That's my baby, on that bus.

Today was Theo's first day of 4-year-old, half day kindergarden.

I thought I was going to be okay.

I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't bust into tears as this gigantic yellow bus carrying my very little boy drove away from me. I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't follow it all they way to school, so that I could be there when he got off, to take him to his classroom for the very first time.

Thankfully, his cousin-friends were on that bus looking after him, too. I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't cry, again, as he walked into school like this with his Lucy.

Once inside, and once he nestled his coat and his back pack into his cubby, he was quick to find a space between friends (some old, most new) on the rug in his classroom for the first time. He was quick to wave me off with certainty, confident that I'd be back.

He was happy to be "as big as Gabe" in his big "school house." And I was happy that he was so thrilled. I don't know what I'd have done if he'd cried, too.

The words, on Thursday

So, our weekend away with friends included a visit to Delaney's Surplus , where I shot the piano, and Forevertron at Tom Every's Evermor Sculpture Park.

(Norbyah, the links are specifically for you as we'll make the 45 minute drive next summer, when you are here. These treasures are right outside of Devil's Lake State Park, so we can spend a whole day hiking and swimming and taking in the "junk" shop and the art park, which is magical.)

Wordless Wednesday

I want to remember...

Playing in the rain.

Theo saying, "I have a pain in my butt, Mama. But it doesn't really hurt. It just itches a little."

Summer days with cousins...

and friends.

Emmett's words for jeans ("jeams") and Grandma ("Gray-ma.")

Our first attempt at a family vacation (a weekend away) which was a HUGE success, thanks to Tim, Katie, and the girls.

Our first visit to Delaney's and Dr. Evermor's Art park.

My nervousness as Theo's first day of school approaches. And his impatience, as he's been asking, "why can't I go today, Mama??" every day for the past two weeks.

And that back-to-school shopping for your 4-year-old kindergardener should NOT be done with his 1 and 2-year-old brothers in tow.

An overdue reality check, compliments of my oh-so-grounded husband... who is an oh-so-awesome Papa to our little boys.

How determined and independent Emmett can be. And how good that is, despite the fact that sometimes, right now, it feels bad.

How smart Rubin is, how he picks things up so quickly, and teaches me along the way.

(Notice his pointing, at a bird on the lake.)

(Driving, already.)

How gentle Theo is. How he listens and considers and tends. Always.

And my responsibilities as their Mama. To encourage their stubbornness, their curiousness, and their sensitiveness, even when it doesn't suite me. To push them to their limits when they need a nudge, and to reel them back in when they're headed astray. To love them, especially when they aren't lovable, and to stand beside them, and behind them, and in front of them when they need me to show them the way.

I want to remember, even when it isn't easy (which is most of the time these days) that I chose these boys. Each and every one of them. And I know, if they were given the chance, that they would each choose me. Little (okay, not that little), old (certainly not THAT old), imperfect (that word can stand alone) me.

On the upswing.

Thank you for all of the well wishes.

It's been a rough week, but Rubin is definitely on the mend. Yesterday was the first day that he made it through without needing a tweetment. Of course, he's still on his meds, which has been... interesting?

Our pediatrician warned Dave that with the Prednisolone (I spelled it correctly that time...) might come some 'roid rage. Sounds pretty funny in speaking of a one-year-old, right? But it's not. Rubin has been Moody (note the capital M.) I am working on capturing it all on video. For posterity, of course.

Despite having a sick little one, we've been trying to have a fun weekend. I feel like summer is slipping from my between my fingers, and so we're packing it all in. Yesterday morning we enjoyed the splash pad, and followed lunch with a dip in our friends' pool. Then, after dinner, we packed the park for a carnival put on by a local recreational department. Aunt Sica and her crew joined us, as well as Krista and Noah (with Noah's grandparents on hand for extra support!) There were fire trucks and bouncy houses and carnival games. My favorite part, however...

... was the face painting!

(And, since they weren't painted, here is a photo of Rubin and Emmett, for good measure.)

While we were getting ready to head out, Rubin and I were approached by a mama who asked me if Rubin was born in Korea. I told her that he was, and very quickly her 6 year old daughter, also a Korean adoptee, appeared at her side. Mama told daughter that Rubin was just home from Korea, and the little girl told Rubin, "I was born in Korea, too!" Her mama asked her if there was anything that she wanted to tell Rubin about living in the United States of America, and the little girl said, "You'll like it here. Mom, can we go get a sucker now?"

Without missing a beat.

Tweetments

When my nephew Sam was a toddler, he suffered from some respiratory issues that resulted from seasonal allergies. His doctor prescribed Albuterol which he took with the help of a nebulizer. He referred to taking his medicine as having a "tweetment."

Dave had to bring Rubin to the Urgent Care clinic while I was at work yesterday morning because his breathing was extremely labored. I have suspected since our baby came home that he suffers from either allergies or infant asthma. (I remember walking back to our hotel from SWS with him when we were in Korea. He whistled a little with each breath. My mom and I thought it was because it was extremely windy outside, and the wind was blowing in his face as we walked...)

We do know that he has a medical history of some respiratory illnesses, but until yesterday our doctor hadn't seen or heard anything that concerned him too much. Yesterday was a different story, and Dr. L prescribed tweetments for Rubin.

And Amoxicillin. As if crackly lungs weren't bad enough, our poor bugger has an ear infection, too.

He's having a rocky week.

Theo has been with my mom and dad since the weekend. He's coming home tomorrow. I have been missing him SO MUCH and I can't wait to get my hands on him. I have a feeling he's going to feel a little disappointed, however, as my parents have been keeping him so busy. The N.E.W. Zoo, Bay Beach, kite flying, hot-rodin'. And he has to come home to little ol' me.

And Emmett seems like such a big boy in his big brother's absence. Each time Rubin needs a tweetment Emmett dons the extra face mask so that Rubin isn't alone. He sits close and rubs his baby brother's knee with such a look of concern on his face... Tonight he repeated, "It's okay, Woobin, your medicine is okay..."

he's been loving him up right while he isn't feeling well...

giving him the royal tweetment.

Have boys, will travel.

I am only slightly embarrassed to admit that, after 3 months home, Rubin made his first trip north to my parents' house and the small town where I was born and raised.

It is no small task to pack up three little boys and travel sans their Papa for an entire weekend... especially my three little boys, two of whom have proven themselves in the past to be awful road-trippers and even worse sleepers when outside of their home base. These things considered, I geared up with high hopes and made the trip.

Boy, was I pleasantly surprised.

I am having a hard time remembering, now, when we visited last. I know that it was before I traveled to Korea. And I remember that Emmett had a terrible time sleeping and napping while we were away... he always has. We did things a little bit differently this weekend for a number of reasons... to avoid the overcrowding at my parents' house (Aunt Sica and Uncle Dan and the kids traveled, too...) and to break up our drive, we spent Friday night with Aunt Casey, Uncle Paul, and Ethan. All of the boys traveled and slept so well... it's got me thinking we'll be visiting a lot more this winter (if Aunt Casey will have us), when Dave is working and we're on our own for long weekends.

Anyway, some other weekend highlights (besides good sleep...) include:

Spending more time with Aunt Casey (or, as Emmett says, Kiki) and Ethan.

A great hometown parade, complete with Emergency Vehicles, marching bands, tractors, and hoards of candy thrown about the street.

(Putting the littlest ones in the play pen curbside to watch the parade go by was really genius, Mom.)

Spending coveted time with Grandma, who adores having all of her grandkids together.

Celebrating Jonah's 3rd birthday with a meal and a cake made by Aunt Meggan. Yum.

Rubin's first haircut, a la Gray-ma, went off without a hitch thanks to a.) my mom's superior haircutting skills and b.) Aunt Sica's stellar distraction techniques.

Hot air balloon viewing with cousins at sun down.

Who could ask for anything more?

Eye candy

I was getting pretty tired of seeing Blah-g every time I logged onto the internet... I am assuming that my faithful blog readers and friends were getting sick of seeing it, too... So, I decided to leave you with something visually pleasing, for now. A more in depth post to come, soon!!

(Nora and Emmett, elbow deep in play dough.)

(Theo, bombing the hill on his big wheel.)

(No description necessary.)

(Rubin's new mobile from his Godmother. It looks beautiful in his room.)

(Rubin.)

(A take from my first paid family photo shoot!)