School Memories....

Had to share this class photo from Pennant Hills High. So different to school here in the states, we had to wear uniforms to public school! I missed that on Harry's first day and kind of wish he had a uniform to send him off in!

I am down the front, 5th from the left...we look like a bunch of sailors!

There is a room just for lunch!
Harry's stories from the first day of school...

Not only was he excited about the room (cafeteria) just for lunch, but he came home beaming with so many wonderful stories from the day.

I picked Harry up from the bus stop up the street, he literally jumped off the bus and into my arms from the top step, so excited to tell me of his first day!
He wore a beautiful shell necklace he made that day that he placed around my neck and a note pinned to his shirt from the teacher.

His excitement from the day was overwhelming, in a good way. I had not even had time to ask him how his day was "Mommy...the school has a room just for lunch!" Was the first thing to come out of his mouth. So fast and so full of excitement. I asked him what else he did today.....

"Mommy, there was a room for music too! I need to go back to school so I can learn some more things." Oh music to a mommies ears! "I made friends and sat with my legs crossed. The bus was loud and fast and went past Kat the Coffee lady" He barely took a breath.

That night he did not want to get undressed "If I get undressed I will not be ready for school and I don't want to wear my pj's to school, I need to wear big boy school clothes!" Together we organized his clothes for the remainder of the week so he would see that he wears a new outfit everyday. All stacked neatly in a hanging organizer.

I know I have used this word repeatedly but if I had to sum it all up into one word it would be....EXCITED!

All by myself....

a mommies first day all by herself in 6yrs!

I miss him! Its now lunch time and I really miss him. Its nice to have just Thomas time, we spent the morning gardening and drawing out on the porch. Its been wonderful to have some special time with Thomas... But I can not stop wondering how Harry is doing? Off in the world without his mommy...ok, yes I am tearing up! and being sooo over protective.

His wonderful teacher Mrs Wilson asked the parents to fill out a questionnaire on our kids. This will help her get to know her new students and focus the curriculum based on their likes and interests. One of the questions asked was
"what do you hope your child will achieve in their kindergarten year?" A love of learning and a foundation that helps him love school.
"what is something wonderful about your child?" His sweet and caring nature, the way he is so empathetic and kind towards others. His imagination and creativity with inventing and story telling.
"What are some of his favorite things to do?" Invent contraptions, figure out how things work, build machines and buildings out of everything, tell stories, draw, rhyme.
It was a great little questionnaire, I feel so proud of my little guy!

Thomas is off to school now and I will have the next 3hrs to myself....whoo hooo! What to do?
Well I just got back from Lowes. What a wonderful hour of looking at plants without distraction. I am home now and have an hour before I need to go pick up Thomas. It feels really strange, I feel like I have left them at the store and I need to go back and get them. I am looking forward to this down time to really get back on top of the house work after a busy summer break!

I am heading out now to get Thomas and then meet Harry at the bus stop. I will update with how Harry went when I get back...I am so excited to see him!!!

Harry's first day at Kindergarten ....

"Mommy, why do I go to school?" So you can learn lots of new things, like your letters, numbers, science....etc. Oh said Harry, that sounds cool!

Today was a day of many firsts...
First school lunch box packed
First day choosing school clothes
First goodbyes at the school building
First day of the 12 plus school years ahead.....

Harry was so excited to start school, he could not sleep the night before and was up till 10pm!

He kept popping his head down the stairs saying "mommy, can I talk to you about school?" sure! He would ask me questions like, does the school close at night? do the teachers like it there? will it be a long day? I asked him if he was a little nervous? he said yes in a shy little voice, like he really didn't want to admit it, but the nerves where more than he could hide. He so badly wanted to be the big boy on the day! I think he was more excited for his first day than he has ever been for Christmas, just beautiful!

Beep, Beep, Beep! 6:30am school day! I was feeling the nerves and excitement today too! The big day was finally here. I woke Harry up, with his eyes closed still he said is it school today? As I replied yes, and a huge smile appeared on his sleepy face. Quick as a flash he was out of bed and getting dressed...so excited!
With his school bag already packed and lunch made we headed out to the car, the smile on his face was just infectious. You could not help but feel the joy of his first day of school.

We finally got to school and walked to his class, his eyes were so big and full of hope! The innocence and excitement was priceless and I sure hope it lasts. We reached his classroom and greeted his new teacher, Mrs Wilson was so excited to see Harry and welcomed him with open arms. Thomas too got a hug, very sweet! Bye Mom, Bye Mom, he was so excited to get on with his day. He lined up at the school door with his class and walked in with his new friends.

I kept a brave mommy face as I walked away, the tears started streaming the min I got to the car....my little guy is now in a world all on his own. I hope I have prepared him for this next adventure in his life.


I'll post more when he gets home!

Thomas and his first day of Preschool Good Bye Little Man!

Backpack on! And he's running out the door.....He's so excited for his first day at Hillcrest and to see Teacher Becky. Thomas is going for half days in the afternoons, four times a week. We love Hillcrest and love the teachers and staff there.

He is still trying to figure out the backpack thing and usually ends up wearing it across his tummy or dragging it.

We arrived at school a little early, we saw one of our friends from last year so we headed in. Posed for a few photos and then walked through the doors as a big school boy for the first time!

He was a little unsure as I said goodbye to him, looking at me strangely as if to say....where are you going? But he was fine and there were no tears!

I peeped around the corner for a few moments to see what he would do, he just waited in the class line, played with his new friends and spoke with the teachers. Nothing like Harry and his first day at preschool, lots of tears!

Thomas is in Harry's old classroom with his old teachers and some of Harry's friends. Teacher Jackie is still there, while Teacher Zeba has moved rooms. There is a new teacher, Teacher Wendy who seems really sweet and I look forward to getting to know her.

I want to do some volunteering in the class this year, now that I will have some free time! Not to mention PTA duties as Co-president!

Thomas is loving school and is fitting in really well. He is sitting for circle time, paying attention to the stories, singing the songs and even listening...OMG! Teacher Becky tell me you secret...lol!

I look forward to blogging more stories of Thomas and his preschool adventures....stay tuned!

The excitement of a Kindergartner!

Tears of joy were running tonight! It was not only an exciting night for Harry but this mommy was so proud to see her big boy loving his new school. Tonight Harry had his open house at his new school, Bryn Mawr Elementary.... running eagerly through the big blue doors, huge grin on his face, looking for familiar faces, excited beyond belief! "Mommy is this really my school?"

We walked to his classroom and met his teacher for the first time, Mrs Wilson. She is just wonderful, enthusiastic, sweet and outgoing and we are lucky to have her as a teacher. We spoke briefly and a great impression was left on both Dave and me, not to mention Harry who has not stopped talking about her.

His class room is bright and colorful, with a huge playground just outside the windows. The kids each have a locker with their name's already marked on it, its so organized and ready, big school is about to happen!

I am sure this will be the first of many wonderful stories to come from school and we look forward to blogging all about his school experiences.

Here are some photos of Harry enjoying his first moments in his classroom....

Learning to let go!
Thomas is off to Preschool in a few days....

Today was the Hillcrest Preschool open house for all students attending this year! I am not sure though if Thomas realised it was for him? He is so used to visiting the Preschool because of Harry. Thomas will be in the same classroom with the same teacher. Which is wonderful, we love Teacher Becky. I just hope Thomas understands that he will be starting here in a few days!

Its very exciting, although a little sad. Its a time of very mixed feelings and crazy emotions! For a mom its scary, not being there to protect your little ones 24/7 trusting that they can do it on their own, or with the help of a teacher anyway. Hoping that they make friends and will not get picked on or bullied. Why do I want to be so over protective all of a sudden? If anything I should be letting go and encouraging their independence....help! Maybe I'm the one with the separation anxiety this time?

Blog 100.....

What better topic to blog about for my 100th post than Blogging!

I am addicted! Like you couldn't tell, 100 blogs in less than 3mths....crazy!

It's wonderful to finally have a place for all the photos I take, not only of the boys but of life and all the day to day happenings.

I just wish I had of started it earlier, like when we first moved to the states, or when pregnant with Harry. So from time to time I will have "flash back" blogs. This will be stories from the past that I would love to share and have documented....

I will also have flash back photos (thanks Amber for that great idea!) I'll try and post some pics from the past....could be quite hilarious and embarrassing actually...hehehe!

Anyway, I hope all who are reading my blog are enjoying it!

Thank you so much to everyone who stops by and reads and an extra huge THANK YOU to all who leave a comment, I LOVE reading your comments!

View from where I blog in my front living room...so pretty!

Today we are buying a big boy desk!

It feels so official, Harry really is a big boy now! We are off to hunt for a big boy "work" desk today. He is so excited to have a place he can work and not be constantly annoyed by his little brother. Harry has his heart set on a bed/desk, one where the bed is up on a platform like a loft bed and the desk is under it. We will see though. He has a queen size bed so I am not to sure if they make ones that size? Any how, we are heading out and I will update when we get back to what we find...
Harry is so excited I just had to blog this moment! I wish I could share the excitment with you all through the computer. Its like he's one the golden ticket....hehehe!

Its paying off.....

Monday morning only means one thing to me now! It used to mean sleeping in, recovering from the weekend, doing nothing much at all. Well now I am up and ready to go by 8am and out the door for the gym by 8:30! Such a change. Its such a great way to start the week!

Today my personal trainer took my body measurements again, first time since starting which was about 5 weeks ago. I am down, nearly 3% in total body fat and have lost 4in from my waist!!! WHOOOO HOOOO! I felt like doing a dance, although I am sure the goofy smile on my face was enough to say it all! I am so excited that all the pain has been doing something. This has given me great motivation to keep going, knowing that its all making a difference!

Summer....Please stay a little longer!

We had a beautiful weekend of sunny, warm summer weather. That was until now! The rain's have returned and looks set to stay for the next few days....grrrr

Here are some of the latest summer blooms from my garden.

Chocolate Milk Bubbles
Today was a day full off Corvette's Coffee Choc milk & Crayon's

On the way to IHOP this morning, we stopped at another one of my favorite local Coffee houses...Vince's Its just up the street from us, maybe a 2min drive if that! They serve wonderful Italian coffee in a great atmosphere a real cafe feel from back in Aus, not your Starbucks type place at all! Full of the character and charm of an old Italian cafe, big comfy couches, rich cozy colors on the wall, lots of vintage prints, somewhere you want to buy a coffee and then hang out at for a while! Oh and did I mention the coffee rocks....so strong, just what you need first thing in the morning!

Daddy taught the boys how to blow bubbles in their chocolate milk! The excitement on Thomas face was so worth it...."more bubbles daddy" Harry drew a beautiful picture of his red power ranger today at IHOP, while Thomas is really into trying to write letters. He will ask us to write a letter for him and then he tries to copy. It will just be a stick, but he is really trying! The boys love coloring and playing the games on the activity sheet. They have a find-a-word, which I have turned into a "find the letters in your name" game. What great entertainment for them and what a great break for mom and dad!

While in Issaquah today, we dropped in on Triple X after breakfast to see what car show they were having. Today was the Vette's.... oh soooo sexy! We all went today and had a wonder.....
Harry reminding Daddy not to touch the cars "just look daddy!" The owner was so impressed by Harry's behaviour, he thanked us for teaching Harry to respect others cars and then asked Harry if he wanted to sit in the drivers seat! You should have seen how the face lit up, Harry got to sit in a beautifully restored Vette.....truly the highlight of his day!

The Renton Art & Antique Walk

Harry had fun checking out all the art and "old stuff" he even

a painting of Nikko

After a fun time with our friends today, Harry and I headed home. Off we went through downtown Renton....what's the buzz? I thought, so many people, stalls, displays....oh we just have to stop and check it out!

It was the annual Art & Antique walk in old downtown Renton. We parked the car and went exploring this fun festive day in Renton....Harry was excited how all the shops had candy and cookies for the kids!

relized when I got home I didnt take many pics of the displays!

Some great little finds in Downtown Renton....

Sips Espresso Stand

Kat and her girls will not only make the best coffee to get you going in the morning but also offer great conversation and friendly service, just a wonderful way to start the day!

Sips drive through espresso & down the street Common Ground Cupcakes

Common Ground Cupcakes

Yummy cupcakes and a fun place to meet up with friends!

Antique Shops Galore

Renton has some of the best antique stores around. I could spend whole day and a whole lot of money browsing the eclectic collections in the 20+ stores

Feathered Nest

A wonderful little store full of great vintage finds, unique little pieces and oozing in French flare! Love it, I think its my favorite downtown store.

Here are some other shots of old downtown....

Such an eclectic mix of old fashion barbers to new gourmet restaurants. We have lived here nearly 8yrs and in that time it has turned from a nothing to look at place into somewhere you want to explore....so much culture and so much diversity, I love Renton!