Fireman Prince Grayson

Oh sweet Grayson, my little four-year old who is in love with Cinderella and being a fireman...

You have such a keen interest in being a fireman. It is the one thing that has remained for a couple years now. You love to dress up, get your siren blaring, and ride the Little People Fire Truck all around the house. You are way too big at this point for that truck, but you are loving it more now than you did when you were 2!! I love how you want to help people, and I swear that fire engine siren follows you to school each day as I'm convinced that I hear it in my Office as I'm working!! Maybe someday you'll actually grow up to love the fire service as your Daddy and his Grandpa H. did. Regardless, being a fireman has been good for you because apparently firemen can do anything!! Now that we must call you "Fireman Grayson" all the time, you have this courage that you muster up because firemen aren't afraid of anything. For example, we were riding in the car the other day and you said that we could take our car through the car wash, the one with the big brushes that pound that car, the one that has terrified you since you were small. You said that you could do it now "because I'm a fireman and firemen aren't afraid of anything"! Well, firemen do get scared sometimes Grayson, but with God on your side, you can do anything without having to be afraid.

As for Cinderella, the other woman in your life right now...I am not sure why she has captured your heart as she has. The Cinderella song by Steven Curtis Chapman came out at the same time as you grew to love her in the movies. Short of buying a Cinderella Barbie doll at the Disney store, which mommy refused to succumb to, you are in love and pretend with her all the time. For a while, Cinderella came with us on every outing and grocery trip. She would ride in the backseat with you and you would help her out of the car when we arrived at the store or wherever it was we were going. Now she only comes out at certain times and even I have been given the privelege to BE Cinderella. What are you going to do when you get to meet her face to face at Disney World!! Oh it's going to be a priceless moment!!!!!

The other day, we were playing together and you said that you were the Prince and I was Cinderella. You proceeded to take my hand and ask me to dance. You bowed, and I followed suit with a curtsy. We danced around the living room, you the Prince and me Cinderella. Every now and again you would lift onto your tiptoes and raise my arm and then proceed to tell me that it was time to twirl. I would crouch as low as I could to twirl but still hold onto your hand. As we contiued to dance together, you told me that with my free hand I needed to be holding out my dress so that it wouldn't get stepped on!! You were a very charming dancer.

Prince Fireman Grayson, I will dance with you anytime because as I like to tease you (and you can't understand!), all too soon the clock will strike midnight, and you'll be gone too. Except there will be some other sweet Cinderella girl holding your hand, holding your heart, and holding her dress so it won't get stepped on. Oh dear God, protect my little Prince's heart. Allow him to continue to grow in You and be nurtured in such a way that he keeps this innocence, this sweet gentle spirit. Help me as his mom, the first Cinderella in his life, to foster that in him, to nurture those qualities that a girlfriend and wife will someday admire and cherish. Sweet dreams my Prince Grayson!!

Amateur Photographer

Grayson actually has a pretty good eye for taking pictures. Here are some of his recents shots.

Another "First" (sort of!)

Today was the big day for Grayson and Mommy! I know it's not real school, as in Kindergarten, but it was Grayson's first day away from mommy and home routines. Grayson is going to Pre-K 4 this year and he was so excited this morning. I awoke early, when the clock still had a 6 on it, and got ready first so that we wouldn't be late. I had a few practice runs for school mornings when Grayson did Summer Camp at the church and I had to be at work. I learned that in order for us to be on time for 8:30, I had to get up and be ready first. I knew this day was coming, but I've put it off as long as possible. Did you know that you can stay in your pj's long past noon some days if you schedule it just right?! I'll miss those days, but they are replaced with excitement and new adventures.

I had set his clothes out the night before, all ironed and ready to go. The snack and plastic yellow cup for water was in his new lunchbox. The backpack was loaded down with his new supplies. His "homework" man was dry and ready to be taken in. As he watched one cartoon this morning, I made him chocolate chip pancakes in Mickey ear shapes of course. We were all ready, took pictures out front, and were at school on time!!

This was his first assignment given to him at Open House. The "man" needed to look like him. He did a great job!! I am proud of us both! I resisted the urge to help, except for the glue, and I'm proud of teh job he did all by himself. He was pretty excited how it turned out too!!

He walked right into his room only to find he had a new seat assignment. He wasn't rattled at all. We hing up the backpack and lunchbox on the "Grayson" hook and then he found his name at his new table and sat down. Daddy took a quick picture and we left after last kisses, and a few parting words "have fun, make a new friend, be a good listener, see you at lunch!" We were outta there as the same parents lingered who were there when we arrived to drop off. We did as we were told at Open House...please drop them off, give a kiss, and just leave so the transition is as smooth as possible, I'll call if we're experiencing a meltdown!

The hardest part of just being down the hallway is the detours I take to avoid walking in front of his room all day long and the resisting the urge to just go 15 steps and peek in on him!! It was the hardest part, but knowing that I want him to get adjusted before I come visiting, I'll resist the urge to see how he's doing. I'll wait until at least the first of October!! Plus, I know how things are as a teacher, and having parents pop in always made me nervous and usually set the kids reeling and not always in a good way!!

I loved hearing his first comment, "I had a fun day today!" That was music to my ears. Although I had to keep plugging away with questions to get more information from him about the day, I know it was an absolute success!! WAHOO!! He was even ready to go back the next day.

One of my favorite things is being on the other side of school stuff. I totally know the teacher perspective, but now I get to experience the other side, and that of a parent. I admit it might be a little harder than I thought to just go with the flow, not ask too many "what's up with this or that?", adn just accept things for face value. One of my favorite things though is going to be on the receiving end of the "homework folder". I loved looking through his backpack today adn pulling out that folder that he so carefully chose and peering inside to see what was waiting for me!! He had his first bring home sheet that I will definitely be putting in the scrapbook!!

Can you spell S-U-C-C-E-S-S !!!!!!

Awesome Team!

I know you've heard me say it before, but I am so priveleged to not only serve with these people but to call them friends! We are anxiously awaiting our new year to begin in 2 weeks. As has become an annual tradition, we took over Mike and Kristen's home for the afternoon. Mike grilled, we all ate good food, some played badminton adn volleyball, some cooled off in the lake, some just took it all in and visited. With our largest turnout ever, we all had an amazing time. Lots of laughter, getting to know the newest members (who by the way are already fully initiated into our family!), and just enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon. Thanks Mike and Kristen for hosting us again! It was a highlight and a great way to bring us all together to get set for another year of serving the children of Atlantic Shores! For those of you not there, we missed ya'll!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

It's Official!!

His name is on the door, he has a backpack hook, a ladybug marks his table space, and of course their is a behavior chart, now on "greeen", with his name on it! And more than just that, our names were on a Parent handbook! We have joined "that crowd"...parents of a school-age child!!

We went to Open House at School tonight, and met Grayson's teacher and saw his new classroom. We are excited for Grayson for this new opportunity. He got a chance to talk to his teacher, and I'm glad to know her a little already. Grayson actually opened up and talked to her as she opened the bag of goodies that we had picked out to give to her. I heard her ask if he was excited about school, and his response was "Yes, but I'm a little nervous too". She smiled and told him everything was going to be great and that he would love it there.

Although I am excited about him being here and all the wonderful things he is going to learn and do, I am most anxious to see how he will react day after day. I see some resistance in my future, but praying that it will not come. My sensitive soul can be wounded very easily, and I am thankful to have seen a mild-mannered boy sitting beside him at his table. We have also seen this incredibly "perfectionist" side of Grayson coming out lately and I worry about meltdowns if something is not done as he feels like it should be. Before you say so, yes, I know where he gets that from. Mom, maybe you can give me some tips as to how you dealt with "perfectionist" children!! Please pray that Grayson will just flourish in this environment. He is going to love the academics, will be fine with the routine and structure, and is going to love all the "specials" of gym, music, art, etc. It is the socialization, shyness, and being so hard on himself that worries me most. Overall, we are all excited about this new adventure for Grayson and know that he is in a great place!! We're ready for Monday morning-no kleenexes necessary!!

Santa's List

Thanks to Craig and Heidi for their friendship, the playdates, the laughter, but mostly for this...

...this latest addition to his Santa's Wish List for Christmas this year!! We'll need a house with a garage first, please Santa!!

Is this a vision of 12 years down the road?! Two hands please, at 10 and 2!!

Jumpin' Jellybeans!!

My goal for this week was to squeeze some fun time in as I've been working and he heads off to 5-days a week of preschool next Monday. Monday his best friend Candace, our sitter, came over and played while I had my weekly meeting at church. He just loves Candace to pieces and is already asking when the next time is!! On Tuesday, I decided to try something new with Grayson. We love Kanagroo Jacs, but knew there were others in the area. Coupons were in the Tidewater Parent magazine for Jumpin' Jellybeans, so we decided to go and give it a try. I put the call out there for anyone who wanted to come and join us and so Heidi and Katy came with the kids and met us for the morning. Other than 1 family, we were the only ones there. Yes, it was a little more expensive, entrance fees and snacks, but we had an absolute blast!! Grayson has said that this one is now his new favorite. They just seemed to have more of a variety than Jacs. We lasted 3 hours plus and then it was time to head out as a bunch of much older children swarmed the place. What a fabulous time, even for me as I always don socks with Grayson for a few things!! Jumpin' Jellybeans for sure!!

Oh, those 2 boys tried everything to stick to that wall, but all the stickiness must be gone!!