Garage Sale

Today, before conference, we had our third garage sale. I forgot to take a picture of today's sale but here is the picture of our first garage sale we had in March. We had planned to have it today a few weeks ago so we could clean out our house and garage before our guests arrive in the following weeks and didn't think about it being conference weekend but it worked out ok. We saved the stuff that did not sell at our last two garage sales and went though all the kids toys and added more. We did pretty good and made about $150 which was pretty good since we didn't have any big items, didn't advertise in the paper, and did not have the same amount of customers as the last two. Afterwards, we took everything that didn't sell to a local thrift store for the animal humane society since we do not have a local Goodwill or Salvation army and they couldn't pick it up till Thursday and we wanted the stuff out of our garage! So we will not be having any more garage sales for awhile and I think Rob is happy about that(I think it is kinda fun but I do hate storing the stuff!).

Friday Follies

Rob was home a little earlier on Friday and we felt like going out. We decided to go over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and look at the animals and let the kids play on the playground there. They have these walk outs to giraffes and other animals outside the resort. The kids had fun but we all were very hungry afterwards and decided to try out another one of Rob's restaurants. We went to Red Lobster. I hadn't been there in over 10 years. Our table was very near the lobster tank so Jack could go watch the lobsters while we waited for the food. The kids did very good at the restaurant but I think it was because they were very hungry. After dinner, Rob took both kids to look at the lobsters while I waited for the check. When I walked over there to get them to go, I see Rob holding a lobster. He stuck his hand in the lobster tank and pulled one out!!! He said he wanted to show Jack the lobster. Now I know this is not what Red Lobster has in mind that customers reach in the tank and play with the lobsters. He pointed out that there wasn't a sign that said no touching. I replied that I think that was implied like with a fish tank and you don't go sticking your hand in any fish tank that you see and touch the fish just because there is no sign and people don't expect you to.
Jack and Callie watching the animals

Jack found a friend on the playground

Callie and Daddy playing

Callie and Jack on the double slide

Callie was determined to follow Jack up this ladder and she did it all by herself!(with Rob standing close by of course)

Callie looking longingly at the resort pool. She really wanted to go swimming.

Jack and the infamous lobster tank

Callie's first day of nursery and trouble at school

Callie's first day of nursery was Sunday. The morning did not start off great because Callie was enjoying sleeping in and we had to wake her up to go to church so she was not in the best mood. I went with Callie since this was her first Sunday and the nursery is chaos. There are 20 kids in nursery most 2 and under and the room is pretty small for a nursery room. Jack is one of the oldest kids in there and all the other kids are at least 6 months younger. They only have one nursery leader called and right now they just hope for volunteers. There were only 4 adults including me in there and 3 new 18 month olds who are completely overwhelmed by this chaos. I even didn't want to be in there. There is no structure and the kids are all just running wild. It was playtime for the first hour and a half and things got really crazy. Callie was not happy. Anytime she went to play, she would get knocked over, pushed around, toys taken from her, and kids in her face. She wanted to be right next to me the whole time and broke down when I left to go to YW opening exercises. I came back afterwards because she was inconsolable for the nursery leader and I knew she had her hands full with the other kids. So, nursery is not a success for Calle and I really can't blame her after observing the state of things. I hope things will get better come January when about half the kids will move up to Sunbeams since most of their birthdays are at the end of the year. I really don't want to keep going with her because when I'm in there, Jack regresses to wanting me to baby him too. Hopefully, the nursery calls more people and they become more organized so Callie will feel more comfortable. Here are some pics from Sunday after church.


So as the title implies, Jack is having a little trouble at preschool. We got one report from his teacher a month ago that Jack was having a hard time listening to her, sitting still, and pestering his classmates. I really haven't had too many problems with him at home besides normal 3 year old stuff. Since then, we started talking to him about how to act at preschool and reminding him before each day how to act and talking with him afterwards about how his day went and how he behaved. We also started a sticker chart to reward him for his good behavoir and when he earns so many stickers, he gets a prize. Well, this has actually improved his behavoir with us and we thought it was getting better at school too since we hadn't heard any complaints. Then, last week, I get a note from the teacher that his behavoir is not improving and she wants to have a meeting with me. AHHHH! My first parent/teacher conference. I really don't know what to do because he doesn't really have these problems at home or around us. So I met with her on Thursday, and she explained again that Jack was having trouble listening to her, sitting still and bugging the other children when it is time to sit and learn. She says that Jack just wants to play the whole time. I am thinking to myself well he is only three but I don't want his behavoir to be disruptive or bothersome either. She is now going to send home a card each day saying whether or not Jack behaved well so we can reward him when he does and hopefully that will help us monitor the situation and reward him accordingly. If I do have to meet with the teacher again, I am dragging Rob with me if I have to go back. Hopefully, over time, he will learn that he does have to sit still and learn sometimes in preschool as well as play. Jack has become so good with Callie and he is such a great helper to me at home and is very sweet and I really hope that soon his teacher and preschool friends get to see that side of Jack too.

Treasure Island

We just got back from our vacation in Treasure Island which is just south of Clearwater beach. We had sooo much fun and I am sad that we are back to real life. I always wonder why after I come home from vacation, I feel like I need a vacation. I just feel tired and there is so much to do. We had two full days at the beach and spent the last day at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa. There were too many pictures to post on the blog so you can use the link below or cut and paste to your browser to watch the four slideshows I set up with pictures from the long weekend. We had great weather and both kids loved the beach and the pools and spent the whole day outside. The aquarium had a kids waterpark which was really fun. The aquarium was at the Port of Tampa so you could see Navy ships up close on one side and huge cruise ships on the other. One was parked right next to the water area and we watched it leave. It made me want to go on a cruise watching all the passengers on the ship ready to start their vacation. It was also fun spending the time with my sister's family and my parents. We all had a wonderful time and enjoy the pictures.







Link to ALL pictures:
http://www.photoshow.net/rsjcl

Change of plans

Today, I was supposed to be posting pictures of the fun family getaway to the beach but we had an unfortunate change of plans. We were planning on going to Clearwater beach Friday morning and staying through Monday. We were going to also go to the aquarium and childrens museum in Tampa while there. Katie's Family and my parents were coming too. Well, last Wednesday I got sick but I was determined to be well by the weekend because I really wanted a vacation. Then, on Thursday, Jack had a fever and so did my two nieces so we were starting to think maybe this was trying to tell us that we were not supposed to go. Well, by Friday, everyone was feeling a little better but my niece still was not and spent the day in the ER. We finally decided to accept the disappointment and cancel our hotel reservations. We did rescedule for three weeks from now but we still have our fingers crossed that everyone will stay well and there will be no hurricanes. So on Friday, Katie and her two "well" children came over and played games. Then on Saturday, my parents watched all the kids and Rob and I and Jeff an Katie went to dinner at Chevy's and then to Disney. First, we went to Epcot and even though the park didn't feel crowded, the lines were surprisingly long. We spent the first hour or so trying to find an attraction without a long wait but then it started to downpour and we got soaked so we decided standing in line was better than waiting out the rain doing nothing so we ran through the rain over to Soarin and stood in line dripping wet for about 45 minutes. After Soarin, we went over to Magic Kingdom to ride the new Pirates of the Caribbean ride. This, luckily, did not have a long wait and they didn't change too much just added a few characters from the movie and Jack Sparrow in a few places. Then we rode Stitch's great escape which is the only ride no one had been on and it was also disappointing. Afterwards, it was time to head home. We did get to ride in the front of the Monorail with the driver on the ride to the parking lot which we had never done and was really fun. Overall, it was a fun time and nice to have an evening without the kids.

Party Animals

This weekend was pretty low key. We had a birthday party for Jack's friend Ethan on Saturday morning. They had water toys and pools set up in the backyard and the kids spent the whole time in their bathing suits getting wet. It was a super hero themed party and Jack and Callie got to take home their own capes. Jack loves his and wants to wear it all the time. He even wore it to the grocery store on Saturday when he went with Rob. Today, the kids and I went to a Moms Club activity at another member's community pool. It was beach entry which is so nice with small children. I don't even really attempt taking my kids by myself to regular pools because they just want to be held in the water the whole time. The beach entry is great because I can just sit in the shallow water and the kids play around me the whole time and everyone has an enjoyable time. All the pictures are from the birthday party on Saturday.

Jack swinging at the Spiderman pinata.
Callie on the big swing and loving it.
Jack drawing on the fence with chalk and loving that he was allowed to
Callie in the pool
Callie in the smaller pool
Jack and Callie in their matching outfits

Jack's First Day at Preschool

Yesterday was Jack's first day of preschool. It is going to be an adjustment for us all getting up and out of our house early. We all usually sleep till 8:30 (except for Rob)and now we will have to be all ready and leave the house by 8:20 so we will be tired on Tuesday and Thursday. I think I will have a harder time adjusting than the kids. Jack was excited to start preschool. He picked out his clothes and Rob went to work later so he could come to drop Jack off with us. We had a "meet the teacher" on Wednesday. Jack's teacher is Miss Debra- a nice energetic older lady. At the "meet the teacher", Jack was a little shy but he eventually warmed up and started playing in the room and with the other kids. Callie had a fun time too. On Thursday, he was excited to return. Jack's class has their playground time first so we just drop of Jack's backpack in the room and take him out to the playground each day. As soon as Jack got to the playground, he started running off and we had to stop him to tell him we were leaving and he said goodbye and ran off to play. When I picked him up, he was happy and said he liked it. He didn't answer a lot of my questions except with silly answers. The only real answers I got were when I asked "How was preschool?" , he said "It was fun" and when I asked "Were the other kids nice?", he said "Two girls were mean at the door before we went on a walk but they got nicer when we were back in the classroom." Also, they safety pin these name tags on the children to learn their names and Jack pulls on his and it made a large hole in his T-shirt where it was pinned. Next time, I am going to try pinning it on the neckline of his shirt and hopefully it won't tear as easily. Let me know if anyone has any other ideas because I really don't want every T-shirt he wears getting a big hole in it. So Jack liked school and acts excited to go back next week. Here are some pictures from Jack's first day.
Jack's classroom

Jack standing by his name - Every morning the kids put up a cloud with their name on it up so the teacher knows who's there.

Jack standing by his cubby.

Jack heading up the playset(he is the one at the top)

Jack playing with his friend Cooper on the playground(they are the ones by the fence). His friend Cooper from our Mom's Club playgroup is in his preschool class.

Jack's picture he brought home from preshool. He says that this is a picture of Daddy. This is how he draws people.