Put me in Coach

Luke and his coach, Dad, are enjoying flag football season!

Luke has been working on his touchdown dance for weeks…and he got to perform it this week!!!

Yahoo and FUN!!  Goooooo Bears!

Dad’s New Job

FIRST: “The Key”

 

SECOND: “The Job”

THIRD: “The Results”

 

Yep, Dad has signed himself up to be co-chair of the Longfellow Lions School Sign…no worries, the other chair, Cameron is a very good speller!

Dad was a little disappointed that the crowd did not go wild over his first effort.  Mom mentioned, “Maybe the word isn’t out yet that you are in charge?”

To which Dad brainstormed his next post, “Happy Birthday to Me, Chris Yokom.”

Side note, Dad, Cameron and Brynn had a great time tending to the sign today…they are unsure how much fun it is going to be in January :\

Sunday Night Football

Caleb and Luke had a blast hosting their first kid fantasy football draft tonight!

12 drafters and 12 super proud dads…their sons first fantasy draft…a dream come true for all

(I guess)!

Where’s my Wocker?

We tried to prepare Brynn that everyone was going back to school BUT her…but when the day came, she put her backpack on and insisted on back to school pictures.  Brynn also roamed the hallways at school saying,

“Where’s my wocker?”

 

Brynn’s transition to being the only kid at home happened very quickly.  Two days after school had started, Mom noticed a small cup of coffee in the kitchen.  Puzzled Mom said to Dad, “Are you only drinking this small amount of coffee this morning?”  Dad said, “I am embarrassed to say that Brynn and I have started to have coffee together in the mornings.”

I spy TWO kindergarteners!!

KINDERGARTEN WONDER

I wonder what you're doing right now
and if everyone is treating you kind.
I hope there is a special person
a nice friend that you can find.

I wonder if the teacher knows just
how special you are to me.
And if the brightness of your
heart is something she can see.

I wonder if you are thinking about
me and if you need a hug.
I already miss the sound of your
voice and how you give my leg a tug.

I wonder if you could possibly understand
how hard it is for me to let you grow.
On this day know that my heart breaks,
for this is the first step in letting my baby go.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gosh darn it kindergarten gives me a tummy ache.  I get a tummy ache because I know (from experience) that it is a down hill slide from kindergarten, and you two will officially get big on me at rocket speed from this point forward!

That being said, my tummy ache did not last long because when we got to the kindergarten room, Mrs. Wiisanen said, “Kindergarteners, I have goose bumps on my goose bumps because I am so excited to be your teacher this year.”

Jack Pot for Jayne and Mark…2 of Mrs. Wiisanen’s kindergartners!

 

   Rumor has it that Jayne was the cutest kid at school on Thursday…we tend to agree and refuse to reveal the source of this rumor was Bryce who is like a brother to Jayne :)

The send off of the parents from the kindergarten room was quite tearful for most.  Jayne noted this and attempted to look a wee bit sad, but acting is not her forte…and instead of crying she skipped quite happily to join her classmates on the rug as Mom, Dad and Brynn left the room!

On day 2 of school, an aide pointed out to Dad how awesome it was that Jayne already remembered her friend Mark’s name…a good laugh was had when Dad pointed out that you better know Mark’s name because he is your brother! 

 

 

 

 

Mark’s eyes were pretty big when it was time for good-byes, but he stayed strong.  Mom said, “We need you to be so brave for Jayne because you are her big brother.”  Mark didn’t say a word, but he kind of nodded his head.  All of the anxiety of the day and the previous days was quickly erased, and the after school report was, “I loved it…we went to recess and gym and library and music!” 

A great first day for a great 6 year old boy!

  

I spy a 3rd grader!!

       

Luke cooperated with “the” picture needs of the first day of school on his own EXTREMELY slow terms.  Every step of the morning took Luke 5 minutes longer than it should have, but in the end, his snacks were in the PERFECT spot in his locker and his supplies were in the PERFECT spot in his desk and his bike was in the PERFECT spot in the rack!

Luke was a one of a kind 2nd grader and with almost 100% certainty he will be a one of a kind 3rd grader…after all, he has been one of a kind since the day he was born!  May this mom and dad survive raising you to big because we are certain you will throw us a thank you party…we love you and every grey hair you are giving us Mr. Super Stubborn one of a kind 3rd grader!!

I spy a 4th grader!!

 

 

     

Caleb tolerated “the” locker and “the” room sign pictures necessary on the first day, and he tried to avoid “the” desk picture!  He rushed in saying, “You really don’t need to come in for a picture.”  Dad said, “Caleb, it will be easier and quicker if you just go with the flow.”  Mom said, “OF COURSE, I need to come in for a picture at your desk.”  Maggie, one of Caleb’s classmates said rather loudly, “At least my mom is not the ONLY one who had to come in here for a picture.” 

Well, who knew 4th graders were so cool…And just because I can, I said to Caleb, “How about a little thumbs up at your desk?!*”  It is so much fun being Mom :)

Back to School Bunch

This wild bunch is ready…ready for school 2012-2013!!!

 

The back to school bunch enjoys caramel rolls before their BIG first day!

Look out Longfellow…here we come!!!

Backpacks on, and of note, Jayne is allowed to sacrifice safety to preserve her hair today :) 

New bike locks set for a new school year.  The four letter word locks always are good for a smile!  I bet no one can guess what M-A-R-K chose for his code, and I bet no one can guess what the little girl with a P-I-N-K bike, P-I-N-K  shoes, P-I-N-K bow, P-I-N-K backpack, P-I-N-K nail polish and a P-I-N-K bike lock picked for her code!

The line was long to get a back to school picture by the sign.  When it was finally our turn, I called, “OK, Yokoms…get up there for your picture.”  The kids moved at turtle pace to their spots.  Gosh, something didn’t seem quite right, and that is when we realized we are missing Jayne.  I yelled, “Come back down Yokoms…we are missing one.”  Have I noted that the one big change of having 5 kiddos is that I must constantly count to make sure we have everyone…4 + 1 made 5 when Dad retrieved Jayne from the bike rack where she was finding her bike the perfect spot and visiting with everyone she knew and did not know! 

In the end, “CHEESE” by the sign crossed off of my list :) 

All signs are pointing to a great school year!!

Summer Conclusion

We had a GREAT summer!!

We relaxed…

 

We had a ton of fun with great friends…

We goofed off a little…

 

And now it is clear to see that we are ready to head back to school…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to school in 3 sleeps after a GREAT summer!!!