.
We stopped and watched the family circus they had. I couldn't encourage them enough to ride on the elephant. They liked the juggling, disappearing of birds, and they especially liked watching the ring master stack up 7-8 chairs and doing a handstand on top of them. We talked with him after the show and the guy told us that triplets (especially identical ones) can make a good living in the circus. I guess they will always have something to fall back on?!
At the end of the evening we watched the BMX riders. I love watching the stunts these kids come up with. The youngest rider was 15! It was around 9pm by this time and the boys were getting tired. We had never intended on staying that long but we were having a blast. After another round on the bumper cars we headed home.
One very sweet moment we had early in the day. We met this group of seniors who were having a day out at the fair. A lady stopped us and asked us if the boys were triplets. Then she introduced the lady that she was pushing around in a wheelchair. Her name was Alice. Alice was 103 years old! She had the biggest smile on her face looking at the boys. The boys introduced themselves and we chatted for a bit. It was just an awesome moment.
So here are some pictures from the day. Unfortunately they were all taken on my camera phone so the quality is a bit lacking. The darn battery on my camera was dead!
We entered the gate where all the rides and games were. The boys wanted to play the games but didn't want the prizes at first (I know, weird!). I have to say that the people working at the booths and rides were really generous to us. They would give us extra darts, rings, rides, etc. for no extra charge. So it was a "first" to play carnival games. Another "first" was riding the carnival rides. To my amazement, they rode a roller coaster by themselves! It was hilarious. I think Grant really liked it but Nolan and Jack had enough by the first couple times around. One of their favorite rides of the day was the mini bumper cars. I think we must have rode that ride 10 times. Jack really just wanted to drive around and not bump into anyone. He was very serious and determined to drive the car around. Grant loved to bump into people (definitely his personality trait coming out!) and Nolan liked to drive around and bump into people. The boys also rode bumper boats which was fun but not as exciting as the bumper cars. The last ride they rode was the big slide that you ride down on a potato sack. Nolan kept asking to ride the slide but I wasn't sure about it. It was really high! I let my motherly fears go and sent Curtis and the boys off to ride the slide. There were 3 lanes so each of the boys had their own lane. I watched them go down so fast and I couldn't stop smiling. I was so proud of them.
Later we went to the kid zone where they had a reptile display. If you know me, you know I don't like reptiles! They had huge snakes and geckos on display. Then they also had a place where you could take a picture with a huge snake. Curtis encouraged them to take a picture with the snake so up they went to sit by the snake. The handlers started to wrap the snake around their neck and they kind of freaked out (or maybe that was me!). Then they tried to lay the snake in their lap but Nolan started yelling "get me out of here!" and then Grant started to freak out too. I got both of them down but Jack hung back. He was up there petting the snake and making friends with it! It was hilarious. We also watched the pig races earlier in the day. At the end of the show the boys took a picture with "Strawberry" the swine.
We stopped and watched the family circus they had. I couldn't encourage them enough to ride on the elephant. They liked the juggling, disappearing of birds, and they especially liked watching the ring master stack up 7-8 chairs and doing a handstand on top of them. We talked with him after the show and the guy told us that triplets (especially identical ones) can make a good living in the circus. I guess they will always have something to fall back on?!
At the end of the evening we watched the BMX riders. I love watching the stunts these kids come up with. The youngest rider was 15! It was around 9pm by this time and the boys were getting tired. We had never intended on staying that long but we were having a blast. After another round on the bumper cars we headed home.
One very sweet moment we had early in the day. We met this group of seniors who were having a day out at the fair. A lady stopped us and asked us if the boys were triplets. Then she introduced the lady that she was pushing around in a wheelchair. Her name was Alice. Alice was 103 years old! She had the biggest smile on her face looking at the boys. The boys introduced themselves and we chatted for a bit. It was just an awesome moment.
So here are some pictures from the day. Unfortunately they were all taken on my camera phone so the quality is a bit lacking. The darn battery on my camera was dead!