First Day of School 2011

In preparation for school I have been making the boys back up their bedtime from 10:30ish to 9pm sharp. They haven't been real happy about it until the night before school came and they had to get in bed at 8:30 sharp while the sun was still out! What they didn't remember is that 6:40am comes really early:) I went in the room singing a made up song about getting up and getting ready for 1st and 4th grade. I cringed with them as they hovered under their covers hiding because my grandmother would wake me up like that and as much as I love her...I hated those songs! They finally rolled out of bed and got dressed and came to the kitchen to find...scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, strawberries, orange juice, and milk. A shocker to almost everyone in the house because I hate to get up early much less any earlier to put that together:) It was for a good cause though...my precious boys' tummies. We snapped a few pics at home and off the entire family of 5 went to drop everyone off at school. The traffic was absolutely horrible...we probably should have walked. Grant went right on in sat down and began working without really saying goodbye. Preston needed some coercing to go sit down and get busy coloring. He is my outgoing when you get to know him, but starts off VERY shy kid. I hurt for him, but gave him a quick pep talk in his ear and sat him down and didn't look back. Up the stairs we went to drop off Connor-man and without saying bye he walked into his room and was gone. His teacher met Doug and off we went. It makes me so sad to know that Connor is almost 1/3 of the way done with school and to know that the twins are becoming more and more independent. I am so proud of them and can't wait to see how this school year turns out!

Breakfast time...the twins were not allowed to wear their shirts at meal time for fear they would dirty them before school:)

First, Fourth, First

Showing off their backpacks

Preston putting his stuff away in locker #1

Grant ready to go

There are no pics of Connor once we got to school. I didn't even ask because I didn't want to embarrass him...so this is the pic of the banner to his hallway:)

Meet The Teacher 2011

August 18, 2011 and summer is just about over. I think I was way more excited than the boys about going to see who their teachers would be for the upcoming school year. I prefaced the visit to school with a quick twin talk. Every year we question whether one of them will be with their bestie, Lilly Kate, and what implications this may have on the other child. I told them before going that someday one of them may have her in their class and that the other child didn't need to be upset that everything would just work out! We arrived to school at 5:40ish and went looking for "The Lists". Connor is in Ms. Williams' class. She is suppose to be a really strong language arts teacher which is good for the upcoming TAKS test which for Connor will not incorporate a writing section. Grant has Mrs. King which happened to be Connor's 1st grade teacher...Love her! Since Grant has a touch of ADD she and I had a quick talk about her having mini-Connor and she just smiled:) Grant also quickly got over the fact that his best Kindergarten friend, Jackson, wasn't in his class...thank goodness. Those two boys are to much for each other:) The final list to look at was Preston's. He has Ms. Daniell and LILLY KATE SILLS! The look on his face was priceless! He had the "I'm smiling really big and don't want you to see my dimples" look:) Lilly's mom and I warned their teacher about there relationship so it shall be interesting to see how this year turns out. I am super excited about getting started and really getting to know each of them.

The boys with Mrs. Miller (who the school is named after).

He may be smiling, but he isn't excited.

Connor and Ms. Williams

Grant ready to go...he is counting the days down for school to start!

Grant with sweet Mrs. King

Preston and Lilly Kate...can you tell they are excited!

Ms. Daniell and Preston

Pre-Teen Camp...Here Connor Comes!

I have looked forward to the day that my children can leave and go enjoy camp like I did as a kid. I was so so excited for Connor until the day arrived for him to leave and we drove up to the church and I saw the bus...I lost it! It wasn't a sloppy cry, but there were a few tears that grew in my eyes as I stood at the suburban and hugged my sweet precious first-born child goodbye. I didn't want to embarrass him so we said our goodbyes as we unloaded his stuff. He hugged me like I meant the world to him and told me he would be okay. I knew that, but "the child" had to reassure his momma it would be okay:) He had a blast like I knew he would. The first pictures I saw of him were on facebook and he was covered up in a pit of mud. He hasn't talked much about the sermons or any serious stuff for that matter, but I can tell there was some change in his heart!

AJ and Connor

This pic cracks me up because Grant and Lilly Kate are off in there own little world and AJ is looking at them like "what in the world are y'all up to ".

The Gang

The church group of 69ish kids

Connor (back right) ready to go.

HELP!

and they are off...

The little ones left behind:)

I forgot how one child leaving can make the house run so much smoother:)

Fun In The Sprinklers

It is so hot out that we were looking for something to do and not have to stay at home another day in the AC. Shelley said she was going to the Cedar Hill sprinkler park at the mall so we decided to tag along and meet her. Once we got there Connor informed me he wasn't about to get wet, but that quickly changed when he realized how much fun Jax was having. I think he had more fun chasing his two cousins around and being the big boy. After an hour or so of playing we took the boys to McDonalds for lunch and then Shelley's crew went home for naps. My boys were not happy that they had to leave and I think Jax agreed:)

Jake wasn't quite sure about the water while Grant is running straight thru it.

The boys having fun.

Preston watching out for Jake...LOVE this pic!

Jake just sitting laughing at the big boys.

We attempted to get a pic of all the boys and of course one isn't looking:) That is pretty good for our crew.

Going Bonkers

There are many days I feel like I am going bonkers, but today we all really did! We went to one of the boys new favorite places, "Going Bonkers" and met up with Rachel and the boys. It is located outside the mall in Lewisville and on Wednesdays it is half-price day if you wear pajamas. Connor wasn't so keen on the half-price attire, but I made sure he got over it before we left the house. Mr. Nine-year old is starting to have quite the opinion about his looks. All the big boys had a terrific time and left dripping sweat from all the running around and climbing. We ate lunch there and the boys played a bit more and then we left so that little Jonah could go take a nap. Not only did the boys have fun, but Rachel and I got to sit and visit without little interruptions:)

Grant, Owen, Noah, Preston, Jonah, and Connor

HaPpY BiRtHdAy DOUG!

Doug was actually home from work on his birthday instead of traveling, but unfortunately most of our friends were gone on trips. We ended up going to Honey and Papa's house for Doug's favorite meal (hamburgers) and did a little swimming. It was small, but everyone seemed to have fun...especially the little ones.

Birthday Boy

Jax not wanting to learn to swim and cheesy Jake

Sweet blue eyes:)

Papa has taught Jax how to hold onto the pool edge and go all the way around...this is BIG!

Papa, the cook, and Honey, the hostess.

Enjoying a bite to eat

Cheeto Jax

The boys were all excited for Doug to blow out his candles because they were trick ones. LOVE the look on the twins face knowing what is about to happen:)

Daddy that is funny!

Precious Jake

He's WALKING....YEAH!

Doug with one of his shirts from us.

Just wait till next year...40!

Sunday School Social

We had a SS get together at one couple's house in Midlothian. They have a huge home with a great pool for tons of kids to play in. I never did a count, but based on the pic below there were quite a few. We weren't there to long when a pre-teener slipped on the diving board and busted his head open to the point he went to the local hospital for 10ish stitches. You would think the adults and kids would have settled down after that, but not so much. Preston wasn't to sure about being social this particular night so Mr. Jason helped him out...by throwing him in the pool. He quickly decided that the other kids were having lots of fun after all. It was great to socialize with so many couples at one time!

Mr. Jason and Pres having a little talk on the way to the pool.

...and in he goes!

July 4th Weekend

We have been fortunate the last few years to be able to spend the weekend of July 4th with part of Doug's family at Granbury lake. Uncle Philip's in-laws have an absolutely beautiful home that backs up to the lake with lots and lots of fun stuff to do. The kids get to go out on the boat, fish, swim, play, watch movies, and the list goes on! As always we had a fabulous time even though we weren't allowed to burn fireworks this year due to the extreme heat/no rain conditions.

Grandpa, Doug, and 6 cousins coming back from a spin around the lake.

One cute pair of twins

Connor had to wear a pink life jacket which he ended up being somewhat proud of:)

He is with cousin Kaelyn.

Connor caught a fish.

Doug and Preston baiting hooks.

Wasting away fishin'

Cousin David, Connor, and Pres...oh and Monkey Sam:)

That was a tough weekend!