Joshua Started FUMCN

With the start of the 2007-2008 school year, Joshua began his second year at the First United Methodist Cooperative Nursery (FUMCN) at the beginning of September. He is in the 4s class, having been promoted on account of his good looks from the 3s. When we first moved here and people talked about FUMCN we thought that they were trying to say Thumbkin, but their Midwestern accents got in the way. Imagine that, we went around for months thinking that Michiganders couldn't pronouce their "th" blend. Even now, Josie prefers to say Thumbkin.

We've really been impressed with FUMCN. We like the cooperative part of the preschool wherein parents must spend time either assisting in their child's class or in other ways that contribute to the school. Michelle has met some really great people this way. The assisting commitment weeds out a lot of people unable or unwilling to assist. The other thing we like about FUMCN is the teacher. Miss Julie is the tops. She works very well with the children and parents and seems to have become an institution in her own right. One thing that Josie and Joshua will always remember is Miss Julie's wacky version of "Singin' in the Rain." We feel very lucky to have her as Joshua's preschool teacher (and Josie's when she was in FUMCN).

At the beginning of every year, Joshua and his fellow FUMCNers bring in pictures to make placemats that they keep and use throughout the year. We selected a lot of pictures from the last year for Joshua to bring. Here you see his top picks. The first one was taken during our trip to Colorado in June or July (I can't remember) of this year. We went to visit family in Conifer and Parker. Here Joshua is playing with his cousin Jame's skateboard, trying to make it "flip" up to him so that he can catch it. This took some practice. Sometimes he would flip it too hard and it would pop him in the mouth, other times he would miss it altogether. This picture is also a reminder of how quickly Joshua got back into the swing of things after his got off his cast -- that's another story.

Oh, before I forget, Michelle made the plane ride to Colorado fully pregnant. The flight there was nice, but coming back and landing at midnight was an experience we try not to think about.

Joshua wanted to put this picture on his placement because it was one of the first pictures of him and Adam. This was Saturday, September 1st. Michelle was out running errands and the kids and I went outside and set up a nice little spot in the front yard with blankets and babies and toys. It was a gorgeous later summer day.

I had Adam and Isaac (now two days old) wrapped in blankets in their bouncy chairs. Josie and Joshua stayed right next to them for almost two hours, taking turns offering their fingers as pacifiers. At one point Joshua jumped up and said, "We have two baby boys!" I looked up and saw some friends walking back from the football game. They stopped, and we talked while Josie, Joshua, and Emma played tag in the front yard.

I really like the picture of Joshua at the table. He is so handsome. This was taken in the summer. Look at his eyes! You can't see it in the picture, but Joshua has long eyelashes that when combined with his beautiful eyes can melt your heart. It looks like we were having strawberry shortcake.

Michelle had gone somewhere one day in the summer and I was in charge of feeding the kids so I split a watermelon in half, gave them each a spoon, and said, "Enjoy." They looked at me, and with a half smile Joshua said, "No." I said, "Dig in." It didn't take long for them to understand the possibilities that lay before them. Joshua looked at Josie, and Josie was already going to town.

Part of the charm of this was that they were laughing with each other and feeding each other sloppy watermelon chunks. I didn't think that they would eat as much as they did. When Michelle got back from wherever she was they had almost finished their watermelon bowl. Michelle was impressed. Josie and Joshua soon retired to the couch in the red room and laid down. I asked them what was going on and they complained about their bellies hurting. I laughed and left the watermelon out. Later that day they returned and finished it.

This last picture wasn't an official placemat picture, but I love it anyway. I think I put it in his FUMCN bag, just in case. Joshua is still a little camera shy, so whenever he faces the camera and smiles is a moment to be captured and treasured.

This picture was taken in April, just before bedtime. He had just got out of the bath and put on his green dinosaur pajamas. He got a few books to read and was sitting on the rocking chair when I snapped the picture. I said, "Joshua, smile," and to my surprise he did just that. And what a smile that is. So, this is it for Joshua's FUMCN placemat pictures.

We are looking forward to another great year for him. He has made some good friends.