Cat Cookie

Another fun activity in Kindergarten!!

Today Gabe got to make a Cat Cookie!!!  Cute and delicious!!

Toddler Time

Grant is LOVING toddler time at the gym!!!

I wish the rec center wasn't across town and toddler time during Grant's nap....we would be here every week if we could!

Fancy Feast

Tonight we were having hotdogs for dinner...nothing fancy.  But once the food was prepared Kate wanted us all out of the kitchen so that she could work on a surprise.  Once we were allowed back in we discovered that she had completely set the table!  She got a blanket out of the closet to use as a table cloth, brought down flowers from her room for the centerpiece, had the plates, silverware, and drinks in place, and was ready for her family to join her for a fancy feast!  Such a sweet princess!!  Thanks Kate!

Alli the Alligator

It's truly like living at a national park.  Look who is back!!  Alli the Alligator!!!  Makes me wonder where it's been for the past several months.  : /  Think it's finally big enough for someone to come relocate it??!

Crab Spider

Another creepy creature from our backyard!  Called the spinybacked orbweaver or "crab spider."

We have met so many new creatures since living on Park Street!!

Messy Little Man

Blueberries for breakfast anyone??!  :)

It's getting crazy in here!

Look what came running down my stairs today...

They lined up for a pic and Grant came running from across the room to join them.  :)

Teddy Bear Tea Party

Today is a fun day in Kindergarten...the Teddy Bear Tea Party!!

Gabe had several bears to choose from, but the one he wanted most was this giant polar bear that actually belonged to his daddy as a little boy!

Thank you Mrs. Cobb for taking pictures today!

Gabe had so much fun at the tea party.

Group Picture!

How do you get a bunch of 5 year olds to stay still and smile at the camera???

By promising them a silly picture if they smile pretty for the first shot.  :)

Learning to swim

Gabe is loving having the pool all to himself tonight!

(Until the swim instructor arrives...)

Such a beautiful evening for a swim lesson!

Crazy Kate

I thought my crazy child was upstairs playing in her room with her dolls,

until all of a sudden she burst into the kitchen roaring at me and the boys....

Farmer Grant

My little farm hand is helping mommy plant grass seed in the backyard today.

Sir Gabriel

Yes, this is quite possibly the cutest knight that ever existed!  :)

Thanks for always protecting and defending our castle Sir Gabriel!!

Ouch!!

Stepped on this painful saddleback caterpillar earlier today, then just now spotted a baby one crawling around in the backyard.  I have never seen one of these in my life and today I see two....time for some bug killer in the backyard!!!

Poor Bailey

Grant decided to toss his lunch to our dog Bailey...

unfortunately for Bailey his aim wasn't so good and the whole bowl of spaghetti ended up on his back.  :)

Hi Grandma!

Grant may not have many actual words yet,

but that sure doesn't stop him from "talking" to Grandma on the phone!!

Riding the Bus

It's only Day 2 of school and my kids are already getting on a school bus!  I would have never even considered putting Kate on a bus in Kindergarten!  I had no intention of her riding a bus ever for that matter!  But out of necessity, Kate began riding the bus in 1st grade and loved it.  This year I didn't need the kids to take the bus to or from school, but Kate loved it last year and both she and Gabe begged until I gave in...but only in the morning!  It's actually kind of nice because it ensures they aren't running late!  Jon would get grumpy rushing Kate out the door, often without breakfast, and Kate would start the day off on the wrong foot...all far too often!  Now they are sleepy I rush them around getting ready but then they are on the bus at 7am, at school in time for breakfast where they can relax and continue to wake up, then make it to their classroom in time to complete their morning work before the bell rings...it's a win for everyone!

Gabe was so excited this morning...I think he felt like such a big kid standing out at the bus stop!  And thankfully, the bus stops right in front of our house!!  Our neighbor Ally will also be riding the bus to school in the morning, so the kids love having a friend out there with them!  Oh, and notice Kate's curly hair!  She slept with her hair braided last night so that it would be super curly for school today.  :)

Gabe, you are growing up way too fast!!!

The bus is coming....these girls better take care of you on the way to school!

Almost time to say goodbye...

I am so thankful that they still want hugs and kisses before they get on the bus.

Have a great 2nd day of school!!

Homework

I guess 6 1/2 hours wasn't enough work for Gabe.

He came home from our first day ice cream treat with friends and immediately got out letters to trace.... 

After School Celebration

Looking through Kate's backpack after school we found this cute certificate from her teacher Mrs. Lang.

I already love this teacher and I'm only just getting to know her!!

To celebrate a successful start to the new school year, we met up with a few friends for frozen yogurt!!

The Big Kids get to see each other almost every day, but these sweet Kindergartners are going to miss each other so much this year.  Why couldn't we just keep the Green Apples together forever??!

Grant was also very excited to have a playdate with his friend Quinn!!

He was SO excited to see her...but I'm not so sure she was equally as excited to see him.  :)

1st day of School!!!

So many mixed emotions this morning....

I am ready for routine and excited for the kids to go back to school and see all their friends, thrilled that they are both with wonderful teachers, and happy that Kate was placed with so many of her best friends and will begin Challenge this year.  But at the same time I am sad to send my sweet baby boy off into the "real world," I'll miss terribly our laid back days and late nights, and the start of another school year means they just keep growing up!  I love these babies more than anything and will be so excited to see them again this afternoon.  What are Grant and I going to do all day while they're gone??!  :)

I always like to start the school year with a special back-to-school breakfast.  We were all tired this morning, but the excitement of a new school year gave us the energy we needed to push through!  The kids were actually so happy this morning and ready to start their day!

 Lots of fun foods to choose from for breakfast!

I also packed a special lunch for them today!  I really wanted to have lunch with them and hear about their morning, but I decided they should probably sit with friends on their first day...I'll wait and have lunch with them tomorrow.  :)

Kate was so confident this morning.  I could tell she was really excited to take on the "Big Sister" role and show Gabe around school.  I love when she is sweet with him and truly wants to take care of her little brother.  She can be so sweet when she wants to be!  :)  Gabe was also really excited, but as the morning progressed I think he and I were both getting a little more nervous...

1st Day of School 2013-2014

Look out Kindergarten.....Here I Come!!!

I just want to freeze time for a little while....

My Kindergartner and 2nd Grader

As soon as we walked into the school we were greeted by the Principal, Mr. McClendon.

Kate loves him and I'm sure that soon enough Gabe will too!

Moments later Gabe was excited to spot two preschool friends, Parks & Greyson.

Grayson and Gabe are in the same Kindergarten class so I'm sure they will be great friends very soon!  Gabe never had a class with him at Happy Apple but always mentioned him being a friend on the playground.  :)

Kate's "secret admirer" Felix!

I am NOT ready for Kate to have a boyfriend (and thankfully neither is she!), but Felix has had a sweet crush on her for a while now and secretly sends her gifts.  I guess though since he is the smartest kid in Kate's grade I shouldn't complain too much!  ;)  He's a cutie too!

After greeting friends in the lunchroom it was finally time to head down the halls.

I can see in his smile he is a little nervous, but he did so great.  Gabe is a much gentler and more sensitive kid than Kate and this was a much bigger adjustment for him.  I love this school and his teachers, but it is far from Happy Apple.  I pray though that all of my kids are surrounded by love from teachers and peers, they have favor with adults, stick with friends who are uplifting and encouraging, and always know that they are able to do anything as long as they are willing to work hard and never give up!  I love you so much Gabe....you're going to do awesome this year!!

After hanging his backpack and lunch box, Gabe found his name and began his morning worksheet.

We LOVE Mrs. Cobb!!

Our family...

After lots of hugs and kisses, we left Gabe in Kindergarten and headed off with our girl!

The big news with Kate this year is that she is now UPSTAIRS!!!  How is she already one of the big kids at the school??!  Time is going by too quickly....

We made it to her classroom and were greeted by her sweet teacher Mrs. Lang.

We didn't know her before this year, but I can already tell it's going to be an awesome school year!  I am certainly a bit biased, but I truly think that Kate's grade might just be the best group of kiddos at SMES.  There are just so many fantastic kids and parents in 2nd grade!

Kate quickly found her seat and was happy to be seated next to her friend Haylee Marie.

So many friends we are glad to see again!!

I really wanted to just stay at school with the kids all day, but I thought I better go home before they kicked me out.  :)  I was so excited though when I got an email from Mrs. Cobb with pictures from today!

Gabe and Jade meeting the class pet Molly.

I hope you enjoyed your lunch today sweet boy!

My future engineer.

Finally...it's 2:10....time for my babies to get out of school!!!!

All smiles after a great 1st Day!

I get to take these four crazy kiddos home with me today!!

Under the SMES archway....

Thank you teachers, faculty, and staff for all that you do!  I pray that this is a fantastic school year!!

Kate and Gabe, you are both so smart and just amazing!

I love you!!!