First Days of School

Well, Eli started school yesterday and Jax started his first day of preschool today! Eli came home after a looooong day of orientation, and he seems excited for what this second year of dental school has in store. From what I understand, it will be less focussed on the science academics and more focussed on hands-on and pharmaceutical training. It is exciting to feel like we are making progress in meeting our goal to get out of the "living as students" phase!

I am waiting for Jax to come home from Preschool right now. He is being taught by a woman in our neighborhood who studied Elementary Education at BYU and has works as the Primary President in our ward. Jax was thrilled to start preschool with Miss Emily today, and I can't wait for him to come home so I can hear all about it! I think they were studying the Letter A today, and each child brought 3-4 show-n-tell items to get to know eachother. He is in a class with 5 other kids, all of them are either 3 or 4 years old (I think). I hope he's loving it!

A happy, happy birthday!

Jax's birthday was August 21st. I can't believe that Jax is already 3 years old! That means he is starting preschool on Tuesday. That means that he will be in Primary in January. That means that he is getting such a mind of his own, learning how to write his letters, and knows how to spell his name. That means that he has memorized the speed dial on my cell phone and often ends up calling Cici and Big Daddy before I even know where my phone is.

Three means he wears big boy underwear day and night, and uses phrases like "Probably I could do that in a minute, mom" and "Just a minute, I'm just busy right now." Three means that he picks up on every tidbit of every conversation that goes on around him, and has no trouble repeating it at some convenient (or inconvenient!) future point in time.

Three means he is growing up too quickly, and that our little colicky baby is just a memory. I can't believe he is getting so big!

Jax is the best big brother. He amazes me with how well he is able to share and how aware he is of Ty's needs. If we give Jax some cake, he'll say "Ty wants some cake too!" He even shares his new birthday toys with Ty without hesitation--that is amazing for a three-year-old! (That's amazing for most adults, come to think of it!). He seems to be growing by the minute, and we love him so much. This morning he woke me up by singing, "Good morning mary sunshine, and how are you today? You brighten up the flowers, and chase the clouds away!"

Who wouldn't want to be me when I get to wake up to that happy tune in the morning? WE LOVE YOU JAX! I hope you had the best third birthday!

ps. I'll post pictures soon of cake, party, and fun times :)

the time has flown by

I can't believe we are leaving this week to go back to Arizona!

I thought our time in Atlanta was maybe going to last forever :( We have had the best time seeing friends and family at-will during our stay, and it has made me sooo homesick despite the fact that we haven't even left yet! While I am loving our time in Arizona {truly!}, being home this summer has given me a bit of an "itch" to get back to the South. There is something about the culture, the architecture, and the way of life that is so unique to the South. Every time I come home I realize that there are parts of this that I am missing...they have become lost over time due to my time out West (no offense to you westerners--there's just something about "home" that I can't find anywhere else). I love seeing frat boys in their polo shirts, khaki shorts, and chums. I love how the girls get dressed & accessorized, even if they are just going to Kroger. The magnolia trees, the HUGE pines, kudzu, and mist coming off of the 'Hooch...the thunderstorms and crazy lightening, while "Rainy Night in Georgia" plays over and over in my head and the most genuine smile smears across my face. That is the South, that is home. And I already can't wait until we make it back.