School days and gamedays...

Both boys have settled in nicely to school.  Alex's questionnaire from the first day was pretty sweet. As you can see, he wants to be a daddy when he grows up.  We're hoping he'll wait until he's at least 25 to fulfill that.   

We took Sam to the first home game at State, but Alex stayed home with my parents.  I wanted to make sure that he got to show his school spirit, so I made him his own bulldog outfit.  

I thought he looked pretty cute.  

Before the USM game.  It poured that day, but we still enjoyed it.   

We also found our bricks at the new stadium.  Pretty cool, huh? 

I left the boys to it for the UAB game.  Anthony, Daddy, and Joe took Sam.  I'm pretty sure I won by staying home because it was hot as blazes that day.  Sam particularly enjoyed the Dawg Walk.  De'runnya Wilson gave him high five--Sambo was wearing his number.  

Proof that even though he's his daddy's clone, he is still my son.  The kid loves books. 

First grade & Pre-k 3...

Both of my children have had some serious haircuts since these pictures were taken.  Alex looks much older, which makes me sad.  Sigh.

So, Sam started 1st grade a few weeks ago.  It's a big change, but he seems to have acclimated well so far.  His kindergarten program only lasted until 12:30.  Now he stays until 2:45 with all the "big kids." The first few days he kept asking if he was staying for lunch.  

Baby, you're staying for lunch for the next 12 years.  Sorry.  

This year, his behavior program involves starting off on the color green and moving up and down throughout the day when you follow directions or break a rule.  At the end of the week, you cash in your points for pennies which can be put towards different prizes and treats.  So far we've made it to purple a few times (the second highest color.)  We have yet to hit pink (the highest). His teacher called the first week of school just to check in and see if we had any questions.  I started to talk about how Sam is usually a little hesitant in classroom situations and that sometimes he had to be pulled out of his shell.  

Um.....

Apparently not anymore.  She laughed and said, "Actually, Sam is one of my chattier boys.  Do you ever see him talk to himself?"

Why, yes.  Yes, he does.  All the time.  

How things change.  Now I know why he hasn't hit pink, yet.  If he keeps talking the way he does, he may never get there.  

Picking him up in the afternoon is always an adventure.  I never know if he's going to be spilling over with all that happened that day or if he's going to just stare out the window because he's so tired.  I have finally convinced him that he's okay using the crosswalk with all the other children, which is pretty funny.  It took him a few weeks before he was comfortable with that.  

And Alex...

He started his little program (that I cannot reiterate how much we love)  a few weeks ago.  He's only going 3 days a week, which is the perfect amount, I think.  He wasn't super pumped to get out of the car when I dropped him off--he cried--but his teacher very sweetly sent me a text later to tell me that the minute he got into the classroom he quit crying.  They are so good to him.  

It's so much fun to pick him up because he is positively thrilled to see me.  He comes out yelling, "Mama, Mama!  I love you!"  Melt my heart.  

 And I course I had to make him a first day of school outfit.  

Annual trip to The Grand pics...

This kid...

People, he is two.  He is two in a BIG way.  

Alex is a ball of constant motion.  He does not stop, he does not accept the word, "no," and everything is "mine."  As you can imagine, he and Sam are getting along famously right now.  And by famously I mean that I cannot leave them alone together for one second without them fighting.  Sam doesn't have much patience with Alex, nor does he want him breathing anywhere in the general vicinity.  Alex, on the other hand, wants to be by Sam at all times.  You can see how this works really well.    

In a year or two they'll be best friends, right?  Right?  RIGHT?

He is so funny, though...and very affectionate.  If you need a kiss or a hug, he's your guy.  And if you need someone to sing you a tune, here's his set list:

1.  Jingle Bells

2.  Ring-Around-The-Rosy

3.  Itsy-Bitsy Spider (Also known as "Issy Spider")

4.  Jesus Loves Me (He can do guitar accompaniment)

5.  I'm A Little Tea Pot

6.  Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star ("Twinkle Star")

After the usual catalog of childhood songs, he likes to request and sing the "Scooby Doo" theme song, AND

drum roll, please...

"Hail State"

The Mississippi State Fight Song

I'm not lying...my 2-year-old probably knows the words to the fight song better than most incoming freshmen.  Whether or not he'll do it on request is another issue. 

Sam's birthday...

Sam had his birthday party in the Youth Wing at St. James again this year.  We had to have the party the weekend before his birthday because school was letting out the next week.  It was busy, busy, busy!

Since my child is (still) obsessed with all things "Skylander," it was pretty easy to come up with a theme.  

This year we decided to give up on fancy cakes--I went by Kroger and asked them if they had a "Skylanders" cake.  Unbelievably, they did.  Sam was fired up.  Lesson learned--all kids want is a grocery store cake.  

Sam's "best" friend

Alex was a huge fan of the cake.  No surprise there.

And of course, he got a ton of loot.  At what point do kids quit getting an obnoxious number of gifts at their birthday party?  Like, when are they ok just having a friend over to spend the night? I need to know!

His actual birthday was the last day of school.  Could it be any better for a kid?  I took doughnuts up to the kids that morning in honor of his birthday, and I got to see them sing him "Happy Birthday."  He was awfully pleased.  

 

He got to be the leader for the day, and then the entire kindergarten had popsicles to celebrate the last day of school.  And he got an award for perfect attendance.  Not a bad day to turn 6!  

He had such a good year, and he has grown up so much.  Sam needs to be pushed a little, and his confidence has grown incredibly.  We are so thankful that he ended up in the class he did.  We're hoping that 1st grade will be just as wonderful for him.  

Last day of kindergarten.  *sniff, sniff*