Fridays with Novak!

Now that school has started for the two "big boys," I have switched up my work schedule a bit so that I can be home with them when they get home from school.  So instead of the three long 10-hour days, I now work four 7.5 hour days, and I'm home at 3:45 when they get off the bus.  And, I still get one day a week home to play with Novak.  Friday was the first day I have ever had just "me and Novak" so we made the most of it.

We got the boys on the bus and then got ready to go out for a run with the jogging stroller.  We headed down to the canal so Novak could see the "wa-dah."

All ready for a morning run in the jogging stroller

About a mile and a half in, I noticed he was pretty quiet.  Sure enough, he was asleep.  After finishing up my run, I walked him for another half hour so he could get in a nice nap.

Asleep in the jogging stroller :)

We then headed off to the park so I could pick up some PTA membership forms and he could have some swinging time.  Although he quickly decided he'd rather run rampant on the stage at the park...

Let's go, Mom!

All this room, just for me?

Center Stage

When he heard the church bells chiming at 10 am, he suddenly got down on all fours and laid down on the stage.  He laid here listening to the bells chime until they stopped, then got back up and started playing again.  :)

Listening to the church bells...

After going to visit Becky at work, we headed home.  We had a short early lunch (it was only 10:45, but we were both hungry!) and we went outside to play for a while.  It was already hot out so we didn't make it too long.  We started by playing with chalk...Novak loves it when we write letters on the concrete and he can learn what they mean.  This kid is obsessed with his A-B-C's.  OBSESSED.

Doing a bit of drawing on his own (note the letters on the concrete).

Then he decided it was time to go for a walk.  Really.  I turned around and he was climbing into his stroller.

Ready to go.

We took a walk around the neighborhood, until he started to cry, and I realized what he really wanted was to go to the "bus stop" and get his brothers.  For the rest of the day, he kept asking where Nile was, where Daddy was, and about the bus stop.  Poor kid, he had three more hours to wait.  Have I mentioned it was not yet 1:00 pm?  It was a busy morning.

We went inside and cooled off with a popsicle.

Enjoying a popsicle after playing outside.

Later we enjoyed snuggling on the couch while we watched some PBS Kids.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get him to take an afternoon nap, so he was pretty tired by this point.  So was I.  I actually fell asleep in the chair while he was watching this show.

Zoned out.  Notice the filthy knees from all the playing.

Soon enough it was time to go get his brothers, and he was thrilled to see them.  And at this point I was too busy to continue taking pictures!

I'm really looking forward to these days with just the two of us.  We're going to be having some fun.

I love this. More than you know.

Tom snapped this picture on the playground this morning. 

In Tom's words, "He chooses a book to read - the other boy is playing with his Nintendo DS."

My heart is soaring - I love this child.

Hot lunch fun

Nile has been enjoying cold lunch, but on the first day of school he told me, "Mom, if they ever have corn dogs, I'm eating hot lunch!"

Today they had corn dogs. Doesn't he look happy?

Kindergarten = fun!

Tom snapped this photo of Nile on his first day of kindergarten.

Have I mentioned how lucky we are to have Tom be the principal at their school? It definitely takes away any stress or concern about sending the kids away to school. Today I had no issues waving goodbye to Nile as he stepped on the bus. I remember feeling distinctly different when I watched that same bus pull away with Nate the kindergartener inside.

The boys are playing happily together, so I haven't gotten a chance to ask Nile how school went. But I'm not worried.

Edited to add: Just now, as I tucked Nile in to bed, I asked him what was his favorite part of the school day. He said, "PE with Mr. Moe."

First Day!

Today Nile starts kindergarten and Nate starts second grade. This is the day Nile has been waiting for for almost 6 months.

He is so excited to ride the bus this morning. I have time to post this because we are at the bus stop 15 minutes early.

I think these two are ready for school to start!

Mirror, mirror

We were enjoying the last full day with all three boys and Mom home. So we headed to Empire Park.

After a lot of whining and overall crankiness, Novak finally decided to enjoy himself. He especially enjoyed this mirror.

Foiled!

And, this is what happens when the Cookie Cheater finds out the cookies have been moved out of reach.

Cookie Cheater

Nile and I were baking cookies today during Novak's morning nap. A few were on the counter to cool when he woke up.

I told him no cookies until after lunch.

A few minutes later Novak walked into the kitchen and was oddly quiet. I was expecting him to start calling out "cookie" to see if I would give him one.

Nope.

He walked out a few seconds later, proudly showing off the cookie he pilfered off the counter.

So, apparently he can reach the counters now.

Nile says he is calling him the "Cookie Cheater" for the rest of the day.

And another one...

Finally, the second tooth on the bottom is out. Now it's replacement behind it (which came in months ago...) can hopefully find a permanent spot to live.

Lost tooth

When I got home from my trip today, Nate proudly showed me his "wiggly tooth.". It's been getting loose for a week or so, but he was nervous about pulling it.

Finally at dinner tonight he was able to pull it out. Hooray for loose teeth and convincing daddies!