Artsy pics

9-16-09

We're getting closer to listing the house! We're done painting our bedroom, Chris is just about finished with the new steps, and we're ready to reseed the yard. As for the carpets, linoleum, door frames, and everything else that needs to be replaced - expletive. We just need to get it on the market before our heads explode.
Jimmy is still really enjoying school. He talked me into letting him ride the bus home one day a week, and it's been a great experience for him. Not so much for me, as I have to pack Kirsi into her carseat and wait at the end of the driveway for him - an ordeal, since the bus is usually late and it's hit or miss whether Kirsi will be happy while we're waiting. I'm really concerned about winter. It's not do-able to keep the baby waiting in the cold, and it'll break Jim's heart if he can't ride the bus. The van eats gas when it's idling, so I can't sit with the heat on... don't know what to do!
Aside from the bus drama, we're all settling into the school routine pretty well. Getting up in the mornings is getting easier, although Jim is the only one who's happy about it. Chris and I are going to *gag* a Parent/Teacher Club meeting to discuss the school budget etc. We figure we'll go to the first one and then come up with convienient excuses to avoid them in the future.
Jimmy also had his first experience with a dentist, which did not go well. He had a massive anxiety attack and made "The Exorcist" look like a walk in the park. Our dentist was great, though - he laid down the law and stuck with it until Jim calmed down and let him look at his teeth. But we're going to have to take him to a pediadontist and get him knocked out to get his cavities fixed. I just had a serious cleaning and have six fillings to look forward to. Yay!
Kirsi is almost sitting by herself. She's eating cereal and applesauce now, and really likes it. Maybe now she'll gain a little weight. She's finally discovered her feet and her tongue. Her obsession with toys continues, and I found her a stuffed Boll Weevil at the thrift store, so she's now officially the coolest baby in the world.
Brett came up with his wonderful girlfriend Nicole, and the kids were thrilled to see them, as of course were Chris and I. We also got to meet Pat's nephew (so mine too, kinda) Lestat... what a cute baby!
I went to an awesome concert in Spokane - Michael Franti & Spearhead - and had a great time. Jess, Becka, and Becka's husband Aaron went with, and we all got to meet Michael and the band afterwards - I even got a kiss! Yes, with Chris's permission, don't purse your lips like that. Chris does an amazing job on babysitter duty, and is very much appreciated.

First Day of School!

The much anticipated/feared first day of school has come and gone. I lived through it, and Jimmy loved it! He really liked his teacher, got along well with all the other kids, and just all around had a great time. His only two complaints were that he didn't have time to play with puppets after he was done with the Legos, and that the other kid he was playing with broke his spaceship - but careful questioning revealed that he did it in order to help put the Legos away, so Jim was given very little sympathy for that one. He outlined his plans for today with Chris before bed last night - a plan which centered on getting his name on the board for puppets today.
As far as I understand - and I'm fighting the urge to 'helicopter' and watch for a day, so all I know is what Jimmy tells us - they have several choices each day for play time, and they put their names on the board above ("not next to, or near, or under, but above") the activity they want for that day's playtime. They also have 'circle time' which I think is at the beginning of class where they all sit around and talk about who-knows-what. There is one recess where all the kids in the school go outside together, one snack time where the teacher provides the snacks ... which we found out after I'd bought a couple month's worth of snacks and juice... and somewhere in there is time for art, stories, counting and other educational things. They will have homework once a week, music twice a week.
So all goes well on the academic front. Now that Jim has survived a day without major emotional upheaval I'm feeling much happier about it, although getting up at 6:30 is NOT appreciated in this house.
In other news, we're painting our bedroom, and will start on Jimmy's if he ever gets it cleaned. Once that's done and the house is clean we'll call it good and call in the realtor.
Kirsi is still great and weighs over twelve pounds now. She rolled over back to front about a week ago, but she was sleeping at the time so who knows how long it will take for a repeat preformance? Nana Shide'h found her a walker, which she absolutely loves!
We all went to the Bonner County fair with Jess and Tristan this weekend and had a blast! The kids got to meet Smokey the Bear, who then rode a mechanical bull! Got it all on video, too - hello youtube! We saw all sorts of adorable animals - mini potbelly pig, mini cow, ponies, etc. - and they had a lot of fun activities. Aunt Jess bought Jim a giant inflatable ax, which he loves, and we all battled each other on the CubScout's teeter-boards.
Thrown in for your pleasure - a very wet ferret.