Jacob's "banana" obsession

Jacob is OBSESSED with banana. Banana the color that is, not the fruit. Although he does like those too. He has invented his own color system. Green is "apple", red is "strawberry" and of course "banana" is yellow. Pretty smart! I think it has to do with the fact that his favorite blanky is yellow and therefore it became his favorite color, but at any rate, he loves everything "banana" and he will shout out everything he sees in that color. Banana trucks, jeeps, cereal bowls, suckers, foods, clothes, crayons, etc. And you better not decide to have something banana if he wants it...you'll break his tender little heart!

Note the banana shoes...

 and the banana tube...

and the banana slide he HAD to go down. The green one would not do.

See his banana cast?

And our amazing nursery leaders who brought him a giant banana sucker when he broke his arm! (And because they are just that cool, they brought one to all of them. But the banana one was for Jacob!)

Our zoo trip!

The summer ended way too quickly, and our good intentions of taking the kids to the zoo just didn't come to pass until we were into the fall. But that's okay, we discovered that the animals are a lot more active when they aren't cooking in the summer heat! Aren't we all? Grandma and Grandpa Foltz and Great Grandma Foltz were able to join us and it made for a funfilled day! Here are some of our highlights...

We have found it easier to keep track of the kids if they are all dressed the same, and taking off on Dr. Seuss's Thing 1 and Thing 2 from the Cat in the Hat (and a little inspiration from some shirts we saw in Jackson Hole) we dressed them to be easy to spot and boy were they! We received SO MANY compliments on their shirts! Now if we can just get our shirts finished that read "Yes ALL these 'Things' are mine!" We get asked this a lot, can you tell?!

Olivia loved being with Grandma!

The rhinos were a favorite! The kids were fascinated with watching them eat carrots!

Avonlea LOVED the animals! She would run up to the windows and in her little voice growl at them! She particularly loved the monkeys, the giraffes, the wild cats which looked just like house cats, and this porcupine. Go figure!

Jacob loved throwing pennies into the fountain. What a ham!

I am so lucky to have an amazing grandmother and even luckier to be able to create memories for our children with her!

She thinks she's the cats meow!

"Where's Matthew?" "I don't know. Probably climbing something."

A video of the kids dancing. Not very good and the one with Spencer was only about three seconds long, so this is it. We enjoyed it!

Spencer took a turn in Grandma's wheelchair. And the funny part...Grandma was following him "to make sure he doesn't go too fast and get away from her". So funny! I can just picture her chasing him down the pathways. Grandma, he'll fair better than you will!

John and the little boys...

...and the big boy! Oh how it brings joy to my heart that he is not too big to ride the carousel!

The traditional rhino picture!

This was the cutest thing! The little show stage played some pretty jiving music while we waited for the show to start and the kids made the most of it...dancing their little buns off!

I have a picture of me at this drinking fountain, as does John and we tried to get one of Olivia. This was the best we got. Seems lots of people want pictures at this drinking fountain!

Watching the animals!

Enjoying a rare zoo treat!

And Avvy with her famous big cheese! DON'T say cheese!

Grandma sneeking Jacob some candy on the sly. Isn't that what grandparents are for?!

Avvy did not like the carousel and wouldn't sit on it until I climbed up behind her. Darn.

So glad we got this opportunity to make these memories! And since it costs almost as much to buy a season pass for a family our size as it does just one day, we will be making many more trips this next year! Can we say everyone's birthday parties!?!

Avonlea...growing so fast!

Our sweet princess!

Such a ham!

Roasting her 3rd hotdog!

enjoying the Founder's Day parade!

These two (a little neighbor boy) were sharing this sucker!

Homemade rootbeer at the Founder's Day festivities!

                                                                      What a sass!

                                           Couldn't resist the baby in a swimming suit picture!

Love those Cheetos!

And the behind view!

Avvy found this puppy at one of John's races and she LOVED it!

That's a handful of licorice. And no one could have any!!

Most kids refuse to wear anything like this at her age...she refused to let anyone ELSE wear them!

First campout!

Finally...it's Matthew turn!

We have gone from this one week ago...

 

...to this! 

It has been a long week waiting for this day!

Matthew and Spencer have a picture just like this on his first day of third grade.













...and this on Olivia's first day of Kindergarten.

I thought I would have a few tears when I sent this little man to school, after all I cried with Spencer and REALLY cried when I dropped Olivia off for her first day, but Matthew was SOOO ready to start that I was just excited for him (and a bit relieved!). It's hard to think of activities for a kindergartener who has been reading for a year and all he can think about (and ask about) is when his first day will be here.

Have fun Matty! You are going to be great! You have prepared and are so beyond ready for this year. Just remember to enjoy it!












UPDATE: Matthew has found that he LOVES school! We knew he would! He is very well liked and has LOTS of friends- what do you expect from a social butterfly! Although he gets quite bored learning the things he has known for years - like the alphabet. He has had his seat moved three times for being a chatter box. When I asked him why he was talking, he told me he was done with his seat work and helping the other kids! His teacher told him that ALL the kids in the class are smart to which he replied "Yeah, but not as smart as me!" We're working on humility! :)