Directions

My head is going in so many directions i am not even sure where to begin. We'll start with Ella. Her first day of school was great. She loved it. She learned how to walk down the hall. This would be her "hip and lips". One finger over her lips and one hand on her hip. She learned how to get her food in the cafeteria. She has eaten there both days. She got to play on the playground and read books in class. They also take a short rest period and snack time in the classroom. She is very happy. I arrived at about 2:10 to wait in the "car rider" line to pick her up. I find it ironic that i got Dad's race car number, 71, on my "car rider tag" and how slow that line moves. I was there for about an hour before i got her. Today i arrived at 2. We were still in the car for about 45 minutes but she had only been out of class for about 15 minutes. She has so many things to tell me about her class that they all get mixed together and i have to sort out the stories. She has made friends with a girl named Terri. I met her mother at Ella's assessment and i was glad to see they were in the same class. Ella says she is very nice and she likes her the best. Ella was also very happy to share that a little boy in her class walked up to her and said "i like you Ella." You can imagine my response...He said what??? She said he was a very nice boy and he walked up to her and said he liked her but they had to go before she could ask him his name. I asked if he was cute and she said "noooooooo but he does have a race car backpack". She is supposed to return to school on Monday but in light of these new boy developments she might not be returning. Eric is currently seeking out this boy for a beat down. HA!

I would like to say a big THANK YOU to Kim and Syble. The UPS man delivered two boxes to our door. The kids love boxes. Syble sent Ella gerber daises, a teddy bear, balloon and a loving letter wishing her well at school. She was so happy. Even happier when she realized the flowers were real. :) Kim sent a lot of little school supplies. Cool pencils, colored pencils, a change purse, a pencil pouch, notebooks, lip gloss, a calculator (what else would i expect from an accountant), an alarm clock, and more. Ella is sure to be the coolest kid in school now. She was so happy she said that Aunt Kim was the "awesomest EVER! Even more awesome than Uncle Wes" . I think these two are pretty awesome at buying lots of little things that end up all over my house. :) She looked at me and asked "why am i getting all these gifts from everyone that i know?" HA! Thanks for making her trip to big school so special for her. Thanks to everyone for all the phone calls wishing her well and asking how her first day went.

Now to her gymnastics. She did try the Mighty Mites class last night. It was two hours. Katie is still the teacher but did much better with this age group. Ella got a lot of instruction and was schooled by the other girls. It was nice to see her have to work. We go back tomorrow night. It was a long Tuesday for Ella and she was exhausted by the time her little head hit her pillow.

Jack's turn. This story might not be funny to some but i love how he thinks about things. Today while i was folding clothes he asked if he could draw a picture, not wanting to stifle his creativity, i said sure. Later he brings me the picture and i glance at it and then back to my laundry. As i am looking at my towel i say "what is it Jack?" This is how is went:

Jack: It is us riding a dinosaur.

Me: Really?

Jack: Yeah. But see...see mommy...he has a happy face. He is a happy dinosaur.

Me: (briefly glancing back at the paper and trying to make out how it was a "happy face"...looked more like braces on his teeth, back to my laundry) Yeah i see. Beautiful smile.

Jack: i drew his wiener.

Me: (As my mouth hits the floor and eyes buldge out of my head. I look back at his paper and see what he is talking about) Oh, i don't think that is very nice.

*at this point i am not sure what is going on or where "wiener" came from and i am not sure how to address this but i wing it.

Jack: ya uh.

Me: No. you shouldn't draw things like that. That isn't appropriate.

Jack: But i had too.

Me: No you didn't.

Jack: Ya uh. What if he had to go tee tee? What would he do momma? See i had too.

Me: Well, he could still tee tee.

Jack: How?

Me: (oh, geez.....think Whitney.... THINK) Well, we don't see yours and you still go tee tee. Maybe you could just put pants on him next time.

Jack: i will show daddy. he will think it is funny (off he runs)

I had to tell Eric before Jack did. As i told him he laughed. I call Jack in and ask him where the happy dinosaur picture is. His response "the one with the body part i shouldn't draw". Never mind. It is lost in this house somewhere. I hope it doesn't turn back up but it was a nice laugh.

I found a mouse in the garage today. When we told Ella about it on the way home she decided that we should kill it. No mercy in my house. After dinner they got a plan together as they headed out the door. Ella was going to "wop it" and Jack was going to "slap it in the face". Ella's next suggestion was to get a cat to eat it. Like i said, no mercy. John is great. Adjusting to a different nap time and loving the attention from Jack. Talking more these days. I still can't understand it sometimes but he is getting clearer and talking more. Ben is great.

Eric has inspections this week. The inspector for the sprinklers and fire alarm will finish tomorrow and the other city inspector will be there on Friday. They will spend the next week cleaning and moving stuff in and then, according to an e-mail he got today, tentatively have the state inspection on September 11th.

Now to me. Thank you to Aunt Sherri, Jordan and Jared for the lovely edible arraignment they sent to me on Tuesday. We have eaten it. :) Tuesday morning wasn't that bad. This morning was a little different. I pulled up to the drop off and the door swung open and Ella hopped right out. I ask out the window if someone will help her get to her class. The lady assures me that there are teachers in the hall to help. What if she doesn't ask? What if she goes to the wrong room? I say okay and yell "have a good day" out the window. She looks back and gives me a big beautiful smile and waves, "bye mommy". In a matter of a few minutes my baby was out on her own. It was easier walking her in. I knew the day would fly by and she would be jumping in the car just as fast as she had jumped out. However, this feeling of Ella being such a big girl now left me looking at the boys differently. I looked at Ben today and thought that these were my babies. The only ones i would ever hold so dear. Because the four are so close in age it is easy to see how fast they grow up and change. I am not one for holding babies but i held the boys today. A lot. I will never again have them so small to fit in my arms. I am cherishing my moments. Now i am going to spend sometime with Eric. Date night on Saturday! Whoo hooo