This is not your momma's kindergarten

School pictures are back already. J.R. is sporting the smile he promised (and practiced) he would the day the pictures were taken. I wish someone would have fixed the poor kid's tie, however. He looks cute and more importantly - happy. He likes school so much and is doing a great job. I can't believe how much kindergarten has changed. He has Spanish, health, social studies, science, math, computer, library, art, music, gym, spelling/reading, and religion. WOW - I remember cutting and pasting and nap time when I was in kindergarten. Oh, how things have changed.

Bull Fighter???

Well, I thought Jimmy was going to Mexico to work this week but every time we spoke I heard things like, we just finished playing soccer, we are at dinner, and something I never thought I would hear leave my husband's lips... bull fighting. Looks like Jimmy and company participated in a bull fight as a team building activity. If you can't tell by the baseball cap, he is the last one on the right in the picture - the tall one in yellow. I don't know, I imagined this big bull... this little guy looks like a baby. Jimmy did admit he did more running that fighting. Meanwhile back in the states, it has been a rough week!!! Markie's eardrum ruptured and Matt's are infected. It was also a busy week a work - one that required more than I could give. J.R. went to aftercare Monday - Wednesday. He loves the aftercare program. Thanks to Boppy, I had help with Markie and Matt when they were too sick to go to daycare on Tuesday. A couple days of antibiotics really does wonders. Markie is also on a steroid drop for her ear. She is bouncy off the walls and very moody this week... not sure if that is because of the medicine or a combination of medicine and pain.

J.R. started basketball last night. He loved it and really tried. I got a picture of one of the several instances where the coach had to explain to him that J.R. cannot "man handle" the other players. I think he confused basketball and football... well, he wanted that ball.

Little Russells - An Update

J.R.'s school had a fundraiser this morning- Race for Education. The kids ran around the block (.25 mile) as many times as they could in about 40 minutes. J.R. made it around 10 times! I was so proud because he never gave up. Many of his fellow kindergartners stopped running, but he kept going - walking the hill - but always going back to running. Of course, he probably would have made it around 20 times had he stopped singing the Beatles and screaming "I'll never quit", or "Let's Rock". He had to use up a fair amount of energy just to talk that much.

I enjoy being / volunteering at his school. Probably too much to be honest... I keep thinking I should have been teacher. I can't help but to be happy when I am there! My volunteer list keeps growing - I need to start say no more or Jim will go nuts. On the bright side - I won't have to worry about getting my 40-hour requirement in this year.

Markie is in big girl underwear going on two full weeks and we've had minimal accidents this week. How wonderful - 2/3 of our children are out of diapers. Jimmy is excited about less money going to diapers/pull ups.

J.R. is all about the Beatles right now. His teacher, Sister Colleen, stopped me earlier this week with a funny story. I guess J.R. likes to sing during work time - while cutting he can be caught singing Eleanor Rigby, Yellow Submarine, or Help! He has Mass on Thursday. I love it - I usually catch him signing Mass on the way home, "...this is my body given up for you..."

Matt is 4 months already. He is a kisser and I love it. When I hold him near my face he leans forward and kisses... it is wonderful to be a mommy. He watches everything - you see his eyes scan back and forth. Jimmy thinks he is wicked smart.

Markie's First Day of Dance Class

Markie started ballet/tap last Saturday. She seemed to enjoy the tap more than the ballet. It is the perfect amount of time - only 30 minutes each week. I don't think she could make it a minute longer. All the little girls are so cute. Markie was the only one in leg warmers - the others had fancy skirts attached to their leotards. We are almost potty trained! She has accidents here and there, but wearing big girl underwear.

Even the Young Ones Like Taylor

It is funny - J.R. is so little and young-minded in many ways and then in others he is so mature and quick. He really "gets" computers, video games, televisions, etc. I used to say, "Stop that you don't know what you are doing." Jim finally made me realize that J.R. does know what he is doing - which makes it harder to get him to stop helping himself to movies, music, "dot coms" etc. His new found technology-love is the iPod. He wants to listen to it all of the time... listen to Taylor Swift that is. He used to sing her Tim McGraw song and now loves her new one. Here is a little video of him practicing the lyrics.

Jimmy's Batman Birthday Party

J.R. planned a Batman birthday party for Jim this year - complete with balloons, table cloths, plates, cups, and bat-o-rangs. He created a couple of made-up party games as well. He was very excited about Jimmy's 37th.

We had to take turns so that both J.R. and Markie had a chance to blow out Jim's Batman candle and of course... someone ends up crying before it is over.

Matt's First Bath

Matt's cord fell off on Monday. Much to J.R.'s disliking, I decided to wait until he and Markie went to bed to give Matt his first bath. He was pretty calm and didn't seem to mind the water. Luckily, we made it through the bath before he peed in the water! Here is his "nice and clean" picture. I have the same one of J.R. in this towel after his first bath.