KINDERGARTEN

 This August, KEITH STARTED KINDERGARTEN!!  When did he get to be such a big boy?  When did all this happen?  I tell ya, he was just a tiny baby a few days ago, and now he's 5 1/2 years old and going to school!  They put the class lists on the inside of the glass - smart in case of inclimate weather, not so great for proud mommies taking pictures.  You can see me and Kiersten in the window... using that ring sling again!  And Keith is there in the orange shirt, too!

We got to go into his classroom... this did NOT impress me.  Luckily, when we went in for Kindergarten testing the next week, I was unable to withhold my concern over this and it was fixed by the next time we went into the classroom.

First Day of Kindergarten

We were among the first to get to school, so I let Mitchell play on the playground with Keith.  Outside the school, there is a large fenced in playground especially for the Kindergartners.  The classrooms all open up into this area so they can play before/after school and also for recess.

Just before going into the school.

My baby boy leaving school happy!

Our next door neighbor, who is also in afternoon kindergarten, though in the other classroom.  Mitchell wanted in on the picture, too!

To the left is Kalli's sister, Kymbr.  She started school a week earlier but it was fun to get all 4 of the kiddos in a picture anyway!

Bye Bye Baby

On May 25th, my baby boy graduated from preschool.  He'll be off to Kindergarten in the fall.  My baby is no longer my baby.  He is a big boy.  Oh, gosh!  When do they get so big?

 

The class of 12 sang a few really cute songs.  Keith did pretty well.  Usually he just smiles at the audience, but he actually sang this time!!  He wasn't dramatic like some of them, but he did move his lips and pay attention when it was his turn to hold up a sign (for the weather song) and played the maracas only when he was supposed to.  

  

 After the songs, "Miss Ashley" told a little about each kid as she gave them a diploma and cd of the pictures from the school year.  She said that Keith was a smart little boy and reads very well (we're estimating around a 3rd grade level).  She told about how her son, Cannon, tends to get lots of timeouts during class but failed to mention that Keith is usually involved!!  She's very sweet to leave that out, but I know the truth.  Cannon and Keith are tight so they either get in trouble together because they won't stop talking while she's trying to teach, or because they're young and haven't figured out that you can have more than a few friends at once and are fighting because one of them has decided to be friends with someone else that day.  

 

She also said that Keith's favorite snacks are raisins and crackers.  His favorite part of preschool was using the playdough.  And when Keith grows up, he wants to be just like his daddy!

To Mrs. Ashley, thank you for teaching my son!  He has loved it so much and looks forward to school because of you.  You are patient, kind, and have given Keith a starting point to his education.  Thanks for all you've done with him and for him.  

And to Keith, I hope you always enjoy school!  Kindergarten will be a little different, and 1st grade even more different.  But as long as you always seek out a good education, pay attention in class, read and soak in as much knowledge as you can, I know you'll become what you're meant to be.  You are a special little boy.  Your Mommy & Daddy and your Heavenly Father love you so much!  You have so much potential!  Live up to it!

Field Trip

Today, Keith went on a field trip with his preschool class to a pumpkin patch! We were nervous about this because it was introduced to him as a Halloween field trip and he's CRAZY afraid of Halloween! Right now, we have a grimm reaper hanging outside on our front porch and he's sound activated... Keith refuses to go play outside with his friends because he won't walk past it. So, I prepped him as we walked to preschool asking him if pumpkins we saw on porches were scary, if scarecrows were scary, etc. Everything was, so I went further and explained that he was NOT to climb on his teacher if he got scared, but to just hold her hand. (When we got his Halloween costume from a specialty store, he climbed up on Daddy and screamed and cried the whole 30-45 minutes we were in there.)

When he came home, he had me carry him past the grimm reaper into the house, but then he told me all about it. He LOVED it! He went on a hay ride, saw animals on a farm (he said the horses were nice but the pigs chased him and pigs eat people... woah!), went in a corn maze, and then got to pick out his own small pumpkin from the patch!! He said he wants to go again tomorrow! Oh, and he and his friend, Cannon, ate snacks together: fishies (goldfish) and a drink!

So, we're hoping that he'll do a little better with Halloween next weekend now!

Oh, and during all of this, I was at home with Mitchell and the teacher's daughter/Cannon's sister, Hazel. Mitchell is 20 months and Hazel is around 16 months. They both SLEPT! I got quiet time! Talk about a good day!

March to October

Haven't I already posted a "I'm a horrible blogger" post? Wasn't it 7 months ago!

Lots has happened in the last several months! Let's see what I can do to catch you all up...

March
We learned that my sister is pregnant with her first baby! We tried cloth diapers, but after buying so many diapers trying to find which ones ha
d the correct rise for Mitchell's long body, I had spent so much that I gave up because it would take that much again to get enough diapers that fit properly to make it worth while. So I packed them up for the next kiddo.

April
We learned that WE are having baby #3!! I'm so excited! In case anyone is unaware, we used herbs this time (rather than Clomid) to get my progesterone levels to where I was able to become pregnant, and we're planning our second home birth. I figure, even if I wasn't in love with home birthing, it'd be the best option for us anyway... considering Mitchell was born after a mere 1 hour 45 minutes from the first contraction. The time it'd take to recognize that I'm in labor, call the babysitter to watch the boys and give her time to arrive, give last minute instructions before leaving, and then begin the 30-45 minute drive to the hospital, we'd be risking having the baby in the car, and who wants to clean placenta out of a car?!

Also, Keith went through a cute stage of asking to sleep on the floor after having had some friends (Stephen and Joe) sleep over a couple times. This picture is of him tucking in Blue as they went to bed!

May
Keith ended his first semester in preschool. We had the annual Memorial Day Harvey Family Gathering, which was a blast as always! Sometimes the weather makes it uncomfortable (this year was great though) but the company and food always make any turn in the weather worth the endurance.

June
Keith won't stop asking if he gets to go to preschool today or not. I'm so glad that he loves school!!

July
I drove with Mitchell and Keith (no Ben) and Brenda (works in Chillicothe through my mom/aunt's company, but her daughter lives in SLC... she had been visiting and was headed home at the same time) to Missouri! We drove straight through on the way to Missouri, but stopped overnight on the way back home to Utah. Anyway, while we were there, I was able to visit so many friends! I spent time with my freshman roommate, Shanna and her little boy, Ethan... it was like we had never been separated! She is such an amazing person and I loved hanging out with her! I also was able to visit my cousin, Sarah, and my friend, Hope, in Warrensburg. All the visits were short but wonderful! I always wish I had more time for such wonderful people! An even shorter but just as enjoyable visit was with a friend from junior high, Alisha. Oh, and also Trinity! WOW, I did more traveling while on my two week vacation than I realized. I also threw a baby shower for my sister, who is having a girl that she plans to name Elizabeth Ruth. I loved the cake I designed for her shower, very cute. I also was able to attend my 10 year class reunion. It rained on us, and only a few of us made it out of the 14 left in our class, but I loved seeing how everyone had grown up so much! It was a pretty good trip, but never in the summer ever again. Missouri's summer humidity and heat were disgusting!

August
While I was in Missouri, Ben had my car and I had his. My car broke. It might just be the battery, or my suspicions are that the alternator is going out. So, no car for me until February, 6 months away. I had my ultrasound this month! Although the legs were close together and the official report does not state a gender, the tech decided I'm having a girl and we're going with it! KIERSEN HARVEY will be making her appearance sometime around January 4th. She doesn't yet have a middle name, but we're working on it.

Also, Mitchell got banged up pretty badly. Well, I suppose it looked worse than it was. We had his Uncle Bruce, Aunt Jordan, and cousins Zane and Noah over for grilling dinner. The back door between the dining room and outside was left open and he attempted to walk down the 2 stairs, despite not ever having walked down the stairs before. He went kersplat! right onto the pavement and scratched up his cheek, eye, and got a big ol' goose-egg on his forehead. Luckily, the bruise went away quickly and the cheek and eye healed fairly well. As of today (October), there is just a small spot above his eye to show where he got hurt.
Finally, we went to Lagoon for Ben's 4Life Summer Party. The boys both loved the slide at Lagoon-A- Beach! It was adorable how neither of them cared to do anything but walk up the stairs to the slide, slide down into Daddy's waiting arms, and then go back up to slide again! After lunch with the work group, we let Keith go on the rides. He went on the same one 3 or 4 times with something different in between and Mitchell sat quietly and patiently in the stroller. As it is every year, my flip flops broke right on time to go home. It was a really great day!

September
Keith started preschool again! HE LOVES IT! I'm watching the teacher's little girl (who has more allergies than any parent of a small child should have to deal with) during preschool hours. She's 4 months younger than Mitchell and very adorable! She cuddles with me as much as she can and is very quiet, though somehow she tries to scratch Mitchell's eyes out and her hugs come with a tackle to the ground. Mitchell doesn't fight back, which I love. When she's not chasing and he's not running and crying, they are so adorable together! Perhaps they'll become better friends as they grow up... like their older brothers! Hazel's brother, Cannon, and Keith have become great friends while in preschool. I love that! My big boy is getting bigger!

October
Today is only the third but there are lots of things planned. 3 months until Kiersten comes, and I'm so excited to meet her! Someone gave us a whole garbage bag full of the most adorable 0-6 month clothes, and another friend is sending more! I am so blessed to have great friends!

Okay, I'll get back here soon to get some pictures into this post. For now, I have to go make dinner....