Navy…is Navy. She is one in a million. At times, I ask where she came from. But then Trilby and Megan always remind me that she is just like the little Lindsey from back in the day. No wonder I am always a step ahead of her.
So lately:
One night as we pulled into home pretty late, I had her say her prayers from her seat. That way the kids just went straight to bed once we were inside. We couldn’t hear her very well, so as she mentioned “Jesus Christ” in the middle of her prayers, Micah and I thought she was closing her prayer and in unison said “Amen”. When she realized what had happened, she laughed, and I knew — I could have predicted — I DID predict that we would revisit this little scenario.
So for the following few weeks — wouldn’t you know it. Navy is always mentioning “Jesus Christ” by his full name in the middle of her prayer at some point. And it is classic. She says it, then pauses and peaks out of one eye to see if she caught anyone. This happened night after night. I thought it was hilarious. So just to give her creativity kudos, one night I acted like I messed up. She laughed so hard, and literally went to sleep with a smile on her face.
I love my little trickster, and HOPE that I am still one step ahead of her when she is 16!
I LOVE THIS BOY!
He is just getting better after a week of not feeling great. He whined unless I was standing up and holding him. It was a bit of a long week, but who could complain? I think it is teeth — the vampire ones. But it could have been a cold. Whatever it was, there was a whole lot of nasty diapers that came with it. I’m glad we are on the upswing, and especially glad that even sick — this boy is perfect.
Dash has some favorite things at 10 1/2 months.
He loves to be thrown up in the air.
He loves when I kiss and nuzzle into his neck.
He loves to kiss.
(Although he is getting stingier and stingier with giving them out.)
And he loves to do his tricks.
In totality, his tricks are:
-Waving bye bye
-Giving kisses
-Doing the Indian Call with the back of his hand
-Giving me five
-Nodding ‘no no’
-Clicking his tongue
and last but not least — his latest trick….
-giving zerberts
I give my arm one, and then he gives his own arm one.
It is kind of to die for!
Navy found quite the hiding spot when I called her to come help clean.
I only include this, because I like to depict all sides of my children.
And lately, one side I need to depict is the how one of my kids is neat and tidy, and another is disgusting.
Look below:
(In black and white to take the edge off.)
Do you know how many talks I have had with Miss Priss?
Wouldn’t you think this is a boy problem?
Not in my house.
My boy has the bottom pair of underpants.
But after a little investigation, I finally figured out the problem.
Micah told me that he always knows who didn’t flush the toilet.
(Another problem in and of itself.)
If it is full of tons of toilet paper, it is Scout.
If it is without any toilet paper at all, it is Navy.
So apparently, when I told her that she is going to be at preschool, and she needs to learn how to wipe her own bottom, she petitioned.
I tried to teach her, I watched her, I have talked with her over and over.
But when I finally told her that the next time I found a pair of skidded up undies — they were going on her pillow that night, she magically learned to wipe like a pro.
I guess tough love, and a little threatening is the secret sauce with Icka.
Scout very first day of Kindergarten was an hour orientation where we went with them and got a rundown of how everything works. Scout meshed really well, and when Miss Shih started calling out things to do in Mandarin, he looked around and followed suit. My biggest regret is that I didn’t have their bow ceremony (I call it that, but it’s not really named that) on videotape. Some of the kids come from Mandarin homes, so they were right on cue, but Scout was right there with them, and I was really impressed! So, we got the basic overview of everything. I also got a feeling for Miss Shih. She is intense. She has a reward system where you earn Chinese dollars. She told us the first day that just like in real life, if we lose money, we can’t go to the bank to get it replaced. So parent, “don’t call to tell me you accidentally washed the dollars because there will be no replacing them.” I LOVED it! I know it is intense, but it is definitely my style. She also told us that she is grateful to have four hours a day with our kids, so she will make the hours worth leaving them. Amen!
(Although, it is all well and good in theory — let’s see how it unfolds.)
SO the second day, was his official first day alone. I was nervous for him, but Scout has a knack for making friends. From the time he was little, he would always come to me at the park and tell me of the new friends he made. But I was still nervous.
Here is our big kindergartener with treats for the teacher on his first day!
Notice the orange backpack “to remember Jake while he is on his mission.”
Here is Miss Shih helping him remove his backpack before he lines up.
He seemed a tiny bit uncertain, but he played it pretty cool.
Navy was dying to leave him there.
(And I can’t believe I don’t have a picture of them together.)
Are you dying at his expression when the teacher started giving them instructions in Mandarin!
But just as my heart was being torn from me, he looked out at me and gave me back the “I Love You” sign.
Somehow, I didn’t cry.
Not because I wasn’t sad, or nervous, but probably because I was in utter shock.
-
I counted down the second until I got to pick him up. I was SO anxious to hear his response to his day. So when he walked to the gate, I waved excitedly at him. When he came through, I said, “Scout!!! How was it? How was your day?” He said, “Mom, that was fun!”
EXHALE!
I was so glad.
Thank goodness.
Halle-stinking-lujiah!
But just in case that wasn’t his response, I had a plan.
An afternoon at RoRo’s beach.
With best friend Royal.
And Grey.
And of course this innocent monster.
I have never seen Scout braver at the beach.
Maybe kindergarten put a little bravado in his step.
I have never seen Navy nastier at the beach.
She handmade this “toilet” so she could go potty in the sand.
Yes…she really did.
The hit was the otter pops.
Aren’t they always the hit.
Meanwhile, Dash was inside Brit’s house making his latest funny face.
All I have to say is that no matter how his day went, Scout was in heaven at the beach with his best friends.
I am just SO glad that the beach (with baths at the end) was just an added perk — not a way to make him feel better.
Long live school!
(For now.)
After we picked up Navy from her first day of preschool (which was a success — and she even listened to the teacher to keep her shoes on), we headed over to Scout’s elementary school to find out who his new teacher would be. It was a little nerve wracking, but kind of exciting at the same time.
It’s confirmed — my child’s life is in Miss Shih’s hand for the next 9 months.
Please, please, please love him the way I do!
We headed over to his classroom to check it out. The kids got ice cream from the school, and we met a few other parents who had kids in his class. He is in the Mandarin Immersion program, so this is going to be an exciting/interesting year.
Wish us much luck!
Xie Xie!
(The no shoes should be credited to Micah.)
This was a big day! It was Navy’s first official day of preschool.
(Although she spent over a month there last year during the cast incident.)
We made her lunch, and put it in the bag she decorated herself.
We got her backpack all filled up.
We laid out her outfit the night before, so the morning of, it was smooth sailing.
Scout gave her some great advice before she went out into the big bad world.
And wouldn’t you know it — Bella was there waiting to greet her!
After Bella, she saw RoRo and Grey, and she was completely excited to be there.
Here is most of her class (with a few stragglers, Scout and Grey.)
Notice, she is the only girl in a sea of boys.
Miss Dianne was a little worried.
I calmed her nerves and told her that Navy would probably hand pick it that way!
Scout thought he was the big man on campus — coming back to his alma mater.
So of course we got a picture with his favorite teacher ever!
And the soon-to-be favorite teacher ever for a second time.
But to be honest, I think she already holds that title from last year for Navy.
-
Miss Dianne, I hope this year is a success. Good luck with Navy, and I hope you can whip her into shape! If not, you are in good company! XO Her Mom
I might need to clarify about him being the cutest baby in the world.
He is the cutest baby BOY in the world!
Our beloved Jake is going to be leaving us for two years. Although he will be SO ridiculously missed, we are all so proud of him. What other 19 your old kid do you know who will put their life on hold to go and be completely selfless for two years? He leaves a boy, but will come back a man. Nice work Jake — and thank you for the terrific example.
It all started on August 23rd when we all went through the temple with him.
Then 3 days later, we went down to his ward to listen to his farewell talk. I especially loved the part where he gave me a shout out, “I always love when my Aunt Lindsey tells her kids ‘Denisons do hard things’”. After saying that, he looked at me with a huge smile, and I might have secretly raised the roof a little in response.
After church, we headed to their home and spent the day eating, hanging out and loving our last day with Jake.
It just so happened to be my birthday, and it was easily the best birthday I have had in years — surrounded by those I love and celebrating something so awesome. (Jake — not me!)
I love the bib that Megan got Dash.
It looks just right!
I created the “missionary tree” in their backyard. The rule is — if you go on a mission, you get your name carved in the tree. Bryan, thank you for letting me deface your tree.
A lot of our lazy afternoon was spent lounging around with Dash (who is really living up to his name lately).
Navy was on the go — and has about every cousin at her beck and call.
Scout was impressing us all with his climbing skills.
Once we got Dash out of his church get up, we put him in a big t shirt. I have said it before and I will say it again — I love a kid in an over-sized t!
-
As the day wore on, and the night drew near, we were all hating the fact that we needed to say our goodbyes. And we were all fine until Jake choked up, and then everyone lost it.
Scout is going to miss Jake “who always plays”.
Navy is going to miss Jake, her “favorite guy”.
We will all miss him a ton, but couldn’t be happier with how he has lived his life up until now. I cross my fingers that Scout and Dash (and Navy) grow up to be just like him. Determined, Self motivated, hard working, honest, kind, happy, BUT MOSTLY good. Good to the core.
-
We love you Jake, and can’t wait to see you in two years!
| DESIGN BY