6 years old is a big deal

6 years old is a big deal
 46.5 inches 70%
41.5 lbs 23%

1. Favorite color: red
2. Favorite food: seafood
3. Favorite show: Teen Titans Go 
4. Favorite movie: Dr. Doolittle
5. Whose the coolest: Mathis
6. Favorite thing in school: lunch and playground
7. Best skill:  run
8. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? cousin's house (Ft. Myers) and New York
9. Favorite song? Shut up and Dance with Me and Sugar 
10. Favorite book:  David at Home 
11. Favorite season: Winter 
12. Favorite snack: Goldfish and Cheez its
13. Friends: Mathis and Brandon, Sophia and Kailyn and Tyson and Drew and Wylie and Shane, Lincoln, Blake and Ethan 
14. 1 Food I dislike: lettuce and brussel sprouts 
15. My one wish: to stay at my cousin's house 
16. Favorite store: Toys R Us
17. Favorite thing to do with Mommy: Go to the beach
18. Favorite thing to do with Daddy: ride my bike
19. Favorite animal: Leemer, Tiger and Jaguar and Shark 
20. When I grow up I want to be a: Racecar driver and monster truck driver at monster jam 

Not only did Carson turn 6 this year, he also became a big brother just before his birthday.  6 is HUGE! Geoff and I literally cannot believe that we have a 6 year old.  Carson woke up on his birthday to presents on the table and he was so excited.  For lunch, Geoff and I went to Carson's school and the kids sang to him in the classroom and we had lunch with him in the lunchroom.  Later that night, Nannie, Uncle Jojo, Uncle Badwee, Jeremy, Pop and Bubba came over for hamburgers, hotdogs and birthday cake.  Papa was sick and couldn't come.  The next we had Carson's BIG birthday party, his first party with his friends at the house.  It is what he kept begging for and with becoming a big brother just before his birthday, Geoff and I did everything we could to make it happen.  

We hired Safari Edventure to come to the house, with 20 different animals.  He had 20 of his closest friends come over and they played and had pizza and cupcakes until the show started.  S.E. brought many animals including a python, alligator, chinchilla, ant eater, sloth and leemer.  Carson said his favorite animal at the party was surprisingly a leemer.  S.E. explained to all of the kids about each animal and they got to touch the animals and some they were able to hold.  It was an absolutely awesome day.  So happy to celebrate our first born turning 6!! 

Kindergarten

With Carson starting Kindergarten this year, I have so many thoughts going through my head. First, how in the world did we get here? I mean seriously, wasn’t he just born? Didn’t we just start preschool?  

He’s smart, I know he’s smart.  Sometimes he is too smart for his own good.  He writes well, he reads well, he does math in his head.  He observes everyone, makes conscious decisions.  He has fear, thankfully.  He is very sensitive. 

Because of all this, I am terrified of what school will bring.  I want to hold his hand all day.  If someone makes him cry, I want to comfort him.  If his feelings are hurt, I want to tell him it is going to be ok.  What if he is left out? What if he is bullied? What if he is the bully? Will he always be as open with Geoff and I as he is now?  He tells us everything.  

The first day of school went better than expected.  I didn't have time to cry and neither did Carson.  His teacher is wonderful and we have been very, very happy with her.

So far, he has not done the car loop in the morning.  Our routine, we drive to school and I walk with him to the gate , we say our goodbyes and he is on his way.  Afternoon, he loves to be a "walker", so I walk and pick him up at school.

We already had his first conference and right now, he is in the top group of his class in math, reading and writing.  We are so happy to hear that.  I attribute this to Parkway and all of the wonderful work they did there.  Carson was already beginning his reading journey in preschool.

Here is to a wonderful year, his first year in big boy school.

Summer

Summer is coming to an end, at least in no school terms.  For Florida, Summer is here for quite a few more months, well into what northerners call "Fall".

Carson had a great summer at Parkway camp, VBS and Young at Art.  There were a couple days that he didn't make it to camp and he was very upset.  He loved going, loved playing with his friends and doing all the fun activities.

Today, was a new day.  Today was Carson's first day of camp at his new elementary school. His elementary school holds a camp over the summer in 2 week sessions all summer long until school starts.  Geoff and I decided that it would help into his transition into Kindergarten to sign him up for the last session of the summer, so he'll have 2 weeks at his new school.

I was a nervous wreck, didn't sleep much last night.  I kept feeling like I was throwing him into the wolves, going from private school to public school.  A school where he was the big fish on campus, to now the little minnow, the baby, the youngest one.  The director told me they have 18 incoming kindergartners doing camp these 2 weeks, so I am hoping that he will make great friends and that maybe at least one of them will be in his kindergarten class when we find out in 3 weeks.

The drop off was ok.  Carson squeezed my hand as we walked in the school.  The director came out and took us both back to show us some things and then he was ready to take Carson with the other kids.  I felt that pinging in my chest, the lump in my throat, my eyes start to well up.  Carson gave me a big hug and I noticed he squeezed a little tighter.  He then told then director that he is going to be in elementary school and that he has never been in a lunch line.  Whew! The laughter from that quickly cleared up the tears, but only for a moment.  As I watched him walk away to go on this new adventure, I cried, tears down the cheeks and walked out of his new elementary school knowing that another milestone has been checked.  Kindergarten is next, a few weeks to go.  Hopefully Mommy and Carson will be ready, I'm thinking he will do great, its me on the other hand that is not ready to let go of my baby.

Preschool Graduate

3 years flew by.  Within a blink of an eye. 

Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you

Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don't blink

Carson has been singing this song lately and it holds so true to where life has us now.  How is his preschool career over already? We loved his preschool so much.  He's leaving as a reader, he's great at math, loves science, spanish and computers.  He made great friends and unfortunately, at this point, they are all going there separate ways.  

Carson even had to say goodbye to his best buddy, Will who is moving to Pensacola.  They've been in class together since they were 2 1/2 and had a connection with the love of monster trucks from the beginning.  

Carson's class walked into Chapel to the Pomp and Circumstance.  Carson was telling us for a few days before the ceremony that he didn't like that song because it made him sad.  He said he was going to try to not cry.  He did great, not one tear.  

In attendance was Me, Geoff, my mom, Joey, Paul, Eva, Gail and Kevin.  My dad wasn't able to make it, but he did go to dinner later to celebrate. 

When it was Carson's turn to walk up and get his "diploma" he had quite a cheering crowd behind him.  He was all smiles.  This child is completely surrounded with love. 

That day, my mom, Geoff and I took Carson to Miami Children's Museum for a day of fun.  That night, we went to dinner at Roccos Tacos, a favorite of Carson's.  

It was a wonderful day.  I'm so sad to see Carson's preschool years over, but I am very excited to see what the future holds for him.  

First Trip to see Snow!!

For Christmas, Carson wanted to see snow.  So what does an only child get for Christmas, a new suitcase with snow boots, snow suit and a plane ticket to go see snow. Santa really delivered.

Carson and his Christmas present 

My mom and Joey flew up a day ahead and Geoff, Carson and then flew in.  The first leg of our trip, there was alot of turbulence.  Carson ended up throwing up towards the end of the flight. I felt his pain, I was feel a little queasy also.  Aside from that, he was such a good traveler.  He did great in the airport and on the flights.

When we first got to Albany, when we walked out of the airport the cold air hit him and man was it cold.

We rented our minivan and drove to the house we rented in Stephentown, NY.  He got out of the van and was running around in the snow.  He made snow angels and ran and ran. He was up so late that night playing in the snow, even in the dark.

The next day, he seemed kind of down and out.  We figured he was just tired, traveling can take alot out of you.  Nope, he got a stomach bug.  Vomit, diarrhea, fever, the whole 9 yards.  It took the full day to go through him and then he was fine.

Sick Carson

While Carson was sick, Joey, Geoff, Emma and I went into town and bought a sled and a snowball maker.  We had a nice hill in our backyard so we figured it was a perfect place to sled.  We had so many laughs.  Joey and Geoff dragged Carson around the property, which was beautiful.

When we went into Averill Park, we visited with Aunt Marion, Uncle Bobby and spent time with Emma and Claire.  We also had time to go to the cemetery and see our beloved, Poppi.

Visiting Poppi

Another day we went to Bousquet and went tubing. Carson was very hesitant at first, but after the first go around, he loved it. Wanted to keep going and going again.  After we froze our toes off tubing, we went inside the lodge for hot chocolate and sat around the fire.

We even got fresh falling snow.  We went outside and just let ourselves get blanketed in the snow.

On our last day, the snow had hardened up enough that we were finally able to make a snowman.  It wasn't as big as we would have liked, but it was a snowman.

We had such a wonderful trip.  The house in Stephentown was just so beautiful and perfect for all of us to spread out and enjoy our time.  Carson wants to go back and I certainly don't blame him.