Dakota's First Day of Preschool

Last August we tried to enroll Dakota for preschool. They were full so we were on the waiting list. The director called us last week, and they had an opening. I asked Dakota if he wanted tot go to school and he said "YES!" He would not quit talking about it. Tuesday was Dakota's first day of school. The weather was crappy. We had less than an inch of snow and ice that fell late morning. The public schools were on a two hour delay, therefore the preschool was still in session. I walked Dakota in. As soon as we were in and met his teacher, Mrs. Plummer, he acted as if I weren't even there, an didn't notice when I left.

I picked him up, and his teacher said that he did great. He fit right in. Wednesday and Thursday went about the same. Although Thursday he got lost among the other parents in the hallway when we were on our way to hang up his coat and bookbag. He got upset and was crying. Then he had a hard time letting me go. But it didn't take long for him to cheer up, and have a good day.

He is attending Old North Methodist Preschool. Is is one of the best preschools in Evansville with a great Christian environment. I am anxious to see how much he grows in the 4 months they have left of school. I know he loves to play, and enjoys being around other kids. It's the structure that he will have a hard time with.

Extra Large Legos

Dakota got more blocks for Christmas. He had only a handful before that, that came with a firetruck. He is really into building towers! The other night while Jassen was at work Dakota and I built a couple of houses and built our fair share of towers. I dont' have much of an imagination when it comes to playing with cars, but I do enjoy building stuff with him. Here are just a couple after I finally thought about getting the camera out.

Mammaw and Pappaw Clark

Christmas Eve we visited with my Mammaw and Pappaw Clark since we wouldn't be able to make Christmas Day. Monica, Matt, McKynley and my Dad joined us. M & P have a stash of older Thomas trains, and Dakota knows where to go when we visit it them. Each and every year my grandparents put a Christmas village complete with a train. Dakota had to warm up to Pappaw, and they were watching the train go around town. Pappaw gave the "whistle house" to Dakota so that he could blow the whistle. Dakota liked it, but he couldn't play with them like he could play with Thomas.

The group picture is of my Mammaw, McKynley, Pappaw, my Dad, myself, Dakota, and my sister Monica.

Dakota's First Time Bowling

Jassen was off for about a week and a half during and after Christmas. One day we were sitting around doing nothing. And he's like "Hey, wanna go bowling?" Ummmm, okay. So, we went to a bowling alley just down the road. Dakota had his own ball, and insisted on handly it himself. We had the bumpers put up just for him. We never thought a bowling ball could travel soo slow. The "sweeper" at the end would sometimes come down before his ball would get there. The funny thing is that Jassen and I tied with of score of 90; Dakota bowled an80!

Jassen was thinking we could bowl about 3 games. Hah! We barely finished one. Dakota really enjoyed it. We should have let me bowl all he wanted. But since we took turns. He was in and out of wanting to bowl. If he wasn't bowling, he was playing with Thomas and Percy (his trains). And so we only bowled one game. But we did have a good time!

Christmas 2007

I have to say... Shame on me. I was too worried about recording Dakota that I totally forgot to take pictures. The only picture I have is of Dakota and Jassen in Dakota's new "Cars" tent. The other pictures are of our travel to my parents' house and my grandparents' houses. You all know I am a go-go-go person, and I love every minute of it. Visiting all day Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is something I've done since I was a little girl. Jassen on the other hand still doesn't get as excited as I do. :) He does love his in-laws. IT's the going all day for two days that he doesn't like. Dakota enjoyed playing with cousins which whom he may not have seen in a few months. We really enjoyed seeing and visiting with each and every one of them. We were really blessed with the gifts we received. It was another great season to remember.

Arden's Party

Dakota was invited to Arden's 5th Birthday party. Arden is the daughter of Jassen's friend "Fincher". She had her party at the Owensboro Museum. After the kids had cake, and Arden opened her presents the kids had the chance to roam the childrens area upstairs. Dakota loved running around the play areas, looking at the life-size dinosaur, trying new gadgets, etc. They had a COOl treehouse for them to climb in and then slide down a slide. I told Jassen we needed one in our backyard. :) You will notice in one picture I am doing a "weather report". They had this set up just like one of the local stations weather room. Jassen talked me in to doing. While he was taking the picture you could hear people behind him giggling. Oh well, kids will be kids. :) We all had a great time.

It's Christmas Time

Last Sunday I decided to finally get the tree and my decorations out. If I didn't get them out, then I probably wouldn't have. I have been soo busy with making boards, and babysitting my niece. Dakota was sooo into helping us out. I couldn't get a box open without him taking stuff out and finding a "place" for it. It was nice this year because Jassen decided to help, and also Dakota being old enough to help. We really enjoyed it. Now the front dining room is really jammed. A few of you know what I am talking about. :) It is a VERY multi-functional room right now. :)

My Cousin Joy Kaye's Wedding

My cousin Joy Kaye got married on December 1st. It was a nice little wedding. She got married a little country church that she grew up going to. It was shorter than Jassen and I's wedding! After the wedding we went to the reception. We had a lot of fun. Dakota LOVED dancing with the girls. He would rather them hold him, than stand there and wiggle. :) We had a group photo of all the grandbabies and my Dad and Kathy (and Monica too). Monica had her try at the Electric Slide. I couldn't believe she didn't know the dance steps. Even I did, and I don't dance! My brother Heath had a grand time too. :) The picture of me and another girl is a girl I went to elementary school with!! Her name is Tonya Wathen. She is dating a cousin of mine. We were both excited to see eachother, and catch up. She told Jimmy (my cousin) "I used to stay the night at her house". When Kathy told me her name was Tonya I knew exactly who she was. Crazy. Needless to say we didn't get home until after 10 because it was in the Big "O". But we enjoyed it.

My little niece :)

How cute is she? My niece is now over 2 months old. She is growing like a weed. She has no problem eating. ( Which is a good thing.) I have the pleasure of keeping her since Monica went back to work. Right now she is not a needy baby, and things are going great. Dakota tries to help out quite a bit. He obsessed with her pacifier. He is always saying "I feed her, I feed her." and shoves it in her mouth. She's a cutie patootie!

101 Ways to Play With a Clothes Basket

Okay. We have been moving things around in our house since we took it off of the market. I bought little clothes baskets for upstairs since we don't have room for our "cart" anymore. I had taken a load downstairs, and emptied the basket. Dakota then started using his imagination. He loads his cars in it, sits in it, puts it on his head, throws it, tries to put it on Mom or Dads head, uses it as a helmet when he's riding on Dads back, and put clothes in it that have already been folded. Ohhh the possibilities are endless. Enjoy these pictures of Jassen and Dakota "horsing" around this day.