James is 3!

James just turned 3 years old, but we've been celebrating all September!

Newest thing about our little guy~ lately, he has become an endless chatterbox! And I love it! He often will tell me precious things such as: "Mommy, I love you!" or "Mommy, come play with me! You be Emily and I'll be Thomas (the tank engines)! or "You be Towmater and I'll be Lightning McQueen!" I am sooo grateful for him and how totally fun, bright, and special he truly is in our lives!

And, regarding the fire fighter suit, James went to the fire station on a field trip with his preschool group this past week, and one of the moms there was sweet enough to take his picture and e-mail it to me...since I forgot to bring our "dinosaur" of a camera.

September...at laaast!

What a relief that summer is over! I usually enjoy summer, but this past summer was a bit wild towards the end! After a busy and funfilled July with visits to and from both Larry's and my family, I started potty training James the last week of July. On the last day of July, I amputated the tip of my left thumb and made a visit to the costly ER! Sorry no pictures! :( Both Larry and I each had a bout with poison ivy for a couple of weeks in August. And the last week of August, Larry's lovely blue Ford Taurus (12 years old, now) has finally become too sick to repair...we're letting it go! :(

With poison ivy gone, my thumb almost healed, and the weather cooling off tremendously, September has brought lots of new events in just this first week! So far, Larry's 2nd year of teaching has gone great!

Last Tuesday, September 1st, James started pre-school-- homeschool style! 5 other mothers and I have collaborated together in planning out a schedule of rotation in teaching, assistant teaching, themes, concepts, and skills for each week for this coming fall, winter, and spring! It's somewhat modeled after the Joy School model, but we chose not to follow their curriculum. Needless to say, I hosted the preschool at our house and taught this past week! It was great fun, and James thoroughly enjoyed it! I'm going to make the most of these next 3 remaining years before James starts Kindergarten in 2012!

Circle Time. James is in the blue shirt, sitting to the far left.

he class! James is in the first row on the far right!