labor day happenings

Special visitors from Birmingham breezed their way into town. Auntie T brought over her crew over for dinner on Friday night. The kiddos were super thrilled to meet their tiny newborn addition, Caleb. The kids wasted no time warming up over dinner.  It was a casual night of grilling out and oohing and ahhing over baby Caleb.

A whole lot of Labor Day sweating was done by our four. Most of the time was spent fogging up the windows in our basement bouncing on the jumpy. That inflatable was worth every dime . Wild boys are always eager to blow off some steam downstairs. Steamy it was!

Of course, I got my snuggles on that sweet baby boy:) This was a much needed reunion with my bestie. And, I'm so thankful I got my hands on  delicious Caleb before he's crawling around and growing up on us all too fast.

Grant man came over on Saturday afternoon for a spendy zoo trip. Here the boys are in the stinky petting zoo. It always amazes me that we end up lingering in the smelliest of exhibits. As you can see, the goat is fully enjoying his back massage with the bristle brush. I think I even spy a smiling goat.

A great Georgia Labor Day weekend was had by all! Reunions, spend the nights, and family time on the block. I'll take it!

off to the three's

This sweet thing has a lot of nerve to promote herself to the three year old room this year. She's growing up on me in a blink & it's bittersweet to watch her progress another year older in my favorite stage of preschool. Oh how I love having a preschool aged child still in the house.

She keeps reminding me, "mommy, I'm a big girl now". As if I need any reminding about all her independent do it myself, three year old behaviors. This girl is all about organizing, locating her things before we load up the car & peanut butter and jelly sandwich making. She even puts her own laundry away without prompting. All of the homemaking, self help skills are right up her ally. I'm thinking it's part personality & partly because she's all girl. A little mommy--this one is

I couldn't resist this iphone photo daddy snagged as soon as he pulled her out of her car seat. Landon didn't get a chance to attend meet & greet, so he met up with us for the first day farewell in the parking lot. Can you tell that she's just a little proud to be going off to preschool?

This one melts my heart! I couldn't resist a little back to school smocking for the first day. The teacher in me can't resist apples, ABC's, & crayons.

Hugs and goodbyes to daddy. She's a daddy's girl through and through...

Her lead teacher was there to greet our girly and show her the drop off routine. EK was ready with her bear in hand for a first day Teddy Bear Tea Party. No tears, from our 3 year old. This mom did a little dance in the parking lot and smiled a last goodbye as I worked all summer long to deserve a three hour mommy break! My to-do list is a mile long:)

Meet and Greet {Preschool Edition}

All wonderful things come to an end--and our unstructured, summer days did come to a close near the end of August. But, with the excitement of PreK3 starting up our girly was ready to attend Meet & Greet. Eliza Kate wore her smile to get acquainted with her new room. I love these warm up visits of meet and greet. There's a back to school excitement for everyone. It was special to learn that our assistant teacher lives in our neighborhood. Eliza Kate loved the thought of Trick or Treating at her teacher's house.

While EK was playing in the kitchen and having her picture taken, mommy was completing form after form in a toddler sized chair. It gave me a chance to play "I spy" around the room without appearing too nosey. It was very evident that it was a touch more academic in the three's room.

Three days a week for my three year old. We stuck to the same schedule as last year. If she's my last, I'm not anxious for a 4 day a week program just yet. After all, the preschool years are flying by too quickly--they really are.

A sweet new friend, Bennett joined us on the outdoor playground after meet & greet. Being a busy boy, he wasn't interested in a photograph. I was able to encourage his momma that busy, busy boys to grow in self control:) On the flip side, it's so nice to enjoy the relaxing preschool life with a calm girl. I'm counting my blessings and not taking her for granted. These stay at home mom, preschool days are a gift.

Preschool summer

While the big brothers are in first grade, the little sisters have more time to play together on these summer mornings. Preschool summers last a little longer than the traditional early August start time of Cobb County schools. Neighborhood girlfriends, Emery & Claire invited us to the Children's Museum for a morning of play. It's been awhile since we've made the trip since we've exhausted our membership. A mommy & me groupon enticed us back. The featured exhibit was a tour of the 50 states.

Up, up and away!

A tapping show in full costume on stage was the highlight from Eliza Kate & Emery.

In our final summer days, we've had some free time in the morning to host a few playdates at our house --no big brother's allowed. Dress up clothes are always included as part of the entertainment:)

Emery joined us for a tea party snack playdate.   The girls dressed up in their princess best.

Oh the joys of a "girls only" playdate. Savoring our time together enjoying summer's last days before our routine includes a more structured schedule. I'm loving having one foot still in the preschool world with my girl.
 

first day

Miller humored me for a few posed first day pictures after school. With the hustle & bustle, crazy energy of getting to the bus stop by 7:00 a.m.. He came off the bus in the afternoon to report a successful first day in the Techie class. Our first grader commented that his new teacher reminds him of Ms, Cayla his PreK4 teacher because she smiles a lot. Smiles from the teacher on the first day is a great sign Miller man. He liked sitting by his friend Olivia from last year at table 2. His new privilege of desk sitting in a table grouping is a hit!

He had a lot to share during our afternoon snack about Ms. K's warm fuzzy behavior system. He's working hard to win her favor and all ten warm fuzzy characters by Friday. She's got all kinds of positive incentives going on in her room--oh my! Fun Friday is a coveted first grade privilege that all four homerooms rotate between board games, movies,  and the computer lab.

Since I remember that the first day of any grade is mainly about ice breakers, getting the class through the lunch line & getting them all home the correct way...I didn't press him for too much information. We did have a first grade boy neighborhood playdate on the next door driveway to rush off to. I  did feel like I soaked in a few tidbits about his day before dinner.

 

Hooray for a successful first day of first grade! He's thrilled about being a Techie.

first day of first grade {ever}

Our little techie woke up bright and before the sun was up for the first day of first grade. Here he is holding his first homework assignment of the year.  The theme of Miller's room is the "Terrific Techies" so it was fitting that he designed his own iphone with apps describing himself. Oh yeahh--he's big time.

A girl after my own heart--his teacher prints out labels for everything. I loved the star sticker nametags she had her students wear on the first day of school. I squeezed in a few quick photos for memory's sake before the madness of shoes, socks, and teeth brushing took over our get out the door now routine. It took us a good week to get our school morning groove back on track. Mommy is assuming the role of sandwich artist again on those very early mornings. Miller decided to carry on our established Kindergarten tradition of buying his lunch on Fridays. A quick prayer, a pep talk about bus stop behavior, and a rooster tail taming of his 2 stubborn crowns sent us down the block.

Bus stop craziness anticipating Mr. Ron pulling up to the stop sign. There were 20 kids at our stop before they divided up the chaos into two stops.

The first grade boys all lined up....new backpacks, shoes and gear. Hooray for the first day of first grade.

Some of the bus stop crew on the corner. We added some new bright eyed kindergartners this year.  I smooched his cheek because those days are fleeting in public & watched him board the bus steps with bitter sweetness. He had the nerve to move onto first grade this year. First day of school ready or not for mommy--here he comes.

First Grade Eve

It's the Night Before First Grade and he's all tucked in his bed...dreaming of first grade & the big day up ahead....
We had the best of intentions of a 7:30 p.m bedtime, but I'm really ok with rolling back the bedtime clock in 1/2 hour increments over the course of the first week of school.  It ended up being an 8:15pm lights out zone after our traditional reading of "The Night Before"--series. There's something cozy about reading to my boy before big milestones. I know it's the teacher in me that's excited about the first day of first grade.
 

We read and prayed. He just might have gotten a little pep talk coaching session about how big kid first graders act. I pulled the covers up tight & made sure his special blue minky dot blanky was secure under his arm and next to his face. This rising first grade boy of mine is still attached to his special friend at bedtime. He comments that his blanket is just so comfortable to him.  Then it was off to the kitchen for this tired momma to pack his lunch and backpack with all the first day of school necessities. Clean undies & socks, a labeled water bottle &  back to school forms consumed the rest of my evening.  It's first grade eve at our house {wiping the tears}