The kids this week...

It had been a while since I used my camera, so I wanted to take a few pics of the kids!  I love watching Thomas and Mary Beth together!  They are such sweet friends.

Mary Beth is becoming an old pro at kindergarten.  It took her a week or so to get used to not being with me a majority of the day, but she is sooooo over that! ;)  Every day, she bounds in and says, "I didn't cry for you all day!"  I thought the all day schedule would be a challenge for her, but she is never tired after school.  She does get her beloved blanket immediately upon entering the house, but other than that, it is business as usual!  She is loving ballet/tap and soccer this year.  In fact, she scored 4 goals on Saturday!  
This is such a perfect picture of Matthew!  Always on the move, even defying gravity!  He loves his teachers, the friends in his class, piano, and soccer.  Yes, life is good in our house these days.  We are excited about the fall, and have adjusted well to our school schedule.

Sweet T

I have been having lots of fun with Thomas this week, and wanted to dedicate a post to him.

Thomas is LOVING 2nd grade!  He loves his teacher, who graduated with a degree in business, and can appreciate Thomas's math oriented brain.  He has several of his best friends in his class as well, so life is good, as it always is, for our T man.

Thomas is playing baseball this fall.  He is in an in between age in terms of which league to put him in, since the 8-9 year old league starts in the spring.  The commissioner encouraged us to play him up, and he is now playing mainly with 4th and 5th graders.  When I told the other mothers at practice that he was a 2nd grader, they were shocked.  He is so big that he fits right in with the big boys!  Yes, my 7 year old has been wearing size 10 jeans for a while now.  I wonder how big he will end up being?

Thomas is always a mess.  It is rare to see him without food on his face or clothes, and he is often covered with sweat.  He loves to dance.  I mean LOVES to dance!  He has perfected the belly roll that his Uncle Michael taught him.  I love to remember him at the Rangers game this summer: shirt off, holding a drink, dancing, and doing the belly roll.  Sometimes I wonder if Jack Black looked like my Thomas as a child!  He loves running around without a shirt on, and his coach one day commented that lots of little boys would be too self conscious to do that.  Not Thomas.  He never takes himself too seriously!

Thomas has great friends.  Of the three kids, Thomas has the biggest and strongest group of friends.  Many of them have been friends since birth, and he is also blessed with a sweet group of kids in school.  I love watching Thomas interact with his friends!

Thomas loves good food.  He will talk about good meals that he had even a year ago.  He can't decide if he loves mac and cheese or steak with mushrooms more.  T is already planning where his birthday meal will be in December.  He is leaning toward Outback Steakhouse! ;)  Thomas has always loved a good meal, and I remember him being a toddler and watching his eyes roll back in his head when he had a particularly good bite!  

Thomas is one of the funniest kids I know.  Other than his physical antics, he says some of the funniest things.  Most of the time I don't think he is even aware of this.  For instance, Matthew informed Thomas that his teacher's birthday was this week, and she loves Aerosmith.  Thomas then went into the next room and came out a while later with a card for Mrs. W.  

The cover was Happy Birthday, Mrs. W!  Arrowsmith.  

Turn the page, just the words "Dude looks like a Lady". 

Next page: Teachers birthdays are fun  by: Thomas.

Thomas continues to be the most selfless kid I know.  In his journal the first day of school, he only wrote about his sister starting kindergarten.  Last week, when I was getting the kids ready for school pictures, and taking time with each kid doing hair, etc.,  he said that it was most important for Mary Beth to look her best.  Then he said that it was also important for Matthew to look his best since this was his last year of elementary school.  This has always been my favorite trait of Thomas's, and Bryon and I are baffled as to where it came from!  Bryon and I are both oldest children, and selfless isn't usually listed as an oldest child attribute!

Thomas continues to be such a fun and vital part of our family.  We couldn't imagine life without him!

A follow up on yesterday's post.

I feel compelled to write a follow up on yesterday's post.  Like I said yesterday, I feel so blessed that I was able to stay at home with my children when they were babies.  I wouldn't have had it any other way.  But, let me tell you that it was HARD lots of the time!  Most of us are blog readers, and I think many of us have seen blogs where it seems like the blogger, a.k.a. Mommy of Preschoolers, thinks that it is the greatest thing on the planet having babies at home.  Like the birds are singing, rainbows in the sky, humming a little tune.  That wasn't how it always was with me for sure, and any blogger who writes this way should have a reality check.

I have had friends with little ones who feel like they are the only ones who get tired of their kids.  I ask them if they would stay friends with someone that they were with nearly every hour of the day, who constantly made messes for you to clean up, couldn't communicate very well, kept you up at night, screamed in restaurants, grocery stores, cars, and airplanes, and threw fits when they didn't get their way.  The answer of course is "NO!".  Not to say that this is a perfect example, but it does show the absurdity of people who say they never get tired of their kids or feel like there is something wrong when they feel this way.

While there are a few funny, stressful times with my younger two, nothing comes close to holding a candle to the funny and stressful times with my oldest.

Many of you may know my oldest son, Matthew.  Matthew is nearly 10 years old.  He is well adjusted, happy, funny, fun, compassionate, exuberant, helpful, and interesting kid to talk to.  But let me tell you, he was HELL ON WHEELS as a preschooler!  I am talking "No, David" without the pointy teeth.  How we ever survived his preschool years, the two of us, only God knows.  By age 18 months, he had gone through 4 car seats because he figured out how to get out of all of them...one time doing so in rush hour traffic on 1-30 in Dallas.  He never met a stick of lipstick or tube of mascara that he couldn't paint all over himself and the walls.  He "made me coffee" on more than one occasion.  He popped my car out of gear at age 24 months as I looked out my window to see my Explorer going down the driveway with him in it (The keys weren't in it.  Still don't fully understand how that happened!)  He ran down the center aisle at our church at age 3, laughing hysterically, with nothing on but a sweater vest during Senior Sunday.

And yet.....

When I see pictures of him in his diaper, I don't remember him taking them off on a nightly basis after I put him to sleep only to find pee and other things in his bed the next morning.  No, I remember the squishy sound his diaper made when he ran to me.

When I think about him learning how to jump out of his crib at 24 months completely ending his naps and my sanity breaks in the day, I remember how funny it was to put him in tight wranglers to bed so he couldn't swing his leg over the side of the crib.  A virtual Levi's straight jacket.  The stress of that time is remembered with laughter.

I love how time has a way of softening the edges of memories.  Filtering out the much of the difficult and focusing on the sweetness.  So, you mothers of preschoolers, keep fighting the good fight.  You aren't alone, and I promise that you will remember this time with wonderful memories!

A new chapter...

For almost 10 years, I have been a stay at home mom, and except for a few hours a week at MDO, I had a constant companion right at my heels.  This was a blessed, wonderful, difficult, exciting, loud, fun, exhausting, sweet time in my life.

I can't believe it's over.

There were days when I had two in diapers, one dirty, one crying, one into mischief that I thought would last forever.  Sweet days where we all stayed in our pjs for most of the day.  Most of our activities were over by 2 o'clock in the afternoon.  Sounds of Dora the Explorer, Bob the Builder, Oswald, Little Bill, Charlie and Lola, and Maggie and the Ferocious Beast came from the TV.  Play dates, long phone conversations with friends, Ladies Class, and scrapbook classes were my sanity breaks.  I loved holding all of my babies right when they woke up, so warm and still.

I can't believe it's over.

I recently went into a restaurant, and several girls, who were obviously younger than me, with a baby on each hip and wrestling with a toddler stood near my table.  The women were comparing birth stories like I loved to do with my friends.  When did my conversations turn from birth stories to teacher stories?  It occurred to me that I would no longer fit in with these conversations.  Mine revolve around sports, PTA, teachers, and homework.

I can't believe it's over.

That being said, I must say that I am enjoying the positives to this life change.  After the insanity of getting the kids out the door, I relish being in my deafeningly quiet house with a book and a cup of coffee.  This has become an extremely important part of the day.  I read for pleasure, I pray, I read my bible, I quiet my mind.  I have really had very little time these past few years to quiet my mind.  I feel very peaceful starting the day each day.

I am also working a ton right now.  Almost every day, I am seeing patients and doing paperwork.  Not having to rush back to pick up Mary Beth from MDO has been a blessing.  I am so swamped at work, that I don't know how I would have done it a year ago.  I love my job, and I feel like I am making a difference in people's lives.  

I have taken on a huge PTA role this year that is also keeping my on my toes.  I love being involved with the kids' school, getting to know their teachers and being with my PTA buds.  

I am not quite used to the craziness that after school brings.  I am anxious every day to spend one on one time with each child, but craziness ensues as I am asking them about their day, signing paperwork, going over homework, making sure that the boys have their piano practiced, books read, and dressed for their practices that evening.  Wow.  Three thirty to five thirty is insane.  The noise level goes from zero to sixty and I often feel like a paper mill exploded in my house as the kids enter.  Still working to find a better system!

I am enjoying going to Ladies Bible Class again, and feel so refreshed after listening to Anne Graham Lotz at the Just Give Me Jesus revival this weekend.  It was a wonderful experience, and I am excited to spend more time reading my bible and praying.

I will always cherish my sweet memories having little ones at my feet.  What an incredible experience!  But, I am loving my time with my three between diapers and puberty!  They are at wonderful ages right now.  I just love the elementary school years.  In a few years, I might be writing another post on how I can't believe the elementary school years are over.  Until then, I will savor each day.

Saturdays in the Fall

Stormy day, chili on the stove, my favorite people on the couch, crowd and band noise coming from the television.  Heaven!

Funny, funny

I have happened upon some very funny blogs recently!  They are located in my blog roll.

The first is Awkward Family Photos.  Bryon and I went through the entire blog last week and were laughing so hard, we were crying!  The subtitles are hilarious.

The other is "The Blog" of "Unnecessary Quotation Marks".  Again, the subtitles are hilarious, and you will have a newfound fear for the future of our society!  Matthew, my grammar policeman came home from school with his new name tag that said, "Exemplary Campus", and he wanted to submit it to the blog.  If it didn't have his name and picture on it, I just might!

Enjoy a few laughs everyone!

The past few days...

Here are a few pictures from the past few days:

The kids are adjusting well to school.  Everyone is happy with teachers/friends/classes, etc.  Mary Beth still loves school, although she tells me that every now and then she gets sad because she misses me.  When she tells the teacher this, the teacher gives her a hug and says that she is like the mommy of the classroom.  This makes Mary Beth feel better.  This is why I love Mary Beth's teacher! ;)

Sweet Matthew holding Mary Beth's hand getting her on the bus.

We took a brave step on Friday and let the kids ride the bus.  The routes have been changed, and the bus comes by our house just as we are leaving to take the kids to school.  So, instead of carpool, we are opting for the bus!  Mary Beth loves it, and I feel good knowing that the boys are keeping an eye out for her.  Matthew and Thomas have been so loving and protective of her during this transition.  It makes me fall in love with them all over again!

We told the kids that they could each chose a sport to play this fall.  Matthew and ME chose soccer, and Thomas chose baseball.  Today, Mary Beth and Matthew had their first games.  Mary Beth did a great job picking daisies and running the entire game.....5-10 yards away from the ball! ;)  Since this was her first game ever, we cut her lots of slack, and the coach was just happy that she was running instead of crying on the sidelines like a few little girls!  Matthew's game was fun to watch, like always.  Soccer is his favorite sport, and it always makes me burst with pride watching him play his heart out!

Mary Beth and I went on a date tonight while the boys had movie night.  It was good for us to spend some one on one time together.  We went to Barnes and Noble to read some books, then on to Panda Express, her favorite restaurant, for a little chinese food.  A great night with my favorite little girl!

What a fun start to the weekend!

Bless her heart, even the smallest soccer shorts fall off of her!  She ran holding her shorts up!




Other than the cute uniform, Mary Beth loves the social part of team sports most of all.  She and her teammate are holding hands getting ready for the ball! ;)
Moral support from big brother.

First Day of school 2009-2010

I can't believe how busy I have been since I dropped the kids off yesterday! I am really dropping the blogging ball!

In the weeks leading up to school, I had mainly been excited about the year and anxious to find out the kids' teachers.  Like an impending hurricane, I knew the waterworks were going to hit, I just didn't know when and where!  Well, after a day of non stop errand running the day before school, I sat on the couch with all three children tucked in bed and sobbed.  It was just so hard to imagine saying goodbye to Mary Beth.  Especially after cutting off her long curls, she is looking and acting much more grown up.   It is hard to be ready to say goodbye to my baby girl.

It also hit me that this was the last year I would receive a phone call from Matthew's teacher telling me how excited she was to have Matthew in class.  I am pretty sure they don't do that in intermediate school!  With so many emotions running through me, I didn't get much sleep the night before school.  And for whatever reason, I got really sad thinking of Thomas being a 2nd grader.  Wasn't he just a kindergartner last year?  It really feels like that to me.  After school starts, the years melt away.

By the time that 6 a.m. rolled around yesterday, I felt much better.  One look at my excited Mary Beth made me feel so happy for her.  She was so ready to go and join her brothers.  We had a great morning of picture taking, breakfast eating, and some prayer time as well.  Then, the 5 of us got in the car to head to school together.  Again, the last time that this will ever happen!

When we got to school, Mary Beth found a wild flower in the grass and picked it to give to her teacher.  Instead, she found the principal waiting for her at the entry, and she gave the flower to him.  A very good first impression!  We all walked her to class, helped her find her seat, gave hugs and kisses, then left.  I left her room feeling so much pride for my sweet Emmy Lou.  She was just so confident and excited.  Not a bit of trepidation.  She is definitely ready for this new adventure in her life.

Next was Thomas's turn.  He is so excited about being in 2nd grade and also being a part of a special group of kids.  We have a large elementary school and the odds of having several good friends in his class was pretty small.  He is with several best friends as well as parent friends of mine.  Thomas loves his teacher, and I know it will be a great year for him.

Finally, it was our big man on campus, Matthew's turn to head to class.  Matthew's teacher is a coaches wife and a huge sports fan.  Matthew and Mrs. W talked on the phone last week and spent a lot of time talking about football.  Of course, this won huge points with Matthew, and he already adores his teacher.  I have enjoyed getting to know her, and we hit it off right away.  Matthew also had several sweet neighbors/friends in his class, and I think this year will be wonderful for him to finish off elementary school.

After drop off, I went and had breakfast at Starbucks with some friends, and then headed to work all day.  I only had one patient this summer, but just this week started getting evaluation notices.  It was nice to keep busy yesterday.  I wasn't quite ready for the empty house.

Well, 3 o'clock couldn't get here any faster!  I walked over to the kid pick up and was thrilled to see 3 happy faces!  Matthew and Thomas think it's going to be the best year ever.  Mary Beth also had a great day.  She said, "I made a sad face.  My teacher asked me what was wrong.  I said I missed my mama.  Then she said she loved me."  Other than that one mama missing moment, she had a great day!  

I am feeling much happier today, and have enjoyed the peace and quiet that my kid free house has to offer.  Still, I am anxious to pick up the kids and see how Day 2 went!

I love that Mary Beth's back pack takes up half her body!  I know that this picture will make me smile as she gets bigger and bigger! Day 2:  Mary Beth was showing a girl, who was sick yesterday, where to put her lunch box.  She is already a kindergarten pro!

What a bittersweet, joyful, tearful, special day this has been.  I must admit that I am emotionally and physically worn out.  I'll try to write the story tomorrow.  At the end of the day, I was happy to meet up with 3 very happy little Barnhills at school.  What a blessing, and what a fun year this is going to be!

In the few 

Updated First Day of school 2009-2010

I can't believe how busy I have been since I dropped the kids off yesterday! I am really dropping the blogging ball!

In the weeks leading up to school, I had mainly been excited about the year and anxious to find out the kids' teachers.  Like an impending hurricane, I knew the waterworks were going to hit, I just didn't know when and where!  Well, after a day of non stop errand running the day before school, I sat on the couch with all three children tucked in bed and sobbed.  It was just so hard to imagine saying goodbye to Mary Beth.  Especially after cutting off her long curls, she is looking and acting much more grown up.   It is hard to be ready to say goodbye to my baby girl.

It also hit me that this was the last year I would receive a phone call from Matthew's teacher telling me how excited she was to have Matthew in class.  I am pretty sure they don't do that in intermediate school!  With so many emotions running through me, I didn't get much sleep the night before school.  And for whatever reason, I got really sad thinking of Thomas being a 2nd grader.  Wasn't he just a kindergartner last year?  It really feels like that to me.  After school starts, the years melt away.

By the time that 6 a.m. rolled around yesterday, I felt much better.  One look at my excited Mary Beth made me feel so happy for her.  She was so ready to go and join her brothers.  We had a great morning of picture taking, breakfast eating, and some prayer time as well.  Then, the 5 of us got in the car to head to school together.  Again, the last time that this will ever happen!

When we got to school, Mary Beth found a wild flower in the grass and picked it to give to her teacher.  Instead, she found the principal waiting for her at the entry, and she gave the flower to him.  A very good first impression!  We all walked her to class, helped her find her seat, gave hugs and kisses, then left.  I left her room feeling so much pride for my sweet Emmy Lou.  She was just so confident and excited.  Not a bit of trepidation.  She is definitely ready for this new adventure in her life.

Next was Thomas's turn.  He is so excited about being in 2nd grade and also being a part of a special group of kids.  We have a large elementary school and the odds of having several good friends in his class was pretty small.  He is with several best friends as well as parent friends of mine.  Thomas loves his teacher, and I know it will be a great year for him.

Finally, it was our big man on campus, Matthew's turn to head to class.  Matthew's teacher is a coaches wife and a huge sports fan.  Matthew and Mrs. W talked on the phone last week and spent a lot of time talking about football.  Of course, this won huge points with Matthew, and he already adores his teacher.  I have enjoyed getting to know her, and we hit it off right away.  Matthew also had several sweet neighbors/friends in his class, and I think this year will be wonderful for him to finish off elementary school.

After drop off, I went and had breakfast at Starbucks with some friends, and then headed to work all day.  I only had one patient this summer, but just this week started getting evaluation notices.  It was nice to keep busy yesterday.  I wasn't quite ready for the empty house.

Well, 3 o'clock couldn't get here any faster!  I walked over to the kid pick up and was thrilled to see 3 happy faces!  Matthew and Thomas think it's going to be the best year ever.  Mary Beth also had a great day.  She said, "I made a sad face.  My teacher asked me what was wrong.  I said I missed my mama.  Then she said she loved me."  Other than that one mama missing moment, she had a great day!  

I am feeling much happier today, and have enjoyed the peace and quiet that my kid free house has to offer.  Still, I am anxious to pick up the kids and see how Day 2 went!

I love that Mary Beth's back pack takes up half her body!  I know that this picture will make me smile as she gets bigger and bigger!









Day 2:  Mary Beth was showing a girl, who was sick yesterday, where to put her lunch box.  She is already a kindergarten pro!

What a bittersweet, joyful, tearful, special day this has been.  I must admit that I am emotionally and physically worn out.  I'll try to write the story tomorrow.  At the end of the day, I was happy to meet up with 3 very happy little Barnhills at school.  What a blessing, and what a fun year this is going to be!

In the few