Aiden

This afternoon my nephew Aiden came to play. He looked so adorable I couldn't help snapping a few pictures. I was also excited to use my new camera. Jackson gave me the Nikon D80 for my birthday. I am SUPER excited! I have big dreams as far as photography goes. I keep having to remind myself that I have my whole life ahead of me to learn and practice. I get carried away with dreams and ambitions far to easy, which sometimes causes me to neglect things that are more important. I am so thankful to have a husband who encourages me to pursue my interests and supports me in any decision I make.

Grandpa Groesbeck and Essie

We took a quick trip to Utah this weekend to get Jackson's cello repaired in Salt Lake. We had a great time. I have lots of pictures, but here is my favorite. This is my dad with Estella. PRECIOUS!

Family Home Evening

Monday at about 4:45 Jackson called from work and said, "Let's have a picnic on the Monument for Family Home Evening." So I threw some food in the cooler and loaded the kids in the van and off we went. It was so refreshing. We ate with the warm sun on our backs and cool breeze on our faces. The sun started going down so we "chased" it as long as we could. The boys had a great time exploring and climbing. Here are a few pictures Jackson took.

Spring!!!

Spring is here! I love spring. After a long winter, spring is such a joy! I love the daffodills blooming in my backyard. Thank you Grandma Berry for creating such beautiful flower beds!


I love that the boys will go outside together (without me) and play. This shot was taken out my VERY DIRTY bedroom window. Also take notice that they are in their church clothes! What kind of a mother am I? I guess one that likes to do a lot of laundry and doesn't like to wash windows :)
Estella is 5 months old now. It is amazing how time flies and how fast babies grow. She is such a fun, happy, laid back baby. We love her so much!

This isn't a very good picture, but I had to include it. Essie is definitely a thumb sucker! I might not like it in the future, but it is great right now! For some reason the boys don't like it when she sucks her thumb. They are both always pulling it out of her mouth.

Preschool it is

Thank you all so much for your advice. I have always thought I would wait a year, but as I started calling different preschools this past week, many of the people I talked to strongly suggested Kindergarten. After thinking and praying and asking advice of many people, I think it will be best for Thomas to wait. I do, however, think we will pay to send him to preschool two mornings a week. I don't necessarily think they will teach him anything that I can't, or that he will learn more there than he would at home, but he enjoys it so much, and I think Nicholas needs it. Thomas is constantly directing Nicholas in everything he does. So much so, that I think Nicholas needs some regular time away from him to spread his own wings and discover his own person. I do think a lot about homeschooling in the future (as Carrie mentioned). I have several good friends who have done, or still do, that with their children. Jackson and I often talk about how horrid middle school was. Is it just us, or was that a rotten time for anyone else? Of course we still have a lot of time before we meet that challenge, but we think it may be good to consider homeschooling during that time. I could go on and on about this subject. My opinions are ever changing, though, because I am still so inexperienced. Thanks again for the advice!

KINDERGARTEN?????

I need some advice. Thomas's birthday is September 4th and he will be the big 5. The cut off date for kindergarten here is September 15th. DO I SEND HIM, OR DO I WAIT ANOTHER YEAR? I thought I had decided a long time ago, to wait and send him when he turns 6, but now that it is drawing closer and I am thinking about it more, I just don't know. Everyone has always told me to generally send a young girl, and hold back a young boy.

Thomas (like most kids) is ready academically. Socially...I used to think he was behind, but he is doing better and better with people, so now I think he may be ready. As far as seperation from me, he is fine for the three hours, twice a week he goes to preschool...but every day for Kindergarten...I just don't know????

To throw another spin on things, Nicholas will be 5 August 23 in two more years. That means his birthday is well before the cutoff. I feel like if I send Thomas, I will need to send Nicholas...if I hold Thomas back, I will need to hold Nicholas. I think because they are two years apart, minus two weeks, in age, they need to be two years apart in school.

Also, he has cousins here. Newell 6 now and will be 7 on September 5th...he just went to kindergarten this year and will be in first grade next year. Ethan is 5 now and will be 6 in November and he will be going to Kindergarten next year.

Advice???? Please send any and all!

Oh...in answer to some comments about my preschool post. Some friends and I do a rotating preschool. It is twice a week, for 2 1/2 hours. We rotate weeks. So I teach at my house one week out of five weeks. Our goal is to teach the kids to follow directions, sit still for a short lesson, raise their hands, and get along with each other. We are very laid back and give them a lot of free play time and movement activities. We use a book called, "Teach me Mommy," as a base for ideas and themes, and we supplement whatever else we want to do. This is the second year I have done this...last year in Las Vegas with three year olds, and this year in Junction with mostly 4 year olds. It has been a great experience both times.