Back to work...

Jake and Claire and I all went back to school (or at least to CAMP). I went to work and they are at camp at my school. It started yesterday and and today, after 3 weeks at home with Mommy, Claire announces that she "doesn't like school and she'd like to go home now". This was about 5 mins after I took her to her room. She did get over it and ended up having a fun day.
Jake is having a great time having kids to play with all day. he is so easy going when it comes to this sort of thing. He'd MUCH rather go than stay home.
My school is very large and serves a clientele that is made up of primarily upper middle class to extreme upper class families with mostly stay at home moms. WE do not live very from the school, so the areas that we live, work and play in all mingle together. I can't go ANYWHERE without running into someone from my school. Sometimes it's nice and others, I find myself ducking and going the other way to avoid the awkward conversation. Yesterday I was at the pool when a mother came up to me and started talking about the first day of camp and how she was sure all would settle down, but that she was a bit uneasy about her 2 year old's class....and BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!! Geez!!! I am trying to relax and enjoy a nice afternoon swimming with my kids. I am happy yo talk with you and all, but does it have to be about my work?!
This stuff happens to me ALL THE TIME! Don't get me wrong... I really love my job and my school, but sometimes I don't think people realize that I have my own life and kids to pay attention t just like they do and that just because I am the director at their child's school, that doesn't mean that that is all I am.
Thanks for letting me VENT...
On a happier note, I just found out that my sister is pregnant with a baby GIRL!! And that my cousin is TOO. They are due within a week or so of each other. I am so excited to be having a niece :-)

VBS

This week has been a new experience for us. Jake has been attending Vacation Bible School.
This is a concept that is completely LOST on Andy. As a Catholic, VBS was unheard of. It was something the "other"kids did (meaning the protestant kids). Since I grew up protestant, I attended many VBS programs as a child and knew exactly what Jake would be getting into.
This particular VBS is actually being offered by a Catholic Church that we attended for a couple of years and where I know lots of people. Several of my friends are sending their kids there as well.
Jake has been having so much fun and has come home each day babbling on and on about the cool things he has learned. On Monday he had tiny dot stickers all over him. I asked him what it was and said it was "leprosy". With a smile, I asked what it meant to have leporasy. He told me his version of a disgustin disease. He then went on to tell me that Jesus cured the people with leporasy. Ahhh...my heart felt good :-)
Yesterday he said "Mom!...did you know that Jesus could walk on WATER??!!?? That is so COOL!"
- Hey...I'm just thrilled that he's having a good time. If some bible stories are sticking with him...then all the better.

Kindergarten Graduation

I can hardly believe that my baby boy is actually old enough to be going into first grade this coming fall. Where has the time gone?

I know all mothers say this, but It really doesn't seem possible that he is this old....

The St. Ambrose Kindergarten Graduation was last Thursday evening. The kids recited (short) essays on what they enjoyed most about kindergarten and sang several songs. Then they received there "diplomas" and various award certificates. There was a nice little reception afterwards. This completed Jake's second year at St. Ambrose School.

Now we are full on into our summer break and are keeping busy with fun stuff every day. Monday we went to the Science Museum (the kids REALLY like to go there). Tuesday we went swimming, Wednesday we found a super cool indoor play place that was so fun I could hardly get the kids to leave. And today, we plan to go swimming again. "Kung Fu Panda" is on tomorrow's agenda. Next Week Jake will attend Vacation Bible School for the first time- that should be fun :-) Then the week after that... we all go to my school for summer camp for 4 weeks. Busy, busy, busy!

Oh yeah...T-Ball officially ended the season last Saturday. The Blue Jays came in 4th place (out of 6 teams- we were NOT the total underdogs-yeah!!!). Each member of the team received a very nice medal and a bobble head trophy-very cute!

Mother's Day at the Beach

One of the coolest parts about living inHouston is that the beach is only about an hour away. So,every year for Mother's day we load up the family and pack a picnic, all out sand toys, a couple of chairs and loads of sunscreen for a fun day of quality time.

This year seemed to be all about the sand!!!

Claire entered the water reluctantly a couple of times and when she felt how cold it was she went screaming back to her nice warm pile of sand. Jake played in the water quite a bit, but mostly he enjoyed trying to dig to China.

AHHH...the pleasures of being a KID!!!

It was QUITE hot this afternoon (mid 90's in early May)...so, to enjoy the afternoon, we got out the little pools and the hose and well...

Take a look: (below)

Claire is such a dare devil...nothing seems to really scare her. Good thing she's the 2nd child!

You may also note the treehouse progress as of today:

Claire the Hula girl

Claire was playing dress up last night and found herself transformed into a "Hula Dancing Butterfly Princess". She has her brother in the background playing the traditional hula dance drums via his bouncing hoppy thing...see the video :-)

New pet

We have a new member of the family... Jake has a new BETA fish named "Chester" (don't ask...).
He'd been asking for a fish for quite awhile and we decidied that it would make a good "finished Kindergarten" gift (but he got it a few weeks early).
Also, the BLUE JAYS won another game last night. Jake was so excited he couldn't even sleep last night. It was so cool for the team. They are really having a great time.
Claire and Jake had a play date today with their friends Max and Kate. We went to Monkey Bizness ( an indoor bounce house place). Claire and Kate are finally old enough tp really enjoy being with each other. They had so much fun running and climbing a sliding. and giggling. They are just such little girly girls...it was so cute to watch them :-)
That's all for today- till next time.....