Day 30

Day 29

Day 28

OH MY!!

I can not believe how handsome and grown up my boy seems.

Kinda makes me want to cry.

{Big surprise, right?}

And can I tell you how glad I am that this was taken

BEFORE he cut his hair!?!

I have the copyright release for this picture and would be happy to have some prints made for family. 

Send me an email if you would like one and let me know what size you would like.

Day 27

Gray has done really well getting ready for school this week.

Maybe we've finally hit our stride.

{Or maybe I just jinxed us by saying that.}

When the bus pulls up each morning,

all of the kids at our stop line up single file to board.

My son has been walking around the line,

all the way to the front,

and climbing on before all of the other kids.

Maybe I should tell him to not do that,

to wait his turn and follow the protocol that was in place

long before we showed up.

But instead I smile and chuckle quietly to myself.

Day 26

Gray is loving the whole silly band thing.  He puts them on as soon as he gets up and immediately starts talking about which ones he's going to trade.  I'm so happy that something seems to be working.

Day 25

Day 24

Day 23

Another pic from the Open House last night.  Too bad Scarlett wasn't as happy as her brother.

Day 22

We had Gray's Open House at school this evening.

It was neat to finally see him in his classroom

showing off all of his work.

We didn't really get to talk to his teacher,

since things weren't really set up for that,

but it was nice to see the room with Gray

and look at some of the work he has done.

He took us to the library

(which I LOVE!  I seriously wanted to curl up and read every book in there!),

and the "librarian" was excited to see him.

I asked her if Grayson was a good customer

and she replied that he was a "VERY good customer."

I can't tell you how much my heart needed to hear this.

Gray also took us to see his music room.

His music teacher also approached us

and told us how much she enjoyed having Gray.

I wanted to cry because I was finally hearing

(in a round about way),

that my son was ok,

that he is loved,

that he is being seen for him,

that he is succeeding,

even if his classroom teacher isn't conveying that.

I left his school that night feeling slightly better

about our school experience so far.

I know my boy is great,

and that he is going to be an amazing person,

but it was so nice to know that someone else sees it too.

Day 21

Gray was still fairly excited about school today.

I think it has something to do with feeling like

one of the "in-crowd" thanks to the silly bands.

He was excited to tell me that he "traded" some of them with a friend,

but somehow came home with fewer than he had left with.

Think we'll have to work on the concept of "trading" tonight.

Day 20

 Waiting at the bus stop.

Much better morning thanks to the incentive of these

crazy little bracelets otherwise known as

silly bands.

Gray had been asking about these since the first week of school.

I finally bought some and am making him earn them.

Seven on the first day seems like a pretty good deal to me.

Day 19

Another rough morning.

This one complete with "I don't like school" and

needing to somewhat force him to get on the bus.

He didn't get enough sleep,

and I know he was still tired.

I can't seem to convince him that he

needs to stay in bed at night

and allow his body time to fall asleep

instead of getting up repeatedly to play in his room.

{SIGH}

Also,

he lost his recess yesterday

for not completing an assignment.

Totally NOT ok with this.

I would much rather

he have homework when he gets home

than lose the only chance he has

to run off some energy during the day.

I'm curious to see how his day went today,

but it looks as though we may be having

another conversation with his teacher.

{BIGGER SIGH}

Day 18

Well, even if our mornings are still rough, I at least know he's learning something.  I especially like the way he pauses near the end of the song to actually visualize the word "September."  ;)


S-E-P-T-E-M-B-E-R from Kelly Irwin on Vimeo.

Day 17

I didn't bother with a picture this morning,

didn't even try. 

The morning started out better. 

 Gray got himself up, came downstairs,

and was in the process of pouring his own bowl of cereal for breakfast

when I made it to the kitchen. 

I was so proud of him for being such a great helper this morning. 

But then he wanted to listen to The White Stripes,

and he wasn't dressed yet.

I told him to get dressed while I got the song ready.

He whined and crabbed.

I explained that I had to pull it up on the computer

and that he had plenty of time to get his clothes on.

He complained some more, but got his shirt and shorts on.

I couldn't remember the name of the song he liked and we couldn't find it.

I told him to get his socks on while I called Nate.

He whined some more.

We finally got the socks on, found the song, and Gray started rocking.

He turned the music way up and danced around the kitchen.

He couldn't hear me tell him to get his shoes on,

so I turned it down.

More whining and complaining.

Are you getting the picture?

So, yeah, I didn't even attempt the picture today.

Day 16

Gray was NOT having the picture thing today.

Another rough morning in the Irwin house.

He wanted to wear his pajamas to school.

I had to draw the line.

Being the mean parent every morning sucks.

I feel like all I do is hound Gray every morning.

"You need to get up. 

You need to get dressed, get out of bed. 

 Did you hear me? 

Grayson, I said get your clothes on. 

 Pick out your cereal for breakfast. 

Pick out your cereal for breakfast. 

Grayson put the toy down and pick out your cereal! 

Are you finished eating? 

Hurry up. 

You still need to get your teeth brushed and your socks on. 

Are you still eating? 

 Finish up please! 

Go brush your teeth. 

No, I said go brush your teeth. 

We'll talk about that after you go BRUSH YOUR TEETH. 

GET IN THE BATHROOM AND BRUSH YOUR TEETH!"

I feel horrible every morning.

This is not a good way for anyone to start their day,

and I can understand Gray not wanting his picture taken.

I hope that this is still us just settling in to the school year.

And if it's not,

just for today,

lie to me and tell me it is.

Day 15

A little better today,

but most definitely forcing the smile. 

Gray is struggling with waking up when it is still dark outside. 

And he's just now figured out that he has to do this

every.

single.

day.

He comes home happy enough in the afternoons,

but these mornings just may do us in.

Day 14

I've been having all sorts of issues with Blogger.

Or maybe it's my internet connection.

Then again, maybe it's just me.

Anywho, here is Day 14,

a Tuesday

following a 3-day weekend.

Gray was not amused.

Day 13

*Sorry this picture is so dark.  I don't have the time to go in and adjust it right now, but at least it's posted.

Day 12

Day 11

Day 10