Well, Actually...

Friday night, we surprised the boys with a trip to get ice cream.  Warren got the Dino Sundae, complete with sprinkles and a dinosaur cookie.  Harper got purple dinosaur ice cream, in a cone (and yes, he ate the whole thing).  While it made for a late night, it was totally worth it.  As we sat on the back of the truck, sharing our ice cream, and watching the boys' clothes slowly take on the shades of dinosaurs, we started thinking less about what time the boys would go to bed and more about the time we were having together, staying up late, eating ice cream.

Fast forward to Saturday night.  After dinner, Warren whispered in my ear, "Mommy, I have an idea.  What if we go to Yogurt Mountain for dessert?"  I smiled at Warren, who shares in my ice cream addiction, and said "Oh, buddy, you probably need to ask Daddy about that one."  Aside from spending our calorie allotment the night before, it was the end of the month and our bank account was equally spent.  Of course, Warren's five year old mind was not considering budgetary factors. 

So, he boldly asks "Daddy, you know, we could go to Yogurt Mountain for dessert?"  I should preface the next part of the conversation by saying that Chris and I try very hard to teach the value of money to the boys.  By no means do they ever get everything they want; and we are never afraid or embarassed to tell them that we can't afford something.  That being said, Chris' answer to Warren was "Oh buddy, that would be a good idea, but we just can't afford it right now.  Besides, we just had ice cream last night."  And, while he may not have been considering monetary factors, clearly, he was being health conscious.  "Well, actually, Daddy, Yogurt Mountain isn't ice cream, it's yogurt."  Oh, you can imagine how proud I was.  There was my boy....able to quickly come up with an argument for ice cream...or yogurt.  Unfortunately, a great argument still does not balance the budget.  Well, actually... 

Look out, Lincoln!

Well, the time has finally come.  After much anticipation and prayer, we've decided to send Warren to Lincoln Avenue Academy!  I cannot believe he is starting Kindergarten in just a few short months.  Although he is more than ready, I'm not so sure I share the same sentiment.  Chris took him this morning for his Kindergarten physical.  On their way back, they dropped off all of the registration paperwork..neatly organized and ready to turn in and make a good first impression, of course.  Warren is very excited to be a Jaguar.  (sniff, sniff)

I have to say, I am starting to come across a lot of things, as a parent, that I just took for granted.  For example, while it is a wonderful thing that the bus stop is right at the end of our street...it is not such a wonderful thing that it comes at 6:28 in the morning!  I just cannot imagine people actually have to wake their sleeping babies up so early to catch a bus.  Did you catch that?  Have to.  

Every day we are presented with a million blessings.  We are so fortunate that we don't have to send Warren on the bus.  Although it will involve a little change in our schedules, Chris will be able to take him to school in the mornings.  But, I see students in my own classroom every day who aren't as fortunate.  Never did it dawn on me that they might be waking up at 5:30 each morning to catch the bus, because their parents don't have the luxury of driving them to school.

So, while this next phase is bittersweet....sad that we are leaving preschool behind, but excited about what's to come....it is not without gratitude that we begin.  We are thankful that we were accepted into a school we felt fit our family and we are thankful we have the flexibility and means to arrange transportation that we feel best fits our family.  Maybe it won't be so bad after all!

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

Since we haven't had much excitement going on, I thought I would share with you the brilliance that is my husband! 

The boys had a long day today.  After being at church for almost 4 hours, Chris and I shipped each of them off to a grandmother's house while we went to band rehearsal.  And after lots of grandmother time, they were exhausted when we came home.  (And, if you're a parent, you know that when I say "exhausted"...I am really being nice.  What I really mean is "there was a lot of screaming and crying.")  We decided to put them straight in the bathtub, and I would make my exit and head to Publix.  (Is it a sign of old age when you start looking forward to solo trips to the grocery store?)  So, as I kissed the boys good bye and told them goodnight, they were "exhausted."  (And yes, I mean screaming and crying.)

Now, Warren and I have developed a routine of reading one chapter of a Junie B. Jones book aloud every night.  And we both love this time together!  Meanwhile, while Warren and I are reading, Chris and Harper are reading one of two books (over and over and over)....Thomas the Train, Go Train Go! or a story from the Backyardigan's.  Because I was at Publix, the reading tradition was not able to go quite like normal  And, as you may know, anything out of the normal routine, does not sit well with "exhausted" children.  So, my brilliant husband got creative.  (And while that sounds sarcastic, I do not mean it to be in the least!  I was totally impressed and touched when I got home.) 

Desperate times call for desperate measures.  In an effort to bribe the boys to go to sleep, here is what I came home to...what kid wouldn't want to go to sleep?