Friday Fun (week 6)

I'm glad my kids like banana bread and consider it a fun after school snack.  I make a lot of it.

Backyard Camping

One of our final summer list activities to check off was backyard camping.  It was officially still summer on the calendar although we didn't get this one done until after school had started.  Sylvia and Eric helped (to differing degrees) set up the tent.  All three of them played and played in it while Dan got a fire started for dinner.  After some outdoor playing we tucked Drake in inside and got the big kids down in the tent.  Dan and I enjoyed sitting by the fire while the kids fell asleep, then I joined Sylvia and Eric in the tent for the night.

Friday Fun (week 5)

Dan took off early from work one Friday, picked up Sylvia from school and joined us for ice cream at Dairy Queen.  We loved having Aubrey join us for a Friday treat.

Red Day

Eric helped me pick tomatoes one day at the end of the summer and I jumped on the opportunity to take his red picture for preschool.

The kids did pretty well considering this is the first color song they'd learned and performed.

Wilson's Orchard

We didn't made it out to Wilson's Orchard as a family this year, but I took the boys out for a picnic and joined Sylvia's kindergarten class on their field trip.

The tractor doesn't run during the week when we went out with the boys so we filled our time with lunch, lots of running and looking at pumpkins.  Not sure what these two are talking about here but I'm sure their devising some plan that was not on our itinerary.

Sylvia's class also did lots of running.  The kindergartners all had such a good time on their first elementary school field trip.  They read apple books, did a taste test of many of the orchard's apples, drank apple juice and rode the tractor.

Happy to have her mama along on the field trip.

Ready for a tractor ride with her friend Pritika.

Someone got a little tired out on her field trip.

Ms. Jensen's kindergarten class.

move it, dig it, do it

The kids enjoyed checking out all of the machines at Move It, Dig It, Do It this fall.  This is such a fun event.  We climbed ladders, pushed buttons, turned steering wheels and honked horns on as many machines as we could.

Friday Fun (week 4)

The weather was beautiful so we headed out to visit Miss Aubrey and Miss Kathy with some apple turnovers from Wilson's.  We brought candles and ice cream along for Miss Aubrey's birthday.  The kids enjoyed the extra attention as we weren't the only ones visiting.   

Friday Fun (week 3)

We celebrated Eric's half birthday with some yummy and very messy cake balls in a Friday after school.

Did I mention that they were very mess?

Eric's First Day of Preschool

This big guy was so excited when his first day of preschool finally arrived.  It was a little hard for him to wait once Sylvia headed to kindergarten.  I knew the day would come, but I can't believe Eric is already in preschool.  I know he's going to have a great year with Mrs. Fink, Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Grimes.

Balancing Mousy on his lap.

Having trouble standing still for mom's pictures.

Ready to be done taking pictures.

Not sure if he wanted to share the camera with Sylvia.

Eric walked ahead of Sylvia wearing his backpack on the way to her school.

Heading in with Mousy for his first day of preschool.

Showing off his buddy to Mrs. Potter.

I think the first day may have worn him out but Macy was still all smiles.

Macy, Gwen, Eric & Hayden.  We'll see how the teachers are holding up at the end of the year.

Adventureland

We didn't make it to Adventureland until September this year but it was well worth the wait.  Grandma and Grandpa watched Drake for us so we could enjoy the rides with the big kids.  A fellow Horn kindergarten family joined us.  It was beautiful weather and there were plenty of rides for all of us to do together.  Daddy also enjoyed taking Sylvia on her first roller coaster rides.  The kids made it at the park until after bedtime.  We finished up our evening with the log ride, changed into dry clothes and headed home with some sleepy kids.

Friday Fun (week 2)

We finished off our second week of school with some ice cream.  It was a hot week with school letting out early five days in a row.  Sylvia was excited that Miss Aubrey was with us when we picked her up from school.

Friday Fun (week 1)

We finished off the first week of school with a new tradition, Friday Fun.  Each Friday we have a fun snack after school and (if I can keep it up) we take a picture.  The boys and I made chocolate chip cookies while Sylvia was gone to enjoy after school.

Granny in August

We love Granny and are so glad when she is able to come visit.  It's fun to watch her just enjoy having the children around.  She also tries to get her hands on them any chance she can get but they don't sit still for long.  Jim's twin cousins, Mary and Maudie were also visiting.  This August, while Granny was visiting, we reintroduced her to my grandma.  Granny and Great Nana may have met at our wedding but we don't think they've seen each other since.  They are both 94 and their birthdays are just a week apart.

  

Sylvia's 1st Day of Kindergarten

What a bittersweet day.  I get tears in my eyes just looking at these pictures.  My little girl was so excited for her first day of kindergarten.

Heading off to school in a new dress from Grandma, carrying her Hello Kitty lunch box from Emily, wearing some almost worn out shoes and socks and sporting a new butterfly backpack from mama.

Showing off her backpack...and her dimple.

This mama was excited for her little girl but also (more than) a little sad that she would now be spending her days at school.

We got to school early enough to spend a little time playing on the playground before the bell rang.

Waiting outside her classroom for the start of the first day of school.

After hanging up her backpack and putting her lunch box in the bin, Sylvia found her seat and got right to work drawing a picture.  She was joined by Pritika, Sasha and Aiden.

The first few days of school went well for Sylvia but she quickly began to get sad and miss being home with mom.  I tried my best to stay strong and tell her about all the great things school would include.  I was so thankful for the hot weather at the start of the year that ended up providing more than a week of early release days.  Sylvia and I prayed together and memorized a Bible verse that would help her remember to talk to God while she is away from home.  Her teacher, Ms. Jensen, was very kind and loving to her and encouraged her to take care of her feelings.  Eric would even chime in and remind her that Ms. Jensen would make kindergarten fun.  

We're now a little more than two months into the school year and Sylvia has stopped holding onto to my arm as I send her in to the classroom.  There were tears for awhile and then a little extra clinginess after that but I think she's settling in now.  She still writes me notes during the day that say that she misses me but seems to fine while I'm away.  I volunteer in the classroom on Tuesday mornings and have stopped by to have lunch a few times this year.  It's always fun to see her with her new friends and we're excited for this new opportunity to get to know so many new people.

Sylvie Bilvie

Here's a few pictures of my favorite little girl from last spring and summer.  I hadn't gotten around to posting them yet but thought I should since they're some of my favorites.  I love having her around and am thankful for the joy, energy and excitement she brings to my life.  She is such a kind little girl and is so generous.  She likes attention but is also a little shy at times.  Thanks for being my daughter Sylvia.

Sylvia put together a party for all of her ponies.  She didn't forget any details down to straws in the cups.

Showing off her self portrait.

Helping feed her little brother.  Drake wasn't too sure what he thought of me trying to feed him but he was more than willing to let Sylvia give him some bites.

This girl has always loved doing the monkey bars.  She is so strong.

Taking a little break from playing to feed one of her babies.  She doesn't play with dolls too often so this was so precious to me.

I'm not sure where she's heading but she seems to pack like I do.

Putting on a dance class for Eric.  These two love to play together.