Kindergarten!!!

Today my little boy started school. We've all been looking forward to this day (some of us with excitement and some of us with dread) and finally, it came. The day began with Justin and I waking up early to get things started. I got Clayton's lunch all packed and ready while Justin prepared a special beginning of school breakfast - chocolate chip pancakes!! When we woke Clayton up he was initially very confused, he kept asking me if we could use the same towel he used last night - what!?! So I asked, "Who's ready for kindergarten today?" to which Noah sat up in bed and enthusiastically responded, "CLAYTON IS!" After that (and once Clayton became more lucid), things got rolling. He scarfed down his breakfast in record time - which is saying something considering the fact that Clayton is a VERY slow eater (it's the Peterson in him). After breakfast, Clayton finally got to wear his new school clothes and shoes (which he's been looking forward to for a while now).
He was so excited about his 'rock and roll' shirt and his new shoes. I think he may be slightly disappointed when he can't wear them (the shirt anyway) again tomorrow!
Then Justin gave him a really nice blessing which has been a tradition in my family as long as I can remember and I'm really glad that we got to keep that tradition alive with my kids. Before I knew it, Missy and Enoch were at our house and it was time to meet the bus!
We're very fortunate that the bus stop is the edge of our driveway. There is one other boy who gets picked up with Clayton. Clayton was so excited that he literally couldn't stop talking. "I'm Clayton I'm going to be in kindergarten my teacher is going to be Mrs. Brown I'm riding the bus I have a lunchbox it's yellow and has Bumblebee on it do you have a lunchbox are you riding the bus who is your teacher what's your name..." You get the idea. Poor boy didn't have a moment to attempt to answer any of Clayton's questions. He probably thinks Clayton is a little strange.
Clayton nearly jumped out of his skin when the bus pulled up. He was so excited to ride the bus. I hope this excitement continues all year. I know he's supposed to be big to go to school, but man, he sure does look grown up!
He was so cute. He kept smiling and waving to us from the window.
After the bus pulled away, Justin and I quickly jumped on our bikes and raced down to the school so that we could be there to see Clayton when he got off and make sure that he made it to where he was supposed to be.
There was a person whose sole job was to catch the kindergarteners coming off the bus and hand deliver them to their classrooms. I was really happy about that. Clayton was so excited though that he kept trying to escape from the pack and get to his classroom. He was trying really hard not to run in the halls, but he was just so excited! Once we got to his classroom, he found his teacher and, again, started talking without breathing. "Hi Mrs. Brown I'm ready for kindergarten should I put my lunchbox in my cubby should I hang my backpack on my hook I have papers for you in my backpack..." Fortunately, Mrs. Brown was involved in a conversation with another parent so I'm guessing she missed a big chunk of his rant. I love his teacher. She seems so patient and kind. I think Clayton is going to love her. He's going to have a wonderful year in her class!
Hanging up his backpack.

Coloring with a new friend.
I have to say, dropping him off wasn't as hard as I'd anticipated. Maybe I'd just cried myself out over the past few weeks waiting for this event to finally take place. Noah and I sure did miss him today though. Fortunately, Noah had his best bud over all morning to help ease the pain (I think once he realizes that Clayton is going to be gone every day it's really going to be hard on him). I took so many pictures of Clayton today that these boys really wanted their pictures taken too. Funny.
This afternoon I sat on my front steps and waited for my guy to get off the bus. He bounced off the bus with just as much excitement as he'd bounced on it with. Phew - the day must have been a success! He wouldn't let us go back inside until the bus had pulled away. I made him chocolate chip cookies so once we got inside we got to sit and eat cookies and milk and talk about his day (which we could do because Noah and Josie were both napping).


He wasn't able to recall much, but I could tell that he had a great first day and he is definitely looking forward to going back. What I do know about his day: 1. He made a few new friends (yay). 2. He ate almost all of his lunch (but not the dessert, interesting). 3. He loved the snack 4. He listened to the teacher read stories. 5. Circle time was his favorite.
I'm proud of this kiddo and how well he seemed to do today. I think this will be an appropriate way to end:

I told him yesterday that I was really going to miss him when he was gone all day. He responded to me like this,

"I know mom, but don't worry, I'll always come back."

Ready, Set, Grow!

It seems like Clayton has grown years over the past few weeks. He is maturing and learning and growing every day as we prepare him for kindergarten. It pulls at my heartstrings that my baby boy is getting ready to make such a big step (and isn't a baby at all anymore). It really hit me hard today though. I took him to Supercuts for his new "kindergarten" haircut and in a matter of mere minutes he went from a preschool-aged boy to a kindergarten-ready manchild. You can see the proof for yourself!
Before:
After:
Holy smokes! Is he the most handsome kid you've ever seen or what!?! School out here doesn't start until next Wednesday so I've been reading everyone else's blogs and hearing what you all have to say about your kids going back to school and I have to say that I'm very impressed. I think I've cried at least once a day for the past two weeks. I know I'm going to be a wreck next week! Kindergarten out here is full day and, while I know that he's definitely ready, I don't know that I am. I'm going to miss having my buddy around all day. He's such a great help to me and a great friend to Noah and Josie. Fortunately, he's very excited to go and has been counting down the days for a few weeks now - if he was hesitant, I think that would make me even worse! Man, I'm going to miss this kid!

Cinderella's Castle, Spinning Teacups, and a log ride - I must be talking about...

Storyland!!!

Last week we were lucky enough to have my parents come out for their vacations. It was a rare vacation for my dad because we didn't have any projects for him to do this time! It was such a fun week. We did a lot of great things but I think the topper (for the boys at least) was a trip to Storyland.

What is Storyland? It's New Hampshire's answer to Disneyland. It's a super fun amusement park with very similar attractions to the more popular Disneyland with a few key differences: it's significantly cheaper, the lines are nowhere near as long, it's not as big, and (the best part) it's geared 100% to preschool aged kids! This meant that there were very few teenagers at the park (yay) and a lot of kids Clayton and Noah's ages. This also meant that Clayton and Noah were tall enough to ride EVERY SINGLE RIDE in the park! It was a great place and a great day. To all my fellow Vermonters - if you haven't been yet, it's TOTALLY worth the 2 1/2 hour drive! Check HERE for more information.

Now, I've never taken my kids to Disneyland, but I can't imagine that my boys would have had any better of a time there. They were in heaven from the time we arrived until the time left. There were no melt downs (which I was definitely expecting from Noah), Clayton was very brave (he rode as many rides as he could and was pretty fearless about some of the 'scarier' ones), and Josie didn't fuss once all day! Magic!!

Sadly (for us), my dad opted out of Storyland. He decided to stay at the house and work on a few projects - even though he didn't have to, and rest and relax (which he totally deserved). Also sad (for us) Justin was working so it was just Mom, me, and the kids. This did make me a little nervous at first, but - as I said - the kids were amazingly well behaved so it worked out perfectly!

So, without further ado, pictures of our "grand adventure":
Me and the kids at the entrance to the park.
Clayton and Noah at 'Heidi's home'. Poor Noah - in a few years it'll probably bother him that we made him be Heidi.
My mom and the boys at the 'Cuckoo Clockenspiel' (we took turns going on the rides with the boys so that one of us could stay with Jo).
Check out how happy Clayton is!
I know you can't see my mom's face, but the boys look SO happy!
Josie was so cute and happy the entire time we were there. I had to take pictures of her.
I love that cute face!
One thing that Clayton really wanted to do was ride a ferris wheel. He was crazy happy when he saw this one!

Me and the boys before we went on our safari.
My mom and the boys on their train ride around the park.
Oh the Spinning Turtles. The boys LOVED LOVED LOVED it! Me - not so much. I just wanted to vomit when I got off it!
Check out the joy on Noah's face!
Our only real 'trauma' occured when this cute boy decided he didn't want to ride the flying fish ride until after he saw Grammy and Clayton get on it. Then he did throw quite a fit until I went to take him on it.
Grammy and Clayton on the 'flying fish'.
Me and Noah taking our turn.
Grammy and the boys on the whale ride.
On the Swan ride waiting to ring the magic bell that would begin our voyage.
You can't see the bell, but the boys are ringing it.
Cinderella's castle. Not as impressive as the one at Disneyland - but cool nonetheless.
Josie and Cinderella. What a gorgeous little princess (and Cinderella isn't too bad herself)!
Me and the boys on the carousel. Now, Justin didn't think this was too cool, but I did - this carousel is one of only two like it in the world. The other one is in Munich, Germany. The reason this carousel is different is that it runs clockwise instead of counterclockwise like most other carousels. Plus every single horse was hand carved and painted. Cool.
The boys looking at the 'Three Little Pigs'. Since it's called STORYland, there are little areas set up all over the park that will tell you a classic fairy tale if you push the button. Since most fairy tales are associated with some sort of animal there were lots of animals to watch while you listened to the stories.
Grammy and the boys on the teacups.
Grammy and Noah sitting on Miss Muffet's tuffet with that scary spider!!
6 hours, 15 rides, 2 snowcones, 4 ice creams, and an immeasurable amount of fun later, we loaded the car up and headed back home. Noah didn't even make it out of the parking lot before he fell into what can only be described as a mini coma. Storyland may not be the 'Happiest Place on Earth', but if you ask me, it's pretty close! Thanks Grammy, for taking us on the "Grandest Adventure" of all!!!

Monroe...part 2

I need to finish documenting our summer vacation already!! Fortunately, this is the last installment!
Our cute neice, Abby, celebrated her 1st birthday shortly after our arrival in Monroe. She is such a doll!
I love the messy 'first birthday' cake face!
I found these cute hats at Wal Mart and thought they were perfect.
Yee Haw! Check out those cowboys!!
Of course, riding Grandpa Smith's horses was on the agenda (aren't my boys so handsome)!
The boys were in seventh heaven riding the horses!

Even Miss Jo got a turn!
We were fortunate enough to have our good friends, Missy and Enoch, come out and visit for a couple of days while we were there. Of course, the boys were super excited to see their best buddy!
This picture just makes me smile. Justin was jumping over Noah. Noah loved it, it was a pretty funny moment.
We thought that it was supposed to be dry out west, but apparently Monroe didn't get the memo. It rained pretty good a couple of days that we were out there. Clayton and Noah had a great time playing in the mud.

Noah is wearing shorts. But they are so wet that they look like pants.
We wanted to get a good picture of the kids for Grandpa for his birthday. But with a 5 year old, a 2 year old, a 1 year old, and a 3 month old that was impossible to do!

This was the best we got (although I do think it's pretty cute - even if everyone isn't looking).
Of course we had to do a family picture (minus Justin who was hard at work in the ER to justify us taking this vacation). A very accurate picture of what our family is like!
The kids loved digging in the dirt behind Grandpa's house. It was definitely their activity of choice.
These two were so cute playing together!
Josie hung out in Abby's old bouncy seat a lot. Thanks for sharing Missy and Abby!
She is the cutest! I swear I could spend all day squeezing her!
Justin and I were able to go on for a horse ride just the two of us. It was so fun. I have to say, I really enjoy hanging out with my hubby. Of course, when we returned and the boys saw us - they demanded one more ride! Noah kept screaming, "DADDY STOLE MY HORSE! DADDY STOLE MY HORSE!" Hilarious!
Overall it was a great vacation. We saw a lot of family and old friends, had a lot of adventures, ate out (a LOT), and spent a lot of time laughing and hanging out with the people we love most. It was a great month and, while I wouldn't have traded it for anything, when we came back we needed a lot of this to recuperate:
Thanks everyone for making our vacation so great! Now, you guys need to come out here and let us show YOU a good time - Vermont style!!