My Busy Little Beaver

*I wrote this yesterday but laughed at how "all over the place" my writing was...oh well, that's me! Here goes...*

Today was such a sweet day for me and my boy. It was Meet the Teacher day at his school AND Bring Your Toddler to Work Day (OK that one I made up, but it so happened.) We got to his school a few minutes late for the assembly but just in time to meet his precious teachers, Ms. Kelly & Ms. Ali. This year, his class is called the "Busy Beavers." We walked into the room and Jacks started shouting, "COOL! Bubbles!!!" They had a bubble machine going, and he was so excited he could hardly stand it. He then looked to the right and saw a big rug with car tracks all over it and was so overwhelmed with excitement all he could do was run in circles. Bubbles and cars are two of his love languages, and Ms.Kelly & Ms. Ali were definitely speaking both of them. (Speaking of love languages, I always thought mine was "Quality Time", but I've realized--as I've grown wiser and more mature--that there are two of them: Coffee & Mexican food. Nothing says I love you more to me than someone saying, "Let's go eat Mexican" or "How 'bout I put on a pot o'?"

Anyway...A few minutes later, Jacks got even more excited (if that was possible) and ran over to a little table that had play cleaning supplies on it and got a play broom and was whacking it in the air toward the bubbles. Right as I went over to stop him, he smacked one of his new classmates right in the face. The little guy didn't cry, but Jacks was so sweet. He quickly threw down the broom and said, "I sowwy" and gave him a hug. He really does have such a sweet heart, and I've been seeing it more and more lately. Obviously I don't see it all the time, but the moments like this let me know that he's learning. Those moments make up for the moments like last week at Kyle's basketball game when he was so ornery and disobedient that the night ended with me making a bold promise to never make an appearance at a church sporting event again. Ha! I've since gotten over it.

Jacks was not interested in taking a picture with his teachers (all I had was my phone anyway), so I didn't press it. Maybe he'll take one on Tuesday (the first day). I love to compare the beginning of the year with the end. This year feels a lot more like "school" to me for him. His teachers seem really great and say that they run the classroom more like preschool with structure and thematic units. I am by no means comparing this new class to last year and saying it's better--His class last year was amazing. It's just that he's older now! I can't believe it! Next year he really WILL be in 3-yr-old preK...but just two days a week. Ha! This momma can't handle more than that for a while. I love having my little buddy at home with me.

Back to our day today: So after Meet the Teacher day, I really needed to get into work for a little while. I felt like it would just be the easiest thing to bring him with me today since work is so close to his school. My office is pretty much sound proof, so I got together his nap mat, a lunch box, a bag full of toys and activities, and of course Mr. Bear. I pulled up some Mickey Mouse videos on one of the other computers in my little office, and he was set. He was perfect! I worked for FOUR hours, and he was soo good. I was not expecting it to go so well. I got all the documents ready first and then embossed them all on my Braille printer at the end. It was perfect because he was so intrigued by my equipment that even though he had about reached his limit, he was good.

He was rewarded with McDonald's ice cream and getting to play with a few friends. He totally deserved it! I got my new favorite McD's treat (which I guess it's not a treat b/c a "treat" is something you don't get very often, ha)...vanilla soft serve & Diet Dr. Pepper. I make a float, and it's yummy. Am I the only one noticing how ADD I'm being as I write this post? I keep going off on side stories.

Several funny moments from my impromptu "Bring Your Toddler to Work Day"...

Hearing Jacks say to Mr. Bear, "Don't cry, Mr. Bear. Don't cry at Mommy's work. Have fun!"

HAHA.

Jackson's random OUT OF THE BLUE fist pumping and chanting "LSU! LSU! LSU!"

Me asking Jackson to hand me something that dropped on the floor and him saying, "Of course Mommy. I do that."

It was such a fun day. I wish he could come to work with me every time! Although I'm not naive enough to think that was anything but pure luck. ;)

Tonight when we were putting Jacks in bed, we let him say his bed time prayer. This was it..."Thanks God...for food...and Mommy...and Daddy...And Jaime...And Nick...And Tiger Band!" Last night his prayer was this: Jacks said, "Thank you, God..." and Kyle said, "For..." and Jacks said, "Five, Six, Seven, Eight!" Kyle said, "Thank you God for..." and Jacks said, "Playground...and Cars...and ABCD...and SaraBeth!"

HAHA! So sweet. I love that he is starting to talk to God, and I love hearing him name some of his favorite people and things.

Looks like a fun year is ahead for Jacks. Seriously, there are such highs and lows with a two-year-old, but man...this is such a SWEET & precious age. Love it!