Kiss the Cook

When we were painting the kitchen Jaxon found my apron (that I never wear) and wanted to try it on. I had to fold it up to fit him. I stupidly forgot to take a picture of the back since he was just wearing underwear at the time.









Things have been really busy getting into the swing teaching school for Mommy and Daddy and Jaxon going to Daycare and Preschool. Also coaching junior high football for Daddy. He actually has a lot of kids out this year which is a first for him since he's been here. Not much else to report. Jaxon still loves Preschool and so far is doing pretty well. He has impressed his teacher with his coloring skills. He has been into coloring since he was 2 1/2. We'll see if he gets his Daddy's artistic talents but I was told I was quite the colorer back in the day.

Uncle D's Motorcycle

My brother got a motorcycle and he came this past weekend with my parents to visit so we got to see it. Jaxon took a few rides with him. He loved it so much that he wanted to ride all the time. They just rode around town but he was ready to go on a long trip to Grandma's - Mommy doesn't think so! He was so excited to ride that he slept in his riding clothes (jeans and a T-shirt) just so he'd be ready as soon as Uncle D said he'd take him for a ride.

This is my favorite pic. Notice the rock-n-roll sign.


Grandpa helping him get ready.

Homemade Playdough

Tuesday, I made homemade playdough for my kids at school so I made some for Jaxon too since most of his playdough was dried out. I like to have playdough at my kids desk at school for them to play the first day while I'm putting up supplies. That way they are entertained without making a mess with other stuff.
Jaxon loved making it. My mom used to make it for me when it was little and it's the best stuff. If you don't let it dry out it will stay really well. You just don't get all the cool colors from the store bought stuff.

Here is the recipe:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 t. cream of tartar
1 T. vegetable oil
1 cup water

Mix together and cook over medium heat until mixture forms a ball. I lay it out on wax paper and knead well. Keep in covered container. For colored playdough, add food coloring before cooking.







Of course we made yellow (favorite color) and red (second favorite).


Jaxon had just had preschool so he wanted to make his name with the playdough. He did it all by himself until we got to the N then I helped.

1st Day of Preschool!

Today was Jaxon's first day of Preschool! I can't believe it! He has been so excited all summer. When he woke up this morning we told him we'd take pictures and he said, "No, you're not going to the school with me. I'm going by myself." We explained that we weren't going to the school but we'd take pictures at home. Fortunately he let us take pictures as long as we weren't going to his school. I guess I should be glad he's being independent instead of clingy. I'm glad he wants to be a big boy now but he's not very consistent like he carried his bag to the daycare then to Preschool but when we got home it was just too heavy to carry inside. We were like, "I don't think so." He only wants to be a big boy sometimes but we said that's not how it's going to be.
We took him to Daycare this morning then our friend who is his Preschool teacher, Ms. Brandee, picked him up and dropped him off. It's a big help because we don't know until school starts what our schedule will be and I can't really just leave my class for 10 minutes to pick him up or drop him off without coverage and a whole mess. I was kind of sad I don't get to do that but I look at it different because next year when he's in Kindergarten I'll be right there so it's not too big of a deal.
Ms. Brandee said he did pretty good and did a nice job coloring (his favorite thing to do with his favorite color yellow of course). I heard he was a little upset when the kids were being dropped off because they were getting pictures and he wasn't. Some other moms took pictures of him so he got over it. I don't think he really missed us he just thinks he has to be in all the pictures.
He only has Preschool on Tuesday and Thursday so I think he's going to be a little disappointed tomorrow when he doesn't get to go. I've been preparing him that he's staying at Julie's all day tomorrow so hopefully he'll remember and not get upset.
Blake and I started school today too. We had inservice today and tomorrow. The kids come for half-day Thursday then full-day Friday.

He was so proud of his Batman backpack.


Even though I don't really like taking pictures, I wanted a record to show how tall he was next to me so we can look back when he's taller than me.




Hopefully someday he'll be taller than Daddy too! We are hoping for a basketball player!




It was rainy today. Can you believe it?




You can see more pics of his classroom at his Preschool's Blog.

Scorpions and Smells

I kind of wrapped up our Texas trip in the last blog but I did leave one thing out because I felt it needed a blog all it's own.

When we went to Caldwell so my mom could take her photography class, we got to stay in a house that the man who was giving the photography classes owned. It was a pretty new house and very nice. BUT when we walked in there was this smell that hit us right away. We all kind of looked at each other but he never said anything. I thought that was just how it smelled and we'd get used to it. Well there was no getting used to it. I've never smelled it before but Blake said it smelled like dead mice. It was so strong and was all over the house. Finally, the first night Blake decided he would look for the smell to see if he could get rid of it. He went in the laundry room and decided the smell was definitely coming from there. As he was investigating he saw this:


SCORPIONS!

So they were little dead ones but still! Combine that with the smell of something dead and we were all freaked out. We found out that scorpions are very common in that part of Texas. Supposedly we would not see a live one in the house because they crawl along the walls and there were those sticky white pads all over the house. We were wondering why nothing was pushed against the wall.



We spent 3 nights there. My dad came the next day. We had kind of contained the smell by shutting the laundry room door but every once in awhile we'd get a big whiff so we decided it was traveling through the A/C so my dad got an air freshener to put in the vent which really helped. We kind of got used to the scorpion thing (as much as you can) and didn't see any live ones. Thank God!
We still had a good trip but it made for an interesting story. And if you go to Texas beware of the Scorpions!

Leaving San Antonio

After 2 full days in San Antonio we headed over to Caldwell, TX so my mom could take a photography class.

Jaxon looked forward to this the whole time we were packing - riding the empty luggage cart.




The day after we got to Caldwell, my mom started her class and the rest of us went to Austin to pick up my dad from the airport. Jaxon was so excited to be in the airport. His favorite part was riding the escalator and watching the luggage go around. Unfortunately we didn't get a good look at the big planes since you can't go to the gate because of security. We had a fun time people watching while we waited.

Here's Jaxon and Blake looking around while we wait.


The next day was my mom's birthday. My dad thought he couldn't be away from the farm all week but he flew down so he could be there for mom's birthday. She was in class all day so we went to Bryan and watched Ice Age 3. That night the guy giving the classes took everyone out for Mexican food and they sang to my mom. We got some cheesecake and champagne to celebrate later.











The guy giving the classes let us use his pool so Jaxon still got to swim.






We left on Sunday, July 26 and headed back Sunday, August 2 and finished coming back to Kansas on August 3. We stayed the night in Lewis and finally got back to Satanta on August 4. We had a great time but were exhausted. Ever since we've been busy getting ready for school and it's almost here. The teachers go back August 18 and the kids come the 20.

Market/Boat Ride

The second full day in San Antonio we went to the Market in the morning. Jaxon wanted almost everything we saw. He did end up getting a wooden recorder. We ate at a restaurant in the Market and had Mariachi band sing for us. Jaxon was dancing to their music until they sang at our table and then he looked kind of scared.
In the afternoon, we went for a tour guide boat ride on the Riverwalk. Jaxon was excited to ride the boat. It was only about 30 minutes long but it got hot. Jaxon even laid down for awhile. The best thing about the boat ride was that we found the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. YUM! So as soon as we got off we went there to get some chocolate truffles and fudge. Then I took the bus back with Jaxon so we could relax in the motel. Daddy and Grandma went to the Alamo. I had already been there twice and Jaxon was getting fussy and I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate the history so it was a good choice.
That night we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe. Not only was it really good atmosphere the food was really good also.

Trying on hats in the Market.








Unsure about the band.


Playing his recorder for money.




Boat Ride











Heaven - I mean the Choclate Factory!


Hard Rock




Jaxonism:
* I love your face Mommy! (my favorite)
* He heard Frere Jacque from something and he sang it Fred and Jacque.
* When Blake was working in his room Jaxon was with him and he had his music on. Jaxon was singing to it and was even singing it later.
This is what he sang - Thank you, for letting me, beat myself, again!