As the prospect of preschool stares Brandi and I in the face for our oldest, it begs the question ... are you freaking kidding me? How can our little guy be ready to start school of any sort? Coming up on three years old, though, we know it's time. Time to learn that there is a whole world out there outside of mommy and daddy. Time to learn to share and play well with others (something his daddy is still working on). Knowledge and acceptance are not the same animal, however. We aren't looking forward to dropping him off that first day. Not at all.
There's no rewinding this tape.
I will take a moment here to pause in reflection. Please enjoy the slideshow and musical accompaniment. For the first (and last) time ever, I give to you the emasculating vocal stylings of Paul & Jack.
Sorry buddy, you are going to kill me for this when you're a teenager.
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Oh my! I love it!!! My children are in their teens. I cry on the first day of school every year.
Paul, great detailed slide show particularly the vacation spots and the food on the face. You are a real crooner with Puff the Magic Dragon. You even know the second verses. Nice to see the tender side of YOU. I promise this won't tarnish your other tough guy image. Good luck with the kiddo starting school.
nice... Luke is starting school soon, I can't believe it. His brothers are right behind him. Time just flies with these little guys!
A couple of true Slaybaugh classics are... "(something his daddy is still working on)" and of course, we gotta love your pink glasses in one of the pics! :-)
Paul - Congratulations on getting featured in four of the five groups you chose. Unfortunately, I am not a moderator for Fraiche Aire (yet). :)
Actually, thanks for making me cry today. This was beautiful, my friend.
Of all the songs you could have chosen, you chose that one. I'm trying to get myself back together here.
He's beautiful, Paul. He'll love preschool -- who wouldn't? You'll love that he's in preschool, eventually. He WILL be all right and so will you guys.
Thanks for the show and song. Your son is adorable. I remember when my Daniel went off to his first day of preschool. It seems like yesterday and he graduated this June form high school. Treasure your little boy and enjoy the ride. I would not want to rewind his trip at all because it was great to see but I do miss my little ones.
great blog idea but we could really pimp em out and start a reality show! heck, the next one would be titled, "How Paul and Nick made Millions and why they chose this island to buy"
The next song I will cry over will be soon enough -- when my kids leave "Sugar Mountain."
"Oh to live on Sugar Mountain, with the barkers and the colored balloons, You can't be twenty on Sugar Mountain, though you're thinking that you're leaving there too soon, you're leaving there too soon."
Oh the memories of the first day of preschool.....I cried like a baby when I dropped off each one of my boys! They do grow so fast my oldest just turned 10...double digits that's another hard milestone! You have a very handsome boy....good luck keeping all those pre-school girls away!
Paul, what an amazing slideshow and post. He'll do better than both of you on his first day of pre-school, believe me. He sounds and looks like a strong little man. Best wishes to Jack on his first day of pre-school.
Slaybaugh - From the sentiments above, sounds like a killer song you put behind those very memorable pictures. Unfortunately, I don't have sound on my work computer so I'll check it out when I get home. Adorable kid, for sure. And I'm extremely curious as to what your vocal stylings sounds like:-)
awesome thanks for stirring up memories, can't believe I actually watched the whole thing. (you know other people's rug rats all look alike- ask anybody on a long flight who sits by this grandma of 4!) cute boy, bet he loves his video. My grandson always loved seeing himself in my print adds. be good cheryl
This was precious. I really enjoyed this heartwarming video of your little boy and your family. It is always hard to send them to school the first time, but it gets easier. Thanks for sharing.
Whoa... was that Alex Trebec? How the hell did you get him to make an appearance. Oh, let me guess... you've got one of his best girls in the trunk?
Nice job on the video... if not for that whole preschool gig, you two could strike out on tour!
Slay, this made me cry, and I never (yep) ever ever cry, 'cept at movies and tv commercials and, never mind.... Truly beautiful, and not a freakin' thing I can say to make that day go any easier for you, nope, sorry, my friend - it'll be hearbreaking, but Jack will RULE the world some day. It's written all over him!
Thank you for letting us in:-) Now go hug 'em and smooch 'em....:-)
Three barbers short of a quartet -- Jack has a fine voice! ;)
Fair enough, E ;)
Elaine, - ouch!:-)
Don't mind her, Inna. She's just mad that I am going to sponsor Topanga.
Hi Inna :)
Paul :P
Hi kids:-)
Paul ~ Ah, what I wouldn't give to go back to those years! Jump forward 15 years in your mind and picture him going off to college! That is what I'm dealing with; my youngest goes the third week of August and I am not looking forward to it. People aren't kidding when they say it goes by fast!
Smooch them while they are little and still let you and adore them while they are gently sleeping at night. One day they'll be bouncers :)
Paul, there is no rewinding the tape...Great line...It is true...the most important moment that you will spend with your children is right now, or at least when you get home from the office if they are not with you at your office...we can't forget that...thanks for the post...Jason
I gotta say, the sound makes me appreciate this that much more. Nice sentiments, amigo.
You're right though, Jack's going to have your behind down the road.
Featured @ Club Chaos
Kathy - My heart and my wallet are not looking forward to that day at all! I have a tremendous amount of admiration these days, though, for those who have successfully navigated the formative years several times over. Much respect, Kathy.
Lisa - Not sure if a bouncer's life is in either of their futures. We are not of outsized stock. I just hope I raise them well enough to keep them from being bounced excessively from those spots when they get older. "Do as I say, boys. Do as I say ..."
Jason - It's easy to forget to slow down and appreciate them. They require so much that we often focus on that instead of what they give.
Sardi - It will only get worse. Wait till the girls he brings home see the stash of naked baby Jack pictures. The kid is going to kill me, but I'm going to laugh all the way to my grave.
Carolyn - Thanks for the feature!
Paul,
Thank you for sharing your family with us. If you think Jack has grown uo pfast to this point, dude you haven't seen anything yet. Next step is the wedding day. OOOOOOOOO i didn't say that di I?
Don R.
Ok, Paul, you made me cry. I remember the first day of preschool for my kids...now, they are all adults and we're counting down days til one of my daughters wedding -- Aug. 24th. I'm feeling very nostalgic these days (as the wedding gets closer) and this really brought the tears. :)
Jack, is precious -- glad you're taking time to spend with him. Pay attention, he'll teach you to share and how to play well with others. :) Gosh, that smile of his, just melts my heart.
It doesn't get any easier. My daughter is now 16 and I still whine on the first day of school and spend more than half the day there with her. That separation anxiety is the pits. Good Luck.
Don - I know there is a much larger quantitative difference from 3 to 20 something than 0 to 3, but I don't think anything can replace the exponential growth and change that these first few years entail. From a little peanut to a fully functioning little boy in around 1000 days. Madness.
Judi - Wow, Judi, you are a short-timer! Congratulations to your daughter. She will be beautiful on the 24th, and you can bask in the glow of a job well done. You done good, ma ;)
Trunda - I don't imagine I'll have much difficulty with it after these first initial forays, but I know it will tear my wife up every time. By 16, I'll have the military academies on speed dial. These boys are nuts!
PAUL - I wrote something similar last year when my oldest went to Kindergarten. It is a difficult transition, but after a while, it just becomes something that is a part of your life. You have to live it first to be able to understand it fully. Words can't make the transition any easier, only time can.
What a lovely compilation- anyone and everyone looks back and knows that it's passed too quickly. Loved it- thanks. Oh, and after the initial tear, they're WAY into the trucks and kids.
Adam - I know it will be beneficial, and I won't look back once we get past that first week. That's not exactly true, I'm the type to reminisce, but progress is a good thing. Just taking the time now to savor being the sun, moon and stars in his little universe. That all starts to change very soon.
Laurie - Thanks. He LOVES trucks, bulldozers, excavators, trains, street sweepers, etc. If it has wheels, he loves it. He'll do just fine. We are the ones who are losing something. It's okay, though. As his world expands, ours will too, just in other ways.
Paul- It's ok, we're allowed to embarass our kids, after all they certainly pay us back;-) Time does fly, although my youngest is starting his 3rd year of Pre-school (he has a December Birthday). We, and he, are so ready for Kindergarten though. It's funny, because the Pre-School he goes to calls his "grade" the "blue room." So he'll go up to a complete stranger and tell them that he's going into the "blue room," as if they know what that is.
Why does that song make me cry?
It was on my 'sing myself to sleep list', could that be why?
They grow up so fast. You will have so many memories with your writing, photos, and videos.
Well, mine starts his first day of college...I've been crying all year long. Crying, and kicking him in the butt because 18 year olds can be so disagreeable at times! They always say it, but it's true, it goes by so fast.
Paul - there may come a time when he runs when you pull this out and show his friends and girlfriends, but after that there will come a time when he will love you more for it.
It was the only kids song I new how to play on my guitar and my kids and I would do it often. And then we would have a Led Zeppelin sing along.
Doreen - That song makes everyone cry. It's hard wired into our DNA. As long as ActiveRain never implodes and takes all of our content with it, it is my sincere hope that it acts as my journal of their development as well as a platform for my business. Dichotomy can be a cool thing.
Kelly - I no longer doubt the veracity of the "it goes by so fast" assertions. Every day brings a new developmental bombshell. Posting about it forces me to actually take stock of the progress as it happens, rather than waking up one morning and realizing that my sons can vote. I truly hope that it helps keep me in the moment so I can fully enjoy the journey, not just the mile markers.
Mike - Now that, sir, I can respect! As one who learned the words to "Stairway to Heaven" on his mother's lap, I can't wait to pass on that love for the classics. Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd ... well maybe Floyd can wait until college ;)
Paul, this is totally a new side of you. I'm teary, he's absolutely adorable, the show is priceless and you carry a great tune...what about your Diary? Bring it on! This is great.
Later in the rain~Deb
So sweet! He looks so much like your wife with those big beautiful eyes!
My 5th is going to kindergarten this year, and I just can't believe that he can be that old???? He is so excited, and now his little brother (3) is talking about wanting to go to school and have his own backpack etc........One at a time! I will miss the days of not having a little hand to hold while I run erands!!!
Deb - I let the gentler side of Paul out from time to time. Don't get too used to it, though ;)
Pam - You've got 6 under that roof? Holy bananas! You deserve a purple heart. We have our hands full with our two, and I cannot fathom managing any more. You are right about Jack's resemblance to his mother. He is a carbon copy. We each have our own llittle mini-me. Our youngest more closely resembles me, once you get past the blond hair and blue eyes ;) Come to think of it ... he kind of looks more like the mailman ...
Paul ~ Thank you for sharing such a wonderful tribute and photo journey with all of us! What fun and inspiration!
I did not get to experience being parents to a little boy like you are enjoying. Our journey of becoming parents began a lot later to a teenage boy. We were finally able to adopt him last year officially and legally in our 50's we became his official parents. Nevertheless, there are lots of things we are enjoying as being parents. Glad to see you are enjoying your little guy! Cherish the moments, they do go fast! May you have many more special days and highlights with your son!
Have a Colorful Day!
Irene - Congratulations on your successful adoption! I applaud you for the courage to take on that responsibility at this point in your lives. Too often, the older children are left without caring homes as many adoptive parents opt to nurture a child from baby to adult. Certainly understandable, but it does leave a void that requires compassionate and selfless persons such as yourself to fill. You have lots of milestones coming up, and I wish you the unbridled joy along the way that you all deserve. Best wishes, Irene.
Holy Bananas is right! One day at the store I bought 5 big bunches of bananas and not a one of them went brown! My husband says we have a monkey farm! They are cute little monkeys though! Having 6 a lot easier when they aren't all little...the big kids are a lot of help!
Mailman? ; ) HAHAHA
Time flies....
Paul- Keep enjoying your family and recording those future memories. In a blink of an eye, they're all grown up. My grandchildren are older than Jack and I'm not sure where the time went.
Paul, this is pure sweetness! That boy of yours is incredibly precious. If I were you, I wouldn't let him go to preschool, just keep him home so he'll be innocent and sweet forever.
We can all dream, can't we?
Paul, this was just so precious. Jack is just the cutest little guy! I remember when my first son went to school at 3. He cried, I cried. The teacher said just go, he'll stop crying when you leave. She said if he doesn't stop crying, we'll call you. I said, just call out the front door, because I'll be sitting in my car crying!!
Now that baby is off to college on 8/23! While you are in the trenches, it feels like forever at times, and then you blink and they are grown.
Thanks for sharing this side of you. I'm very happy for you and your beautiful family.
Paul,
Technology has made it possible to document so much more than I could 21 years ago when my son was born....I see you treasure every minute and more importantly you can probably get him to make curfew all the way through high school if you threaten to play it at his senior prom (I have a VHS tape of my son in Mouse Country as a singing mouse that kept him in tow....)
Paul I absolutely love this family presentation!
I have to say that I keep coming back to this post. It makes me feel good as a parent, especially since Stephen (2.3 years) recently enrolled in a fantastic early intervention special education program. It was hard putting him on a school bus. I cried like a baby when he gave me that dirty look of "how dare you hand me over to some strange woman!" Now he's a "pre-pre-K" old timer with multiple girlfriends, learning sign language and thriving. Your little people will settle in just fine once they get the hang of going to school. :-)
Good stuff! You are right about the teenager bit...
Paul Dunn
Tucson's FHA Mortgage Loan Originator
Arizona USDA Rural Home Loans
Gorgeous! vocals are not that bad either! Your son is precious and I see he got his good looks from both his parents. Your photo of the cornfield maze reminded me that it is almost time to get lost again! Great/Brilliant post.
Hi Paul...I didn't cry. I simply smiled from ear to ear with each and every photo.
Jack will love you for doing this. It will be very special to him (some day!).
Kate
Too cute - Jack looks a lot like mom I think. Good luck letting him go off to school.
Hi Paul, He is just adorable, and I don't think he will be mad at you when he becomes a teenager. My kids who are teenagers love to look at themselves in pictures and videos. He will treasure this video as some great memories he has shared with his parents.
Paul- you sneeze, and the little babies grow up. Mine is heading off to his freshman year at college next week, and your photos brought back a lot of memories. Except for the delivery of the babies,m (and the year they were 16) I have enjoyed the ride.