Off We Go!

If you ask my two older children if they are ready to go back to school they will answer with a very loud NO! But, I secretly think they are ready and excited. It was so easy to get them up this morning. After dressing, brushing hair and teeth and getting backpacks packed with lunches we were off to our annual donut breakfast. We have a first day routine that we have been doing for the last 5 years. (5 years!!!) First, pictures in front yard in new clothes with backpacks, then off to donuts at our favorite donut shop, then pictures with new teachers and giving them a little Sonic gift card for an after school treat! Then finally, after I pick them up we head to Braums for some ice cream and to talk about their first day. We are so blessed this year, Jack gets to have his 2nd grade teacher again in 4th grade. She was an awesome teacher and Jack thrived in her class. We look forward to another great year for Jack.

My sweet Bailey knows who she wants for a teacher way before the end of school and last year she really wanted Miss Johnson, well of course she got her! We think Bailey will have a good year also.

Here they are all dressed up and ready to get started! Look close, Jack may not look so nice the rest of the year, he has asked me not to dress so "nice" after the first day. I guess I can let go a little and let him more of what he wants to. Maybe!

Freaky Friday!

Yesterday was one long, crazy day spent up at the kids school! Early yesterday morning Jack, Bailey and I headed up to their school for them to help last years teachers get their rooms ready. While the kids helped their teachers I set up for the "End of Summer Beach Bash" Luncheon for all the teachers and staff. I get the fun job of Teacher Appreciation stuff again this year and was really excited to start this new school year off with a fun luncheon. So after drinks iced, tables decorated, food placed, and game set up, the teachers all came in to eat and play. After lunch I ran to the front hall to decorate the bulletin board PTA is in charge of. Thanks to BETA club for helping me! After that I went to clean up the lunch and begin to stuff first day packets with all the millions of papers that go home that first day! Then we started to set up for the school supply sale and I set up the PTA table for Meet the Teacher.
I then worked the PTA table for a while until Greg and the kids showed up to meet their new teachers. Jack got his 2nd grade teacher again in 4th this year. We are so excited, we love Miss Bradley! Bailey and her best buddy are together again, they got the teacher they wanted. Miss Johnson will need to keep these two separated! Somehow in the middle of all this Bailey talked me into letting Bella spend the night and so we all headed home to eat pizza and for mommy to crash!
So, here we go, starting another new school year. I never becomes old hat with me. I really am a little sad to see them off to school each year.

An Upgrade

It was inevitable, Connor's long legs outgrew his little trikes, so we upgraded him to his big brother's old bike. This was actually Jack's second big boy bike! Connor is so tall he skipped the first bike size and jumped right to this one. He looks so cute riding his "new" bike and he loves being a big boy like Jack!

Way To Go, Bailey!

First, let me say, Bailey is my cautious child. The child who wants to please us, take care of us, and detests getting into trouble. The boys don't really have a cautious bone in their bodies. So, I needed to brag a bit on my Bailey. She has faced a few of her fears this summer and had a great time doing it! For several summers B has been in the same level for swim lessons. We have worked really hard to get her to swim with no luck. This summer it all just clicked. She passed another level in swimming and has now begun to jump off the diving boards! She even jumped in a few weeks ago without holding her nose. Big deal for our B. As you can see by the pictures above and below, she also got on a tube in a lake and had a blast! I was shocked when she announced on the second day at the lake that she wanted to tube. We hadn't bugged her and she simply decided on her own to try it. So proud!

She also found out this week that she tested into the Gifted and Talented Program in our school district. I think this will be a great program for her to be in.

Bailey has definitely faced fears this summer and come out better for it. Is she still cautious, yes, but she is beginning to realize when to be cautious and when to go for it!