first sunday school

now that he is three years old, jack is ready for sunday school at church.

heretofore, we at ·ald· have not been frequent attenders at church ... our last visit prior to this was annie's baptism in may. but with fall setting in, and the start of sunday school, mommy decided it was time to try to form a habit.

jack is in the "godly play for 3-4 year olds" class. when mommy first told him that we were going to church, he didn't want to go. he protested and whined. finally daddy said, "you don't have to go in that room in the basement" (aka the church's nursery). that's all it took. jack was on board.

however, as we got dressed and mommy tried to coax him into a nice button-down shirt and khakis, jack resisted. told that he should look spiffy for church, jack replied, "i don't want to be smiffy."

nonetheless, mommy convinced him to wear a "jacket shirt" over his "spring shirt."

here jack plays with the clock depicting the church's calendar. the white is lent (i think). it's followed by the red ... pretty sure that's pentecost. maybe we all need a little more "godly play."

after church, jack was eager to run across lafayette park to see the white house. he was also thrilled with the number of "police officers" coincidentally stationed in the 1600 block of pennsylvania avenue. no matter they were secret service -- they had police cars!!

but the most touching part of our trip to church was when jack repeatedly asked me if he could get a blessing. at annie's baptism, in lieu of taking communion, he was given a blessing and is now semi-obsessed with receiving it each time we go to church.

but, since the youngest sunday school classes never go into the church during the service, there is no opportunity for jack to get his blessing.

no opportunity except for snagging reverend lisa during the post-service coffee social ...

she was tickeled by jack's request for a blessing and pledged that any time he wants one, all we have to do is find her. and hold her punch cup.

and god bless us every one.

first day of school

the headline of this day?

what a difference a year makes!


jack, 2009

jack, 2008

mommy had wanted to dress jack similarly to what he wore last year. that was the first change we witnessed. this year jack had definite opinions about what he wanted to wear ... and it wasn't a blue and white button-down. he wanted to wear his "spring shirt." why it's called that, we'll never know. but it's the one with the brown collar and the lizard. mommy did convince him to wear the button down as a "jacket" in the light rain that was falling, but halfway up the "rocky path" from the street where we park to the school door, he shed the shirt.

and, of course, jack went to school in underwear today. naturally we sent a few extra pairs with him in his trusty bookbag, but it was such a step and such a big-boy thing to do.

another difference this year -- jack was ready and rarin' to go this morning. he couldn't wait to get to school! he kept saying, "come on mama, let's go!"

annie was a little sad to see him go. actually, his enthusiastic impersonation of a tractor during breakfast scared her and made her sad, but we'll say it was that she was missing her brother.



one of the first things jack said as we arrived at school and walked in was that he wanted to play with the car racing loop. mommy had seen this on tuesday's "unpacking day" and knew jack would like it. luckily his teacher, mrs. stover, inherited a second identical racing loop this year, so there are two. when told about it, jack immediately said, "one for me and one for cache, so i don't have to share with cache." cache is jack's "frenemy" from last year -- one party buddy, one part nemesis. it was no surprise that they immediately found each other ... and the racing loops!

but, in another sea change, they actually played very nicely together ... sharing and trading cars and watching each other as they sent every type of vehicle imaginable into the death-defying loop.

jack's teacher, mrs. stover brought out trains and dress up as well ... jack seemed to be in toy heaven.

so much so, that when mommy said, "okay, jackie-boy, i have to go to work now. have fun, i love you," he barely looked up from his activities to say goodbye.

oh, yes, what a difference a year makes.

but it looks like we're off to a great start to this one.

amazing monkey girl

annie has become quite adept at using her hands. she can reach and grab for things. she is especially a fan of holding her own bottle. except that she doesn't always stop at using her hands ... sometimes it takes all four appendages ...