Soccer and School

We take full advantage of nice weather days and recently we've had a bunch!  We have various sports equipment and both boys just love it all, which is no surprise since Daddy is a huge sports fan.  We just missed the age mark for Spring Soccer, so we will work on our skills in our backyard and sign up in the Fall!

The biggest news in our house for the month of February, besides the big 3rd Birthday, is that Jake started preschool!  He was getting weekly speech therapy from ECI, but they stop services at age 3.  Typically you are then referred to an Early Childhood School in your district, but you first have to be assessed.  We started this process back in December and found out in January that he will attend 5 days a week, 3 hours a day in the regular preschool and will get individual speech services twice a week in his classroom.  We do have the option to send Ford as a tuition paid student, but he can't start until the Fall (non-qualifiying students had to be 3 before the start of the current school year).  The school is fantastic, they have a full academic curriculum that prepares them for Kindergarten.
                                                                                                       

Jake ready for his 1st day of school.

His backpack is almost as big as him!

Jake's first day went picture perfect!  We had been talking about school, reading about school, and visited his school a few times.  We decided on his first day, everyone would go to drop him off.    Daddy and Ford waited outside of school, while Jake and Mommy walked to the classroom.  We found his locker (yes, they have lockers), put his jacket and backpack away, then he walked into his classroom and started playing on the circle rug with legos like he had been doing it for years.  Ford on the other hand was very sad about not getting to go to school.  This is a big adjustment for them and really the first time they have had significant time apart on a daily basis.  Jake's teacher reported that it was a good first day and he seemed happy the whole time.  He seems to really like it and is excited every day when we pull up to drop-off and is all smiles when I come pick him up.  Ford and Mommy have some planned activities (some academic and some fun) to do together during that time.  My little babies are growing up way too fast!  Somebody please press PAUSE!!!

Jake about to go in for his 1st day!

3rd Birthday Celebrations!

Ford and Jake had a week long celebration of turning the big "3"!  We had our playgroup friends over during the week for a special birthday celebration.  We had a Toy Story/Cars theme and made license plates, had lunch, cupcakes, and played.  The cutest part of the whole day was when all the kids were around the table and sang "Happy Birthday" then helped blow out the candles.  We had a great time and are glad everyone could celebrate with us!

On February 18, Mommy took Ford and Jake to the Interurban Railroad Museum for story time.  We also got to explore the museum and go inside the train car.  Jake was very sad to leave the train.  He then got over it when he saw the DART rail zoom by.  I told him we will go ride that soon with Daddy (it was already on my list of a fun family activity).  We then went to Chick-fil-a for lunch.  Ford sang "Happy Birthday" to Jake and then to himself throughout the day.

For dinner we had a special dinner of homemade pizza (at their request) and cupcakes.  Then, they got to open presents.  It was so fun to watch them get so excited about Buzz, Woody, Mack and Lightening McQueen.  When Ford opened Buzz, he yelled out "To infinitity and beyond".  Jake opened Woody, we pulled his string to show him how he talks.  The first phrase was "Hi, I'm Woody", Jake politely replied back "Hi Woody, I'm Jake Joe". 

February 19 was our 3rd celebration.  I guess you get as many celebrations as your age?  We went to Chuck E. Cheese's with all of our family.  Grandma, Grandpa, Gigi, Granddaddy, Aunt Jill, Uncle Billy, Grace, Aunt Kimberly, Uncle Glenn, Blake and Benjamin were all there.  Ford and Jake were so excited to have all their favorite people with them. We played almost every game in the place, ate pizza and birthday cake.  We had a great time running around and even Grace got to do a few rides!  We are so grateful to live close to all of our family.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Happy Birthday to our greatest accomplishments:  Ford and Jake!  Our lives changed forever 3 years ago.  We are blessed and thankful for you two special boys.