Is he a Double-Agent?

So, we all know Kaleb, right? Scrawny little rambunctious and totally wild guy. My best word to describe him is "EXTREME." It's his most frustrating yet endearing quality about him. He is either extremely loud, silly and obnoxious, throwing tantrum after tantrum, unable to go 10 minutes without using a "yucky word," and I'm on the verge of killing him... or... he is the cutest, sweetest, and most lovable thing on the planet. Also he can be the happiest, most excited little kid ever... or extremely angry and frustrated.


There is hardly any room for in between. He is most often one or the other. Mellow would be his antonym... his nemesis even. He is my wild child.


Getting a moment's peace with him is a treasure. He wares me to the bone. He pushes those boundaries as far as possible and then some--not to mention always at a much-too-high decibel. (Alli has even commented that she wonders if he has a hearing problem because of how loud he can be.) Maybe.


I just gotta say, thank goodness for those extremely sweet moments.


He is lucky he as cute as he is... or who knows what might happen to him!


So this is the Kaleb I know and love.





Apparently there is another.





When Kaleb turned 18 months old, he started going to Nursery every Sunday. At first he showed the common signs of being shy and not wanting to be left alone... but after few weeks, he was fine. He could walk right in, start playing with toys, and there was never a complaint.

This year he started preschool. When we first started taking him, he again showed those signs of being bashful and unsure of being left alone... but now he seems to be fine. Last week his teacher asked me if he is as quiet at home as he is in school. She said she hasn't heard him speak a word. Not even during Show-and-Tell. For him it is all "show" and no "tell." Well, I figured he was just still adjusting, after all it had only been about 5 weeks. (9 school days.) Here he is on his field trip to the Fire Station, obviously not being himself.



And then the next day I ran into his Nursery teacher. He said "hi" to Kaleb, and Kaleb just turned towards me and pretended as if he hadn't heard or seen anyone. I greeted his teacher and after a few failed attempts at getting Kaleb to even look at him, his teacher asked me... "Does he know how to talk?"


WHAT?!

He will be turning 3 in like a week. He will have been in Nursery for a YEAR and a HALF... and has never spoken a word? Who IS this kid? What has he done with my Kaleb? Or... out of curiosity... can he teach MY Kaleb a few tricks of the trade? Is there hope for having him mellow out just a bit? This is just preposterous! I don't even know what to think. It just baffles my mind that after a year and a half, he has not transitioned back to his comfortable self. Kind of makes me sad! I wonder if it will ever happen in Preschool. I mean, I guess at least he won't be a "problem child." But... still. Should I be worried that he's not being himself? Will it ever happen?

Or... maybe I should just add "shy" to his list of extremities. Now he's either super-shy... or in desperate need of a chill pill. One or the other.

It's Finally Time :)

The day after Labor Day. A day I have been dreaming about for months and months. This was the day that... Kaleb started Preschool. (*sigh*) The deadline for starting school in Utah is September, and Kaleb was born in October. So technically, he shouldn't start preschool until next year. But... if you know Kaleb, than you KNOW that I would be scouring the city for a place who would bend the rules. I love him to death, but a short break every once in a while would be quite welcome. Well, I was looking for a place in early January. Yes... I was searching that early. And low and behold, I found one. Little Learner's Academy. "Laaaaa!" He goes 2 days a week for 2 hours each day.

Here's Kaleb all dressed up in his "First Day of School" outfit that Charles bought for him that morning on his way home from the night shift. A little last minute... but we're trying to hold off the "need" for an entire new wardrobe at the beginning of each school year. One outfit is all they get for now!


Kaleb was so confused when he saw the new clothes. He's so used to hand-me-downs from Jaden that when he saw that they still had tags on them, he said,

"These Jadna's?"
I said, "No, they're for you!"
He said, "Oh. It's my birthday?"

Here's Kaleb walking from the car to his school...


Walking IN to school...


Not sure about going into his classroom...


We met his 2 teachers: They are the 2 on the left, Miss Starr and Miss Jazzy...


He found where to hang his bag...


At this point the room was filled with about 20 kids and their parents and siblings. Most of them were clinging to their parents. I was so proud of Kaleb as he timidly, began to play with toys. Every once in a while, when he would hear another child scream and yell that they didn't want to stay, he would look at me as if he were about to start clinging and crying, but then he would go back to playing. I was so proud of him! So here he is (with Bradley) playing with the trains.



And here he is after another kid pushed him aside and took the trains. He just looked down, found this freaky looking doll and just held it. I was so mad at that kid. I mean here was Kaleb trying to be so brave, and actually playing with toys instead of bawling his eyes out, and this kid just comes over and pushes him and takes his toys! I started looking around for a parent, but I guess since THAT kid seemed perfectly comfortable being there, his mom or dad had already left.


After a few minutes when Kaleb seemed to be okay, even though no parents had seemed to have left, I told him I was going to leave and that I would be back to pick him up when school was over. He told me he didn't want me to leave. I told him that parents aren't aloud at school. School was for kids. He told me he still didn't want me to go. So I may have told him a small little, white lie. I told him that I would stay, but that I would need to hide so that the teachers didn't kick me out. He seemed satisfied by that compromise, so I gave him a hug, told him I loved him and was proud of him for being so brave, and then I picked up Bradley and left.

I went out and watched him through the one way mirror/window.


After a few minutes the teachers started asking parents to leave. That's when the crap hit the fan. It was CRAZY. All of a sudden it wasn't just kids crying it was parents too! I mean SOBBING! I stayed the next 15 minutes or so till all the parents were out so I could see how Kaleb was handling everything and he was just sitting there quietly watching. One of the teachers started a clapping song, and Kaleb got brave enough to tap his fingers along. After that I left, did some grocery shopping, but made sure I was back a few minutes before Kaleb got out.

Kaleb was a little nervous, but did VERY well. And I think he associates "being good" with not talking. Sad. Like whenever we pick him up from nursery, one of the things we ask him is if he was good for his teachers, and he always says, "I didn't talk." And he doesn't. He is a completely different child in nursery. For me he is wild and loud, but for other teachers he is quiet and... obedient! Well, we told Kaleb that it's okay to talk, but he said he didn't want to. We asked him if he could try and talk "just a little" and he said he would. Here is his report after school:



Kaleb did awesome and we were extremely proud of him. :) Way to go Kiddo!

Blog on...

So, this summer has been so fun and busy, with so much to blog about, that I have just become way too overwhelmed to begin. (And I'm also really bummed because I downloaded like 800+ pictures from Sherrie's camera from their visit with us, and now they are no where to found. Suck.) I'm too frustrated to recap, so all you're gonna get is... summer was fun... see slide show below.

BUT. As Jaden says, and I'm not sure where he got this from... "Socci's never quit!" I will blog on. One cool thing about each kid. Let's start with...

BRADLEY'S BIRTHDAY


Bradley turned 1 year old this month. We had a little party at my parents' house, which was extra special because my 2 long lost sisters and their families were in town that week. So here we have the cousins running around, partying, and... burying their Aunt Alli in balloons.


We started with birthday presents because the cake was going to be a mess! Bradley actually did a pretty decent job opening some of his own gifts.


Next we went to the cake. I've kind of gotten into this crazy habit of... instead of buying a cake, or even baking it and then just throwing on some sprinkles... actually trying to freehand, without any instructions or patterns, some kind of design that describes the kid in some way or another. It started with Jaden's Nemo cake, and then Kaleb's Basketball cake, followed by Mickey Mouse, and Cars, and even the annoying little character Caillou. Well this one didn't turn out as well as the others, but Bradley really loves books. Not necessarily to listen to... but to eat. It's one of his most entertaining church toys. So, I thought it would be appropriate to make him one that he could really eat. I know, kind of lame, but here it is.


And he actually dug into his cake. Jaden didn't like to get messy, and Kaleb, didn't mind too much, but Bradley got into an messed up over half of the cake. Big improvement for my family!


And he was also sweet enough to share. :)


Okay, next we have...

KALEB GETTING POTTY TRAINED


Oh boy. This has been something I have been seriously dreading. He's not the most compliant kid on the block. We have more timeouts with him than we can even count. And so trying to bring in potty-business into the mix was definitely NOT something I was looking forward to... at all. Plus we had so much going on over the summer, that it really was difficult finding a good stretch of time where we could actually focus on HIM. Well, the time came. Ugh. But he's doing alright. Here he is checking out his work...


And here he is showing off his Buzz Lightyear underwear.


The amazing thing about the potty-training experience is that he has had a major attitude adjustment. You remember that little video where he says "I hate you!" to me? Well ever since we started training him and giving him huge amounts of attention and praise, he has become so much more loving. I'd say that for every "I hate you" we get, it has been preceded by at least 40 "I love you"s. He says it all the time. It never gets old. Amazing what a little more praise and attention can do.

And lastly...

JADEN STARTED KINDERGARTEN


He only gave me goofy smiles. Punk.


Starting the short walk to school

Already tired and wanting a ride.

Lining up and saying goodbye.

Jaden said he had an "ok" day that first day. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that his parents had a mix-up with the pick-up time and were about 10 minutes late. Oops! "No one likes to be the last kid to be picked up." (cringe) Sorry Jaden. It could have also been because he wasn't feeling well. That night he became really sick and missed the next 2 days of school. :(


And here's a bonus:

The kids found the Halloween costume box and had a little fun.

I'm a Pir-an-ha... they're in the Am-a-zon

Bradley is a piranha. In the span of just 2 months he has grown 7 , almost 8 teeth. He has also become a biter. Let's just say, that one year of age couldn't seem farther away. I realize that his little mouth is sore and he feels the need to bite to relieve the pain... but come on... help a Mothe' out! Anyway... here are some funny-looking pictures of Bradley and his new mouthful of teeth.


And just because he is so sweet, (when he is NOT biting) here are a few more.


I also took a video of the happy baby. I'm sorry, it's a little lengthy... I have a real talent for turning the camera off right before something good happens. So I am trying to let it run a little longer... just in case.



Now to our other Piranha... Mr. Kaleb. Kaleb has really digressed in this idea of biting. We thought he was getting better, but poor Jaden has evidence that, no, he is not. He has given Jaden some pretty messed up wounds. Charles gets it every now and again too. And it's not like he does it just when he's angry, he does it when he is happy and excited too. Why?


But on a lighter side, he is most definitely his Father's child. Remember that story of Charles when he was pretty young... he was with Melanie... and he was in his underwear... and he decided to pull it down from the top just enough to expose ONE of his bum cheeks.... then he would say, "One Bun! One Bun!" And it would really upset Melanie... so I've heard. Anyway, Kaleb has his own take on "One Bun," which Charles was very proud to see.



Jaden had his last week of "Summer Camp" this past week, where he finally had to tell his amazing teacher, Miss Alyssa, goodbye. He picked out some flowers for her and made her a card and wrote her a letter. It was sad to say goodbye to Preschool for good for him... kinda made the reality of Kindergarten seem more... I don't know... real?... I guess...


During his last few days of school, he had "Nonsense Day" where they dressed up kind of silly. Jaden decided to wear his clothes backwards and do his hair crazy as well. He LOVED it. He still asks us if he can do his hair like that. We tell him if he can do it himself, then to go right ahead!

Charles? Charles Who?

Although seeing and reading about the kids is obviously more entertaining than hearing about us... for those curious minds out there who wonder what's up with Crissy and Charles... and what job he is doing now, (I know, it's hard to keep up) here is our update.

Charles:


Well Charles is, as always, a very busy guy. 3 days a week he works a 12 hour shift at a cardiac ICU. There he takes care of patients who have had heart attacks or who have severe heart failure.

Charles also has a weekend job. He does Home Health Care every Saturday and Sunday. Here he makes about 20 visits to elderly folks who cannot give themselves their own insulin. One of the places he visits is the same place my Grandparents live. So every once in a while he will stop in and visit, and sometimes, (by the orchestration of my Grandma) he will give my Grandpa a shave... if Grandpa permits it! ;)

He also has another job as a Nursing Supervisor. This job is his favorite. This is where he gets to play Hospital Administrator while the real one is at home sleeping. Here he gets to sit in an office and wait for people to call him with trivial crap. Okay no, but really... he acts as a pharmacist, a coordinator of patient care between different departments, and he also runs the code team. What's a code team you ask? Have you ever heard, "Code blue! Code blue!" That's when a patient either stops breathing or their heart stops beating. A team is then called in to perform CPR and give medications. Needless to say, it can be an exciting job. But even if night is slow, it is ALSO the perfect job. It is a job where he can get paid to... get some homework done... take a nap, or get caught up on all his TV shows that he never has time to watch at home. Sounds like a great job... and it is, but unfortunately he only has the "tip of his toe" through that door and only gets assigned one night a month, or more if anyone wants to give up a shift or two. He's actually "under-qualified" but has been lucky to get what little time and experience that he has.

Sound busy enough? Now add going to school FULL TIME. Yes. He is working on his Masters in Business Administration with an emphasis in Health Care Management. Why, you ask. Well, he enjoys the business side of Health Care more, but more importantly... so he will only have to work one job, my friend!

.....I dream of the day when he can work a normal 40 hours a week and then come home at 5 each night, and be DONE. And also be HOME on the weekends! Not to mention having his holidays back. It sounds too good to be true.....

Charles has class every Monday night and then spends all the time between classes reading assignments, writing papers, and meeting with group members to work on stupid group projects. He is doing amazingly well, and I would just like to say that it is sickening to me that he has yet to receive a grade less than an A in any of his classes. (barf.) Charles will be done with his MBA in December of this year, and will complete his emphasis around May of next year.

So, with 3 jobs, and school, does he have time for anything else? Not really. But he makes time. Out of thin air. Well, okay, not thin air, but he cuts time out of his sleep to spend with the boys. Every minute he is home, he plays with those boys like there is no tomorrow. And once they go to bed he is off to study into the wee hours of the night. Which makes for a very tired Charles... But most days he pulls off his fatigue quite gracefully. He's amazing.



I get to see him every now and then. We used to try and have date night once a week. Then it became once every other week, and now we are lucky if it is once a month. I think we missed the last two months in a row. Things are hard at times... but lots of people deal with this kind of thing. And there is light at the end of the tunnel. I know I will get my husband back, and we will have more time together then ever before. So much that we'll probably even get sick of each other! He works very hard for all of us, and we are very lucky to have him. We savor every minute we get with him.

Aaaand this posting is already way too long to add anything about me. Maybe next time. I know, you're just dying to read about my exciting everyday life. The suspense really will kill you. I know! Prepare to be dazzled! :)

When Jaden Grows Up

"When I grow up, I want to be a zoo keeper."

A couple days before his graduation, Jaden had to dress up like what he wants to be when he grows up. He chose a zookeeper. We were a little surprised and a little frantic. Up until the day before, he had said either a doctor or a firefighter. He has dress up clothes for both of those occupations in his room... but a zoo keeper? So the day before, he asked Grandpa Ashton if he could use his "Aussie hat." (Thanks Dad... uh... yeah... we still need to return that...) Then he decided to wear his bear fanny pack (thank you Grandma and Grandpa Socci) so he could carry food for the animals. Charles even made him an "animal catcher" which he will demonstrate for you. (btw, "Brownie" is the name Kaleb gave to the big stuffed dog)



Well, he went to school and everyone was so impressed, that about half of his class decided they wanted to be zoo keepers too. Needless to say, at the graduation, there were a lot of kids saying "when I grow up, I want to be a zoo keeper." Way to go Jaden!