Bad Boys, Bad Boys...Whatcha Gonna Do???

Just the other day, I had an email conversation with one of my gal pals talking about kids and their behavior (specifically at school). Kate gives us little to no grief and we know that she is respectful and courteous when she is away from us. Jackson on the other hand makes us a little uneasy. He is a really good boy and he means well, but he confuses the fact that just because he's having fun doesn't necessarily mean it's the right thing to do. We have been waiting for the day that he messed up at school, and that day finally came.

He came down the stairs to the office calling for me and started saying "Mom...something bad happened (and here his voice went several octaves higher than normal and tears started flowing) at school today." At first I thought maybe he'd wet his pants. He has never done it before, but I figured there was a first for everything. Then he told me that he has to sit in seat one for a WHOLE WEEK! Gasp!!! The poor thing was just beside himself. He proceeded to tell me that his friend Nathan had a bag of pretzels on the bus and they accidently fell onto the floor. As Nathan bent down to start picking them up, Jack (and possibly the other Jack in the neighborhood...uh oh, perhaps it is inherent in the name???), started stomping and crushing the pretzels. I told Jack that I was really happy that he came and told me the truth and that we all mess up sometimes and went on to ask him why he did what he did (of course he responded with the inevitable: I dunno), and I asked if he thought it was really a good idea. I told him by doing what he did, he caused all sorts of work for the bus driver and that wasn't fair to her. He then went on to say how Kate made him feel "so bad" because when he looked at her she was giving him a bad look... I can just see her sitting there with arms folded and casting a disapproving look in his direction... she is such a little mother/do-gooder. I then told Jack that this really isn't about Kate, it is about him and his poor choices. His frustration with her is more likely frustration with the poor choice he made. I had to call Josh because the whole thing was cute, sad, disappointing and a little funny all at the same time. While he was talking with Daddy, I couldn't resist capturing it all on film. Lord knows there will probably come a day when he no longer cares what Mom and Dad think, so I guess I need to cherish these moments when they come.

Poor Jack must have cried for about 10 minutes straight! My sleeve was all covered in tears and perhaps boogers...I didn't want to investigate that too closely...

I instructed Jack to write a letter of apology for his bad behavior.

Here is the finished card.

The letter reads:

Dear Mrs. Bus driver, I'm very sorry for stomping on the pretzels yesterday and making a big mess for you to clean up. I didn't know that my fun would cause you work. I'm so sorry. Love, Jackson

...and the back.

Here is the video of him explaining to daddy what he had done. It's pretty sad, but whatcha gonna do???.... :-(

School Clothes Are Fun!

Do you ever feel like you just can't win??? I'm feeling that way this year when it comes to school clothes. Every year I go out and buy all of their things before school begins, and then watch it sit in their closets for a month or two before the weather permits their wear. This year I thought I'd wait until the temperatures started dipping before buying all those clothes... well the joke was on me...the weather has been quite cold already... dipping into the 30's and 40's at night, but getting close to 70's by day. I don't know how to dress the kids anymore! So I figured with the chilling trend, I might as well just go and buy them their clothes after all. I really shouldn't be that surprised since this whole Summer has felt more like Fall anyway. So I go and buy everything and now it's like we're in a heat wave...nearing 80's... What is the deal????

So here are a few of their new outfits. There are couple more for each of them and jackets and jammies, but some things had to be exchanged/returned during our photo shoot and I really didn't feel like making them dress up all over again.

First Day of School 2009-10

Well another "first" day of school has come and nearly gone. I know most mothers dread having their kids going away, but I must admit, I rather enjoy it!!! I was talking to Josh and saying how I suppose I should feel guilty, but I'm diggin' my time alone. I can get so much done! It's not that I don't enjoy their company or love hanging out with them... I ADORE them. But I think at the same time, we all (including the kids), like our own time and doing something new. They have never been the ones to cry when left off at preschool...in fact it was always the neighbor girl who would wait for a hug from me when my own kids had no idea if I had gone or not! But then again, I didn't shed a tear when they went off to kindergarten either. I guess we all just have a solid understanding that we are always here for each other, but that it is okay to be your own person as well. I'm so excited for all their new adventures this year... I'm sure they're going to have a blast!

Our Summer Fun Finale

I finally got around to getting some friends over for a play-date and sleepover. It's not like waiting until the last minute or anything! We've been so busy with tonsil removals and trips to the east coast, that it just wasn't much of a priority on my end. But, alas, I did manage to squeeze one last day of fun with friends before the inevitable first day of school. Jack had his good buddy Nathan come over and Kate had one of her best gal pals, Danielle. They were very well behaved and we had a really great time. The day they came over turned out to be rather lousy--all wet and rainy. As a backup plan, I took them to Burger King for some ice-cream and let them play on their indoor gym for about 2 1/2 hours!!! I had had plans to take them to the splash pad at Marathon Park, but it obviously didn't work out that way. Lucky for Danielle, she stayed until 4:30 the following day and we did get to go to the park, have a picnic, play on the playgrounds, ride the train and carousel and splash in the water. It was a good time.

So the night that the kids slept over, we managed a campfire even with the wet fire wood (although I think we may have smoked out our neighbors...oops). Josh wasn't exactly pleased with me for leaving the marshmallow stick laying against his chair. Can you spot the marshmallow stuck to his white shirt??? It wasn't as if I hadn't thought of the possibility of him sitting against it... it's like when you have the lil' devil and lil' angel sitting on your shoulders arguing over what you should do???.... guess which one won? ;-)

Jackers and Nathan

Danielle and Kate

Daddy and the gang

Ahhhh, life is good when smores are in hand....

We had this little guy join us for the campfire. I don't think anyone offered him a smore though.

Two tuckered out little dudes

Our picnic at Marathon park.

The kids always have to have a ride on the train and carousel.

Can you spot Jack's face peering through the window...he's such a nut!