There's a mountain of laundry in front of me but sometimes you just can't. Bedtime sometime is so exhausting but I know I need to just layout clothes and snacks to make the morning a hell of a lot smoother.

First Day of School 

We've been back at school a week now and I guess it's good. I can't really say otherwise, but I have nothing to base it off of. Monday last week was a late start for first day after optional mass. I could not muster these children to sit still for an hour at 8am right after they've woken up, and a block party. So they went for 2 hours to get acquainted. Then the whole week was half days for the youngest grades, so that was actually a big pain in the butt since we had the whole afternoon free, but since we were back in school. Nothing was planned. So playtime, naps and pool continued. I think I made Bobby do some pages from his dollar section workbooks. His math is great, as is his reading and writing, but they all could be better. I have to remind myself to not make him grow up too fast.

First Grade :0

Jack goes 3 mornings for 3 hours. He runs right in and I have no idea what he does. Plays. He's great as always. When we drop off Bobby on the other two days, he always asks to go too.  He hardly needs school, he has lots of playmates and playdates, and knows his numbers, letters, shapes and colors (assuming that is the preschool checklist) but it will be good to have him listen to another authority figure and follow directions and all that. I guess. He's happy. I miss him but not that much, It's only 9 hours. i thought I would get more done (he's only gone to 3 days so far) but the time goes fast so I have to be motivated. Reid is in his walkabout phase so after drop off, we usually go running but if we're home, or after that, he just likes to walk and wander. I remember doing a lot of that with jack. Reid is down to one nap, and it's getting later and later each day. Has to be after 1130 pick up so that dictates his schedule unfortunately.

Loves his own face

Five short days of no homework then three days off! And did I mention, Rick has been gone this whole time? We're doing well and it's almost easier since I know I have to do everything so I can't afford to be lazy and put off snack making or morning toothbrushing. We are on it on time!  We also started soccer. It may not be his thing but we're giving it another year. Three sports is better than one!

And a snazzy dresser

We had an awesome long weekend. Saturday, we got out and went on a hike, got bagels, hit the playground, had lunch and naps at home then pool.

Oh geez

Sunday, we went to the San Diego Zoo, then came home and went to a block party up the street. So many kids! It was really fun at the zoo, I wasn't sure I wanted to go alone but we did great. We didn't dawdle but also didn't have a plan. Which is hard for me not to study the map and make sure we're on an efficient route. But we saw most everything, what the kids wanted especially, then got out of there by midday when it was getting really jammed. Jack actually crashed out before Reid even but they both slept all the way home with minimal traffic. We got lucky there.

Lovely Silverback

All they wanted was this sky tram. And it was Awesome

Recovered from the zoo and went up for dinner and this!

I have very few photos of this guy believe it or not

Monday, we hit the beach very early for just a short time, home by lunch and before it got insanely crowded (still pretty crowded), rode bikes, and then more pool time. But we were all still lights out by 7. No photos - I am doing a good job being present with them, I admit I'm still on my phone plenty but it's a good balance. I mean I feel like I am frustrated easily with them but then I realize, I am with them about 13 waking hours and to be honest a few hours at night too, so I actually like hanging out with them a lot.

Not interested in the balance bike so trying this route 

(Okay so I did find some on second visit to phone photos.)

You can't tell, but this is really crowded for our pool

We're in the middle of our two week yearly heatwave and it is not fun. No AC and not enough fans means I'm sweating all the time.

So happy to just play in a puddle

We are officially a marker free household. No matter where I put them, Reid ends up with one. He loves to pull off the caps. And it's not so much him drawing on things, although he did do a number on my rug, he loves to draw on himself. So crayons and pencils only, as if we needed to be even less artistic than we already are.

Adding years to my life by never being on ground level

If anyone wants raffle tickets or wrapping paper for the endless school fundraisers, let me know, I'll send you the link. Oh fun times.

Bobby Selfie

We have been so diligent about keeping bathroom doors closed, mostly to lock in that urinal smell, but also because Reid liked to play in the water if given a chance. He's moved on from that to just putting in shredded toilet paper, But he's also at that age where unrolling the whole roll is fun. And being the only member of the household who wipes every time she goes, I have to use the floor toilet paper.  This is not what I signed up for.

Bobby took this

And one more

We made it. No one killed anyone. 

19 miles. LeJeune front gate. Jack had to pee. Reid was crying again. Sunshowers off and on. Here's a photo of bobby who is the only one who's not having a hard time being in the car for 18 hours, although he has asked a lot if we are there and who is there while we are not. Sorry family, I should have put the cookies in the trunk. 

Just kidding. Of course we stopped.

But at least jack crashed out. Reid was unconsolable again. It's so not like him. He's really a chill baby but not this trip. I may not get much relaxing time. 80 more miles

Maybe I'll live blog the rest of this trip. How thrilling. And yet, the only people who read this are with me! 

 

Currently en route to the beach. Possibly the longest trip in the history of beach driving. 

Reid went to sleep as usual, Thursday night. Then woke up at 10, as usual, but was burning hot. But he went back to sleep fine so I went with it. Giving him medicine would have been a battle in the middle of the night waking everyone up further. Next wake up he puked all over and went back to sleep. Stripped him down even more and he slept in late, seemingly less warm. Gave him some Tylenol and went to the airport! Kids were pretty excited.

We got a shuttle around 1030 and Reid fell asleep. 

Which would have been okay but that meant he would be awake on the plane. A very little area in which a very active boy must enhavit for four hours. 

There are no mid trip pictures. It was rough to say the least. We had three seats and an aisle but I didn't want the single seat and impose feet on the poor guy next to me. So I had all three kids all over me. Bobby was great and probably played iPad for three hours. I might have paid $7 for a can of beer. 

Switch in Atlanta. Slept the second flight. Got in at 1030pm. Eventually got kids to bed after excitement of Grammys house. 

Reid got hotter overnight. But we all slept in late!!!  So I think we finally left the house around 1. Reid screamed a lot. Pull over, he stops. Wouldn't nurse. Moving again, he slept a bit. Woke up. Cried a bit. Pullover, same thing. Back on road, crash ahead. Detour, jack needs the potty. Pull over, might as well eat. Empty bladders, full bellies, and chick fila has the playground so they stretched their legs for a long time too. 

Back on the road. Jack is whining because he's in the sun. Reid is now crying again. And we still have 100 miles to go. Do I get any sympathy yet. Can we  do this in California next year. 

Temporarily quiet. Better have a beer waiting for me. 

Jack can spell his name. I think that's really good.  Especially since I've never told him how to spell it.

Bobby still doesn't' have his top teeth.  He lost one on March 29 and the other mid April. Hmmm..

That's all.

Jack has asked me several times for a jet pack. 

Jack calls the cross on top of the church a plus sign. 

Jack cannot understand why I cannot do the wee wee race with him. 

Jacks Birthday

Jack doesn't really have many friends of his own and this wasn't a year for parties anyway, so we went to Goofys kitchen in the Disneyland hotel for his birthday breakfast. It's outside the park so you can do this anytime. We had breakfast, traffic was kind to us and we were home by midmorning. It's an extensive buffet. Eggs made to order as well as the usual, full pastries and meats, mac and cheese, pizza and hotdogs and nuggets, salad and sandwich bar, ice cream machine etc. Very Disney excess. But what you pay for is the character visits I suppose.  I got the kids all autograph books and pens and they seemed to love it. Jack even got a cupcake and another badge. I'll put the rest of the photos on flickr.

Check in with the head chef

Chip helping us get seated

Not sure what to think, but ready

Pluto!

I don't think he ate very much of his Mickey pancake, or anything else

I'm three.

She's so photogenic

I'll take it

Dear Jack, add this monstrosity to your list of middle child grievances. But, after 2.5 months of 5 birthdays, 2 holidays, mothers and Father's Day, your mother is tired. Luckily, you're a freaking awesome fun kid. 

Happy birthday big boy. We'll have a fun few days. 

Very reluctantly, I did it. I sent jack to school. He's been asking for months so when preschool offered a camp and he got potty trained, I couldn't avoid it. He was so happy. Wanting to wear his uniform even. He loves his backpack and is such a big boy. 

Jumped right into playing. It's a small group. Maybe 15/20 max. Several kids seem older. But I think he is just fine. The only report I got from the teacher was he is very athletic and played basketball well. (Duh. And fist pump) 

While he was at school, the rest of us went for a run. I made bobby sit in the stroller even because he no way would bike six miles. Then we grabbed jack from school and went back to the beach.  Reid loves the sand and water. I didn't pack a suit for jack but who cares. 

The water is still cold. Kids don't notice but it is. Bobby decided to pick up rocks from the sea floor. 

Of course I jinxed it. Should have known better. I didn't even say he slept well. One good night leads to a pretty rough one with many wake ups. Oh well. Enjoys his morning stroll for sure. 

He hates shoes as much as his brothers  have. 

Last Thursday pick up. (We are parked here)! Full house as it was a half day and we went to uniform exchange first. Speaking of...

He is absolutely too young for this. :(  but he did enjoy trying on his new duds. Especially since the pants have pockets

 He likes those. What he also likes - the nice pocket in the front of his underwear...

Bobby wears a tie on Fridays. He asked me last week for a Windsor knot. Rick has a heavy hand in influencing this young one. Let's hope it's used for good. He was also getting buckled up in the car one day, and said it's a race. someone said, it's not a race. Bobby came back with,  that's what losers say. Oy. 

Daydreaming: if I had a thousand extra dollars,

New to me road bike

Stand up paddle board 

Fancy camera 

Six months of house cleaning 

Big couple of weeks for us! Today was Kindergarden graduation. Finally. I feel like everyone else has been out of school forever and I am so sick of packing lunches! They had a little ceremony and sang and did a 'when i grow up' thing. It was adorable. Like I should have recorded it. Bobby is not a performer but he did the motions and quietly sang. Everyone did really well and they all look like such big kids. Then they got their diploma from the principal.  I think it's a really wonderful school and the community is excellent. I just won't think about tuition for a while. 

My first baby turned six finally too. He is one of the youngest in his class and between a year full of other kids parties and a busy May, I was done. So no party for this kid this year. He got to open a few books and a new stuffy from his brothers over his birthday breakfast cake. I didnt even bring in treats to school because I don't know the rules, so I dropped the ball there too. Luckily, Grandma was here and made it a very good birthday.  We did our normal Farrells night out for an ice cream sundae, and threw in Reids birthday too while we were there. Bobby was able to pick out a very nice set or two from Lego store and promptly spent the next three days working on them. In lieu of a party, we grabbed Dexter and Jake from our street and headed to Chuck E Cheese. It gets a bad rap but ours is nice and big and clean and the kids love it. And they serve beer! My and Jacks (and everyones) friends Ethan and Eleanor met us there and we played for a long time and got lots of tickets which we could trade in for super crappy toys! We followed it up with a Trip to Ritas Italian/Water Ice - who needs cake! Bobbys birthday extravaganza finished just in time for it to be Reids day!

This guy had his birthday and he is an awesome kid. We had a little smash cake and a few friends over for the typical Vic ice cream cake party.   Last night he slept until 3:30 and when he woke up, I was literally so confused, as I hadn't been in that deep of a sleep for oh, a year.  He is not quite running, but he walks well on sand and wood chips and is trying to jump. seriously. He had his well check and is right on track at 22 pounds. No words, A lot of chatter and pointing. He just wants to move and not be in a stroller or car seat. 

I don't have many pictures of Jack, probably because he is always moving too. He is nicely potty trained, no accidents really either. He is going to camp at his fall preschool next week and I think that's a huge mistake. He has literally been by my side for 3 years. He asks every day to go to school but I can't think of him like a big boy. He's really fun and snuggly and earnestly a happy little kid.  He runs everywhere. He throws his hands up in celebration all the time. He's a bit of a smarty pants too in a different way than Bobby but we'll see what shapes up later.