Change

A lot has developed the last few months. Between recovering from the cold-ish (but not all that cold at all) winter and all of the things going on this spring between two working parents, gifted and talented testing for Adam, Occupational Therapy for all three kids, Professional Acting and Modeling classes (Adam), birthday parties, and normal every day life... it seems that photography and this blog have taken a back seat.

I guess it's a good thing that we pulled Adam from his coach pitch team this spring, to his dismay... his "coach" turned out to be looking to sideline kids rather than teach the game. But we told Adam that there were too many conflicts in our commitments so we are going to try again in the summer. He was disappointed, but had not seriously bonded or connected with anyone on the team anyway, and when I asked how he felt, he said, "Well, I'm not happy about it but it is what it is," proving that he is more mature than most adults I know.

We turned in the little Nissan and got a new Town and Country Minivan because of the space concern... the kids were practically sitting on top of each other. While I'm not in love with the van, the kids needed the space and it comes fully loaded with leather seats, power everything, and a DVD player. So who am I to complain... except about the fuel economy?

We bought a new refrigerator because the old one was not able to make ice anymore, and that just made me fed up. We got a refrigerator that would allow the kids to have their own snack drawer and ice and water dispenser.

We also bought new couches, because the old one was so covered in dirt, falling apart at the seams and covered in rotten milk stains. The old recliner was falling apart as well, and we came to the realization that our almost 4 and 6 year olds were starting to get to an age where the spills and accidents would be minimal rather than completely inevitable, so we chunked the old furniture and got new stuff.

We sold our old triple stroller and the twins 5-point harness car seats to a friend who has three children in our similar situation, just 2.5 years younger. When I put them in the stroller, it was a good 160 pounds of child and not even possible to push it.

These new things coming in and old things going out are only reminders to me that these little babies have gotten big enough to drink from cups without spilling, clear the table, and walk into Target with me without being strapped into a cart or chased all over the store. I don't change any diapers anymore, and when I get asked for food, I say sure, go get it. When we pull up at home, I click some buttons, the doors open, and my three kids unbuckle themselves from their normal booster seats. It didn't happen overnight, but it sure does feel like it.

Planning for baby showers, a huge combined birthday party for all three kids, and a family vacation in June was enough... until we found out that the kid's school is closing due to low enrollment. The school is amazing and we are sad to leave the teachers and friends, but the parents are trying to coordinate so as many kids and parents can stay together, and possibly move to a brand new Montessori... which is basically right next door.

Claire and Colin have one more year of Pre-K. We have not decided yet whether to send them to private Kindergarten, but it doesn't matter yet. Some of it will depend on how well they do in thie new school and who their teacher's are. Claire, honestly, does not seem at all concerned about the school closing. I think she's been quietly "putting up with" her teacher, just a lot more calmly than when Adam "put up with her." She is a great teacher, but a bit dry and they find her hard to relate to. Claire just has been dealing with it. Also proving she's more mature than most adults.

Colin is excited because he thinks "new school" means that he's a big kid. We toured the new school yesterday and they loved it. Rabbits in the classroom. All new materials, same small-ish atmosphere. Adam liked it so much that he wants to go there for first grade, which they don't have. We are really pushing for their favorite afternoon teacher, Ms. Lisa, to go there. I've talked her up so much that if they don't offer her a job, they would be crazy. We also really hope Colin's teacher, Ms. Farida, chooses to go there. She's amazing.

So for Adam's school things are also up in the air. We are zoned for a school that he will not be going to. We put in a transfer to two different schools, really wish we could apply for a new charter that opened withing walking distance of the house... but ironically, we cannot apply because we are outside of the "boundary" while someone who lives 45 minutes away can easily apply. Of course.

He completed a first round of testing for the gifted and talented program in our ISD, but we have not received the results yet. I'm sure he will qualify for at least some GT services, but in our ISD there is also a program for the top 1%, and they are sent to one school so they can be with their other like-minded peers. We are not sure what is in store for Adam, but the suspense is killing me. All we know is that if it's not a charter, not either of the two schools we applied to transfer to, not the LEAP program... we'll find a good private school at least for now. The hardest part is just not knowing.

So for this summer, since the school closes June 2, we are going to give the kids a chance to do fun camps before enrolling them in the new school for summer care.

Adam is going to do a baseball camp and a golf camp.
All three kids are going to do a theater camp (Peter Pan)
Claire is going to do a dance camp.
Colin and Claire are going to spend several days at a gymnastics camp.

We are also throwing a huge pool party for their birthdays - Mermaids and Pirates theme, and go to Port Aransas for family vacation in June. So despite being super busy, I better get my act together, pull out my camera and get back to business documenting their awesomeness before I blink again and they are going to the mall by themselves and driving cars.