Will's 1st Day of School

After a long and relaxing summer we say hello to another school year for Will. He is returning to the same school and teachers he had last year. We Love Mrs. Peaches and Ms. Jeannie they are so wonderful with Will and when you are with them you can tell they really love what they do and that they are doing what God called them to do. Will did so great in their class last year and we are expecting the same this year too.

To share a little history with you faithful bloggers....Last April when Will turned 3 we had some big decisions to make, he still needed speech therapy and the federal programs that had been paying for it thus far end when your child turns 3 then you go through the county school system. Since our personal insurance would not pay for speech therapy and it is very expensive we started the process with the school board to get him tested and see what he would qualify for. He qualified for a pre-k class with children 3 - 5 years old that focuses on speech, communication and social skills, all things that Will really needed help with. The only catch is that he would have to go full time. I was so nervous about sending him to school at such a young age 5 days a week 6 hours a day, I mean he is only 3, he is still practically a baby. I am a stay at home mom, this is my time with him he is supposed to be with me during the day. These are all the things that went through my mind. It had been a decision that I prayed and cried over. When Bill and I went to visit the class and meet Mrs. Peach we both had a peace and knew this was where he needed to be. When he finally started last April he made the transition so smoothly, I really think it was harder for me than for him. The teaches reported back to us that he was happy and content being there and didn't give them a bit of trouble. He was only there for 3 months before summer break and during that time we saw so much progress in him, his personality, his speech and the way he engages with us and his brother. It just confirmed that we made the right decision or should I say that God once again as always directed our steps perfectly.

I share this story as a testimony of just one of the many ways our loving heavenly father has blessed us this year. And I hope that it will be an encouragement to our blog readers of God's faithfulness. A few scriptures that come to mind as I think about this whole process with Will are Psalm 142:3 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way & Psalm 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. God is in control, God is faithful

and God answers the prayers of his children, not always the way we expect but always in his perfect time.

We are looking forward to another great school year!!!!

Cousins

Last weekend we were so excited to be in Orlando with Bill's family. His Mom came in from Washington DC and his brother Dan & wife Olya came from overseas with their boys Daniel & Anthony. Since they live overseas we only see them once or twice a year so the few moments we are all together are precious. I am amazed at how much the boys have grown physically and how much they have matured. Daniel is taller than me, he is 13 and a very handsome young man. We are thrilled that he is attending school this year in Florida and are looking forward to spending some time with him. Anthony is very sweet and quite the charmer, he played so nicely with Will and Wyatt. The picture is of the youngest boys watch Finding Nemo one evening in bed, it was so cute watching them. It was such a nice visit, we only wish it could have been for longer.

Sci-Port Discovery Center

Another one of our outings in Shreveport was to Sci-Port Discovery Center. The boys...and the adults all had a blast. They had some really cool activities. The Domino table was a big hit, it had patterns and stairs where you could place the domino's for really cool effects. The boys both enjoyed the construction truck, the inside of the truck had a video image of a construction site with all the noises and sounds like you were really there moving around. I think Bill enjoyed the batting cage the best. It was a fun outing for us. I think as the boys get older it will be one of their favorite spots to visit when we go to Shreveport.

The Big Slide

While visiting my mom this summer we went to Party Central one day to let the boys get some energy out. It was a really cool place with an indoor playground,video games and rides. The best part was that it was indoors and air conditioned. We were waiting for our lunch when Will asked to go outside where there were a few more rides and a big slide. Wyatt and I were keeping cool inside and the next thing you know I see Will coming down the slide with my mom. I could not believe it. My Will is a bit apprehensive about new things so I never in a million years would have thought he would go down that slide. I was so proud of him. My mom got a few pictures of Will coming down the slide with me. It was a fun day.

Will Swimming

Picking Peaches with Grandmama....and Blueberries too

One of our stops while in Louisiana was at Grandmamas. We were so happy to be there for her 81st birthday, cake and family what more can you ask for on a hot July day. My sweet grandmother lives about as far out in the country as one can go, it is so peaceful there, I love being there and I love the smell in her home. She is a wonderful cook and had a ton of food prepared when we arrived, it was wonderful.

Will & Grandmama went out to pick peaches and blueberries. Will seemed to have fun, the blueberries were starting to dry up but he got a bucket full of peaches. We had to keep reminding him to get the fruit off the trees instead of the ground. This was my first fruit picking experience at Grandmamas, I didn't realize she had so many wonderful fruit trees growing in her yard. I remember going to her house as a little girl and picking cotton right off the plant, it fascinated me that there were seeds in it. You never knew what was going to be growing in the field behind her house....cotton, soy beans, this time it was corn so Will and I went and picked some corn too, it wasn't quite ready to eat but I think he had fun watching me shuck it.

After the pikin' was done we sat on her front porch in the rocking chairs while the boys played in the grass, it was a nice afternoon. Then the excitement began, Will locked himself inside one of the bedrooms. Those who know my eldest son know he is absolutely fascinated with doors, locks, drawers anything that opens and closes. So it was not a huge surprise to Bill and I when he did lock the door, the surprise element hit when we realized he could not get the door unlocked. The lock on this door is somewhat ancient, it is a little switch on the top of the knob that slides back and forth, it has probably been years since the door had been locked so getting it to slide back into the unlocked position was quite a challenge for even Will the 3 year old mechanical whiz. The first few minutes we kept telling him to push the button back to the other side when that was not working we went to see if any of the windows were unlocked and as you can guess they were not. At this point I am starting to get a little nervous...Will is calm and laughing, I am praying he will not announce that he needs to go to the potty. Next Bill removed the door knob but the door is still locked...as I said ancient door...the knob and lock mechanism are totally separate but since the knob is out I can see Will and he can see us...this of course makes him laugh even more...I on on the other hand am starting to get nervous. Our next thought is to take the door off the hinges but as you guessed it the hinges are on Will's side of the door. I am now envisioning having to buy my grandmama a new window because we are obviously going to have to break this one to get my child out. Grandmama started talking about removing the air conditioning unit out of the window when something wonderful happened, Will was able to get the door unlocked...what a wonderful sound and out he walked happy as can be. Bill reattached the door knob and we didn't have to buy a new window. What can I say.... when the Bliss family comes to visit we can promise some excitement! Sadly we had to leave the next day but I am so thankful for the time we had with grandmama. I hope we get to see her again soon.

Wyatt's 1st Haircut

It was time to get rid of the dreaded "combover" that Wyatt had been sporting the last few weeks. So while in Louisiana my mom gave Wyatt his very 1st haircut. I had been thinking about his first haircut for the past couple of months...actually dreading it if the truth be known. First, let me clarify exactly what I mean when I use the word "dreading" when I talk about my feelings concerning his 1st haircut. What I really dread is going in with my baby and coming out with my little man. Once the baby hair is gone it seems the baby "look" is gone as well and that makes me kind of sad.

The First Haircut is a big milestone in a baby's life...I mean there is a whole page in his baby book entirely devoted this event with a special envelope for his first locks of hair, it had to be just perfect! I was going to take him to the local barber here in town where Will had his first haircut, Dorothy had done a great job with him moving all around and she gave us a little card with his locks attached and the date... all things you need for the babybook, it was a good experience. I was not able to get there before we left for vacation and the combover was getting to me, it was time!!! So when we got to Shreveport after some persuading from my mom we decided that she would be the one to give Wyatt his first haircut. No, she has never had any formal training in haircutting but she cuts pawpaws hair and she has given me plenty of trims and she is after all "the Roon" so we let her get out the scissors and have at it. Wyatt did great, sat there on the bathroom counter like such a big boy eating his snack. We got the whole event on video, I just kept saying "he looks like such a big boy" and so he does.