I realize I have some catching up to do. I'm a completely pathetic blogger as of late. Please be patient as I try to go back and fill in the gaps. I've got a camera full of pictures and lists of things I want to say. One of these days they'll all make it on here...

Benefits of the GAP

Benefit #1 of the 5-year age gap between my children:

Those piles of brightly colored board books?

They can now be read by big brother. Marie gets her storytime, Kyle gets to practice
his reading, and I get to sit back and relax (kind of).

It's a win-win-win situation.

Kindergarten Rocks!

So, the question has been posed, "How does Kyle like school?"

Let's let Kyle answer that, shall we? Here are a few things he's told me over the last few days. We're talking direct quotes here, people.

1. "Mom, do you know what? School is so fun! I mean, SO FUN!"

2. "Mom, it doesn't even matter if I eat my snack during all of recess don't get to play. Do you know why? Because we just go back in the classroom and have fun. It is so fun!"

3. "Kindergarten rocks!" (I don't know where he heard that one. Maybe his teacher is brainwashing them)

4. And lastly, after Kevin proposed the idea of him missing a couple of days for a family getaway to San Fransisco: "Nope. I want to go to school. I'm okay with missing school to go to Utah, but not San Fransisco. School is so fun!"

Do you think it's safe to say that school is "so fun?"

Two Months

11.5 pounds
22.5 inches
Loves sucking on her hands
Kicks those little legs like she's running a 4-minute mile
Still loves her momma's company during the night
Has quite the little temper...
...But still as cute as a button!

First Day of School

Kyle started kindergarten today. He just about couldn't wait.

I personally can't believe that I have a child old enough to be starting school.

He was oh, so proud of new Batman backpack. I campaigned for a nondescript red one,
but who am I to deny his love of superheroes?

He was lucky enough to end up in a class with his buddies.

Yup, I think we'll be just fine...

Panic

Tonight, as I carried my sleeping son to his bed, I had a minor panic attack.

I panicked because tomorrow he starts school. Seriously. My child will be in kindergarten.

I didn't think about it much as we shopped for his awesome new Batman backpack. Or his new clothes. I started to think about it when we went to orientation last week. And I thought about it a little more as we completed his first homework assignment (Yes, before school's even started).

But it didn't really hit home until I carried him into his room and saw those new clothes carefully laid out on the chair, next to that backpack and homework assignment. And as I laid him in his bed, I had to tell myself that it would be alright.

It will be alright because he's going to love it. He's going to make new friends. He's going to learn new things. He's going to be busy, and occupied, and not stuck with boring ole' mom everyday.

And I think I just might love it, too. Some time with just my girl. And counting on the fact that Marie will nap, possibly some time just for me. What a concept.

Yes, I think we're going to be just fine. But at the same time, I can't help feeling just a little bit sad. Because, after all, it's the end of an era.

PS: I realize that I'm an absolutely pathetic blogger lately. But I think I'm ready to remedy the situation and begin to play catch-up. Hopefully there's more to come...

Party time!

It was party time at our house today as we celebrated Kyle's birthday with friends.

It was an Olympic theme so we had sporting and water events, complete with gold medals.

Kyle had very specific ideas of what he wanted his party to be, and we tried
hard not to disappoint.An obstacle course was #1 on the list.

Of course, no party is complete without a pinata. That was #2 on the list.

Next came the cupcakes with American flags on them. But please, no sprinkles for Kyle.

And lastly, came the presents. He was thrilled with each and every gift. He was a very
gracious host, thanking each and every friend "for coming - and for the presents!"

Weekend Getaway

Trips to the temple seem to be a rare occurrence these days, what with a newborn and the 4-hour round trip commute. So we've decided to take matters into our own hands and make a vacation out of it.

Every other month or so, we head down to L.A. for the weekend. The temple has these great apartments you can rent for the night, so one of us does a session Friday night, and the other Saturday morning. Works like a charm. And Kyle thinks it's just about the coolest "hotel" he's ever stayed in.

After we finish at the temple Saturday morning, we spend
the day doing something fun in the city.

This time we decided to hit the beach one last time.

There's something about the beach that we just can't get enough of. The waves, the sand...even with lots of people around, it's all so relaxing. If only we were a little bit closer.

This is how Marie spent the day, which is just fine by me because I wasn't quite sure what I would do with her if she woke up. The not-being-able-to-wear-sunscreen thing is really a problem.

And this is how I spent my day. About that book...I'm not so sure about it.
I could go on for quite awhile, but I'm glad the series is over.

It's always so fun to spend time together and I love the new tradition we've started. I wonder what our adventure will be next time?

Treasures

Behold Kyle's treasures:

(From left to right: rocket from Chuck E Cheese, sparkly white rocks from the swimming pool, a top out of a gumball machine, frisbee from Chuck E Cheese, a BONE from the playground (yikes!) a giant Hulk pen, autographed baseball, Pokemon Happy Meal toy, baseball action figure, and a balloon from 4 months ago)

We've reached the stage where I can no longer throw away Burger King toys unnoticed. Kyle collects "treasures" everywhere he goes. He pilfers beautiful rocks from the swimming pool grounds, collects "interesting" objects at the playground, and keeps each and every Happy Meal or gumball machine toys he receives. And each one is lined up carefully on his dresser where he can admire them.

Second only to the dresser, is a special shelf on his bookcase. Here, all of his trophies and baseball cards are kept, with each one placed in a very specific spot. An Olympic birthday party is in the works, and he's already decided where his trophy and gold-medal party favors are going to placed.

He recently explained to me why these two spots were the "special spot." Because, he explained, they're high enough that babies can't reach them, but big kids can.

Smart thinking, young man. Because you're going to have a little sister invading your room in no time at all!