First Day of School-2012

Today is the first day of school for Malcolm and Quinn. They were excited and had a hard time going to sleep last night, so of course they all slept in and I had to wake them up, when all summer they've been waking me up at that time. Winston even slept until 7:15am, which he thinks it's great waking up at 6am, even though he's still tired. 

Yesterday we were able to go to the school and meet their teachers and drop off school supplies. They were pretty excited. 

Quinn coloring his name tag.

Quinn by his desk. He got to pick where to sit, and he picked a desk where no one else was at yet. 

Quinn with his teacher Mrs. Leech. She's just a temp teacher until January as Quinn's teacher Mrs. Silbernagel just had a baby. I'm glad Quinn is an easy going kid and probably won't be bothered by the two different teachers. I didn't want to seem like a freak by taking 20 pictures, so I just took one, and didn't notice Quinn's eyes were closed. Go figure!

Malcolm with Mrs. Taylor. She was his 2nd grade teacher too, and she got moved up to 3rd grade. He was excited, and thankfully we really liked her, so we're happy too.

"Hey Winston"...huh? Winston thought he had to go to school too. He goes to their school for speech, and so he thought he needed school supplies and to take his bag, which he had to get a bag just like his big brothers.

Mrs. Taylor took a picture of Malcolm, and then wanted a picture with the other boys. Sterling was asleep in his car seat, so one is missing. Just love how Winston is looking at me in this one.

I've followed my sister-in-law Mel's tradition of "initial" pancakes on the first day of school. So today was that special day to get them, and of course you have to put chocolate chips in them, and then we topped them with lots of syrup and whipped cream. I also made them hot chocolate...got to send them off on a sugar high the first day. Haha!

Real boys wear pink!
Q is for Quinn!

Quinn posed all by himself.

Looking too old!

M is for Malcolm!

3rd grade really!?!

I can't help put post 50 pictures of all their cute expressions. 

Then sleepy Winston woke up and needed his pancake too. He doesn't like chocolate chips in his, so he missed out.

How cute is he looking all grown up!

1st Grader

I'm getting a glimpse of a teenager.

He posed himself. :)

The big 3rd grade! I remember being in 3rd grade like it was yesterday.

Brothers!

Quinn had to pose like Malcolm too.

Off for their first day, Malcolm says "rock on"!

Seeing my handsome boys this morning looking more and more grown up, I felt like I had a little glimpse into what they will look like as teenagers. I don't want them to grow up! I hope it's a great year for them!

I really don't feel ready for a new year of school. I get tired of school just as much as my kids. Haha! I do love not having all the extra mess from them and that no fighting is happening. But I miss them despite how badly I wish I could have constant peace and quiet.

Sweet Baby Talk

Quinn baby talking to Sterling says, "Someday you're gonna grow up and be a good dad, huh. You're gonna teach your kids to choose the right." So sweet!

My Poor Quinn

I just had a sad/scary mom moment, not that it was my fault. The boys have been riding a bus home from school since we've moved, and the bus stop is at the corner of our road like 6 houses down or so. Kindergartner's have to be picked up by the parent at the stop, unless a paper is signed. Yesterday, I finally felt that the boys have had enough experience with the bus (and I didn't want to wait in the rain again), that Quinn didn't need me to get him since I can sit at the window and see them walk home. So I sat by the window today and saw Malcolm running home, and I didn't see Quinn and Malcolm yelled that they didn't let Quinn off, that he needed a parent. So I ran out there, and the bus was gone. I felt sick, as I was told if that ever happened they would just take them back to the school. I knew Quinn was probably sad and scared. I called the school and the lady that took the paper I signed and said she would fax it in yesterday, answered. I told her what happened, and she got a hold of the bus garage. She called me back and said that they would just swing back by in five minutes and that it was her fault as she put it by the fax machine and forgot about it. I know that kind of stuff happens, and I know she felt bad, so I just told her it was fine, even though I felt frantic for Quinn. I waited at the bus stop for Quinn and when he came off I could tell he was worried. I just picked him up told him I was sorry, what happened, and shed a few tears, since he told me he was scared and sad and was fighting back tears himself, and I carried that cute 6 year old all the way home in my pregnant state. I felt so bad for him. I'm sure my pregnant hormonal self had nothing to do with my emotions.

I've actually had a dream when I napped one day that I didn't wake up and he didn't get picked up. I've been a little nervous since, and one of the other reasons I figure why not sign the paper. It's not like I would never be home when they got here.

The Kindergartener

It's about time I update and put up Quinn's first day of kindergarten. He was so excited, he was up out of his bed right away and made his bed without complaint. He was so ready for kindergarten and thought he was a big shot. Here are a few pictures of his first morning of school. 

iPhone pic

Technically, this is from Malcolm's day of school when Quinn went in for his kindergarten assessment. I was nervous for it as if I was being judged on how well I've taught my child. He did awesome and made me so proud of him. Mrs Hawes, the teacher that did the evaluation really liked him, and I really liked her. She seemed to be a wonderful teacher and I told her I hoped that he got into her class. The next day, she saw me as I was picking up Malcolm and told me that she'd requested Quinn in her class. I was so excited that he would be in her class, and she seemed to really love all her students. 

Another day of initial pancakes since the boys had seperate first days of school. Quinn got up, made his bed and got dressed before I was even done make breakfast. He was excited.

The cute new kindergartener! He had the biggest smile in this picture.

He kept putting his hands in his pockets, he was antsy. 

Love his crocked smile. 

Quinn at his table. His face cracks me up, and nervous playing with his backpack strings. 

Are we done yet....

We went to the classroom first to drop off his stuff, and then they had to go outside for the class line up, Pledge of Allegiance and announcements. He was so nervous, it was cute.

I love that cute boy!

Mrs Hawes let all of us parents go back to the classroom and stay for a while. She read them a book called "The Kiss Hand" by Audrey Penn. It's a cute book about a raccoon named Chester that was nervous to leave his mom to go to school.

Mrs Hawes reading to them. I really like her, she seems so great. I love teachers that make me feel like they really love my children.

After the book they made a raccoon hand puppet. Quinn was pretty excited and kept looking at me and posing.

He had a wonderful first day of school and his favorite part was recess of course. He's been doing great and his teacher is really enjoying him. I'm sure proud of him. He was more then ready to start school. 

iPhone pic

There was an extra Chester raccoon that they gave to Winston, which he was so excited to cut out on his own. I just had to post this, because I was so impressed on how well he cut it out. Good job Winners!

Quinn's Mishap

Quinn was having a few nights last week where he'd wake up and not be able to sleep because he was so scared of an earthquake. He'd wake me up several times because he was scared. The night before Mother's day, or Mother's day however you look at it, he'd woken up, and then shortly after Winston woke up. I went to put Winston back in bed, and find Quinn still awake in bed, and noticed an extra night light on the other side of the room. I discovered it was the plug in Scentsy from the bathroom, that had been on in the bathroom. Therefore I knew there was wax everywhere. I was so mad at that sweet little boy. I was glad he didn't get any on him, but I was tired and mad. So the next morning I went in to assess the damage. 

That little stinker! Thank goodness for a hair dryer and paper towels. He got a little on the carpet in his room too, but thankfully heating wax with a hair dryer makes it easy to come out. I wasn't so mad either the next morning. Though it was Mother's Day and how could I be mad on that day. I even waited to clean it up until Monday. Haha! Oh and notice on the wall of wax there is a black speck. That's a dead bug that must have been hanging out in the wax. Nice.

When I showed this to Quinn, he insisted that he hadn't done it. Apparently he hadn't known that little night light actually had melted wax in it. I love you little stinker Quinn!

Quinn's Second

Quinn lost his second bottom tooth the other day. He will not let us barely look at his teeth when they are loose and this time he didn't really ever let me touch it. He sat down on his bed and it just fell out. He said it fell right onto his bed and he tried to pick it up, and then it fell on the floor. We totally couldn't find it anywhere. I searched and searched, maybe he swallowed it! We wondered if the tooth fairy would come for it, but he told me he thought she could find it for him and still leave money. The first night, the tooth fairy didn't come. Luckily on the second night she did and he was a happy camper and I made sure to vacuum their room!

 Here he is with his cute new smile and one big tooth growing in. 

 Looking very happy knowing he's getting some cash!

Love this silly kid! Stop growing already!

I Love Days Like This!

I love days like this when they all get along and enjoy each others company. Brothers are so much fun, when they aren't fighting and competing against each other all the time. 

Quinn's First

In mid March (that's how far behind I am) Quinn lost his first tooth. It was a sad day for me. Now I have two boys who are getting their big teeth in! Sniff! They are growing up too fast. Quinn was pretty dramatic about getting it pulled out. It was very loose and Matt just told him he was going to look at it a little. Then he magically pulled it out and Quinn didn't even realize it.

Quinn and his sayings

Quinn at Santa Monica Beach in January, which I still need to post about. 

This morning as I'm eating oatmeal Quinn says to me, "Oatmeal is a meal because it's oat"meal".

A few during Christmas break that I keep forgetting to post.

"I know why they call it chocolate chips, because it has chocolate and is crunchy like a chip."

After Malcolm threw something at him, "That didn't hurt because I'm a Hardy and that means I'm hard."

I love the funny things he says so randomly. I think it's his age.

Sunday Funnies

This morning as I was getting ready for church, Winston was of course hanging out with me in the bathroom. He was playing with my mirror, and dropped it, making the little stand part fall off, as it has many times before. A few minutes later I see this.

(I had him do it for me again, just for the picture.) 

He looked at me and says na-na-na-na-da-da. This is how he says Batman. You know the theme song where it goes na, na, na, na, Batman. Well we used to sing it to him, and now that's what he calls Batman, he can even follows the notes sometimes, or he just says it. He totally thought the base of my mirror looked like Batman ears. Totally made me giggle, smile and nuzzle him! Love this little peanut, and he loves Batman!

Again, as we were getting ready for church, Quinn couldn't find his church shoes, he comes out of his room and tell me, "I guess I'm going bear walking." Haha! Oh he made me laugh, and still it makes me laugh! Love his stage when they know what they are saying, but still don't quite know the right word or expression, but just go for it!

At church during Sacrament meeting, right after the last speaker was done and the organ started playing the intro to the last hymn, Winston totally knew that meant it was over, and got all excited and loud gathering his stuff to go to nursery. How do they know when they aren't even watching, what if it was just the rest hymn? He made me giggle!

I had a great day today. I was actually happy and not frustrated with the kids before church. Sundays can be hard! It must have been because I was singing in Sacrament meeting, and already feeling the spirit, practicing it. My friend Melissa and I sang "What Child is This?", and it was so fun. It was great to sing again, and we got tons of compliments of how people felt the spirit through it. One of the missionaries says he didn't cry, but he was close! Haha! I love feeling the spirit and bringing the spirit in with music! It's awesome!

I also got a new calling! I was released from teaching Sunday School with Matt, and called to teach CTR 6 in the primary! I'm very excited and love that I get to be in the primary. This is the first time I've been in primary since I was 18 teaching sunbeams. (Excluding nursery, doesn't count as primary.) I've always been in Sunday School callings, Relief Society callings or Nursery. I'm excited for the change!

Also, it got to something like 85 degrees here today! It was awesome! It's not normal, it's usually more like high 60's/low 70's. Not sure I'm going to like giving up my flip flops and not having to wear a jacket when we go home to Washington later this week! Brrr!

A Leaf Angel

The big boys are playing outside our apartment, and I have the window cracked so I can hear them. Earlier I told them to make a pile of leaves and jump in them. I just hear Quinn tell his brother and friends, "I just made a leaf angel!" Guess when you don't have snow, you use the leaves!

Field Trip!!

Friday night I went out and bought the Sorcerer's Apprentice with a $10 off coupon. (Thank you once again Disney!) We'd never seen it, and I was taking my chances buying it. (I'm glad I did!) When I realized it was PG, I thought I'd let the boys watch it as well. They loved it! If you've seen the movie, in the beginning David is laying in bed and his mom's is yelling to him that he has a field trip that day, and what does she remind him to do? Well Quinn knows it well!

Malcolm has his first field trip of the year tomorrow. As he was taking a bath tonight and I was talking to him about his field trip, Quinn had to quote the movie and tell him, "Don't forget to wear clean underwear!" Why thank you Quinn! 

Quinn Quote

A Quinn quote from today, "I almost have a mustache."

Shearing Day

It was time to get the shears out and cut the mops on my kids. My sister-in-law Mel is a hairdresser and taught me how to cut the boys' hair long ago when we lived in Pullman. I feel like I know how to do it, and I do a fine job, but I DREAD cutting their hair. I love when they are clean cut, but I hate the time it takes and the mess it makes. We love Winston with longer hair, but I'm just not good at trimming it, so he was in need. The other two looked like the had 70's sideburns, so they needed theirs done as well. Saturday morning after Matt left to study, I put the portable DVD player in the bathroom, chair and booster, and got to work.

Winston was first up. I made sure I got before and after pictures. I could post like 20 pictures just of him. He was being such a ham and totally posing for me.

He was really happy and willing to be all cute, until he knew I was going to cut his hair. Then he had a fit. A little candy, apple juice and the movie did the trick and he was a pretty good sport. Way better then my other boys at this age.

He looks so different! Sniff. When his hair is short, he actually seems more like a baby to me, since he always had a fohawk when he was little. He was mad at me for some reason and had a little fit and didn't seem to like his hair. He's sporting some M&M drool here.

Ah, pretty darn adorable I say! He seems like a whole different child like this, but I'll take him! Funny how after I got there hair off his forehead, I notice a few bruises. One above his left eye, and one on his right eyebrow. Wouldn't be Winston without some bruises. Crazy kid I can't get enough of!

Quinn cracks me up with his big eye look here. He has a little wave to his hair, so when it gets longer, it get big, just like his mamas.

Matt wanted to keep it long, so I was going to just trim around the ears, but he wanted it like Winston's. He looks really cute with longer hair, but I let him choose. Of course he messed up his hair before I even got this pic, like a whole minute after I styled it.

Leave the crazy one for last. I had to pick the pictures that he was giving me the crazy faces in. He's such a goofball for pictures. I wanted his hair cut most of all, so that he can start school looking like we take care of him. I only trimmed around his ears and neck though. I'll show you why.

The day after we moved here, Malcolm tried to do a flip into the pool, but he didn't push out far enough and came down on his head. When he came in crying, he had a hooded towel on, and the bump was so big, that I could totally see it under the towel. I bet he had a headache! Well a few weeks later, I noticed that the bump was still slightly there, and he had a total bald spot there. I felt so bad, it's like the size of a quarter. He is embarrassed and doesn't want anybody to see his bald spot, probably because we keep checking it. We are hoping the hair grows back. He has some coming in around the edges and a few in the middle, so hopefully it's a start. Matt told him that if it doesn't all come back, he can get hair plugs someday! Ha!

It at least looks a lot better with it trimmed around the ears and neck. Gives it a fresh look. I'm not brave enough to trim the top yet, I don't like using the scissors, but I'm going to have to get brave, because I don't think we'll be cutting his hair short for a while. Mel might need to come down and give me lessons with scissors, because I need my bangs trimmed too! Are you up for it Mel?