School Days

School has started and we are all excited!!! M got the teacher she was hoping for and A got the only Kindergarten teacher the school has. First day of school and backpacks are loaded with all the supplies to start the year. A really was excited but he is in that stage of the forced smile. Here is a great shot of his hair. Yes, it is still growing. The last cut was in March before pre-K class pictures and before the desire to look like a Jonas brother. I told him as long as it does not pass M's, we'll let him keep the style he pleases. He is picky about his hair and only likes the way he brushes it. Not long ago, he was brushing it after a bath and when he finished said "now I look good". He is also a fan of hair gel and will apply it independently.
R and the kids right before walking to school. They were glad he was able to walk them on their first day. It is nice to start the school year and know that you are not going to move in 2 months.



I love being able to walk to and from school. M loves everything about school! A's favorite part so far has been riding the bus home and P.E. Here when you are in Kinder, you are allowed to ride the bus one way regardless of the distance your house is from school. We are close so A is the 2nd stop once it leaves schoool. He is probably on the bus 5 minutes or less but loving it anyway. It drops him off at the end of our street which is nice since later each day he has to walk with me to get M at the end of her day. Half day Kinder is a good way to ease me into both kids in school. I have found plenty to do with my time. Monday I help in the copy room the entire time he is in class and Fri I will be in helping out with other school projects. Plus, I am the Membership Committee for PTA and will help with lots of other PTA projects.

Where did August go?

I can't believe August is over! It seemed to fly by. We stayed busy with lots of activities. Most exciting of all was that R was home for 3 of those weeks and still has one more before he leaves for his next trip! The kids and I have all loved having him home. My pics are out of order time wise but didn't want to start over. We have found a new golf and putt putt place not far from our house. The balls have micro-chips in them and can tell you how far you hit the ball. Plus, it is a covered area with individual bays (so the kids aren't in other people's way). R and the kids really enjoy going.
This is our yearly anniversary picture. We usually hold up the number of fingers but since this was number 11 we had to revise the plan. M designed the 11 sign with eleven written in both ones and we are trying to each do 11. So far we have only missed last year since R was in Cuba. We had a "kid-sitter" (A will not let it be referred to as baby sitter) and went to dinner then to Dave and Buster's. We had a great time!
My sister-in-law inspired me with the curtains she did for M's room. Here is my version in the kid's bathroom. All the rooms but 2 have new no sew curtains hanging. They aren't the best but way better than the ones from the late 70's that had been hanging. Besides the curtains, we have rearranged the furniture in almost every room. R wanted to do ours but then it just keep going. So if you have been here already, you'll have to come back to see the new room designs and curtains.

We spent one weekend in Williamsburg. They really enjoyed Busch Gardens.
R and A on the boat that goes back and forth higher and higher. I got to skip this one since M didn't want to ride. A will pretty much ride anything he is tall enough for. The second day, it was too cool to do the water park so we ended up at a Go Kart place. We made a day of putt putt, bumper boats and cars and mini stock cars. For the mini stock cars, you had to be 60 inches to drive and I am 62 but it hurt to stretch far enough to push the gas pedal so R took the kids after that. R had the best time of all but was way to serious about trying to win. He is now wanting to try those race car driving experience places. We got drenched on the water bumper boats and have not laughed that hard in a really long time. After 3 turns, we all looked like we had been standing in a shower.
We spent time "fishing". If you can call it that when they never had a hook or bait. They enjoying casting and reeling back in and this way it is safe and I don't have to worry so much.
M still managed to lose her bobber and weights somehow. This type of fishing works great too because none of us want to handle the fish or eat it.
Here is M admiring her shot. Note we all like to golf in our bare feet.

We also spent a week doing Vacation Bible School. I told the kids I don't know who likes it better, them or me. I taught A's class this year and love to sing and dance to all the songs. Next year, he wants to be like M and not have Mom as a teacher. I guess I'll have the pre-school age again.

I have also started the PTA hours. You can very quickly get very involved. It will keep me busy while the kids are in school and R is on trips. I am excited to help since they do so many great things for the school, staff and kids.

I hope to do a better job of posting over the next few weeks.