Soccer Mom!

People seem to say that, Soccer Mom, as if it is a bad word or a bad thing to be.  Mini-van, passle of screaming kids, hours in the car, you know that Soccer Mom.  Well I am begining to feel like that Mom, only I don't have the mini-Van and not a passle of kids, just my two.  I'll admit they do scream in the car and about the only thing that stops them from screaming is me screaming back at them.  Go figure! 

The thing is, I really like being a Soccer Mom.  I love to have the freedom to go where I am needed, when I am needed and not have to worry about the confines of a work schedule.  My only limitation is Claysen's nap schedule, which he is pretty good at being flexible at if need be. 

The result of quitting my job in August has been a lot less stress, a lot more happiness and pride.  I always thought I was proud of my job and didn't think I would leave it.  I had it sooo good, but this job is soo soo much better.  I am the boss and the employee.  I used to think of cooking dinner as a chore I had to do, now it feels a little more like an opportunity to impress my three fellas.  A place to succeed and improve myself.  It doesn't have the same measureable bar that my job did, but the satisfaction of doing good work is so much greater.  I feel so proud to be able to provide in a way I couldn't before.  Letting go of the stress and schedule of work as opened up so much for me at home.  I have only begun to scratch the surface of what I want to acheive at home.  The picture looks a lot different, and a lot more colorful.

 I am proud to be a stay at home Soccer Mom!  This is amazing, I am loving all of it!

Bounce!

Wednesday a friend of ours had a unexpected day off and called to invite us to go to an indoor playground with them and their kids.  Their little boy is about 6 months younger than Claysen.  I loved being able to drop what I had planned and go with them.  We went to Bounce!, an indoor playground with only bounce houses.  You know, those inflatable slides, castles, etc. you can rent for your backyard for a party or something.  The boys loved it!  They were both red and sweating and out of breath for about 2 hours.  Best five bucks I've spent in a long time.  Thanks Ty and Shelly!  We will be going back. 

Another feature they have at Bounce! is a velcro wall.  Ty put the boys in the velcro suits and stuck them on the wall.  It was pretty funny.

Cheap fun!

Mini vacation/business trip

One of the may things I am excited about this fall is the ability to accompany Rusty on short business trips with the kids.  We got to do just that this last weekend.  Rusty suggested that we go so the boys could stay in a hotel (they've been asking to do so for months) and swim in the pool.  Can you guess the exciting place we went?  Burns, Oregon.  It is almost as plain jane as you can get.  But we were together as a family and enjoying something away from home.  The boys and I got up in the morning with Rusty and went out to the ranch.  We saw 3 coyotes, 5 deer and 3 antelope while we were there, in addition to the 198 steers and the four trucks to haul them.  Callen and Claysen had their sorting sticks out and were "helping" as much as they could.  Claysen was very interesting in the loading chute and the truck, so I held him up so he could see the drive closing and opening the different compartments of the trailer.  We got done early enough in the morning to swim again before check out time.  The boys had a ton of fun eating in restaurants and staying in the hotel.  Callen missed one day of school to go, but we both think it is worth it.

What's the solution?

So we are a couple weeks into kindergarten now and Callen still won't get on the bus in the morning.  I have to admit I have sort of abandoned the idea that he will.  I think it is a combination of several things.  First, Callen is not a morning person.  He gets that from me.  Second, the first time we tried to ride it the bus just drove right past us as we waited.  Third, Callen loves his mama and doesn't leave easily.  He doesn't cry or cling to me when I take him to school, but he will often say, can't I just stay home today?  He doesn't like to walk in to school by himself he wants me to walk him to his classroom.  I encourage him to walk in alone, but he has only done that once and beg, beg, begs me to walk in with him. 

Callen loves to ride the bus home.  He gets to ride it home on three days a week and I pick him up two days for logistical reasons. 

What do I do?  Should I force him to get on the bus?  It isn't a problem to take him, it is only 2 miles.  Also we don't have to get up as early if I take him to school.  Plus for everyone. 

Speed. I am Speed.

Claysen loves Lightning McQueen from Disney's Cars.  I decided to make that the theme for this birthday this year.  He had a great time and totally knew what it meant to have a birthday and turn three.

This is the cake I made.  First one since my class.  Turned out pretty good I think.

The birthday boy!

Gift from Papa Fred the day before his party.  His new fishing pole.

His very own computer from Maga and Oil.

Blowing the candles out with unsolicited help from big brother Callen.

Happy birthday Claysen!

Claysen's First day of Preschool

Claysen has been SO SO SO excited to go to preschool this year.  For about a year now he as been asking to go to school since he has been along for the ride taking Callen to school.  Since his birthday falls after the cut-off for public school he will get to partake in 3 years of preschool.  Lucky for us it is free from Maga.  Thanks Maga! He is attending butterflies and bullfrogs preschool that my mom owns and operates from her home.  It is a bit of a drive for us, but the free school off sets the cost of gas. He was allowed to celebrate his birthday the first day of school too.  He was pretty excited.

First day of Kindergarten!!

Callen's first day of kindergarten was last Wednesday.  I took him to school and picked him up.  (Something I can do with my new position as SAHM!)  He did wonderful, no one cried, not even me. 

The tough part came when it was time to ride the school bus.  We were waiting very excitedly out front.  The bus came into view and drove right by...So I took Callen to school again, but he was to ride it home.  I was waiting for him when he got off at the bus stop.  He was very cautious and exited/crossed properly.  I immediately asked him how he liked it.  "I cried," he said.  My heart sank.  He cried, why?  I think he is so tender hearted that when he encounters new environments he is a little shy and it holds him back.  The third day of school we tried to ride the bus again.  This time they stopped.  Callen ran away from the bus, I caught him and he was kicking, screaming and crying.  I was struggling with what to do, do I make him go?  Could I physically make him?  I can't talk to him and convince him to get on the bus, there is no time, we can't make the whole bus late for school.  He did not get on it.  I also caved and picked him up. 

Today we saw a neighborhood girl get off the bus.  Guess what?  She is in Callen's class, maybe they can be bus buddies....

Claysen is pretty excited to go to school too.  He starts preschool next week.