Most Wonderful Time of the Year

We've been living at hockey rinks, but that is ok! We are having a blast.

My favorite christmas ornament 

Super fun stage we are in right now.

Our beautiful house before all of the snow

Oh christmas tree oh christmas tree

I spy Frosty Thomas Clark

What doesn't belong

I bought this felt tree this year. It's been a huge hit, until Leo comes stomping by and pulls everything off. 

A Lockdown Scare

It was a Thursday morning. I was cleaning the house playing music on the tv. Leo was playing sweetly with his toys minding his own business. Finn was at preschool. My phone rang and it was my neighbor, she never calls me. I quick muted the music. She asked me if I had heard anything from the school. Immediately, my heart sank. Did something happen with their bus, I thought. It had just snowed a ton the day before. She said the school was in lockdown. Apparently someone claimed they saw someone enter the building with a gun. Cue gut wrenching feeling in stomach and tears welling up in my eyes. My neighbor said her friend was inside the school with her kid while this was going on and texted my neighbor. So my neighbor decided to drive up to the school. Figuring, if it were a drill there would be no police. Sure enough the school parking lot was filled with police cars and ambulances. My neighbor waited there with other parents. Finally, the lockdown was lifted and school resumed as usual. Apparently what the person saw was an armored truck service worker who handles money transfers. The school was in lockdown for forty minutes. FORTY minutes is a LONG time! So by the time ny neighbor called me everything was in the clear. Thank God, because I don't know what I would have done. I would have for sure gone up to the school. The crazy thing is I had just driven by the school right before the police got there after dropping Finn off at school. If I would have seen all of those police cars and ambulances I would have for sure stopped over there. My heart sank for my Jack. I knew deep down he probably had no idea what was really going on, but I just kept picturing him in his cute little kindergarten room hiding under the tables or something. I was actually more scared for the older kids who would be able to comprehend the seriousness of this. I guess the teachers were pretty scared as well, obviously. I guess Jack actually had a substitute that day too. His teacher got stuck in her driveway that morning and by the time she got to school, she was locked out.

I was very pleased with how Jack's school handled this situation. I hope whoever reported this person doesn't feel dumb or like they did anything wrong either. I'm thankful for that person, looking out for our children and teachers. It just makes me extremely angry and upset that we as parents or teachers or kids for that matter even have to be concerned about these situations in the first place. It's really such a shame. I hope and pray that my kids never have to experience another lockdown again and I am thankful that this situation resulted in no danger.

I forget...

I forget how fast the time goes. Leo is cutting his last two eye teeth (then only 2 year old molars left!!) and has been waking in the middle of the night. The other night I could not get him to fall back asleep. Usually it's just a pop of the nuk and he's back snoozing. Or maybe a squirt of ibuprofen. But not this night. So I scooped him up and rocked him. As I was rocking him I started crying. I remember when Jack was this little and how I was so sad how fast he was growing. How he would soon be an older brother. I wanted time to stop. And now Jack is almost six years old. I said a little prayer thanking God for letting me have this time with Leo to just soak him up. It's so hard during the days to embrace him and be truly thankful for him, because let's face it - he's climbing on the table. Constantly whining. Holding onto my legs. In the hustle and bustle I forget at how precious he is. But when he is holding me, breathing heavy, and just loving on me I am reminded of how truly blessed I am.

Sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision to be an at home mom. I feel like I have so much more potential than just cleaning the house and yelling at my children. I could be someone's boss. I could actually get raises, or paid for my time. What? But then I look at Jack. And Finn. And Leo. And realize that 5 years of being with them for 24/7 is nothing in the great span of time. This is such a short season of my kids lives and it's hard to remember that, being that I am in the middle of it right now.

I bought myself a piece of wall art the other day that says "Good moms have sticky floors, dirty ovens and happy kids" not because I want to feel good about having a messy house. I'd like to think I keep my house kept up fairly well actually. In fact I think I spend TOO much time organizing and cleaning. And so this wall art is to remind me (in the kitchen, where I spend 95% of my time) to slow down. The cleaning can wait. The kids will not be kids forever and they won't always be asking me a million times to watch them. So sometimes the cleaning cannot wait, but sometimes it can.

I forget that in a blink of an eye I forgot what it felt like to have my babies inside of me. Or how their heads felt all curled up under my chin. Or how they'd sleep on my belly in the middle of the night.

And I'm also trying to remind myself that someday I will forget that Leo climbed on all of the furniture. Whined all day long. And never sat still. Hello 17 months. This too shall pass and this is the last of my babies. I will never be going through this stage ever again. But oh how easily we do forget.

Stories About My Favorite Finn

How can I become better about this? I just need to force myself to write, because I feel like I've got a lot to say during the days - and no one to talk to besides a one year old and a almost 4 year old. ha.

The other day Finn told me that his leg elbows hurt. HAHA. It took me a while to understand that the body part he was referring to were his KNEES. Leg elbows, omg that is awesome. He also told me that sunday school is called ice cream sunday school. And at ice cream sunday school he filled out a sheet of paper (well his teacher did) and it said " I am happiest when I am watching the shark at the zoo" hahahaha OMG. Oh and at his preschool they filled out a poster board of everything they are thankful for:
Finn Starkey : I am thankful for my baby Leo, my mom and dad, and Triston.

Triston is one of Finn's many bff's. Ugh, sorry Jack. I guess this is what happens when you are constantly pissing off your younger brother.

Finn always wants to go to other kids houses to play with their toys. When it was warmer out, like a month ago - Finn and the neighbor kids were outside. They all ended up at our neighbors house. When all of the kids went back outside, Finn stayed inside playing with the toys in the basement. He continued to go ring their doorbell to play, even though he really just wanted to use them for their toys. We ended up asking them if Finn could borrow some toys so he wouldn't keep asking to go play in their basement. haha. Their kids are older and don't even play with the toys Finn likes. We talked to them before we let Finn go ask. haha.

Finn ran across the culdesac to our 8th grade babysitter neighbors house and rang their doorbell. When her dad answered Finn asked if she was home and could come out and play.

We were going over to a friends house and Finn tells me, I hope I can play with Chloe's toys by myself. hahaha. Sad.

Surprisingly, Finn has awesome social skills and very very good at playing with others. It definitely helps if you have the right toys, though.

This middle child CRACKS me up!!!!!

Halloween 2013

We had a great Halloween this year!

Jack got to carve a huge pumpkin with Grandma and Grandpa Loney this year.

We got "ghosted"

Leo hated the mustaches in our "ghosting" bags

Finn picked out this design and "helped" me

Leo's pumpkin was the best

Here they all are, Jack did his own.

Finn went trick or treating at his school. Leo and I handed out candy.





Leo dressed up for this too:

After the preschool party, we headed home to give Leo a quick nap and then we were off to Jack's halloween parade at his school. Leo was a nightmare there, which didn't surprise me. Here's Jack:

And then when Jack got off the bus it was time for pizza and some trick or treating!

Leo made it around the culdesac before he just started wandering aimlessly around. He and I were inside handing out candy at 6:30. Finn made it until about 7:20 and Jack made it until about 7:50. The rain was kind of a bummer. But everyone had a great time. The candy is out of control over here. The were eating some at 6:50 this morning. Ugh, Halloween you kill me. ha. 

Picture Day 2013!

When Jack was running a super high fever, it began the Sunday before Picture Day. I really didn't want him to miss it, but knew there was always retakes. He ended up being able to make it, but I was worried that he'd still be pale or super flushed or something.

Picture day morning, his teacher emailed us this picture:

I mean how hilarious is that? Three girls in the exact same dress. Six kids in the exact same color. Hilarious. We got his pictures back and they are classic. Not perfect, but definitely good enough for no retakes. Sidenote - as a mother of boys there is nothing I hate more than little boys wearing mohawks. I'm not judging you if you give your kids them, I'm just saying in my opinion and as long as my kids live under MY roof they will not sport the 'hawk. But funny because Jack's hair kind of looks like he has the mohawk thing going on. I love him so much. haha. 

October and Halloween Prep

We've had a very busy and fun fall so far. This is our last calm week before double hockey begins!

A few weeks ago, the Kindergarteners had a Pirate Pancake day. They were working on the letter P that day.

Before Jack got his fever, luckily, we had our family pictures taken by one of my friends. They turned out incredible. Here are just a few.

Don't mind my tired eyes in this next picture, but I knitted this infinity scarf with my arms. Love it!

Today we finished prepping for Halloween. But those pictures will be in my Halloween post. Look at me. Setting goals for myself in blogging. Go me!

Oh and I ordered a planner. Tom asked me if I ordered it from 1995. haha. I can't help it. I can't use my iphone for calendar stuff because it doesn't fulfill my need to make lists and write everything down. Does anyone else still use a paper planner, or is it just me?

Happy Monday! Cheerio.

Slacker

Why do I even continue to hang onto this blog? I've been slacking big time about it. I think it's just because I love reading back on when I'd blog like 4-5 times a week and a part of me thinks that I'll get back there. Probably not going to happen. I should still make more of an effort though.

We are definitely settling into a routine of school. Since my last post, Leo came down with the pukes I think the first week of school? Thank you elementary school germs. Jack got a fever that lasted practically 4 days. He almost missed picture day, but kicked it right before. His school pics will be interesting. ha ha. Then Jack got a little bit of croup. Then Leo got croup. He had to do a neb and steroid shots (poor baby had 5 shots that week bc of his well check up and flu shot and double steroid shot). Welcome to flu season, right?

Finn is thriving at preschool, which makes me happy because I honestly didn't know what to expect from him. I'm having an internal debate about how many days I want to send him next year. I can do 3 or 5. What makes things so complicated is that the bus picks up Jack at 9:06 (school starts at 9:30) and preschool starts at 9. I could drop Jack off at school every day after we drop of Finn, but that's kind of annoying. Right now my neighbor lets Jack come to her house so I can leave with Finn and Leo at 8:45. I feel like anything more than 2 days is too much to ask from someone else. Realize I will still have this dilemma once Leo starts preschool and both older boys are in school. What's a girl to do?

We had Jack's conferences a few weeks ago. They went amazing. I'm so proud of Jack. She informed us that there have been a few meltdowns since the fire drills (long story, but I don't blame Jack for having anxiety about them). And also that Jack's math skills are up to par and that he's reading at a second grade level. Ummm say whaaaaa???? I knew Jack was an amazing reader, but I guess it's just because he's my first born that I didn't know how great he was? Just assumed this was normal? We made a very big deal out of this with him and let him know how proud we are of him.

Leo has stopped squaking for the most part. His words are on the tip of his tongue. He's very clingy and is a snuggler, which I don't mind - but the constant holding of a 30 pound giant baby hurts my arms and neck. I still want to eat him up every day because he's so deliciously lovable.

We are hosting Thanksgiving this year. Trying to get all my ducks in a row as far as that's concerned. It will be my first turkey! I'm scuuuuurrred. 25+ people over here. Go big or go home, right?

This is our last weekend before hockey is in full force. Jack's starts next weekend. He will have practice every saturday and sunday. ummm awesome? no. Then it gets more hectic after the holidays. Tom's season try outs start in two weeks. Lord help me.

Here are some pictures because I realize all 3 of the readers here have missed us.

Jack's First Day of Kindergarten

9/3/2013

Today was Jack's first day of school. The first day ever. This is a huge step. Five and a half years he's been all mine. My days have revolved around his wants, his needs - putting all of my wants and needs on the sidelines. And just like that I am supposed to let go. Let him grow up. Let him learn how to fend for himself. It's a tough pill to swallow.

I think the anticipation of this day is a lot harder than the real deal. I had butterflies all morning. Jack was just ecstatic. He ate the infamous cinnamon and caramel rolls for breakfast. Took a shower. Brushed his teeth. Got dressed. I pinned his bus number on him. Handed him his backpack and we went outside to take pictures. When we heard the bus coming he started jumping up and down. I had a huge lump in my throat. Once Jack stepped onto that school bus, Finn went apeshit. He wanted to go to Kindergarten with his brother. I got Jack to turn around for me for one last picture.

The bus driver told him where to sit, noted his name and name tag, and just like that the doors closed and off the bus went.

Once the bus left, I picked Finn up and got all teary eyed with him. My neighbor said wow you did so great, I cried a ton when my oldest went to school. I had to hold in my tears otherwise I was just about to lose it. When we got inside Tom gave me a big hug and that just set me off. He's just gone. For 7 hours. How did this happen? They were bittersweet tears. I'm so proud of Jack. I'm so excited for Jack. I'm so sad that he's growing up. I'm so happy I only have two kids all day. I just am still so overwhelmed. 

But today has been a great day so far. I pray that Jack gets off the bus with a smile so big it makes me burst into tears even more. I hope that he's even more excited to go back to school tomorrow. The sky's the limit big guy.