1st Day of (pre)School

Joshua started preschool this week.  He'll be attending Christ United Methodist Preschool on Thursday and Friday mornings.  I think it's going to be a really good thing.  It will give our social boy the chance to get out of the house without having to sacrifice Corinne's nap, and also frees me up to run errands with only two kids (three just seems too overwhelming for grocery shopping or major Target runs).

We didn't want to start talking up school too early because he tends to get VERY excited about upcoming events and it disrupts his sleep as well as him not having a concept of time and expecting the upcoming event to happen immediately.  We introduced the topic gradually, but started talking more details the past few weeks.  He was very excited to get to go to school.  Brielle, of course,  expected that she would be starting school as well.  Both woke up every morning last week talking about whether they would be going to school that day.  We told Brielle she would go to school at her house and that mommy would be her teacher and thankfully, she bought it!  We made a paper chain for Josh to count down the "dark naps" until school started, and I got to take him on a special date to buy some school shoes and a lunch box and treat him to a McDonald's ice cream cone, too.  It was so sweet how excited he was to be going out with mommy by himself.  

Finally, the first day of school arrived!  We started the morning with chocolate chip pancakes and the whole family got to go get him settled into his classroom.

His lead teacher is Miss Lindsey and the teacher's aides are Miss Lulu and Miss Denver.  They all seem very sweet and affectionate with the kids.  He was just a little hesitant to go in, but in the end was a very brave boy.  I was so proud of him (and of me)...no tears!

Post drop-off

We headed home to start Brielle's school...

"First" day of school pic

For school, Brielle colored a picture, did a lacing card, helped me make chocolate chip cookies, and ate her packed lunch.  After that she was done with school and ready to play, but she didn't quite know what to do without Joshua...I'm sure she'll get the hang of it, but she just kind of wandered around trying to figure out what to do without her best buddy around to take the lead!

Despite the great drop-off, I still had butterflies in my stomach all morning wondering how my little man was holding up.  He was all smiles when we went to pick him up and Miss Lindsey said, "He had a great first day today.  He was outstanding and fit right in!"  What a great report! When I put Josh down for his nap he said, "Mom, I'm glad I went to school today because I liked that school."  Friday morning went off without a hitch, too. So, now were are officially parents of a preschooler! 

Chattanooga

Daniel had to take an ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support) class in Chattanooga for work, so the kids and I decided to tag along and make a vacation out of it.  This was a big decision since our last vacation with kids was 3 years ago, which not coincidentally, was also the last time we had driven further than the required 3 hours to get to Gigi's house.  Our first "family" vacation had left quite a mark (scar?) on us, but we were finally ready to try it again...this time with two more kids in tow!  But, we had called in reinforcements as well.  Daniel's sister, Janelle, came along with us to help with the kids while Daniel was in class.  She is always such a pleasure to have around and having that extra set of hands and eyes made all the difference in being able to sightsee and enjoy it.  Huge thanks to Janelle for ALLLL she did that week! 

Daniel's family was headed on vacation the same day, so we were able to meet up in Atlanta at their family friend's house and pick Janelle up there.  They have grandchildren about the same age as our kids, and their house has quite the set-up for preschoolers!  Toys galore, a beautiful swimming pool, and a sleeping loft where you are allowed to jump on the beds - at least that's what their grandkids told us!  We had a good time catching up with them, and seeing the rest of the fam.  Josh bonded immediately with one of their grandsons and had a big time.  It's so sweet how kids can become best friends so fast!  As a bonus, I also got to meet Daniel's Uncle Ivan for the first time!

We left Atlanta after supper Weds. evening and drove the final two hours to Chattanooga.  The kids were really good travelers.  Corinne got tired of her car seat, but hung in there pretty well.  I don't know how we traveled before you could watch movies in the car...they are such a sanity saver for our family!

We stayed at Homewood Suites and that was perfect for us.  We had hot breakfast every morning and a two room suite, so the kids could go to bed early and the adults could stay up later.  The first day we checked out Coolidge Park in downtown Chattanooga (which seems like a really cool town).  The kids had fun running in the open field, playing in the splash fountain, and riding the carousel.  Brielle still chooses not to ride, but at least she doesn't burst into tears of fear while watching Joshua ride.

 

Amazing Grass!  It was nice to see some "real" grass for a while.

 
We ate hot dogs for lunch at this funky, local place called Good Dog.  (I got a Chicago Style dog - it was no Portillos but still good.)  And, then we had hot dogs for dinner as well at the hotel (another bonus of Homewood Suites is free dinner on weeknights)...the kids weren't complaining!  Daniel got out of class around 5pm and could join us for dinner and an evening swim in the pool.  We treated ourselves to a movie in the room that evening after the kids were in bed.

Friday morning Janelle and I took the kids to check out the Creative Discovery Museum.  It took us a while to find the stuff that was most interesting for young children, but once we did the kids were enthralled.  They also had a special Bob the Builder exhibit on display.

Just like daddy

Brielle REALLY enjoyed dancing on the stage and Janelle was a good sport.  Joshua did lights and sound effects!

Shoe fetish

Daniel finished up his class that afternoon and passed his exam.  We went to the Terminal Brewhouse for dinner.  The food was yummy and the homemade root beer was delicious.  Saturday morning we rode The Incline railway up to the top of Lookout Mountain.  It's a one mile ride at 73% grade.  STEEP!

There's always time for a game of Ring Around the Rosie

"We all fall down!"

Four sleeping passengers

After the train ride, we hit the road for Tallahassee.  We crashed there Saturday night, so we could drop Janelle off at home, then finally got back to Jacksonville on Sunday.  We were worn out, but fun times were had by all!

Somebody's Getting Married

Last month we traveled to Minneapolis to celebrate my sister, Renee's, marriage to Mark (Marky G or Gigi as we affectionately call him).  Since it was an outdoor wedding and had been raining for the past two weeks in Minnesota, Mark and Renee had been carefully watching the forecast.  My favorite quote of the week was Mark saying, "Saturday's forecast, 10% chance of rain...100% chance of getting married!".  Both were glowing and grinning all week - we were so happy for them! 

Dan and I kept low expectations for the trip.  We expected it to be pretty stressful and exhausting - traveling with a 7 week old, 2 year old, and 3 year old as well as all of us being in the bridal party, and we were staying at my parents house...A.K.A. - wedding details central!  But, we were pleasantly surprised.  We were definitely BUSY, but were able to enjoy some time together just the two of us (Thanks, Mom for excellent babysitting), the kids were great travelers, and Corinne started sleeping 8 hours at night while we were there (She's a champ!).

A full night's sleep does wonders for baby (and mommy)!

The wedding festivities were kicked off by going Pedal Pubbing with the bridal party.  A Pedal Pub is a bicycle built to hold 16 people that you can rent and tour around the Twin Cities. Their slogan is, "It's SLOW fun!"  It was a super fun way to get to know the rest of the wedding party.

Not our group, but gives an idea of what it is

Next was all the usual stuff, family arriving in town, manis/pedis, bridesmaids luncheon, etc. Fun times!

Corinne and Great Grandma Nettleton

Great Great Aunt Diane meets Corinne

Nettleton Girls at the Salon

Bridesmaids

There were a few issues of un-planned people coming down the aisle during this wedding extravaganza...The first occurred at the rehearsal, where Corinne accompanied Renee, Mom, and Dad to give away the bride!

Entertaining the kids during the rehearsal

A long-time friend of the couple performed the ceremony

  The rehearsal dinner was at Mancini's Char House and was delicious and fun!

Carcas loading up on wings - after all as he likes to say, "You snooze, you lose!"

Brielle chose to eat a pat of butter rather than cake - we figured it was probably lower in fat and calories, so just went with it!

The other bridesmaids spent the night before the wedding at Renee's house, and although she offered for Corinne and me to stay as well, I wasn't about to bring sleepless-night-potential into the wedding day equation.  We were able to bring breakfast over on Saturday morning and spend a little time with the bride!

Corinne was stylish in her jeggings!

The wedding was held in a pavillion on a lake at Como Park in St. Paul.  Very beautiful setting.  Josh was a ringbearer, and Brielle was a flower girl. I was a bridesmaid, and can't help but mention that the Carcas was a "brides-man" which he handled with impressive poise and confidence!  I went down the aisle just before the kids were supposed to come down.  Dan stayed at the back to send them down at the right time, and they were supposed to "walk to Mommy" where they would get a lollipop reward for "doing their job".  Things pretty much went as they had in the rehearsal.  Brielle pranced down the aisle on her tiptoes, along with Allison, Mark's 3 year old neice, who even remembered to sprinkle the flower petals.  Josh got a little stage fright and wasn't budging, so Dan ended up walking him down the aisle while holding Corinne in the car seat!  Instance #2 of extras coming down the aisle...but not a big deal.

The ceremony was sweet and extra special to have someone perform it who knew them both so well.  Mark was neighbors with Brooke growing up, and she and Renee were cross country and youth group buddies in high school.  I don't have any pictures from the ceremony and just a few from the reception, but hope I can post some of their professional pics at a later date.  

Making their entrance

Sweet relief for the hosts!

Dad's toast

Siblings

Kids before the ceremony

Special thanks to my cousins, Ryan and Sofie, who played with the kids all weekend.  They adore them both!

The newlyweds on their front stoop