Jackson + Preschool + Fall + Halloween!!!

Jackson + Preschool = Super Smart, Super Fun, Super Cool Boy (yes, smarter, more fun, and much cooler than pre- preschool... which is incredibly hard to imagine!!!!)

As most of you know, Jackson started preschool in September, at the Methodist Church Preschool, near our house. It's been amazing to see how much he has learned so quickly, and it seems like everyday he is telling me about something new, or doing something new. We are thrilled with what a GREAT fit his preschool is for him. Not only is it such a sweet little school, but, his teachers have both been teachers there for a LOOOOOONG time, and are so invested in each child in their class.With Jackson's birthday being in early November (we can't believe he's going to be FOUR... there will be a whole post, in it's own, on that!), he will be one of the oldest kiddos in his class when he starts kindergarten. So... he will go to preschool this year, and then AGAIN next year. His preschool does have a pre-K program, for next year. It'll be great for him to learn all the skills needed to start Kindergarten. Not to mention, how great it will be for Maggie to have her big brother at the same school as she, for her FIRST year of preschool. Yep... she has (what is considered) an early birthday (early July), and therefore will be one of the youngest in her class. Our munchkins birthdays, also make it so they'll be back to back in school. When Maggie starts Kindergarten, Jackson will be in 1st Grade... whew! sloooooow down!!! It is hard to even imagine them in elementary school... but, I know all too well, how fast time flies, and it'll be here before we know it! (*sigh!)

Speaking of time flying by....

remember this cutie? Jackson's FIRST Halloween, October 2008

 Halloween #2, 2009

(he was NOT into dressing up... at.all.!!! until, as you will see... he discovered if you were sweet and wore your costume that your mommy put on you, your pumpkin bucket would get filled full of yummy treats... yep, totally worth the dragon costume!)

 mmmm... taking a little break to taste some of the yummy treats!

Back out to get some more loot!

 Maggie's FIRST Halloween, 2009

She was such a good sport (ok, in the beginning) and was the cutest Pumpkin ever!

 Again, she was so so good.... and then it was time to go home, and she was just done. Done with trick or treating, and REALLY done with having her picture taken!

Our FIRST Family of 4 Halloween

Gig Harbor, Washington

The gorgeous fall trees in our neighborhood, when we lived in Gig Harbor...

Halloween #3 for Jackson!

What a sweet scary Tiger!

Maggie's 2nd Halloween

Such a sweet sweet sweet Ballerina!!!

 ... yep, the Tiger costume will be coming out for year #2, tomorrow

(we think Jackson is under the impression, that you wear the same Halloween costume, until it no longer fits .... we're ok with his thoughts on Halloween costumes, and are thankful that his costume was a bit too big last year!)

We can't wait to share the pictures from Halloween this year!

(couldn't NOT share the CUTEST Halloween munchkins ever... 

but, back to preschool...)

Jackson is loving preschool, and is making some great friends. His teachers proudly report to Brian and I, each week, how he is learning the routine and rules of school. How he is very caring and kind towards his teachers, and his classmates. All things, as his Daddy and Mommy, we of course, LOVE to hear.

I was invited to help out in his classroom last Thursday, for their "Harvest Party". (note: they didn't have a traditional "Halloween" party, so the Harvest Party, somewhat took the place of what most preschools consider a "Halloween" party)

I had so much fun seeing Jack, in action at school. As most, 3 1/2 year old boys, he definitely tests limits, is full of energy, and sometimes "forgets" the difference between "walking/inside" feet and "running/outside" feet... but, he is quick to "FREEZE" (a notion the teachers have taught the kiddos to do when they call their name, following with the word "freeze", they are to literally freeze their bodies, not moving any further than those running feet were originally taking them), make eye contact, listen to instructions, and carry on with what his teachers ask of him. 

I enjoyed getting to know each of his (whopping 10!) classmates, too. We made a fun craft... using a small glass jar (leftover baby food jars... yes, I've been holding on to them for a LOOOOONG time... and they've finally found a good use!). We covered them with orange tissue paper (using a sticky mixture of glue + water), after the layer of tissue paper was dry, we then added eyes, nose and a mouth... making it a jack-o-lantern. Each kiddo took home a little battery tea light to put in to their jack-o-lantern, and it makes quite a cute little candle.

 One of the cute "Jack-o-Lantern" Candle Holders we made at home, during our "test run".

Jackson was super helpful in making sure the tissue paper stayed on, and although he wasn't a huge fan of the crazy stickiness involved, he was great about helping me add more and more and more glue.

(Maggie on the other hand, ditched out on us quite early on in the craft. Once the sticky glue hit her fingers, she was out... and FAST!)

Jackson, now has 2 (we had made them at home first... doing a trial run, to make sure that they would turn out ok, etc.), and LOVES them. Since he made them, they have stayed on his dresser, and he makes sure each night to push the button on the bottom of the tea light candle, and has it on all night long while he is sleeping.

 He's a super cute and NON-Scary Jack-o-Lantern at night time. 

It's actually been a really good way, to get away from all of the "scary and spooky" parts of Halloween. And, for him to remember that Halloween doesn't have to be spooky or scary, but it is just silly and fun. He's definitely not one for too much spooky and/or scary... and neither is Maggie. :)

 Jackson's teachers are so thoughtful, in that they send us weekly "news", regarding what our munchkins were up to at school during the week, also always adding in fun photos they've taken of different activities they've done that week too!

I love getting the "news" and photos, because Jack usually has explained to me some things they've done, so actually seeing the photos, and hearing from his teachers the activities they did, is so fun to put the whole thing together!

I gotta say, the baby owls they made, are SO CUTE!!!! I will never, ever, ever, ever call a baby owl, a baby chick again. It is very very hurtful towards a baby owl, I was soon to be told! :)

Tomorrow for Halloween, we are going to go and visit Nana Bette in the afternoon, to show off our two sweet little Goblins. We'll head home for an early dinner, and then head out for a little trick or treating just around our neighborhood. We're excited that our awesome friends & neighbors, The Kleine's, will be joining us. They have 3 girls, two a bit older than Jackson, and their youngest is just a few months older than Maggie. It should be fun for the kiddos to have some friends, to show them the "ropes" of trick or treating. :) I'll be sure to get some pictures of our Goblins (little hint: a FAST Tiger, and a SWEET Ladybug).

(wouldn't Maggie be the Cutest little pumpkin girl? She was certainly the cutest pumpkin baby! Maybe next year...) 

We hope you are all enjoying this fun time of Fall... 
Make sure you have LOTS of candy on hand...
I'm just going to try my best to not eat any all of Jack and Maggie's loot! :)
Happy Halloween!!!!