Sam's 1st Birthday Party Wrap-up

Yesterday, we celebrated Sam's first birthday with a mustache bash at our house with family and friends. Sam and Jack had a great time playing with everyone. It was such a beautiful day outside that we moved the train table out onto the back deck and opened the back door so all the kids could have free reign.

Enjoying the beautiful weather on the deck

Jack playing trains with his friends

Millie and Ally checking out Sam and Jack's toys

Bennett and Sam playing "together"

Drake enjoyed the trains so much I don't think he ever went inside.

The girls are trying to win Jack's heart with their jumping skills

Jack getting his mustache applied

I think he really rocks this 'stache!

My sweet friend, Allison, took on the role of head photographer for the party and she ended up with lots of great shots.  Here are some of the details that would have otherwise been forgotten (thanks, Ali)!

'stache straws

big ol' pot of chili

food table

cupcakes!

You must look the part at a Mustache Bash

Balloons everywhere!

many mustaches

the 52 weeks of Sam

After everyone played and ate themselves sick, we moved on to the opening of the presents.  Everyone was so generous with Sam and gave him such wonderful thoughtful gifts.  What makes it even more awesome is that Jack and Sam are so close in age that they both like playing with the new toys!

Sam helping Mommy open presents

super cute shirt from the UK

Ally, one of our helpful assistants, ready to assist

Ally and Millie taking care of the trash

Sam is beyond excited about his Toys R Us gift card

Sam and Mommy reading the card

Next up:  cake time!  Sam was much more interested in his birthday cake than Jack was at his first birthday.  It was cute to watch him dig in.  Even after everyone quit watching, Sam just kept going!

The first touch of cake

sharing with Daddy

Daddy trying to get in a midway cleaning (silly Daddy)

Still going strong

Yuck Yum!

Really digging in now

What are you looking at?!?

Are you still there?  Has this post been too long and with too many pictures?  Sorry!  For those of you still there, I wanted to share the last present that Sam opened at his party.  It was a very special letter written to Sam:

Thanks to everyone who came out and celebrated Sam's special day with us.  We all had a great time and feel so lucky to have so many people who love our little family.

Preschool: Brought to You by the Letter "G"

Today's post about preschool is brought to you by the letter G.

When Jack woke up this morning, I told him he was going to go to school today.  I then asked him what he was going to do at school.  He said, "Play trains!"  Then on the way to school he mentioned trains again.  As he entered his classroom, I peeked around the door and watched him for just a minute.  He walked right past the train table and right over to a little girl who was crying in the corner of the room.  He put his hand on her shoulder and asked, "You okay?"  My heart swelled with pride for my sweet little man who has a gentle soul and a kind heart!

G is for gracious

On my way out of the school, another mom called my name so I turned around, but continued walking (I was trying to rush out the door to make it to the gym).  While not paying attention to where I was going, my breast was fondled by a former Carolina Hurricanes player, who shall remain nameless.  I whipped around and said "Oh my, I'm sorry.  Excuse me!"  He looked lost, confused and somewhat terrified.  I'm not sure if that is from touching my breast or the sheer chaos that is morning drop off at the preschool.  He was very apologetic as he also wasn't looking where he was going.  And off we went our separate ways.

G is for grope

At the end of the day, I went to get Jack.  I spoke with his teacher out in the hallway as she was hanging up papers to go home and the assistant was in the classroom reading the students a story before time to go home.  Jack's teacher stuck her head in the classroom and told me to come look.  Jack had retrieved a pillow and was laying down listening to his teacher read a story.  Every other child was sitting up listening...not my boy!  He was worn out from a busy day.

G is for groggy

Schatzi's House : Day One

The littles and I recently headed Down East to see my Aunt Schatzi.  As soon as we arrived at her house, we loaded up and headed straight to the beach.  We went with a couple of Schatzi's young neighbors (Junior, age 10 and Ruby, age 6) and Jack was so happy to have some big kids to play with. 

Jack and Junior telling the paparazzi to beat it!

As I was trying to put everything down and set up our area, Jack headed straight into the water with all of his clothes, socks and shoes on.  Sam wasn't much better.  I put him down and became a recently hatched sea turtle.  He kicked some sand out of his way and started his pilgrimage to the water.  He crawled all the way to the water and didn't stop when he reached-in he went!

here we go...

going

almost there...

so close...

ahhh, water!

Eat my bubbles

Ruby and Junior was so good with my little boys.  They were happy to play with them and were very careful while playing with them.

Ruby is pulling Sam and Junior around

Jack wandered out to join in the fun


 

When we got back to Schatzi's house, Junior went down and got his family's golf cart and then took us all the neighborhood playground.  While Jack did enjoy the playground, he really enjoyed the golf cart!

Sam, the swinging baby

Let's see if I can figure out how to start this thing...

Hold on Schatzi...here we go!



Jack really wanted to push Sam on the swing. 
Sam was not as thrilled with this choice

Jack telling Sam that it's okay

Junior swinging really high for Sam

to be continued...

First Day of School 2013

Today was Jack's first day of school and he was so excited this year.  Last year, he didn't have a clue what he was getting himself into, but this year, the first thing he said when he woke up was; "school today!"

Jack begrudgingly posed for his Annual First Day of School Pictures:

Five points if you can find the puppy...

Last year he was in a combo class so his teacher this year is one of the teachers he had last year.  When I asked him what he was going to do at school today, he quickly responded, "play trains!"

He was so excited and that makes me happy that he loves school and this is hopefully fostering a lifelong love of learning.

Heading into school

The school did a great 'photo opp" sign this year...Jack was
 just ready to get to his classroom!

Jack tried to break into a dead sprint several times while walking into the school.  It's funny to see what a difference a year makes.  It was difficult to pass by his old classroom-not because of all of the wonderful memories-but because there were a million parents and grandparents milling around while their children screamed bloody murder.  I'm so glad I never had to deal with that with Jack and I'm glad that he was unphased by what could have been a very traumatic scene.  He was a boy on a mission-a mission to get to his classroom!

Approaching the road block

Looking back as if to say, "what are all these crazy people
doing...and why are you still following me, Mom.  I got this!"

My little fishy getting ready to go into the fishbowl 
 

As soon as we got to his classroom, we took care of backpack business and then he was off.  Once he got into the room, there was never a backwards glance. 

Looking for just the right toy to start the year off right

Ahh, the train

...and we're off!

I hope Jack has another amazing year at school.  I hope that he learns valuable lessons-not just about ABCs and 123s, but how to be a friend, how to make good decisions, and how to stand up for who he is and what he believes.  I also hope he has a ton of fun!