Cams' Preschool ( and other happenings!)

Today Cameron joined the world of preschool. He had been very excited and had asked most every day of the 3 1/2 weeks that the older kids have been in school if it was his turn to start school yet. There had been lots of smiles and jumping and squeal's of delight from him in preparation for this event. Then today arrived. I had to wake him up this morning at 8, which was strange since he usually is awake between 6:30 and 7. I reminded him that this was the day he would get to start as he was opening his eyes. Things got very serious from that point on. " I need to get dressed now.", he says to me. So we get him dressed and then he explains that he doesn't feel like eating breakfast. I told him he needed " brain food" for preschool and that we can't go until he eats something, so he agrees to eat a banana. I wanted to get some pictures before we left and He was unable to smile very much for those as well. This preschool stuff was serious business to him, like a right of passage, placing him in the "big kids" group at home! The above picture really captures these feelings. Check out the body language!

Here is Cam entering the building, still no smiles.....

...entering the classroom without even a "Hello" to the teachers or goodbye to Kian and I( It's a good thing we were following him in!)

and sitting on the rug ready for things to get started( too bad he was the first one there!)

Now he is listening to the teacher greet him. I asked for a hug before I go and he runs at me like a football player in attack mode and just about Knocks me over! I receive a very aggressive bear hug and kiss and then it's back to business. So Funny!

And here he is right after coming out of the classroom eager to show me the paper he is to give me. Very Serious stuff!


In other news, we spent 3 days in the hospital last week with Kian. He caught a virus that went to his lungs and he was having great difficulty breathing. That was quite an adventure figuring out what to do with the kids while John was at work and I was at the hospital. We are grateful to some wonderful friends who came to the rescue (Thanks Kelly and Stacy!) Cameron even got to go to work with Dad on Thursday which he very much enjoyed!

Kian getting a breathing treatment one morning after we were home.

On Labor Day we were sitting around trying to think of a way to entertain the kids. John decided that since so many of them had been asking to paint, we should just do it, and do it BIG!

This is the kids painting in the garage. I love this picture for how much it shows. We have Ashlee in the background who has already painted on both sides of the paper and is just staring to stick her hands in the paint ( more on that to come), Cameron who is actually catching a bug on the cement, Kian is painting on the garage floor, Tori is giving out some kind of directions or command to Braxton who is paying her no attention, and JJ has a look on his face that tells you exactly what he thinks about whatever Tori is saying ( i know it is sort of hard to see when the pic is so small.)

Tori takes artwork very seriously as you can tell. She took her time and drew a beautiful , distinguishable, picture.

Braxton and Kian were very quiet most of the time and had lots of fun together.

JJ seemed to find it hard to sit even though he was enjoying himself. I love that he made himself a "palette" with all those colors, and then pretty much only used black.

And then there is Cam and Ashlee who exhibited what preschool painting is all about... hands (and feet) on messiness!!

This is about when the real fun started!

Cam about to dip his foot in Braxtons' paint.

Ashlee making hand prints.....

and footprints....

And the finished product!!! ( notice that Tori is still painting her sweet little picture despite the chaos around her!

Ashlee after the fun! We got out the hose to clean off the participants and a water fight began between John and the boys. It was a great way to finish the activity!