The boys are flippin' huge. Cindy can wear Jake's shoes. Brady is already growing out of Jake's clothes from last year. This is getting ridiculous.
Football starts next month. Which means our grocery bill will probably skyrocket trying to replace the calories after practice and games. They are only 5 and 6. Scary.
Jake has now reached the point where a booster seat is not needed. Big guy just gets in and runs the show. Brady is taking it in stride. He likes looking down on the big man from his booster aided perch.
Growed the F up they are. Too fast.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
First Day....Success.
I got the dudes up this morning fully expecting at least a partial melt-down. Didn't happen. I guess last nights talk did the trick. Who knew? They were both so excited and happy. They gobbled down some scrambled eggs, toast, bananas and OJ and then got dressed and ready. Nothing big there.
What is big is what Jake did when we got in the truck. He took his booster seat, tossed it in the back of the truck and gave me a look that said, "I got this." Jake is way over the minimum for height and weight, but had been protesting about losing the seat until just then. With that one simple act he grew from a little guy into a little man. Too cool.
When we got to school the boys hung out in Mommy's class for a while before school started. This is always such a treat for them as it should be. They get to play on the computers and get in a little bonding before their day begins. When it was time to take them down to their classes they were ready. Jake was excited to see Mrs. Dressler and went right in and gave her a hug. He found his desk, dropped his bag off, and went with her to pick the rest of the kids up. He was so confident he didn't even look back for us. One or two tears fell...but not from his eyes.
Brady bounded in his classroom like he owned the joint. He knew what to do, where to put his things, and how to behave. That kid was watching big bro like a hawk last year apparently. He helped me with some paperwork and then went to circle for the first of many times. After a story and song, off they went for a little adventure. I am so glad all his confident talk wasn't a bunch of BS. This little dude is ready, and I am so proud of him.
We are home now, and the boys are playing some Wii and unwinding together. No fights. No screaming. Just giggles. Today is a very, very good day.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Milestones and heartaches
I really should be asleep. Big day tomorrow. Jake's first day of first grade. Brady's first day of kindergarten. I'm taking the day off to spend at school with them. I'd like to take the rest of my days off and just hang out with them as they go through their routine the rest of their lives. I have missed so much, but also been present for a lot more than some parents get to be.
Tonight I realized just how much Jake is like me. He tried to hide how nervous he is with crappy jokes and a put on smile. Just under the surface, he was a wreck. I finally got him to talk about it right before bed, and it all just came pouring out. He told me he wanted to go to school but just loved us so much and loved being with all of us this summer too much. All this through streaming tears. That is a hard Daddy moment. One part of me wants to say, "Me too buddy...no more school the rest of your life! Let's go fishing!" I wish. The Daddy I have to be just reassured him that all was OK, and I loved him and am so proud of him. I told him it took me 25 years to be grown up enough to tell people how I truly felt. I am proud of him for letting me in and sharing his pain with me finally. That boy is going to be a better man than I can ever hope to be. Heck maybe he already is.
Brady is another story. He is chomping at the bit for kindergarten. He has learned to read so well this summer. All he has been talking about is school. To him, it is a magical place filled with possibilities. Plus he saw how much fun Jake had last year. Anything Jake does, Brady wants to do yesterday. I can't wait to see how he develops as a student this year. He is an incredible learner. Good thing he has an incredible teacher. Some special times are in store for him and he knows it. I just hope I can keep up with that little mad man.
This all comes on the heels of one of the hardest weeks we have had in a while. We lost an old friend, went to his wake, and his funeral. There was no warning, it was just here. Now way to lose some one. He was a great man, and never once when I was in his presence was I not smiling. He loved to put a smile on our faces, even if it cost him physical pain. He was huge man, with a bigger heart. What is more, he and his brother shared the same kind of relationship Jake and Brady share. Seeing his big brother speak of him with alternating joy and sadness was overwhelming. I just cannot imagine his pain, and don't want to. We were lucky enough to get to share our grief and some old stories with several friends who came to the wake and funeral. It truly pays to develop great friendships early in life. Our old buddy gave us one final gift of getting everyone back together again. We smiled, laughed and told each other we loved each other. Just what he would've wanted.
So now, I am the one in tears. So much left to do, left to see. I want my boys to grow happy and healthy and strong. I want to be there to see it. I want to be there for them. I want to celebrate their victories and console them in defeat. God please let me be there and thank you for letting me be here now. Tomorrow is a gift I can't wait to unwrap.
Tonight I realized just how much Jake is like me. He tried to hide how nervous he is with crappy jokes and a put on smile. Just under the surface, he was a wreck. I finally got him to talk about it right before bed, and it all just came pouring out. He told me he wanted to go to school but just loved us so much and loved being with all of us this summer too much. All this through streaming tears. That is a hard Daddy moment. One part of me wants to say, "Me too buddy...no more school the rest of your life! Let's go fishing!" I wish. The Daddy I have to be just reassured him that all was OK, and I loved him and am so proud of him. I told him it took me 25 years to be grown up enough to tell people how I truly felt. I am proud of him for letting me in and sharing his pain with me finally. That boy is going to be a better man than I can ever hope to be. Heck maybe he already is.
Brady is another story. He is chomping at the bit for kindergarten. He has learned to read so well this summer. All he has been talking about is school. To him, it is a magical place filled with possibilities. Plus he saw how much fun Jake had last year. Anything Jake does, Brady wants to do yesterday. I can't wait to see how he develops as a student this year. He is an incredible learner. Good thing he has an incredible teacher. Some special times are in store for him and he knows it. I just hope I can keep up with that little mad man.
This all comes on the heels of one of the hardest weeks we have had in a while. We lost an old friend, went to his wake, and his funeral. There was no warning, it was just here. Now way to lose some one. He was a great man, and never once when I was in his presence was I not smiling. He loved to put a smile on our faces, even if it cost him physical pain. He was huge man, with a bigger heart. What is more, he and his brother shared the same kind of relationship Jake and Brady share. Seeing his big brother speak of him with alternating joy and sadness was overwhelming. I just cannot imagine his pain, and don't want to. We were lucky enough to get to share our grief and some old stories with several friends who came to the wake and funeral. It truly pays to develop great friendships early in life. Our old buddy gave us one final gift of getting everyone back together again. We smiled, laughed and told each other we loved each other. Just what he would've wanted.
So now, I am the one in tears. So much left to do, left to see. I want my boys to grow happy and healthy and strong. I want to be there to see it. I want to be there for them. I want to celebrate their victories and console them in defeat. God please let me be there and thank you for letting me be here now. Tomorrow is a gift I can't wait to unwrap.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Monster Trucks
Until yesterday I never had the pleasure of going to a monster truck show. Not for lack of want, I just never had the opportunity. I loved watching them on TV when I was a kid. Little boys like trucks and breaking things. No big surprise then that my sons would be into the same stuff as me. We all enjoyed it, although I think I did the most. Can't beat having a dream come true with your best friends right there with you. Yes..I said a dream came true. I am a simple, redneck man.
