Today's school work

Will usually comes home each day with a piece of writing he did.

This was today's:

We thought his Grandmas would appreciate this.

Good Reports

In my teacher preparation programs they stressed the importance of making regular positive contacts with parents. Before I had kids of my own I never really understood the importance of this. My days were busy and depending on the year I had anywhere from 18 to 40 kids each day. I assumed the good kids' parents knew they were fine.

After I had Will and sent him to daycare I understood it a little bit better and the daily report of what he ate and when he pooped gave me a window into his day. Now that he is at Riverside with me I can peek in on him at anytime. I know when he eats and hope not to talk about his poop. Collin is attending daycare now and they have an eat/sleep/poop form as well, but what I really love about Primrose is the Happy Gram notes we get every once and awhile. The thing about Collin is that he is very different from Will. At home he thinks "no" is funny. When he hears it he smiles and runs away. It's hard to picture a child as young as Collin reserving that behavior for home. He is a sweet boy with a mischievous side, but I love that his teachers only see him as a sweet boy. Or at least that is what they share.

These pictures and this note came home with him today.

I'm not sure how clearly the note will post, but it says that he was busy with the linking toys seen in the pictures. He was building towers and when his friends would come close he would yell "No, No, Thank you!"

I think what every parent wants is for the other trusted adults in your child's life to know how wonderful they truly are and you never really know that until you hear it.

FotoBugz Photography: What Boys Are Made Of

FotoBugz Photography: What Boys Are Made Of

HBM!

Happy 33rd Birthday, Mike!

Happy Easter!

Here is an overview of some of the Easter weekend highlights!

Will at the IBM egg hunt.

Collin on Easter morning-very excited to find all the surprises in the basement!

A big boy cup like Will's!

The bunny brought Will a duffle bag, perfect for traveling to the Grandparents' (we can pack and send immediately, just say the word!)

Collin thinks he is hot stuff in his new backpack!

Brunch at the kids' table.

Family picture! Franny and Bridget visited from Des Moines and Chicago!

Sharpe Sisters

Repedes

Aunt Franny and Aunt Bridget with Will and Collin (who was overdue for a nap and had poopy pants!)

The Easter Equation

The Past 10 Days

Day 1. First day of Spring Break-Mom leaves for a scrapbook weekend with the girls. Dad is in charge.

Days 2 & 3. Dad is in charge

Day 4. Mom returns a little short on sleep.

Days 5 & 6. Collin goes to daycare to stay in somewhat of a routine. Did not appreciate the genius this was until today.

Day 7. Playdate with Henry.

Day 8. Aunt Franny and Aunt Bridget arrive. We celebrate Mike's birthday at the Winters and stay up late.

Day 9. Egg Hunt at IBM and the Aunts babysit while we go out. Will stays up late.

Day 10. Easter! Discovery of the Easter Equation:

(overstimulation + candy)-sleep/lack of routine=meltdowns

Here is the annual Easter picture with the Winters' kids. Where is Will?

Here he is!

I believe this was tantrum #2 of 4 (so far) and it had something to do with dress pants. Will is a pretty laid back kid for the most part but there are 2 things that really throw him for a loop: lack of sleep and too much sugar, also known as Spring Break and Easter. I'm actually looking forward to Monday.

Whose child is this?

First, I will start by saying it was 79 degrees in Rochester today and I was totally unprepared for summer weather. You would think having two children of the same gender born three weeks apart in the calendar year, this would be no problem. Will's clothes from the summer before he was 2? Size 2T. Today Collin is sporting his "1st Birthday" onsie. Size 12-18m. Luckily I found a pair of 12-18m shorts Grandma Sharpe had given him last summer. I pulled out Will's Teva's (the only sandals that fit Will's Fred Flinestone double wide feet) and as you can see Collin's big toe is barely peeking out. Our garage is lined with totes of clothes organized and labeled by size, none of which will work for this little peanut.