Back To School...Already!

Nathan started back to school this week. Where has the summer gone? For those of you that don't know, Nathan attends Special Needs Pre-School at our local elementary school. He qualifies for this wonderful program because he utilizes a walker and has gross motor delays. Last spring Nathan attended the school 3 days a week for a few weeks until summer came. He really liked going, especially riding the bus, and I thought the program and the therapy that he received at school were very beneficial. This year he'll go to the school 5 mornings a week and will receive all of his therapy at school.

For a few weeks before school started we reminded him that he'd be going to school soon. We talked about riding the bus, seeing his teachers and his friends and learning new things. We talked it up as often as we could. I hoped that on the first day Nathan would be ready to go with no nervousness or sadness. Well, it worked!!! On Wednesday morning I got him up, fed him breakfast and got him dressed in his new school clothes. He looked so handsome!! When it came time to meet the bus he said goodbye to Lauren and Landon and told them he'd see them after school. He was happy to see his friendly bus drivers and didn't show the least bit of sadness when he got on the bus.

I'm so proud of Nathan and all that he has accomplished this summer. He's a very smart, very determined and very funny little boy. I often say that he's a pleasure to parent. While it's difficult to let him go to school, I'm convinced that this extra help will be for his benefit. His school therapists are wonderful and are determined to help him build strength and balance. We hope that one day soon Nathan will take off walking and leave his walker in the dust. Won't that be exciting??!!

Big Smiles For School

To keep him safe, Nathan utilizes his "ride" for the bus ride. Once he gets to school he uses his walker (we call it his "wheels") and his "ride" is put away. Go Nathan!!!

Swimming Lessons

This week our kids started a two week session of swimming lessons. It's a "Mommy and Me" swimming class and each little person needs a big person to help them in the class. For this reason I've had Jason and some of my Young Women from church helping me. The boys are absolutely loving the lessons. They like to kick their legs, float on their backs and are O.K. with having their head under water for a brief moment. Nathan especially likes it and said to me recently, "Mommy, I'm a good swimmer." Lauren, however, is another story...

The first night the teacher asked if we could all dunk under water. I used my funnest, happiest voice to convince Lauren that it would be O.K. and then put her head under water. Well, she FREAKED!!! She started cyring and hanging on super tight to my neck and saying she wanted to get out. I promised her that I wouldn't do it again, but my promises were in vain. Jason tried working with her. He reassured her and told her that he'd hang on tight to her. She endured the 1/2 hour class and was relieved to finally be out of the pool. Then, as she was walking on the concrete around the pool, she tripped and fell and skinned her knee and ankle. The tears started all over again. Needless to say, I think I've ruined Lauren in regards to swimming. The next night she stayed in the pool for about 3 minutes and spent the rest of the class sitting in a chair a safe distance from the pool. We'll hope that tonight is better for her...

Shalissa, Landon and Sydney

Jason and Lauren-The smile on her face was very brief.

Nathan and Sydney

A big THANK YOU to all of the girls who have helped us with this. They have been wonderful and our kids love having them come to swim with us. We couldn't give our kids this opportunity without their help.

A Very Fun Weekend

Last weekend our family took a trip to Boise for Jason's cousin's wedding. It was a fun event and we enjoyed visiting with Uncle Pete and the Weir family. As always, there were lots of laughs and funny things that happened. The Weir family is a fun and funny bunch and we always enjoy getting together with them. Congratulations Mary and Rocky!!!

Uncle Pete, Mary and Rocky

The kids thought the wedding was O.K., but they loved staying at the hotel and eating at restaurants. They especially loved our trip to the Boise zoo and even tolerated a little bit of shopping at the Outlet Mall.

Landon, Nathan, Lauren and some of their penguin friends.

The zoo was fantastic with great monkey and penguin exhibits. The kids really liked watching the penguins swim. The way the exhibit is set up you can stand inside and see their little feet kicking under water. Our little ones were fascinated and are still talking about seeing the penguins. It was a very fun weekend for our family.

Sooooo Tired

This week the kids have all had a little bit of a cold. It hasn't slowed them down much but they've been a little tired and had runny noses.

Yesterday I was busy doing chores and could hear Nathan saying, "I want you Mommy." When I asked him what he needed he said, "Put me on the couch." I told him that I was busy and that he was a big boy and could get on the couch by himself. A few minutes later when I walked past the couch, this is what I saw.

I couldn't believe he had actually fallen asleep like this! I guess he really did need my help getting on the couch. He was just too sleepy to make it all the way by himself. Poor little guy!