Never Say Never

I have done so many things as a mother that I swore I would never do.  One thing I said I would never do is let my kids wear character clothes.  I love simple clothes especially for boys.  I also like cute solid backpacks with monograms.  Well, this year we have character lunchboxes and backpacks.  Of course, the boys have been wearing character clothes since they were old enough to ask for them.  Another thing I am not a fan of is light up shoes.  Well, this year the boys asked for them.  I am so WEAK.  One look at those cute little faces and I was looking for light up shoes.  Bobby just stared at me like I had grown an extra head.  They ended up with camo light up shoes.  Pretty cute actually!  Of course, Abby gives me that sweet little look.  I couldn't very well make her get her normal very plain Nike's.  So, we have loud and bright Twinkle Toes shoes.  Not what I would normally choose but pretty stinking adorable on her!  I figured eventually I was going to have to let them have an opinion on their clothes.  All of this is just another sign that my babies are big kids now. 

Well, we finally all tried out our light up shoes this week.  They all crowded in the bathroom with me jumping so that they would light up.  I need to remember to stay out of small, dark, crowded places with these three.  Just a little intense! :)

Bad picture but you get the effect...

5th Year of Ballet

This week Abby began her 5th year of ballet.  Several of her friends have left dance and moved on to other activities but Abby still loves it. She is in a class with 3 of her good friends from church.  She also has her favorite teacher, Ms. Julie who she adores. This year she will be wearing purple (with no skirt). We are so glad that she has found an activity that she enjoys so much.  The boys also had to hop in the pictures.  Any other time they would refuse pictures. :)



1st day of ballet (2008) 3 yrs old



Nathan Loses a Tooth!

Believe it or not, Nathan lost his first tooth last week.  We realized about 3-4 days before we pulled it that he had 2 loose teeth.  He seems so young to be losing teeth but he will be 5 in a few months.  Abby lost her first one 2 months after her 5th birthday.  It's a little sad to me because losing teeth seems to be the very end of the baby days to me.  (And he is technically the baby) Of course, everyone was excited.  Noah wasn't even jealous like we expected.  (We were also afraid that he would do something to bring on some loose teeth! haha! Mr. Competitive)  The funny thing is that when Nathan showed all of the teachers at  the preschool they all asked if he knocked it out.  They sure know my boys!  The tooth fairy came to visit that night.  Nathan tells a very long winded, dramatic story about her visit.  It seems that she had to stop and rest in his room and have a snack of Cheez-Its.  That boy has some imagination!!
It looks like we (Bobby) will be pulling another one in a few weeks.  The tooth fairy might go broke!

Nathan and Noah's 1st Day of Pre-K

Today my babies started pre-K.  I can't believe that next year they will be in school full time.  Where has the time gone?  They walked right in like they owned the place this morning flashing those cute smiles to all the teachers.  They couldn't wait to put their things away and check out the new toy selection this year.  They were very patient and waited until their teacher showed them where to put all of their things away. ( I loved our summer but all of my kids love the structure of school.) They are with most of the same girls from last year but 2 new boys were added to the class.  I couldn't be happier because I wanted them to be with their old friends but they really needed some boys to play with.  Their new teacher is Ms. Rene and she seems very sweet.  I am so happy with all of the kids classes and teachers.  I think we will have another great school year.  Now, if we can just get 4 non-morning people adjusted to getting up early again! :)

Nathan

Noah and Ms. Rene

Nathan and Ms. Rene

Noah

 

First Day of 2nd Grade

Today our little girl started 2nd grade.  This is the grade that I taught for years and I can't believe I now have a child in 2nd grade.  Abby was so excited.  She popped right out of bed this morning when I went in to wake her.  (Especially when I told her Daddy was home and she could go cuddle with him while I fixed her breakfast.  Always a daddy's girl!)  She is very excited about her teacher, Mrs. Pate and so am I .  She seemed so enthusiastic and excited about teaching.  I think Abby will have another great year. 
Bobby and I are thrilled that she loves school so much.  It is heartbreaking to leave your child crying so I love those big smiles each day as she climbs out of the van. 

Pool Day with Cousins

Last week Mandy and Karlie came to swim with the kids.  They loved having the older girls to play with them in the pool.  We were just missing Westley. 
 We are on the countdown with only 2 days left before school starts.  I am sad but just a little bit ready. :)

Zoo

A couple of weeks ago Mimi, Pawpaw and I loaded up all 6 kids and headed to the zoo.  Pawpaw very nicely told me that he would come back to the zoo but don't ask him again in the summer.  haha!  It was a little warm to put it mildly.  Ok, actually it was unbearably hot!  But we made it!  The kids got a little grouchy at times but they had a good time.  Hayden and Jonathan rode in the strollers and they were perfect all day.  The big kids just got hot and tired.  We got there as they opened and spent about 4 hours there.  I think we managed to see most of the animals and squeezed in a train ride and some playground time. 

All of the birds in the nest with the older ones telling everyone what to do!

"Tweet, tweet, I'm a little bird."

Hayden enjoying his favorite, the monkeys!

My favorite, the red panda!

Enjoying the water/mist stations to cool off!

More mist!

Cooling off!

This is how we felt by the end of the day!