Funny Stories...

September 2011 - -

Two funny stories I did not want to forget to share:

Captain Jacob - - First, since Catherine has become potty-trained (August) she has not been conservative in her toilet paper use and frankly uses copious amounts with gusto even for teeny tiny tinkles. ; ) This has subsequently led to our family running out of toilet paper more often than would be prudent! One morning in particular Greg inquired of me if there was ANY TP left in the house to which I replied that I was uncertain, but that it was on my grocery list for the morning. So, upon returning home from the store I placed several rolls downstairs in our 1/2 bath and then decided it would be a good opportunity for Jacob to help me and so had him outstretch his arms and loaded the remaining toilet paper into his arms with the instructions to carry it up to any upstairs bathroom! He made it half way up the stairs before he proceeded to unpack the plastic and construct tall towers of the rolls of which he was very proud. Then he loaded it into our block wagon and later was upset with me when I had removed a few rolls and put them in the bathroom upstairs. He promptly retrieved them thereby "fixing" his wagon stash. I told Greg he would just have to find the wagon from now on... Only a four-year-old-boy would do that - too cute.

Kit Kat - - Recently Greg applied for a new position at work and while he was awaiting the results of his interview he in turn asked each of the kids if they thought he should have the position. Jacob responded with a resounding "yes", while Catherine said "no, no - you should be a princess Daddy!" : )

(Preschool) School Picture Day

September 2011 - -

Just thought the kids looked sweet on the morning of their school pictures (last Tuesday September 20th) and so since the school ones don't always turn out well I thought I'd take a few of my own. They each especially liked their outfits: Jacob in a blue football shirt and Catherine in a pink dress of course. : )

First Day of Preschool

August/September 2011 - -

Here are a few pictures of the first day of preschool this year (first ever for Catherine) both before and after school and then one from later in the week that was just sweet of the two of them hugging. (Thursday is Chapel day for both of them and Jacob's class has asked they wear the school t-shirt (yellow shirt in final picture on post) those days.)

The stroller pictures are from our very first morning headed to preschool. They weren't too keen on having their pictures taken which is normally not a problem. : )

The friends they are sitting with at the picnic table are our dear German friends Theo (with Jacob) and Richie (the younger boy.) We spend a lot of time recreating with them and their family.

I've started perhaps a bad habit in that each day when I pick them up from school I have a cold beverage, a snack, and then some special something for each of them (in these pictures - new stickers.) So now when I sign them out they always ask what their special surprise is! Thankfully they are just as happy with new library books/DVDs so it doesn't always cost us something. Somehow I think this was something my dear mother did for us most school days as well. : )

Cute story: Jacob goes to school Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and is in the "Penguin" class while Catherine goes Tuesday and Thursday and is in the "Sailor" class. They informed me, however, early on when the class letters came out before school began that they didn't like their class names and have since re-named them: "Dinosaurs" and "Ponies" respectively. : )

Finally, in case you were curious Catherine seems to love school! She cried a bit the first few times, but not much and now she is so excited to go to preschool on her days (she also is very happy to have just one day with Mommy all to herself too on Wednesdays.) She always insists on carrying all of her school things: lunch box, drink, and pulling her kitty cat rolling back pack. (Whereas each day Jacob upon leaving school turns to me and says: "here" with his back pack.) She also tells me what she had packed in her lunch and tells me what she did that day in specific detail. For three years now I have been trying to extract information (Greg too) from Jacob about his day and the details are minimal. : ) Although this year more than ever he has been a bit more forthcoming about his day. It is really interesting to see how much more serious the four-year-old classroom is: starting the year out with responsibilities like putting up your lunch box on the rolling car and hanging up your own back pack, learning class rules, more work on letters/writing your name, and fewer art projects and things like science experiments, etc.

Trip to Dallas and Cousin Lily's 4th Birthday Party

September 2011 - -

A few weekends ago the kids and I headed to Flower Mound to see Uncle Shane and Aunt Jenny's beautiful new home and also attend Lily's 4th Birthday party (her actual birthday is: September 6th) at "Pump It Up" (a bounce house.) The kids were so excited to see their cousin and just the day before their backyard had a play scape installed so they had a great time trying it out. Uncle Shane also got out the Lightening McQueen car for Jacob to drive which was well-received. : ) And of course Jenny cooked a tasty meal for us too that evening.

The next day we went to the party - (Uncle Shane test drove the Honda Odyssey to see what he thought on the way to the party) and joined the entire Martin clan (great-grandma, grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc.) in celebrating with Lily. In true Martin fashion the adults bounced almost as much as the kids did. : ) Then we had snacks, pizza, and cake and Lily opened her presents. (See the picture of everyone taking a picture of her at the party - she looks so little!) Afterwards both the kids and grown-ups took a nap - we were tired. We concluded the evening with dinner at Joe's Crab Shack where the kids had fun playing outdoors at the playground. Shelley, Jenny's older sister also stayed at the house with us and she was especially good with all the kids (see she and Catherine playing air hockey at the party.)

It was a very nice visit - so fun to see their newly built home and Lily and the new baby's room too (new girl cousin Maya is scheduled to be delivered October 11th.) And also just watch the kids play together. Interesting to note that this time Catherine and Lily played more together whereas before Jacob and Lily were "two peas in a pod."

Summer Fun 2011

Easter