The First Day of School

I survived the first day of school! My new school, Town Center, is SO different from my old school, T.J. Lee. One of the first differences that I noticed is that there were not any kids that registered on the first day of school. All of the parents registered their child before the first day of school! At T.J. Lee, each classroom had about 2-3 students register on the first day of school. I was also surprised at the end of the day when every single child got home without incident. It was not that way in Irving (parents don't always communicate with the child and explain how they are getting home). You can tell that parents really talk to their children in Coppell and prepare them for the first day of school and what to expect.

Changing workplaces is a hard thing to do. I really miss some of my former co-workers. I know within time I will establish solid relationships with my new co-workers. Everyone has been so nice. It will just take time to have history with them. Stay tuned. . .

Visit with Grandma

Grandma invited us for lunch today. After church, we headed to Bristol (an hour south of Plano) to eat lunch with her and some other family members. After a week of staff development and working late hours, it was so nice to have a home cooked meal!

Jackson put the rabbit on the car and pushed it around the house.


Hugs from Aunt Shirley!


Jackson finally convinced Aunt Shirley and Grandma to "go outside". They discovered a worm. Grandma helped move it out of the crack in the sidewalk. The worm kept hissing every time Jackson touched it with a stick.


Jackson asked, "where did it go?"


Jackson found the pecans on the ground. He kept picking them up and tried to count them.


Aunt Shirley showed Jackson the pecans on the tree.


Grandma and Jackson looked for the airplane that Jackson heard. (Every time he hears an airplane, he says, "Airplane! Papa?" For some reason, he really remembers that Papa J flies in airplanes.)

Love Conner

Jackson can be really funny with Conner. He will pat Conner and give him hugs. He will also tell Conner, "MOVE Conner" when he is in the way.

Jackson hugging Conner.


Conner escaping Jackson!

Phone Calls

Jackson loves to call Mama J and Papa J. He brings the telephone to me and tells me who he wants to call. Of course we make the phone call and then he gets to talk to whomever he want within reason. When he talks to them, he sits or stands so still!

Changes

The Larriviere household is experiencing lots of changes. I started my new job at Coppell ISD two weeks ago (officially -- of course I spent a lot of time in June and the whole month of August working in my new library). Thomas is also changing jobs. He will start work at Gerdau the Tuesday after Labor day. He will be inside/outside sales, and he will be doing some traveling too. Because Thomas will be traveling for work, Jackson has to change daycares. Thomas normally takes Jackson to daycare and on days that he travels, I will have to take him (I can not take Jackson to his current daycare and make it to work on time). It was SO HARD to find a new daycare! It is shocking to discover how few full time daycares exist! We really felt that we had limited options. On Friday, I signed Jackson up for a Primrose daycare that is on the way to work for both of us. Even though the daycare had a "good feel" to it, I found myself crying the whole way home. I really loved his old daycare. It is hard to know that Jackson will be experiencing a change too next week. Oh well, some things can not be helped, and sometimes change is good. . .

Sickness strikes again

We realized Jackson was running a fever Sunday night. Thomas stayed home with him Monday and Tuesday. After taking Jackson to the doctor Tuesday, we realized that he was going to be sick all week long. On Wednesday, Thomas met Mama J half-way between Plano and College Station to pass off Jackson. Mama J took care of Jackson the rest of the week. With it being my first week at a new job, I couldn't take off to stay home with him. It is not fun to be faced with the decisions on what to do when your child is sick and you have to go to work. Thank goodness that Mama J is retired and that she is so giving of her time and love.

The Circus

Thomas and I took Jackson to the circus Sunday afternoon. Mama J and Papa J went with us too. We got to go to the floor prior to the start of the circus to see elephants and the clowns.

Jackson gets a lift on Papa J's shoulders.


Jackson doesn't know what to think about the clowns.


Everyone pose!


Jackson sat on the "horse" before the show started.


Daddy, what is wrong with your nose?


Mama J bought Jackson cotton candy. He spit out his first taste and then really liked it!

Graduation Day!

I finally did it!! After working on my Masters degree for 3 1/2 years, I finally graduated. It felt good to put on the cap and gown and walk across the stage. Of course Thomas and Jackson attended along with my parents (they arrived from China late Friday). My grandma, Jeffrey, and Jonathan were also there to cheer me on.


Jackson learned to say, "Yea, Mommy"! It is too cute!


Getting ready to walk the stage.


Jackson did not take a nap before graduation. Thank goodness that the uncles were there to help entertain!


Jackson finally crashed at the end of the ceremony.


The Savell kids! I was really glad that both of my brothers made it to my graduation. It meant a lot to me to have them there to cheer me on. (Yes, I did hear you yell Jonathan!)


Grandma and Jennifer



A family picture with an awake Jackson.


Sweet boy.


Mama J and Jackson


Jackson and Mommy in front of the house.

After graduation, we had a party. Thomas made homemade lasagna and my grandma made desserts and appetizers. They did a wonderful job! Many of my friends and family members came to celebrate. It was a wonderful day!

School's out for summer - or forever!!

I finished all of my assignments!! No more grad school!! Thomas and Jackson surprised me with a special treat when I completed everything.

Thomas made me pose with a UNT shirt and my cap. You can tell that I was just a little excited!! No more research papers!!!

Water Hose Fun!

Thomas and Jackson arrived back from Chase before dinnertime. While Thomas cooked hamburgers, I filled up the swimming pool so that Jackson and could play together. Once we got in the pool, he noticed the water hose. He started playing with it of course. At first, Jackson kept watering the grass and playing with the hose pointed out of the pool. Before long, he started examining the hose a little closer and sprayed himself in the face a couple of times! It was really funny! Then trouble came. . . trouble's name is Thomas. Thomas came out to see what I was laughing at. He started encouraging Jackson to "spray Mommy!" Of course Jackson followed directions. I got soaked! Before long, both Jackson and I were wet from the water hose. It was too much fun!!

The Perfect Shot

A Visit to Chase

On Friday, Thomas spoke to his parents on the phone. They are in Chase, LA taking care of Thomas' grandma. Chase is in the North-East corner of Louisiana. We are concerned about Grandma's health so the decision was made that Thomas and Jackson should head east to see the family in Chase. (I had to stay behind to work on the last of my projects for graduate school.)

Honey and Poppa were so excited that the boys were coming for a visit. Thomas and Jackson pulled into the driveway and surprised Grandma and Aunt Neely who were still playing their nightly game of cards with Honey and Poppa.

Jackson had Honey and Poppa wrapped around his little finger the whole weekend! Thomas was in heaven too when Honey made her pork roast and rice and gravy for him, and Jackson made his daddy proud by eating more than his share of rice and gravy.

Jackson had fun playing in the birdbath! (Don't worry Papa J - Honey had just cleaned it out, so no Salmonella, and Thomas washed Jackson's hands thoroughly!)


Playing in a tub and wearing Poppa's hat!


Jackson's favorite past-time - reading!


Eating watermelon. Yum!!


Blowing bubbles with Honey.


Jackson posed with Aunt Neely before bed.


Jackson points out things for Grandma to see.


Honey and Poppa with Jackson.


Poppa and Jackson

TV Please?

Well, we finally did it. We let Jackson watch Elmo on television so that we could get some chores done around the house. He was GLUED to the television set!!

Moving on up!

Jackson moved up in his daycare class again to the Toddler II class. I can't believe that he is already in the Toddler II class! His teachers in the Toddler I class wanted to move him up because he is talking more than the other kids in his class and he sits and listens to lessons really well. I took him to daycare before heading to my new school so that I could meet his new teacher, Mrs. Catherine. Thomas normally takes Jackson to daycare so I got to experience taking Jackson to daycare. When we walked in the door, EVERY teacher that saw him got excited to see him. It is nice to know that he is loved!


The first day of Toddler II.