Jacob & Ryan Swimming At Their First Swim Meet

Ryan and Jacob have joined the Sewickely YMCA Swim Team this year and they love it! We actually went to the Y to see about a birthday party for Ryan. He has always wanted a swim party but with his birthday being in October, he could never have one. So we went to check out the pool and the facility to see what the parties entailed. By the time we left, we had the party booked, and had 2 Y memberships and they were both signed up for swim team. They have competed in 5 meets this year. I have attached a video of Jacob and Ryan each swimming backstroke at their first meet.

First Day of Second Grade - Sept. 9, 2011

FIRST DAY OF SECOND GRADE
SEPT. 9, 2011

Today is Ryan's first day of Second Grade. His teacher is Mrs. Postufka. He isn't too excited to start school. He said that first grade was pretty boring. He said he knew just about everything they were trying to teach. I told him that second grade will be a little more challenging because he will learn how to do cursive, and the spelling words will get harder, and after Christmas he will be changing classes for Language Arts. He said, "Well that's it though". I hope that he will be challenged a little this year. Maybe when he starts changing classes for Language Arts he will be in the advanced class and that will challenge him a bit. There aren't too many kids that he was in first grade with that are in his class this year, but I told him think of all the friends you will make. He was getting a little more excited as we waited for the bus. I am sure when he gets home he will have lots to tell me.

First Day of Middle School - Sept. 9, 2011

FIRST DAY OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

SEPT. 9, 2011

Well, today starts Jacob's "New Adventure" (his words) in the 5th Grade at David E. Williams Middle School. He has been so excited since his orientation last month, but in this past week he hasn't been able to sleep. He is excited about going to a new place but most of all meeting new friends. He will meet friends from the other two elementary schools that merge with his elementary into the middle school. He is also excited that he might see kids he went to preschool with! LOL He has always been excited to meet new friends. He has such a kind heart. Anytime he sees a kid that isn't including themselves into the game, he goes over to ask them to play. He will sit with the special needs kids at school if they are just sitting with their aides and he shares his ice cream with them also. Whenever there was a new kid in school he made friends with them right away. I told him that being a new kid myself, it is kids like him that make being a new kid that much easier. He makes me so proud. He is growing up to be such a wonderful young man. I tease him that he is a "fountain of information" when it comes to telling me about school. Ever since preschool I would ask, how was school and he would say "fine". I would say did you do anything fun? And he would say "not really". And that would be it. I told him this morning he better be a real fountain of information because I want to hear all about his "new adventure". I will hopefully write about it on here and share it with all of you. I didn't realize it has been so long since I updated this blog.

Ryan's Recital

This is Ryan playing Ode to Joy (as he says Odie to Joy) at his very first recital. He was the youngest person to play. There were about 7 kids total. He loves to play the piano, and this is his favorite song. He plays it ALL THE TIME! He heard his friend, Ryan, play it at a talent show at school and he couldn't wait to play it himself. He did very well, if I do say so myself. The beginning of the song is cut off because I took this video with my camera and I took a picture of him playing first. The beginning of this video is when he has to play softly.

Enjoy!!

First Day of School

First Day of School
August 24, 2009

Ryan started all day Kindergarten and Jacob goes into the 3rd grade. Boy were they excited to start school. They were ready for school 15 minutes early. I'm sure that won't last very long! Ryan was so excited to ride on the bus. When it came he made a bee line right to the steps and almost forgot to give us hugs and kisses. Jacob is an old pro and gets to sit in the middle of the bus this year. One of Ryan's friends from preschool is in his class, but he makes friends fast! Ryan gets lunch for free for the first week so they can get used to buying lunch at the cafeteria. He is excited for taco day. We will let Jacob buy his lunch for the first week too and then they have to pick one day a week to buy lunch and then they have to take their lunch the other 4 days. I asked Ryan when he got off the bus how it was and he said it was great. He really loves school. They were pretty tired and cranky about 1 1/2 hours after they got home but that will go on for about a month until they get used to going to school. I asked Ryan if he was ready to do this for the next 188 days and he just laughed. I guess we'll see. I can't beleive my babies are growing up so fast. I cried on and off all day because I missed them. I've had to take care of someone for the past 8 years and it is weird not to have to do that. But I'm sure I'll get used to that pretty quick.

Jacob's First Holy Communion

Jacob's First Holy Communion was on Sunday, May 3rd at 1:00 at St. Malachy Church. He was the first boy in line (Nice to have a B to start your last name huh?) He looked so handsome in his suit as you can see. I don't know where my little baby boy went but he looks so grown up now. Ever since we bought the suit, he didn't want to put it on. Anytime you would ask him if he was excited about his First Communion he would say no. When asked why he would say "the suit". We thought we were going to have to hold him down to put it on, but the day of, he was pretty excited and put it on without a problem and posed for pictures without a fight. All the kids were in the front of the church and the families were seated in the rest of the church. When we made it down to receive our communion, he looked at me and said "Mommy, I tasted the wine!" He was so happy. We came home to start the party. We took many more pictures and afterwards I told Jacob I had clothes laid out for him to change into and he said "No, I don't want to change, I like the suit!" Who would have guessed? Certainly not me! Well, he stayed in his suit until ... he accidentally sat in his brother's cake! Ryan came down and said calmly as you please, "Mommy, can I have another piece of cake because Jacob sat in mine." We all laughed and then he changed into other clothes. It was a nice and blessed day. God Bless Jacob.

Pictures:

1. Jacob

2. Mom, Dad and Jacob

3. 3 Generations of Black Men - Jacob, Daddy and Pappy

4. Jacob, Grannie and Gram

5. Waiting to go down the aisle

6. Jacob and Aleisha

7. Jacob receiving the Host

8. Jacob receiving the Wine

9. Jacob and Ryan - Brothers Forever

10. Jacob and his Godmother - Grannie

11. Jacob and his cousins

Easter at the Black's

Easter was a lot of fun. The kids love to decorate the eggs. Too bad we only do it once a year. I told Eddie we could do it other times throughout the year but he said then it wouldn't be special at Easter. Party pooper - ha-ha. The Easter Bunny hides plastic eggs filled with candy and money throughout the house. The kids love to find them. They end up with a half of a bucket full of candy. The bunny also brings presents and candy in their baskets - Ryan got what he wanted most of all ... The Zero Gravity Micro car that rides on walls and ceilings. Jacob got a Zingo Webkin, that he wanted. They got a few other presents also, but those were the ones they really wanted. We had a nice dinner with Mom and my brother John. Unfortunately my Dad wasn't feeling well so he had to stay home. Eddie's Mom and Dad and my Mom stopped by after mass and had brunch. And both grandparents had presents for them too. All and all it was a great day.

Happy Easter everyone!