Monday, August 19, 2013

We survived!

Well, we have survived the first 1 1/2 weeks of school.  So far, the boys love it.  They have made friends in their class.  They still play with one of their preschool friends but there are 2 other boys that they have started playing with at recess.  I was at the school twice last week. I helped out in their class one afternoon and had lunch with all 3 of them one day.  The boys are following directions, getting their work done and seem pretty happy.  They have each taken a turn sharing their stories for writers workshop and seem to really enjoy that.  Nathan has had a turn at being the helper already and was quite excited about being the "weather checker."  They each made a 100 on their first sight word test!  It is amazing how much they are already picking up in class.  Noah is counting to 100 now.  Nathan is not far behind.  They have already picked up rhyming words which is something I tried to work on this summer but it wasn't clicking.  We are really excited about their progress and how well they are handling the transition.  Now, if I can only get them to stop calling the school "Abby's school."

Abby, of course, is doing great.  She jumped right back into the swing of things. She is changing classes 3 times a day but seems to like it.  She is in class with most of her friends.  Of course, there has already been a little "girl" drama between 2 best friends.  Abby told me that she worked on it and helped the two friends make up.  Girls!!  She helps me out by walking the boys to their class.  One morning Nathan was a little teary because he was so tired.  The secretary saw him and was coming out to the lobby to walk him to class.  She said that she listened to Abby handle him and realized that Abby had it all under control and she was taking such good care of him.  She is such a little "mommy."  I can see her trying to guide them to the car every afternoon because of course everything in sight distracts them along the way.  She also had her first full week of ballet and did great.  I thought she would be exhausted but she seems to love it. 

I am adjusting to having all 3 in school.  It still seems strange to pull up and drop off all 3 at once and see 3 kids running to my car every day.  The first few days I wasn't home so it really didn't hit me.  I have managed to go meet Bobby for lunch one day which was a nice treat.  For the rest of the time, I have stayed at home and worked.  I have been trying to get my house back in order from summer.  I finally got it cleaned and now am trying to stay on a cleaning schedule.  I also have several projects to do around the house.  I have managed to already cross a few things off  my list like organizing some closets and cabinets.  It's nice to get some things accomplished.  I am signing up to sub next month and will probably start volunteering in the classes when everyone gets settled.  I will admit that the days I don't leave the house seem very quiet and long.   I think I'll be ready to go back to work next year. 

 
My babies heading in to school!
 
 
Enjoying lunch with mommy.
 
 
 
Had lunch with my girl right after the boys.
 
Fashion queen... a little zebra print and sparkly shoes!
 
Hanging out with a church friend waiting for their big sisters in ballet.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, August 15, 2013

First Day of Ballet 2013

Abby started her sixth year of ballet.  This year she has earned a spot in the company.  She is so excited because this is something that they had to take a summer class and try out for.  She loves ballet and loves all of her friends at the studio.  This year she will be attending classes 2 days a week for 1 1/2 hours each day.  She might possibly add a tap class on another day.  It's a big change for her and the schedule is much more intense.  (Ignore the sparkly TOMS shoes in the pictures.  We can't wear the ballet shoes outside.)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Last year's picture for comparison
 
 
 
 
 



 

First Day of School 2013

The big day finally came.  The boys started kindergarten last week or "Abby's school" as they call it.  I can't believe my babies are in school.  I have 2 kindergartners and a 3rd grader.  I no longer have 3 babies or 3 toddlers.  After a week it still seems strange to drop off all 3 at school and then have 3 school kids running to the van every day.  All in all it has been a smooth transition.  The boys have Ms. Allen, who was Abby's teacher and they love her.  They went right in the first day, "allowed" me to take a couple of pictures and got right to work.  They gave me the same look that Abby did on that first day that said, "O.K. Mommy, I know you are a little sad but we need to get our work done."  Yes, I admit I cried when Bobby and I left them.  Of course, I might have cried again when I came home and saw one of their first pictures taken at the hospital.  The boys and I are all 3 adjusting to the change.  I drive them crazy with questions when we get home but boys are just not into the details.  I asked them what they did the first day.  The answer was, "tour" and "color".  This is just not what I am used to with Abby.  I get the rundown of the whole day in addition to any tidbits about outfits, cool pencil boxes or the latest girl drama.  Abby is enjoying 3rd grade also.  She was quite excited on the first day to find out that they have graduated to the big kid playground.  She ended up in the same homeroom with most of her friends so she is a happy girl.  Here are a couple of pictures of the big day:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
"Real" picture
 
 
Abby and Ms. Motes, her homeroom teacher
 
 
 
Nathan, Ms. Allen and Noah
 
 
Noah ready to work!
 
Nathan is ready too!
 
 
*To help avoid confusion with the teachers, I am trying to dress the boys in different shirts.  It makes me  a little sad to not dress them alike any more. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, August 8, 2013

A Day on the Lake

We usually try to do something fun to celebrate back to school each year.  This year was a big one for our family since the boys are starting school.  So Bobby planned a big surprise for them.  He rented a boat for the day.  They loved it and had the best time!  Abby said it was right up there with the Disney World surprise.  As soon as we got settled on the boat we headed out to some of our favorite spots on the lake.  We anchored in a cove and let the kids swim.  They loved jumping off the boat and swimming.  We took several rides and we let each of the kids ride the tube.  They all loved the tube!!!  No fear!!  Of course, Bobby kept it pretty slow but with their light weights they did a lot of bouncing.  We had a great day and we were exhausted by the end of the day. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noah
 
 
 
Nathan
 
 
 
 
 
Noah
 
 
 
 
Nathan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
view from a neighborhood on the lake