What I'll miss about Ty because he starts kindergarten today. . .

I will miss miniature Lego pieces meticulously placed around every nook and cranny of this home: in my bed and under my sheets, on chair rail, on piano keys, on shelves behind picture frames, in the pantry, every where you walk and on every makeshift ledge that is level to Ty's height. Yet, they are never where you thought you left them and impossible to locate when desperately needed.

I will miss the "little man" in Ty's stomach that will remind him around 2:00 o'clock each day that he hasn't eaten lunch, as he is now in my kitchen desperate for food. Because, Ty is playing hard and can't break for lunch at noon, when everyone else does.

I will miss Ty begging for someone to play baseball with him in the backyard. Of course, he only asks during the HOTTEST part of the day when the sun hasn't rotated off the back yard yet. Anyways, that couldn't possibly make a difference.

I will miss Ty getting in the car to leave the house and after strapping on his belt say, "I'm thirsty. Can I get a drink?" or even better "Wait I forgot my Lego guy. Can I go get him?"

I will miss my little shadow that, as of yesterday, completely adored and loved to be with me because from here on out it will never be the same.

Here's to an awesome year Ty guy. I will miss you terribly!

Note to self: refrain from posting the same day emotions are running high. Drop off was easy, blogging is not.

Update: About three days into school I mentioned to Ty that I had missed him on one particular day. This was his reply: " I missed you too mom. I miss you every time I say Ms. Christensen's name."

A second Update: Again, I told Ty that I missed him being at school. I promise I'm not trying to manipulate the kid. The last time I told him I missed him was over two weeks ago and that's when I got his first reply.

Tonight while getting Ty ready for bed this was our conversation:

Mom: I missed you today, buddy.

Ty: I missed you too.

Mom: When do you miss me?

Ty: During learning time.

Mom: What's learning time?

Ty: You know, when you learn.

Mom: Oh. Why do you miss me then?

Ty: Because that's when the teacher doesn't know what I'm thinking about.

I love this little man. We'll let it slide that he wasn't paying much attention, right now "learning time" consists of your basic 5 shapes and the numbers 1-5. So day dream away Ty guy!

The first day of the rest of their lives

Ty's first day of kindergarten and Jaden's first day of fourth grade at Mary Marek.

I overheard this conversation between Jaden and Ty this morning, the first day of school, as they had convened in Ty's room - well before the alarm was to go off. Both were were beyond excited to begin their day. During this time Jaden took the opportunity to give Ty a few pointers as only an experienced sibling can.

Jaden (in a very strict low voice): "You know Ty, if you ever get in trouble for talking out of turn, or not listening, or not sharing you'll probably get a warning. After that you'll loose recess and after that you'll get sent to the principles office. You DO NOT want to go there because you could get suspended."

Ty: "What's suspended?"

Mom: "Jaden, that will be all. Thanks for the helpful tips, now go get dressed."

Happy 9th birthday today Jaden!

Birthday breakfast in bed is a tradition in our home. It is a tradition that, for Jaden, nearly didn't happen this year! Luckily, the birthday girl woke the sleeping giant and reminded her (or rather demanded) that breakfast be on its way. In my defense, it was 6:45 - honestly, I can't remember a single time during the summer that this "little princess" ate breakfast or even woke before 8:00 a.m. As well, school doesn't officially begin until tomorrow. So, I'll be on my game tomorrow and not a day earlier, even if it is a birthday. From the looks of it, she suffered miserably until her tray arrived.

Here's how Jaden wants to spend her birthday, as well as her last day of summer: breakfast in bed, put backpack together which includes labeling, organizing and then reorganizing it (that should take 2 hours or more, which allows time for this post), hair trim, hit the theaters to see G-force, catch a few HGTV design shows through out the day - her all time favorite, and meet dad with the family this evening at the restaurant Mimi's - they have a bread basket "to die for" says Jaden.

Jaden had a fabulous "friend" birthday party a few days back. Maybe I'll get to post that at some point.

I'll take 3 out of 6

Love being with my sisters!  Can't get enough of them.  Always question why I live so far from them.  Can't wait to get back together.  We missed you Deon, Charity and Elle!

P.S. Don't worry, that's just Vinnie's abnormally large leg that is going to eat us after this picture is taken.

Here's what Jaden's been up to . . .

A couple of weeks before school let out Jaden represented the 3rd grade on their recent Author Study presentation at the High School Fair. She set up their 3D board and did her best to answer any questions about their project. My favorite part of the night was watching her interact with two male class mates (set up on either side of her) who were there to represent other 3rd grade projects. Next to each of their displays was a bag to collect comments from passers by. Jaden started a friendly competition with the two boys to see who could produce the most comments before the nights end. The dynamics of the night changed from standing their post and waiting for inquiries to some serious proselyting. Unfortunately, the bags were collected by the teachers before comment cards could be tallied. Jaden holds strong that she won by a landslide (as I'm sure the other boys claim too). And, yes, there might have been one or two comments from her mom as well as a few from her moms friends.

Here is Jade at her awards ceremony as she graduated from the 3rd grade. That is beyond unbelievable. We are the parents of a soon to be 4th grader? Crazy.



Starting the summer off with a bang Jaden had a week long cake decorating course for two hours each day. Let's just say fondant will now be a staple for birthday cakes at our home. She loved the class and this is what she produced and got to bring home on the last day.

Above: Ms. Jaden teaching her summer preschool. This is the preschool invitation she sent out (with a little help from mom).

Dear Mom's of preschool age children who have a relationship with Ty,

To help keep busy this summer I am offering a summer preschool. Over the past year I have been collecting and creating lesson plans for Ty and his friends. I love teaching so much I asked my mom to turn our game room into my school. I would like to invite your child to attend my summer preschool. The cost is $2 per lesson (or day). Lessons will be every Tuesday from 9:00-11:30 (unless otherwise notified due to vacations and holidays or if my mom says that it won't work).

It is important that your child knows that while this class promises to be fun I will expect them to be willing to sit and learn from the lessons I have prepared. Of course, we will have play time too. And some field trips within the neighborhood.

Please let me know if your child will be attending my summer class. If Tuesday's aren't good for you we can change the date. Thank you.

Excited to teach,

Ms. Jaden

P.S. we will have snacks too.


I have loved this summer responsibility for Jaden. Not only does it keep her Tuesday's busy but any other given day of the week (as any teacher can attest to). She's often found adding to lesson plans, redecorating, reorganizing and rearranging her class room, surfing children's education websites for print offs etc. She thinks like a teacher and shops like one too -everything she lays her eyes on has the potential to be a lesson. Her lessons are very age appropriate. Aside, from typical lessons (math, reading, writing) they will be taking field trips around the neighborhood and to her school library that happens to only be open on Tuesdays through out the summer. Also, she has informed me that one of their " specialty" lessons in science will be experimenting with a freezer pop to compare the rate at which it melts indoors to the rate when left under the hot Texas sun.

It has been so fun to peak in on her. She prepares and teaches entirely by herself. I have helped here and there with printing things out or added my two cents to a lesson she informs us about over dinner, but that's all, really. She is in charge. I love it.

Kyle soaks up a well deserved break. . . in the shade! Where he should always stay.

Here sits Kyle (next to Reese's beach chair -we start them young) deserving a long overdue relaxing day at the beach after an eventful couple of months at work.

First, Kyle argued a case for AIG in the 5th Circuit. As I had to have it explained to me there are 11 Federal Circuit Courts in the US and Kyle's case was argued by him alone in the 5th Circuit Court which includes the southern states: Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi. We have not yet heard back the results. But he did put in plenty of time preparing. Some of that time was spent in the evening hours after kids were put to bed, in the drive way, inside his Camry where he sat fine tuning his oral argument . He said he needed somewhere to be alone so he wouldn't be embarrassed by my watching him turn into his theatrical character, hand motions and all. I still peeked. It was awesome.

Secondly, he had his first trial. That too was done by his lonesome and as far as his firm is concerned he came out with a win. He was excited the day of the trial and wasn't too nervous. He enjoyed the process including jumping through all the hoops -specifically jury selection was fun for him. The firm he works for is rather large, therefore, obtaining a jury trial is very rare. It is so highly coveted because so much is learned through the process. Plenty of lessons learned later -he has two major accomplishments under his belt and we are proud of him. Nice work babe!

Update: Kyle won his AIG argument.

A Ty update

Ty finished his second season of soccer. The team name is now the Tigers changed from Fireballs (that wasn't confusing). This season Ty came out of no where. He had a decent season last year but this past spring season takes the cake. He had a game plan which inculded being in at every possible moment. He didn't like being taken out to allow his other 5 teammates a go. And he was pretty tough on himself when he wasn't playing up to his standard. It was cute to watch the determined look that was a constant on his face on offence and defence. Next fall couldn't come soon enough to begin the new season for this little guy. Up next: karate over the summer.

Go Tigers! Shadow Creek Soccer May 2009 Video Length 4:18 Click here to watch





Ty graduated from preschool last week. He has attended a local "moms day out" for 2 years, twice a week from 9:00-2:00. I can't believe that ALL DAY kindergarten is just around the corner. He is ready. I am not. He took up reading pretty well at the beginning of this year and has taken off with it since. I might add here that the Wii is in part responsible for Ty's new found love of reading. Here's why: for every page read he gets 1 minutes time playing the wii. I of course determine the pages worthiness of a minute. We spent this past year gearing up and showing face as often as we could at big sis' school where he will soon attend. We took a day a week and volunteered at the library, ate lunch with Jaden (where we often sent Ty through the lunch line to get a feel for it) and helped in Jaden's classes. Here is Ty earning Wii minutes. We love http://www.starfall.com/ for when we run out of level reader books. (still trying to download the video)

And lastly, here Ty is with 4 of his best little buddies. We are sad to say goodbye to two of his close friends as they are moving to London and Austin. These boys could spend the entire day together with out a single problem, no kidding (Much different than I remember with Jaden and her friends. They could last only 3-4 hours before to much drama leaked into the playdate.)Moms need only provide food and assist with lego malfunctions with these boys. Other than that we never saw them during their playdates except in passing. These playdates rocked!