You Knew It Would Be Good

And, we're only on day 4!

Jack, Jack, Jack. 

I could write books on this child.  Someone might one day, actually.

Some funny anecdotes from Kindergarten thus far:

1.  Upon leaving the courtyard, each child must give the teacher a high-five.  This way, she knows each child gets to where he needs to be - picked up, in an after school program or on the bus. 

On day 3, Jack fell down while high-fiving and had to go to the nurse because he was bleeding.

That's a rather large band aid, don't you think?

2.  Each day, I pick up the boys and ask them how their days went.  Jack's trademark answer is, "Not good."  (in his best Eeyore voice possible)

I inquire why......his usual response is, "The teachers were being bad."

I know from preschool and from babysitters that if I hear this, it means JACK was 'being bad' and therefore had some disciplinary action taken against him.

This doesn't mean that he had to necessarily visit the "Think About It" chair.  It can be as simple as someone redirecting him.  Jack reports all indiscretions.

It's going to be a long year, folks.

3.  He LOVES to buy lunch.  He's taken his lunch twice and he's bought lunch twice.  If you know Jack, you know he's a picky eater.  I'm confident he ate on Friday because it was pizza day.  I encouraged him to buy yesterday because I thought it was chicken nugget day.....and this is one of the few lunches Jack might eat.  I must have misread the calendar because when I asked what he ate, he told me "Oh, just chips and a cookie.  And, chocowate milk!"

Fantastic.

4.  When asked if he made new friends, he always replies, "Yes, Mom.  Ricardo is my friend.  I told you dat."

Ricardo is the only child so far to sit in the "Think About It" chair.

I think this friendship has success written all over it.

When I inquire as to why he likes Ricardo, he tells me, "Because of his shiny shirt on day one!"

My sweet Jackie.  He makes life interesting.

The good news is that all of this excitement has put him in bed each night before 6:00pm.  Lainey, too.

I can handle that.

Gives me time to regroup after all of this Kindergarten excitement.

Un Birthday Wrap Up

"Well, I am a wittle disappointed.  I didn't get a vacuum cleaner or ski sticks for my unbirfday."

-Jack Starnes, May 2011

Can yall imagine how rich I'm going to be one day when I write a book about Jack's eccentricities?  Seriously.

The party was a hit.  Lots of good friends......we've been so blessed as we've moved to find such good people around the country. 

It was a motley crue.

Ellery, Merrilee's daughter, took the reigns and led Lainey around her own house.  Love that girl.

Carter and friends got the party started with a scavenger hunt around the back yard.  He mapped it all out on paper, including questions to ask the kids at each stop......with a prize for each challenge completed. 

Questions included things like, "Why does Jack want to be 4 and not 5?"  Cute answers.

Everyone ended at the baby pool with rubber duckies for their party favor caddies.

Well done, Carter. 

Presents!

Next up?  "Piata!"

Not sure why Mer's husband saw the need to hold Dane back.  Jack only had a wooden croquet stick with him, waving it wildly in the air in pursuit of the coveted candy.  Lighten up, dude.

The cutest part was when the kids all started chanting, "Go Jack!  Go Jack!"

Lainey and Ellery.  Quite a pair.

Had 2 juice coolers.  One for kid-friendly lemonade and one for not-kid-friendly sangria.  Perfect summer time beverage.

Oh, and do you see that spiky looking dinosaur? 

My Aunt Donna gave it to Jack.  It spits.  And, pees.  Nice one, Donna.

Blake was a baby hog, as usual.

Ice cream cake.

Our sweet boy.  What a joy these first 5 years have been. 

I bet you can guess what he wished for.

Know who is currently planning her birthday party?  Yep, she's next in line.  Once one kid passes his birthday, the next immediately starts planning.  And, the most interesting part of the deal? 

"I can't wait to turn 4.  Den, Jack and I will be twins!"

Well, kind of.

4 Years Of Jack

There are no words adequate enough to express my love for this child.

He is my Jack. Our precious 4 year old son.