A Start to Remember - and Happy New Year!

Well - the beginning of school tends to bring drama. Pre-K - a hurricane came through Dallas and I was having to take Bobby to school in torrential rain fall. K- a classmate punches Bobby in the back on the second day. A sign if the year to come. 1st grade - I brought muffins to Bobby's party and a kid has an allergic reaction and then Bobby gets lost at the first football game and the whole administration is looking for him - he was playing a pick game of football on one of the sports fields. This year - Bobby sprains his foot in gym on the second day and then gets sent home this week after getting sick during lunch. So far - the drama seems to be behind us - for the time being :) Timmy's year began with far less drama than last year. No tears starting school and had a great first two days. I think it is going to be a wonderful year for him. This weekend began with two EARLY games - baseball for Bobby and soccer for Timmy. Both did well - it was pretty priceless to watch Timmy run with the clump around the soccer field. We also celebrated an anniversary and Rosh Hashanah - a favorite of mine. Next week - i start Leadership Dallas, Greenhill mini-school and more school. One week left of unemployment for me before starting the new gig.....trying to eat up every last minute and relax a little.

A Labor Day to Remember

I love Labor Day weekend - a final nod to the summer before it really feels like the rush of Fall has started. One more extended warm weekend to close out summer and rest after the first week of school. this year, we packed up for a much anticipated trip to Mom's boat to celebrate birthdays (Bobby turning 8 and Mom's), swim and relax. Bobby, i particular, is a boat boy. He LOVES it. Cooking out, fishing, riding jet skis, going down the slide....all of it. Great weekend and great start to the Fall!

And they're off!

Another school year starts - Bobby in 2nd grade and Tim starting preschool next week. A wonderful summer is over. Trips, sports games and lots of great memories. I feel like we really made the most of the time. I love the start of Fall with all the anticipation and excitement. So far so good - despite a foot injury - Bobby is off to a great start in 2nd grade. In his words - 2nd grade rocks! As a parent - it gives me so much joy to see him loving school. It is really one of the best things I can do for him. As for me - being off during this time has been wonderful. I am able to take my time getting some errands done, get the boys on a good schedule and organized and feel that I will be well-prepared when I start in a few weeks. Until next time.....

Week of Firsts and Repeats

First...the firsts...catching Bobby pre-shower on the treadmill - fully naked - asking "is this how I turn this think on?" And Tim - making his first on the potty! And starting pre-potty training. Not sure if he is ready for full-on yet but a first is a first.

Next - the repeats - fifth trip to the Children's Medical Center Parade and third year to stay overnight in a hotel the night before and enjoy meals with both Claus - Mrs. for dinner the night before and Santa for brunch after the parade. All in all - very fun - but also may be bordering on too much. Time to assess maybe taking out dinner and hotel next year and just doing the morning - which is always more fun. After all had a good nap - we went to the Mavs game with Bobby's boy scout troop. Fun weekend! Counting down the holidays....I don;t who is mre excited about a long break - the boys or me.

Back in the Business of Blogging

Much too long and long overdue - but never forgotten. Another Fall is coming to an end - one of my favorite times of year though never short of activity. Halloween (black ninja and Mickey (kind of)), another trip to NYC, Homecoming - much less troublesome than the first go round, cheerleading, busy weekends and Thanksgiving. Much, much smoother start to the year - much in part to our wonderful Frankie (Bickie) and it being my second time doing events. I still grapple with some aspects but overall going better for me as a working Mom. Bobby had another great season of baseball in addition to soccer and chess. He also still plays piano. It gets tough to say no to activities but also to fit it all in. I am still learning to find balance. Tim is doing exceptional - started at Da Vinci and - after a few weeks - is doing well. I love everything he is right know - which is all 2. So proud of both my boys. As the holidays draw near, I look forward to another break coming up (yay!) and going to Disneyworld! I also look forward to maybe getting a day or two to get some home projects finished - but promise that I won;t beat myself up over it if I choose to take the boys to a museum instead :) Until next time - which won't be as long - XO

Bobby's Interview in Greenhill's Newsletter

Every week - the head of the Preschool interview students for the newsletter. This week, Bobby was interviewed. Below is his response :)

Bobby Strauss – Always observant, Bobby is in Mr. Krauss’ and Mrs. West’s kindergarten class. At school, he likes to play with his friends and at home, he likes to do a variety of things from watching tv to playing Legos to playing with Tim, his brother. Bobby likes pizza and What-a-burger hamburgers. When asked about his favorite color, he simply replied, “Every kind of colors so I’ll just say a rainbow.” “I play sports here, soccer and that’s it.” After school, Bobby sometimes goes to Extended Day or goes swimming or plays soccer or does Yoga. When he grows up, he wants to be a police officer. In Bobby’s eyes the best thing about Greenhill is “My mom works here and I get to spend time with my friends and I have really good friends and my brother goes here. Hey, where are you going to write the rest of what I am saying? You ran out of paper."

All I want for Halloween....

Is one of my top teeth!!! Bobby

Ahhh.....Fall

Despite a hectic beginning to the school year (hence my referral to the Child Development Center at Greenhill should be dubbed the Center for Disease Control due to how many times Tim has been sick) - Fall is among us. Cooler temperatures, Rob's birthday, football, pumpkins, State Fair, fall festivals.....love it all. I have again gone overboard preparing for Halloween. Luckily, Greenhill is a wonderful place to love Halloween and Bobby and I (and Tim and Rob somewhat too) are happily taking it all in. I have crossed off at least one Fall activity must - a trip to the State Fair and a corny dog. So fun. Now - we plan a trip to the Arboretum at some point and get ready for Halloween - parade, parties and trick-or-treating. Tim and Bobby will be wearing 2 costumes this year - one for school to match a class theme and the other for trick-or-treating. I will also have a costume for work - I have convinced my co-workers to get into the spirit this year and we are all going in theme...which will be unveiled on Halloween. Until then, it will remain a secret!

Fall continues to be busy at work for me. I have checked off a very successful alumni trip to NYC. I enjoyed making the most out of the trip and made it that much better to come home knowing it met and exceeded expectations. Now on to Homecoming - and getting reunions over with! Once that is over - I sail into the holidays and end of the year - and will be able to really delve into putting some plans into place to change a few things. I am looking forward to that time to reflect, plan and hopefully see the results of hard work. I feel fortunate to have a wonderful team and dedicated alumni around me - it helps to combat the few but loud critics.

The boys continue to bring such great joy. Tim walks better and better each day. I love to watch this stage of walking - or as a friend calls it the Frankenstein stage :) Bobby continues to love Kindergarten and his friends. He is doing great at baseball which has now taken over for his favorite sport.

Until later - or when I have fun photos to post...XO

Taking a Moment

I have had "blog" on my to do list for well...awhile now. In the hectic pace of the day-to-day, I have neglected the importance of taking a few minutes to reflect and document the precious moments with the family. August hit our home with what felt like a bang. Not a increasing pace into Fall but more like a shotgun start to a sprint. My work went form the snail's pace of summer to busy, busy, busy. Much to do with Fall activities coming up - a trip to NYC, Homecoming weekend and everything in between. Tim started at the Child Development Center and Bobby started Kindergarten. Huge milestones to celebrate and adjust to. I have loved having the boys at school with me. Mornings are hectic getting everyone out the door - with lunches and bags - but I am thankful for the time in car and to see my boys at school every day.

And on this day - I take a pause to breathe, be thankful for my blessings, remember the events that happened 10 years ago and remember that these "time-out" moments to reflect are necessary and to make every attempt to do them more often- and not feel guilty when they do not happen and I choose sleep instead.

Happy Birthday Tim!!!

It is so hard to believe that you are 1 today. I remember so clearly this day a year ago when I was eagerly awaiting to arrival of my precious baby boy. What a wonderful gift this year has been - and many more to come. I love you sweet boy - much more than I will ever be able to express with words. My boys - all three - are the best things I have ever and will ever have.

Never Mind - 2 Front Teeth!

Tim's ears must have been burning....TWO front top teeth have officially broken through!

April - whoosh to May!

Wow - April was here and gone as fast as a snap of fingers. A trip to LA for me, battling a stomach bug and Easter in Louisville. Tim's First Passover - and a quick one it was. Bobby declared it "awesome." :)

Only 4 more days of school left for Bobby - how quickly the year went. I am amazed a little sad that our da Vinci days are coming to an end. It seems like a long time ago but not that long ago that he was going to see Ms Sonja for the first time as my little 2 year old.

Many changes are on the way - a wonderful summer to enjoy and both boys joining me at Greenhill in the Fall. Tim continues to grow - has said Mama and Dada but not much considering he keeps those fingers tightly in his mouth at all times! Plans are beginning for the big first birthday. Maybe those first teeth will make an appearance by then for him to bite into the cake :) Pictures to come!

Why does your clock say 7:03?

Rob and I get up each morning at 6 to get ready for the day before the boys wake up. This morning, Rob was first to get up and I decided to take a few extra minutes to rest. After what seemed like just a few minutes, I heard Bobby calling from upstairs. I go up there and tell him that it is not quite time to get up - and then glance at his clock which reads 7:03. My first thought was on no - I have slept in and we need to get moving! I grab his clothes and head downstairs to start breakfast but he wanted to stop in and say good morning to Rob first. As we head into our room, I notice that OUR clock reads 6:23 - what???? Turns out that Bobby woke up early and then figured out how to change the time on his clock so that it read after 7 - when he could get up. :) I was pretty impressed.

Story - without words

Kiss Cam

The Kiss

Spring Forward

Spring Break has come and gone - and so have Grandma and Yuyu. It was a great two weeks - zoo, a trip to DC and great times with family. AND Bobby's first lost tooth and Tim standing alone! I have attached a few highlights.

Spring Show

Bobby has the most fabulous teacher - Ms. Andrea. She is the teacher that I wish every child and parent could experience. Loving, funny, warm and innovative - Bobby loves her and has blossomed in her class. Here is a video of part of an impromptu performance the kids did at pick-up time the Thursday before Spring Break.

Crawling!!!

Tim started crawling on February 8th but was very proficient by the following week. These were taken Valentine's day

Bobby Feeding Tim