Sleepy Week

Last Friday, J & I participated in the annual Mother & Son event at FRA.  It was a BLAST!  We started with the kids conducting their own science experiments of candy (& Moms trying not to cringe as our children loaded up on sugar before dinner), then we looked at items under a microscope to guess what the 6 items were.  We got a couple correct.  We then had dinner, followed by a professional scientist conducting experiments for the audience of Moms with their most handsome dates.

I loved it.  J loved it.  The fact he came home with most of his candy was just an added bonus & a sign that my concept of moderation is sinking in with him.  He was so sweet about offering me candy, but then said "Oh yeah, sugar makes you sick & we don't want that!"  I'm so lucky he gets my lifestyle conversion and supports it because he wants me to feel good.  And I truly believe, he will choose to live on natural sugars as he gets older.  He already is not a huge fan of cookies & cakes (unless you are talking Oreos - then all bets are off).

On Saturday we met with a second roofing contractor & we do in fact need a new roof.  Sigh... One of the benefits of buying a new home was to not having to deal with this for several years.  Thankfully, our contractor knows both our claims adjuster and insurance agent, and is willing to fight on our behalf to get our new roof, metal wraps for the garage, and possible new egg crating for our air conditioner.  I, for one, and happy to see fall here - ending the season of golf ball to baseball size hail storms we had last summer.

Even Sunday was not an overly ambitious day...  These are nice days.

This week, has been crazy... From having relaxed all weekend, I was left doing a Target run Monday night on my way home for stuff I need for the wedding this weekend.  Then last night was laundry and packing.

Tonight we had our YMCA Soccer meeting for his fall season. 

And tomorrow we start our weekend after work.  J & I will be picking up Daddy & heading north to Lake Geneva.  Uncle Jon & Aunt Kim will be married on Saturday with the love & support of family, particularly a ring bearer & flower girl from Kim's side, and a ring bearer from Jon's.  We are all so happy to be welcoming Aunt Kim into the family name. 

Payton, as she moans I'm still up, would like to add her thankfulness to Miss Cheryl & Mr. Bryan for agreeing to house / dog sit for us this weekend.  She is so very grateful for the company.

1st Homework Project

For J's first homework project, we were asked to have the kids attach pictures (self & from magazines), stickers, artwork, etc - that reflect the child's personality.

The teacher's sent home an outline of each child as the backdrop.

Wow was this fun!  I gathered a bunch of pictures, artwork J had completed, and stickers into a pile.  I had ideas for a couple of gaps, so Miss Cheryl worked with J on filling those gaps - particularly the Jack-O-Laturn on the bottom... J did one last fall and was so proud of it... I'm not sure where it has disappeared to at this point, but I knew it was a must for this project.

J totally agreed.

Then with J driving, we selected, we placed, we cut, we glued, and finally we wrote captions.

I only edited a few captions.  Like those proclaiming his love of tattoos.  I rephrased it, but did not write it down until he was in agreement with what I was writing.

He did crack me up, as he was great about listening to ideas or tips for how to more easily get the project completed, but was very possessive about doing it himself. 

He very clearly stated "This is MY homework Mommy".

Alrighty then... I think he did a pretty great job!

#soproudofhim#

1st Spelling Test

An
And
At
All

These are the words of flashcards and intense memorization happening in our home this week.

On Friday, J has his first ever spelling test.

Mrs. Kaiser tested out each of the kids, and will be quizzing them - and by extension, their parents - every Friday to enhance their learning at the individual child's speed. 

Her letter home said each child has his or her own individual list.  Some children are still working letter recognition & sounds, some are working on two letter words, and some are working on sight words.  I'm guessing by J's list, he is on sight words, at least for this week. 

The fun is in getting him to focus long enough to memorize these words.  I've finally gotten *the* mastered, but only when he is willing to look & focus as opposed to *shouting out an answer, any answer just to get mommy to stop & let me do what I want to do*... Sigh...

Any tips would be much appreciated...

J: (implied) "YUCK!!!"

Mommy:  (sad silently screaming) "No, NOT YET!!!!!"

Background:
I get a kiss from J every day before school as I drop him off for school.  He stands at the door and watches me leave until I've driven back past the school, only then will he join his friends in the gym playing.  This is not a sad scene, but it is totally his thing to watch me leave for work.  He even has his friends sitting with him to watch me leave, knowing the minute I'm out of sight - the fun begins...

...A time will come, when I don't rejoice in that fact...

Setting:
A typical Tuesday morning, with Mommy having atypically put on lipstick before leaving the house.  I only wear shear colors, as I've gone the way of shine with motherhood...  Anyway, I was kissing him good-bye & telling him to have a great day, after a pretty stern lecture in the car about wearing his gym shoes home, as we are required to keep a special pair of gym shoes at school for gym class.  Giving him a big hug & kiss before I left was important as I wanted to reassure him that I still love him, and I did want him to have a great day.

J promptly wiped his mouth.

Mommy, late for work, did a complete double take.

EXCUSE ME!?!?!?!

However, I did not react as I felt, but I did ask "um, what is up with you wiping your mouth?" complete with a smirky smile & a teasing tone...  

J: (serious as can be)  "I don't have any sparkles on do I?  Boys don't wear sparkles."

And just like that he had grown up another notch.  No longer is he asking why boys don't wear lipstick, and has moved right into making sure he is not wearing any smearing of mommy's.

Sigh... Growing up may be hard on him, but it is harder on mommy's heart.

#lovehim#

Montly Close, Quarter Close, and Business Plan

Yikes have things been crazy busy in my neck of the woods...

Work has been crazy with September's month end financial close, which is also a quarter close.  We top that off with a first pass round of business plan, and wow have I been working a lot.

Bonus = I have earned back my Dec 26th vacation day.  YAY!

Prior to all this madness, J & I stole away to Grandma & Grandpa P's for a quiet weekend of relaxation.  We ended up chucking it FULL of fun activities.  When we got home on Sunday, I seriously felt like I'd been gone a week, instead of just two nights.  We participated in Home Depot's first Saturday of the month activity - building a fire truck.  We went to a pumpkin patch.  We fed fish.  We went to Olga's (mommy's favorite).  We even did some "Elf" shopping for his upcoming arrival after Thanksgiving.  So excited about that.

During close, I needed to kill time one night after work, as J was getting to sleep late.  Daddy doesn't agree with bed times, but then again, he thinks mommy gets up to early.  I didn't want to disrupt him as he was finally getting to sleep.  As it was, Miss Cheryl still had to put him to sleep by 6:15 (at J's request) the next day for him to be in good spirits on Friday of last week.  Mr. M was shocked & amazed at how early he wanted to go to sleep.  But we figured out, losing an hour to hour & half on Wednesday night, then another hour on Thursday morning (as daddy left the shower to me in the AM), is a good chunk of time for such a little boy.

Anyway... I grabbed J's costume for Halloween.  He was so excited.  He just loves Halloween.

That's another thing we've done - decorate the house.  :)

I love to see the delight in his eyes as he explores and checks out all the decorations.

I love him so much. 

We rounded out last week, with mommy working the weekend.  J was delighted with the overnight trip to Grandma & Grandpa M's.  He was so funny, he was leery of going on his own, and made sure he had my permission to call me if he decided against staying there.  Of course I granted it, but I was certain this was all unnecessary.  I was right...  When I called around 7:15 from work to say goodnight, he was having so much fun he really couldn't be bothered with talking me long...

They spent the day at the zoo (in the rain no less), then by a house decorated for Halloween, rounding out their evening with a movie (Hop) and a pumpkin craft.

Yesterday afternoon, a tired monkey & I joined his classmates to celebrate a 5th birthday.  It was fun, but I admit to being happy we survived on excitement.  Then I bribed him with Panda for dinner to get through grocery shopping. 

For another post, but I have to admit - I realized on Sunday during the party - I've become Mrs. M.  For so long I was me... Then I became Me +... Yesterday, as J introduced me by "Allison", I had to correct him that I was "Mrs. M"  EEK!!  I've become my mother-in-law... This is so weird... I was Ali P for so long, then I was Ali M.  I never related in terms of Miss, Ms, or Mrs anything.  To be Mrs. M seems so foreign to me.

We finished, ate dinner - did our shower & crashed out within seconds at 7:30.  He was so bushed...

Oh - and we started reading "The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt"... We giggled through the first chapter... Perfect for a little boy who loves those stinky bodily functions & pirates... Sigh.

FRA - Fun Run

Since FRA's announcement they would be expanding to add a high school last year, we have participated in a number of fund raisers to support this initiative.  This one, however, was the most fun. 

As part of the Hawaii 5-K for adults, they held a half mile Fun Run for the kids 10 and under.  In a last minute decision, I signed J up for it. 

I cannot tell you enough how thrilled I am with my decision to sign him up.  He had a blast.  He did wonderful.  In relation to kids his age, he came in way ahead of them.  Mostly because I chose not to run with him, so he paced himself with a teacher who runs regularly.  She allowed J to set the pace, much slower than the 2nd graders, but much faster than those in his class.

I am so proud of him.  When he got done, it was all I could do not to shed tears, to which confused him to no end.  Love him! 

#MotivationforMommytocontinuetogetintoshape#

He was smiles and happy to pose for pictures prior to the run, but afterwards, man his smile out shined the sun.

I love finding activities he enjoys and can succeed at in his own time.  It is such a self confidence builder - and to see that confidence explode all over his face was such an honor.

The funny part - I took this while he was still trying to catch his breath...  Love it!
#Mommycouldnotbeprouder#

Bonfire Wrap-up

I got there just in time for you to...

Go on the annual hayride...

 You were so excited to be going...

 Afterwards, we scarfed our hot dogs, as you were so excited for dessert.  You had been pining away for it since we bought (your classes responsible items) the graham crackers and chocolate in preparation for the big night.

 Grandma pitched in to help you roast the marshmallow while ensuring you did not roast yourself.

 Grandpa had been so excited to do roasting with you as well, since it was all you talk about.  The marshmallows were kind of big, so roasting them took FOREVER.  You were over it by the time we all got a marshmallow.

 After the bonfire, you were soooo tired you could not keep your eyes open for the 10 minute ride home.  Since it was only grandpa visiting, and daddy was caught downtown for work, I put you in my bed, so grandpa could have yours.  You were sooo tired you slept totally insane all night. 

I'm not sure I got much sleep, in fear of you rolling off.