Tom and I went on a marriage retreat this weekend. Â We are so grateful to my mom who kept our wild boys for us so we could go…bless her heart.
Here are a few pictures from when we got to kick around downtown before the seminar started, checking out the Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Antique Archaelogy (the American Pickers store).
Xander had his Nursery Rhyme Parade at school this morning…he went as a lamb from “Mary Had a Little Lamb”. Â We were so happy that Maw could join us for the cuteness!
Roman had his first soccer practice this afternoon!  He was so excited…especially to have his good  neighborhood buddy, Jay, on his team and Mr. Matt, Jay’s daddy, as his coach.  It was crazy hot, so they took a ton of much-needed water breaks.  The boys all did such a good job hanging in there, and Coach Matt was so patient with them. When we got in the van to head home, Roman said, “I love soccer practice!  Mr. Matt is the bestest coach ever!”
Xander started Suzuki piano lessons this fall!!! Â It took him a few weeks to work into it, but he is loving it. Â His teacher, Mrs. Melissa, is so sweet and patient with him. Â His favorite things right now are his piano books, so he’s working through those during his lessons for the time being until he gets more comfortable playing the piano. Â Go, Xan-Man!
Roman and I went to the Discovery Center today. Â He had a blast and did not want to leave. Â He rung up groceries and moved them down the conveyor belt, floated a boat in the waterway, put tires on a car, went virtual skiing down a mountain, doctored patients, moved rocks from one bin to another with an earth mover, and more!
Last year, I loved being able to volunteer every other week…helping out Ms. Chase (Jonas’ amazing kindergarten teacher) and getting to have lunch with Jonas.
This year, I’m excited to volunteer for Ms. Chase again (she’s Xander’s kindergarten teacher now) and to have lunch with Jonas AND Xander!!!
Roman was beyond the moon excited about his first day of preschool this year in the 3 year old class with Mrs. Catharine and Mrs. Angela!!!
Xander was SO excited to bring Gingy the Gingerbread Man home for the weekend!!! Â Here are some pictures of her adventures with Xander and the boys…
MOMMY
“You don’t guzzle sprinkles!”
“Did you put gum on the ceiling?!?”
DADDY
“Jodi, why doesn’t your womb produce anything quieter?”
JONAS
“I’m older than Dad in dog years.”
“The pool is an automatic trash can for boogers.”
“Mom, how old do girls have to be to get a baby?”
XANDER
“JoJo, will you love me forever?”
“I’m wearing the kind of shoes that God has.”
“Dad, what does salvation mean?”
ROMAN
“You are a beautiful mommy…I love your girl outfit.”
“Mommy, the clouds are like whipped cream.”
“Mommy, why does everybody need protein?”
Roman has been asking me, “What homework do I have in preschool?” So, he was pumped today to get to work on his “All About Me” puzzle piece. Â I cut the pictures out for him and helped arrange them, and he glued them on. Â I know he’ll be so proud to connect his puzzle piece with his classmates puzzle pieces on his classroom wall. It will be interesting to see how they all fit together!
Roman was SO excited to go to preschool today to meet his teachers and his classmates!!!
He’s been ready to go back to school since Jonas started back towards the beginning of August. Â He’s been chomping at the bit…
He waltzed right in and had his picture taken, found his name and signed in with an “O”, did a little coloring, gave Tom and I a tour of all the different centers, and set right to work with his buds (Barry and Will) from last year building block creations. Â I have no doubt he will have a BLAST this year. Yay, Roman!!!
Here’s Roman beside one of the sunflowers he planted in our garden!
Xander had his first day of kindergarten today!!! Â He was so excited this morning. Â Then, as we were walking into school, I think the reality of it hit him and he started to get nervous. Â I love that we were able to walk him into his classroom, show him his cubby and his seat, introduce him to a friend at his table, and give him a big hug and a kiss goodbye. He immediately set to work on beading his gingerbread man necklace. Â When we picked him up, I asked him how it was. Â He smiled and said, “I liked it!” Then he smiled even bigger and said, “I didn’t like it, Mom…I loooooooved it!” Â On the way home I asked him what his favorite part of the day was…he took a while to think about it and beaming he said, “The whole day!” Â Yay, Xander!!!
Xander, Roman, and I went to the zoo this morning. Â We loved checking out the new turtle exhibit. Â The boys even got to feed them!!!
I’ve been so amped up and occupied with settling everything and everyone back in from vacations and getting ready for school lately that I’ve been much more of a human “doing” than a human “being”. Â The boys and I have all been a little worse for the wear, and my heart has been aching in the midst of it all…trying to remind me of what really matters. Â This morning Roman asked if he could paint some rocks he brought home from our lake trip. Â Instead of outing with the “not right now” phrase I’ve been using so much as of late, I said “okay” and I’m so thankful that I did. Â We just sat on the back porch in our pajamas and painted rocks. Â Those preciously colorful stones will be Ebenezers placed sweetly by the hands of my child, who God uses so often to character me, in my garden.
My mom celebrated her 50th anniversary tonight as a member of the Grand Ole Opry!!! Here’s to one of the greatest and most inspiring women I know…what a voice…what a heart…I love you, Mommy.
It’s hard to believe it, but Jonas had his first day of 1st grade today!!! Â Here he is with his “When I grow up, I want to be…” sign, trying to smile with dear old mom in front of the school (he was not super enthused to be wearing khaki shorts and a polo), and greeting his sweet teacher…Mrs. Watkins…outside the classroom door. Happy 1st grade year to my one-of-a-kind, Jonas Benjamin Seyfried.
Xander had his kindergarten screening today, and Mommy needed some quiet special time with just him beforehand. Â So, the bookends (Jonas and Roman) had play dates with dear neighbors, and Xander and I had a picnic lunch on the porch. Â It’s amazing how time slows down in moments like that, and you look across at your little guy and marvel at the boy he is and the man he is to become. Â Precious. I love my Xan-Man!
Mommy was having a rough time of it and decided to take the boys to Pump It Up to burn off some energy on a rainy day. Â Tom, being the awesome husband and father that he is, dropped by to offer his wife moral support and encouragement and to roughhouse with his wild boys.
We had such a wonderful time on our trip to Lake Gaston, NC with Grandma and Grandpa Seyfried, the Northern Seyfrieds, the Longs, and the Paccassis!!! It’s such a blessing to get to spend time with family, just hanging out. Â I love that everybody just does their own thing: Â tubing, wake boarding, jumping off the dock, swimming, fishing, reading, playing in the water, digging in the sand, soaking in the hot tub, running, life guarding, eating, napping, watching kid movies, cooking, playing board games, building with Legos, coloring, making Playdoh creations, going to mass, watching the sunset, mod podging Christmas ornaments, making sidewalk chalk, etc. Â It’s a beautiful thing. Â Among the highlights for me were: Â seeing Tom wakeboard, watching the talent show, and saying the rosary with the family.
Here’s a picture of all of the cousins. For more pictures, click on the “Lake Gaston 2015” page to the right.
