Charles. I always thought that there couldn’t be many other places where you could see so many colors at glance other than the mountains. Up here though, the foliage seems to be everywhere. Our back and side yards capture its beauty quite well.Over the last three weeks or so, (where I left off) we have been taking in the new season with gusto! School has now set in as just a part of our routine. JD, you were recently Student of the Week at your school. Each “SOTW” has to create a poster of his or her own.
This poster is filled with, things you like, don’t like, what you want to be when you grow up, three wishes, all sorts of things. I gave you a bunch of magazines to get started and you began to cut out pictures applicable to the questions/statements on the poster. You cut out a picture of KG (what you want to be when you grow up), candy (things you like), ect, ect. When you had finished you probably cut out about 20 things in all. As mom and I were looking through the things you, “Don’t like” we saw that you randomly cut out a picture of an old lady? Mom and I laughed and laughed at this, as it was such a strange picture, not to mention we had no idea you didn’t like old ladies! I asked you what Ms Delong thought of your picture, and you mentioned that she liked it, but also laughed at the old lady.
Each night after dinner and before your shower JD, you do homework. Usually math and reading. You have been so enthusiastic about this each and every night. In fact, on the nights that you don’t have homework, you pull out one of our little Pokemon math books and you pick out an exercise to complete in place of school homework. I think you have already done more homework in one-year, then I have done in all of my years. I hope in starting homework so early, it will help to formulate a routine that you can stick to for years to come. I could never sit still long enough to do it, couldn’t stand it.
Adam, you have been taking to school too. Last night you were showing all of us the Wiggle Dance and the Shoe Dance, which you had learned the day prior. You’ve been on field trips and are learning colors, shapes and painting a lot. You love to create, just like your Mom and Nana. You do some sort of coloring/painting everyday at home. Mom moved her art nook up to the attic and both you and JD have set up a space for yourselves too. The three of you have been up there regularly painting pictures and pumpkins.
Speaking of pumpkins…we were fortunate this year to have a neighbor down the street selling them for a
max of 4 bucks. Pretty good size too. It always amazes me how much they cost when you buy them at the store or at a farm stand, but this year we lucked out. One week night after work the four of us decided to walk down to find out what the pumpkins looked like. Adam traveled in his favorite mode of transportation (his wagon), JD was on his bike and stopped to say hello to the
horses, and Mom and I stocked up on coffee, as it was very brisky on this night! When we arrived you both picked up your pumpkins and off we went. It was a gorgeous night for a walk.Adam, one day a few weeks ago you were excited that it was raining outside. This puzzled Mom and I a little but we didn’t think much of it. A bit of time went by and before we knew it you were naked and
running around in the back yard! You where playing baseball, running out your “Homeruns” and eventually playing in an almost full-of-water flowerpot!! Quite the site for the neighbors I’m sure.PopPop also came down to help us out with work, as he often down. He roto-tilled a portion of our yard for a vegetable garden that Mom has wanted to work on for next year. She really loved to see you both get excited about going to the garden this year and grabbing peas and tomatoes, washing them (occasionally) and eating them up! PopPop also helped out by chopping
down a dead tree that Mom wanted to take care of. This will also help us with wood for the stove next year. Mom enjoyed spending time with her Dad very much on this day. She appreciates his work and willingness to help very much. Adam also enjoyed PopPops trip down as he immediately brought me out to see the downed tree in the yard when I arrived home!Mom and I were able to get both of your rooms done for the first time since we’ve lived here. They were kind of haphazardly thrown together for a while, not real boys rooms. We worked all weekend on getting these rooms complete. You both were a big help, sometimes too big of help!
Adam, you’re room is filled with Chameleon and Baseball pictures, stuffed animals and a bright colored birdhouse. JD, you have your red sox stuff, some Pats things, your animals and some cartoon people (I forget what they’re called). We are on the right track with your rooms now and can only improve them from here on out. I look forward to adding things that represent your interests, as you get older!We’ve done a lot of yard and housework lately so last weekend was a little different. Saturday started out with a soccer game for JD. I have to say, JD it was the best sporting event we’ve had for you thus far. It was as intense as a little guy’s game can get. Our team usually kills the teams we play but this week was finally different. We played another team that had some good players and they scored right off the bat! This surprised our team and immediately the game was on! The parents were into it too. Lots of cheering and hollering! Everyone kept in perspective that this was a little kid’s game and no one was out of hand, but certainly took it for what it was.
At one point of the game you had a breakaway and a wide-open shot when out of nowhere their best player came and slide tackled you! About two minutes later the same situation occurred and you put a little move on him, then with one touch, popped the ball right into the back of the goal! So fun! Then later in the game one of the other coaches decided to put you in net. You saved every shot and threw the ball out over everyone, just like we practiced. Throwing NOT like a baseball, keep you elbow cocked until you release! I must say, this was real weird for me. To have my son in goal, just as I used to be, playing against a real (all relative) team! I had some of those old feelings come back from when I played years and years ago. I kept my mouth quiet when it came to coaching you for this game, but at the end congratulated you and told you that you played well. It was a drizzly, rainy, muddy day and the kids had so much fun!
After this game, we were off to Chad and Ash’s house for a pre-pumpkin fest gathering. We arrived here around 12:30 and hung out with the Merwin’s, Hamers, Ferchenzy’s and some others for
a while, before walking to Somersworth for the festivities. Here Adam painted a pumpkin, decorated (and ate) a cupcake, made a scary mask to wear and played some little kid games. JD was able to play pumpkin bowling, pumpkin basketball, pumpkin golf and some other funny, pumpkin-smashing games. Both of you boys loaded a pumpkin of your choice into a catapult and watched it go about 30 feet high before it smashing down on the payment. Yes, we are in Maine.
After the walk back to the Ferchenzy’s we had tons of food and some yummy fall drink. Pumpkin brownies, two types of chili, nachos, and many more desserts. The kids were off playing for the entire time and there were quite a few of you. Eventually the Chad’s and I joined you guys for soccer and leave throwing! Afterwards, it was time for a fire. Always a nice way to wind down kids and dogs, not to mention us adults. Mom spent time with baby Viv Hamer to accommodate her baby fix and there was puppy there that Adam had fun playing with too. We arrived home around 9:00 on this long fall day.
You both have progressed in your relationship with each other since school has started too. There is certainly still fighting, tattling, wrestling, and stealing but there is also a sense of camaraderie that I haven’t seen before. You guys are sticking up for each other when the other gets in trouble, playing for hours together, talking and laughing, and when one of you wakes up in the morning you go right over and wake the other. Yesterday while JD was in school, Adam was found in JD’s room just standing. When Mom found you Ad, right away your quivering lip popped out. Mom asked what was wrong and you shrugged your shoulders before breaking down. Mom asked if you missed your brother and you said, yes. On this day you were excited to see your big bro hop off the bus and he was just excited to see you greeting him in the driveway.
