Sunday, August 24, 2008

First Week of School

Well, one would assume that I would have taken a lot of great pictures on the first day of school. Not me, though. I have not gotten a single "going to school" picture all week. Luckily, things are going much better for the boys. They have gotten off to a great start--despite the fact that Nosey has a long term substitute in his room because they still haven't hired a teacher. It is a little unnerving, but he has such a WONDERFUL personal assistant and the same Classroom Assistant from Preschool. However, I will be glad when they have found the right teacher.

I do think that Cookie couldn't have gotten a better teacher. He has transitioned into second grade so well. How could he not when each morning he is greeted by " Hug, handshake or high five?" She is so good for the kids. Her positive attitude can actually be felt when you are around her. Yay Ms. Rys!






We have really been laying low, just trying to get back into the swing of things. Everyday after school Cookie is chomping at the bit to go swimming at the dock, and he usually has a few of the neighborhood kids with him. He loves to jump off the dock at high tide. It's probably about 8-10 feet up, and all of the kids love it! You know you should be thankful when every night when he says his prayers he thanks God for the dock. 







Nosey's life is much calmer with him being in school all day now. It is quite an adjustment for me. He is only going to Aquatic Therapy after school for the time being. He loves it so much that there's no way we could go without it. 





Tater Tot is home alone all day and seems just fine with it. I am sure he misses the hustle and bustle of the full house, but he is the center of everyone's attention while the big boys are at school. He is into EVERYTHING! He is talking more and more, and is signing instead of screaming some of the time now. He is quite the dancer. Everytime he hears music, even if only for a second he starts dancing. So cute! He is such a mess.


Well, things start to pick up for Cookie this week--Cub Scouts, Guitar Lessons, and Soccer. I am sure I will be exhausted even if he isn't. This weekend we are headed to Williamsburg, VA for a reunion of sorts with Chris' extended family. We are all really looking forward to it. After we get home Tater Tot will kick it into high gear with Gymboree and Kindermusik starting. 

Things are good here. I am thankful for a good start to the school year. Thankful for a husband so full of life, and boys that are too. Thankful for a great AuPair that already feels like family. Thankful for so much...

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Our Latest Misadventures!

Who would have ever thunk it? Obviously not most of you based on your comments! The Walkers are on Facebook! Chris finally sat down and joined today, and he is hooked already. How cute!

Well, I haven't blogged in a awhile. What have we been up to...

 Well, last week we were going to go to Maryland and see Chris' family, but because we are going to Virginia Labor Day weekend to see the whole extended family we decided to hold off. Instead, we went to Nashville to see our friends, Leigh Ann and Walter. We had such a good
 time. It was really a laid back trip. We spent a lot of time just talking and letting the kids play. We also went to the Zoo and to the Science Museum. It was great to be there with them. I definitely miss Leigh Ann. There are just so few people in your life where it so effortless to be their friend. No matter what happens you just pick right up where you left off. I am so thankful to have such a friend in Leigh Ann.


We came back in time for Chris and me to go to the annual Hootie and the Blowfish concert here on Daniel Island. That's always a highlight of my year. It always takes me back to the wild and crazy days of my youth. We had a ton of fun -- that is until I lost my iPhone. So, of course, we spent the rest of the night trying to find it. We sent a million text messages to the phone, but got no response...until the next morning. Can you believe someone actually called us to give us the phone back and wanted nothing in return? (Chris did give them free chicken) I was on cloud nine. There are still good people out there! And thankfully, one was at the Hootie concert and happened to find my iPhone. YAY!!!!!!!!!

The week before was Nosey's last week at camp. This session they performed The Rainbow Fish as a play. It was truly adorable. Once again, it was just awesome to even be on the same room with so many great people. The room was full of people crying their eyes out, myself being one of them. You just can't help yourself. For so many of these kids, this is the first "normal" activity they have ever been involved in. It just feels so good to focus on them for some other reason besides their disability. I just feel so lucky to be a part of it all -- for Nosey to be a part of it all.


Tomorrow is the big day. School starts bright and early at 7:20. Nosey will be in Kindergarten and Cookie a second grader. I am feeling quite old, I must admit. Caroline is a Kindergarten Assistant at DIS, so I know she will look out for my boys, not that I won't be over there all the time. Cookie is so excited about the first day of school, but also very nervous. He asked me to come have lunch with his class tomorrow. I love my boys! The house is going to feel very lonely with them in school.  :(

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Fruit Rollups, Sloppy Joes, and Pluff Mud

Well, I guess you can  say we are determined to make sure that Jana has as many experiences of America as we can. A couple of her newly discovered favorites are fruit rollups and sloppy joes. Who can blame her?Something that she has also discovered is pluff mud. As anyone familiar with the Lowcountry knows, it is an experience like no other... So again, we were attempting to go shark tooth hunting -- this time by boat. We went to a place that we have been to before, but this time we got out at the wrong place, and sank into the pluff mud immediately. I almost lost my shoes and decided to abort the mission. However, Cookie had already gotten to the shore, so somebody had to go with him. Chris decided to go, and I encouraged Jana to go so could she could find her first shark's tooth. As she was stuck in the pluff mud up to her knees, I am certain that she wanted to kill me, but she was a great sport!  After Chris tried to let her wear his shoes, and she fell down a few times, they got back on the boat. Cookie found one shark's tooth, but still not one for Jana. We will find one yet, Jana!



This weekend was actually the first time we have gone out on the boat since Jana has been here because some part on the boat broke and we had to order a new one, and so on, and so on... We went out Saturday and Sunday, and really had a good time showing Jana Charleston by water. We visited Vickery's for a good burger and gravy fries (which, by the way, Jana is not a fan of), and all got a little too much sun.

 
Oh, and we now have water that goes all the way out to the floating dock. I am quite impressed with Chris' handy man skills. It is really nice to have a water hose out there to wash the boat and ourselves after we have been on the water. It is truly a dream come true. Come visit ANYTIME!












Only two weeks till school starts, and I am growing sadder by the day. Nosey's last week of camp is this week. He has had so much fun, and it has been so good for him. As always,  I hate to see the summer come to an end. I hate to be without my boys!