House of Farrer: First Grade and Other Firsts

This is the first time I've blogged in more than a month. Maybe even closer to two months. M started school the first of August. That means I had to get back in the swing of doing a whole slew of things I am none too fond of...waking early, helping with homework, waiting in car rider lines, preparing healthy-ish dinners/breakfasts/snacks (it's no secret I struggle here), making sure my boy bathes and goes to bed before midnight every night. The list could go on and on. This girl needed ~~a few days~~ ~~a week a month~~ a couple of months to adjust, but I feel like I'm back on track now. Lucky y'all.

Even though I'm back on the wagon as far as our daily schedule goes, my head is still a little full right now, so I decided to just share some various FIRSTS that have happened 'round these parts.

First Grade. It's going great. M loves school. Hallelujah. His reading improved drastically over the summer. We are to the point now he can read his books aloud to me and I don't have to lord over him while he agonizing attempts to sound out each...and...every... word. It's a beautiful thing. He has been reading to Ellie some at night. He also recently asked for a Junie B. Jones book. I know I know....that's probably more of a girl thing. But he wants to read them, and if I'm being honest I would absolutely love to read all of them to him!

First Day...First Grade

First gymnastics lesson. E has been asking to go to gymnastics for months and I finally got around to getting her signed up. She is all about it. It's funny to watch her because she has the unfortunate trait of being one of those who think they are a lot better than they really are. Haha. She is going to a gym that I went to when I was a little girl, and it is seriously almost exactly the same as it was twenty years ago. I had to stop and think for a sec because...twenty years...good lawd...is it even possible that it was twenty years ago?!?! Unfortunately, it was twenty years ago, and the gym is very much the same. E even gets to jump into the same big pit full of foam that I used to! I'm hoping it's not actually the same foam, but let's not think on that too long. :/ She also got to start AWANA cubbies...finally. She has wanted to go almost every Weds night for the past three years with her brother. You can tell in the pic how excited she is.

First golf lesson. M is taking golf lessons this Fall. Funny story about one of his lessons. The other kids were all talking about Tiger Woods (M has no clue who TW is). At the last hole M was the only one who didn't drive his ball into the trees that line the fairway. When they got in the car to go home M says to B, "Daddy I was the only one who didn't hit my ball into the Tiger Woods." Hahaha. I like to call the below pic of the little taters The Getaway. They had both just grabbed some random golf balls out of an unattended bucket and chucked them onto the range. Then they turned and ran. Those two may not be PGA material. :)

First chore charts. Chore charts are now officially in effect in the House of Farrer, and so far so good. M is getting .10 per chore (except dishes...he negotiated a higher rate based on it being a bigger job) and the little taters are happy with stickers. I can definitely see how this whole chore thing could work out in my favor as they get older. ;) Notice there are three chore charts. Yes, that means even the tyrant tater has a chore chart. I've found he is perfectly capable of being responsible for his own shoes, clothing, ~~laundry~~, and toy cleanup.

Result of the tyrant tater attempting to do laundry. Maybe next year...

First successful potty attempt for the tyrant tater. I don't think an illustration would be appropriate. You'll just have to take my word for it. He is starting to toilet train. He has only has one actual success, but he likes trying. Yay! Doesn't TT look big (and a wee bit ornery) in this pic?!

First red lipstick. Shout out to myself. I've always wanted to try red lipstick but never thought it would look good on me. Well, almost thirty three years in I decided I may as well try it. The result, I like it. This is a pic of the first day I wore it out of the house. I cracked the screen on my phone so now I have the benefit of a hassle free watermark (sort of) on every photo I take. Pretty handy if I do say so myself. Plus, I like the artsy flair it adds. Glass half full folks. Anyway...back to the lipstick. For anyone out there who has been wanting to try red but can't quite commit I would advise you to consider the wise lyrics of Yo Gabba Gabba...Try it. You'll like it. Try It. You're gonna like it.

First weekend of the new shift. B's shift changed last week, and for the first time in over a year he will be off on Saturday and Sunday nights! We are pretty pumped. Sunday he was able to come have dinner at his parents with us. We look forward to spending our weekends with him again!

First ice cream cones. Just kidding. If you know me at all you know I'm a huge advocate for early childhood ice cream introduction. Studies (my own personal) show ice cream makes kids happier and increases the potential for a quiet fit free car ride. ;)