2nd Grade...Here We Come

August 24th is here and the end of summer has come to an abrupt halt...it's time for school. Can you believe that our oldest child is starting 2nd grade! It is amazing how time flies because it seems like I was holding him for the very first time just yesterday. Connor you make me so proud!! I consistently get compliments on how well behaved you are and what a wonderful big brother you are to the twins. I know that it is hard being the older sibling...I have been there...but, you do a fantastic job of trying to behave most of the time and helping to teach your brothers from what is right and wrong. The occasional sweet looks you give me with your eyes says, "Mom, I love you so much." and yet you don't have to say a word...the hug says it all. I am fortunate that you still give me sweet kisses and I cherish each one! I LOVE you more than you will ever know...you are my number 1!!!

What any 2nd grade boy needs...a camo lunch and backpack.

6:45am sure comes early

Hiding from mom hoping I will go away:)

Sleepy Grant

Sweet sleepy Preston

Donuts for breakfast on the first day of school...the breakfast of champions.

Don't tell the teacher I sugared you up before going to school:)

Connor eating and begging me not to take another pic. I told him this only happens on the first day.

The yearly posed pic.

Grant, Connor, and Preston

Running to the 2nd grade hall

Mrs. Waddill and Connor

One last impromptu pic before we leave Connor for the day.

Connor had butterflies in his tummy, but he ended up having a wonderful day!

Teachers of the Past

Since Connor has started Kindergarten, we have made it a priority to thank our teachers we have had in previous years right before school starts. We always like to take them some Hershey's "Kisses" from Connor with a sweet note attached as to how they mean to us. This year we met up with his Kinder teacher, Mrs. Dobbins. Oh how Connor loves this sweet lady! They were both so excited to see each other. Connor usually never has much to say to her because he is so awestruck by her presence. I have to admit she was/is pretty special:)

We also stopped to see his teacher from last year, Mrs. King. She was a wonderful teacher also. She was a little hard on Connor, but it was definitely worth all the hard work! I think Connor found a special place in her heart also. I don't think she was very surprised to see our family show up with special treats.

THANKS TO ALL THE TEACHERS FOR THEIR VERY HARD WORK!

STAYCATION...DAY 3

Today the boys couldn't find out quick enough what we were up to. They have learned by now that we won't tell them where we are going until we are in the car with seat belts on. So as soon as the last person landed their back-end in the seat they all yelled..."TELL US NOW!" We were headed off to Downtown Dallas to ride the Trinity Railway Express to Ft. Worth...have lunch...and then return back to Dallas to go up onto the Reunion Observation Deck.

Posing with the train

We found the train with the bathroom thanks to the conductor although we didn't have to use it...THANK goodness!

We just started moving and Grant and Preston would beaming with smiles ear to ear:)

Connor chillin' with dad.

There was only one restaurant, Subway, at the final destination so we had a bite and an hour later caught the return train. The real treat was Preston doesn't eat pizza or fancy sandwiches so Doug let him get chips...now that is a vacation kind of meal.

Next to the train depot was an old restored train we had the opportunity to board and get a quick pic. Two men were actually just polishing the inside...not really showing it off.

The restored train with Grant gazing in amazement.

Like I said...we had an hour to kill so that boys ran up and down the loading dock until they exhausted themselves (I finally learned how to use the video on my camera...Yeah me!)




Sweet Connor letting Preston get some loving:)

We concluded our journey with a trip to the observation deck of Reunion Tower or so I thought. All the research I did online said the tower was open from it's year long renovation, but online lied...the only thing open is the restaurant:( Connor was soooo disappointed. Doug and I promised we would go back as soon as we knew it was open. The look on his face tells how he felt.

Silly Monkeys

What a fun week until the bitter end!

STAYCATION...DAY 2

Day 2 of our staycation we traveled to Fossil Rim Wildlife Park in Glen Rose, Texas. We realized by the time we left the house and I was reading our brochure that we better eat lunch in Glen Rose before making the 3 hour drive thru the park. We decided to stop at Dairy Queen (one of the only fast food places in town) to get a quick bite and the boys played for a little bit before we loaded up again. You would have thought they never get to play on playground equipment the way they were acting.

Connor and Preston riding the dino:)

Connor's expression cracks me up.

After an hour drive from home we arrived...

The zebras are known to nibble on fingers so we were told not to touch them.

This ostrich wanted in our car so bad...the window was barely cracked and the kids were screaming.

All the boys loved feeding the deer.

Doug took so many pics of deer...you would never know he loves hunting:)

The deer had felt on their antlers which Doug taught me falls off during the summer.

The beautiful view as we drove around the park...

Grantsters and Mommy:)

This crazy animal was so friendly. He didn't nibble fingers as we fed him, but sure liked to lick!

Preston trying to get away from it's mouth...

Preston and Connor feeding the same animal. Preston got scared and tried to retreat into the back dash:)

The observation deck from the gift shop area.

My Boys...

Connor took a pic of Doug and I.

The boys had so much fun. We stopped back at DQ for some ice cream and as soon as their food was gone...well, they were gone:) What a day!

STAYCATION

STAYCATION...A much needed vacation that at night after enjoying a day of fun you get to sleep in your very own bed!

This summer we opted for staying at home rather than putting 3 kids in a car and driving hours on end to get somewhere fun. I can barely spend an hour in the car with the three boys much rather 12 hours! Monday this week we celebrated my birthday with lunch at Chili's and just hanging out together as a family at home. Tuesday we drove to Athens, Texas and went to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. The boys got to see where fish are grown so that they can eventually be released into Texas' lakes. After watching a diver feed the fish in a tank and later go into the crocodile's habitat and feed them chicken, we got to fish for bass and catfish in a stocked pond. We had so much fun...between Doug, Connor, and myself I think we caught somewhere around 8 or so catfish!

The boys at the entrance...

The gentleman to the side just fed the catfish and they splashed water on all the boys. You should have seen the look on Preston's face when he turned and looked at me with water dripping from his face:)

Doug and Preston watching a video about the hatchery.

The boys are sitting at the back of this pic watching the diver feed the fish.

Connor and Doug riding the tram around the ponds.

The twins and mom...

These are the 1-2 acre ponds full of fish...

They breed Koi in order to feed all the fish on campus.

I think Connor had the twins pose for this shot:)

Grant and Preston kept acting like Vanna White directing us as to what to look at next:)

Fishin'...this is the only minute Preston actually sat still.

What a big boy...he had a blast!

Preston needed special attention...

I was the first one to catch a fish...Connor said "Your daddy would be so proud!" It made me think back to when I was a little girl fishin'.

Connor was next...

Preston wanted to touch the fish every time Connor caught one.

The fish would swim right up to the banks of this particular pond so the boys were all trying to catch a glimpse.

Grant had a bird's eye view of the crocodile feeding.

Preston and Connor watching the crocs.

What a fun day even if we did have to drive 90 minutes:)

Stay tuned for more fun!