An apple a day.....

It's that time! School has started again! Of course this year it's MUCH more exciting for us because both of the kids are in school! If you didn't read my last entry, you missed the part about Logan getting into Pine Lake Preparatory. It's pretty exciting! You can go back and read it if you want more info.

Logan started a week and a half ago, and so far, so good. He was having a bit of a tough time at drop off in the mornings (he doesn't like that I can't walk him in) last week, but today he did GREAT! I am so proud of him! I can't get much out of him about what they've been doing at school, but I am getting little bits and pieces here and there, and overall it seems like he is having a lot of fun!

Lila started preschool last Tuesday and she LOVES it! She loves it to the point that she was very disappointed in the three day weekend (although it didn't really effect her...she only goes to school on Tues, Wed, & Thurs). She loves her teacher and all her new little friends. She is the opposite of Logan and gives me every little detail of her day. She seems to be charming a lot of the adults at the school too. I have had more than one mom tell me that Lila was their buddy at school on any given day.

It's been great to see them both growing up and gaining a little more independence. It's hard to believe how big they have gotten. Time really does fly by!

We had a very nice Labor Day weekend. We spent it at home (well, not really at "home.") We were in Charlotte, but we were on the go all weekend at various pool parties and barbecues. It was a great weekend and a wonderful way to end the summer!

We are already looking forward to Halloween. The kids picked out their costumes yesterday. It's insane that you have to buy these things 2 months in advance for fear of not being able to find the coveted Transformers costume and having to deal with the wrath of an angry 5 year old (insert eye roll here). Luckily, we shopped ahead this year, so hopefully we will have no complaints!

We had an interesting time last weekend when we decided to take the kids for their first pet! We decided on a fish...because well.....mommy doesn't want a REAL animal. And fish are low maintenance. We set up the tank, conditioned the water and let it run for a week, then we brought home Bubbles the beta fish! The kids were thrilled! He swam, he ate, he fanned his lovely blue tail, and he subsequently died less than 24 hours later!!!! AAAHHHH!!! The kids handled it pretty well, and we were somewhat relieved to learn from the pet store that their last batch of Beta's were a "bad bunch" and hadn't been doing well at the store either. So, we got a refund and we'll be trying again next weekend with a new Beta, from a hopefully better batch. Wish us luck! Lila the cynic already said, "When Bubbles 2 dies, we can get Bubbles 3!"

Hopefully those of you with young kids are having a smooth transition back into school mode. For the rest of you, enjoy your fall! It's my favorite season....of course we won't see it for at least another month or 2 down here. Enjoy the pics from the 1st day of school!!

Love,

Sarah

The proud Kindergartener!

With Daddy

And Mommy

At his classroom!

In front of the school!

With the cool indoor slide and the cub (the school mascot)

Proud Preschooler!

Trying to smile in a hurry so she can just get into her classroom already!

Her class!

At her seat!

Miss Thing has had a lot of fun getting dressed for school each day!

Less than one week.....

until BOTH of my babies start school!!! Yes, it's true. Logan will be starting Kindergarten on Monday, and Lila will start preschool on Tuesday. I can't believe it!

Let's back up a little. We had a great trip to Florida! The kids LOVED Kennedy Space Center, St Augustine, the beach, and of course Papa's swimming pool! Both of the kids were doing great in the pool. Logan was going down the water slide again and again and again! And Lila was swimming around like a little fish (albeit a little fish with water wings). It was a much needed vacation!

When we got back, Danny started his new job (YAY! So far, so good)! And drumroll......it was time to get settled in for starting school. Quick background....the school district we live in is not the greatest. The elementary schools are fine, but middle/high schools are not the best. There aren't many alternatives other than private schools or the two charters in our area. The charter schools are free, but they are not part of the local school district. They are governed by their own board of directors and they follow their own rules. In order to get into a charter, you enter your child's name into a lottery. There are typically anywhere from 400+ children vying for less than 100 spots. Needless to say, we entered the lotteries for both schools and we were put on a waiting list.

About two weeks ago I got a phone call from the school where we were relatively high up on the list, and they had a spot for Logan! This is GREAT news! It means that he will essentially go to a private school, for free! Lila will automatically get to go there too, since Logan got in, and it goes all the way through to 12th grade, so if we're happy there, they will never have to go to the public middle or high schools in our district. We have been scrambling to get things ready, and I think we are finally getting there. Logan is so excited to be starting at Pine Lake Preparatory School next Monday!! He is lucky enough to have 3 children from his preschool who will be going there as well, so there will be a few familiar faces. He gets to wear a cute little uniform too (which I am super psyched about, as it makes my life SO much easier)!

Lila is SUPER pumped about starting preschool at Ramah Presbyterian Church (where Logan went for 2 years). She already knows her teacher (who is the mom of one of Logan's old preschool classmates), and she has seen her classroom. She can not wait until next week, and she's been talking about it non-stop. I think they're both going to do great!

So, that's the latest. It's been nothing but school, school, school here. I will of course post pictures of the kids' first days next week! In the mean time, here are some of our Florida pics....

Happy family in St Augustine.

Logan's dream come true!

The Rocket Garden

Logan in the comman module...ready for takeoff!

This is the walkway that Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, & Michael Collins used to board Apollo 11

An Astonraut!!!

The two cutest kids ever!

They loved the beach!

See our sand castle??

On top of the world (or at least the water slide).

What we've been up to.....

Hi again! I was in such a rush last week to get a new post done before we left for Florida, that I didn't really get a chance to let everyone know what we've been up to!

Grandma Francine visited us in the middle of July! We had a great time while she was here! We went to the movies to see the latest Ice Age movie in 3-D. The kids LOVED it! It was pretty cool! They also had lots of fun showing Grandma all of their toys and playing pirates and princesses with her! Everyone really enjoyed her visit and the kids are looking forward to wearing their awesome new back to school shoes that she got for them!

One of the kids favorite things to do lately is play with their new puppet theater that Papa Sunny sent! There's a whole tent for them to play in, with a window for them to perform through. There are two puppets, and Logan especially has been having a great time making up stories for the horse and cow. It's been hysterical to watch!

The countdown to the first day of school is on, and we have been getting ready! Logan starts Kindergarten in two weeks, and Lila starts preschool the day after Labor Day. We are all anxious and excited for such a big year! Of course I will post back with lots of pictures when those days have arrived! Think good thoughts...I don't know who will cry more...me or the kids!!

August already!

Hi all! It's been a busy month for us! I'll start out with the great news (which most of you have heard by now I assume) that Danny found a job! Hooray! He'll be starting with Bank of America on August 17th. We are very proud of his "shortest layoff in history" status! In the mean time, he has been working like crazy on the house...finishing up projects that he hadn't gotten a chance to work on in a long time. His efforts have paid off. The house looks terrific!

The kids have been enjoying their summer. We actually had a weekend at home with nothing to do recently. I think the last time that happened was in April! We've been playing outside, making lots of artwork, and swimming whenever we get the chance! We are leaving tonight to head to Florida to visit Papa Luigi for a long weekend. We're all very excited for a mini vacation! We'll be hitting the beach, St Augustine (my favorite!), Papa's pool, and of course, the most magical place on Earth (at least to OUR 5 year old)........no...not Disney......KENNEDY SPACE CENTER! We took the kids last summer and they loved it. We are all excited to go back again!

Well, that's it for now. Enjoy the pictures! I'll post more when we get back!

Sarah

Danny's birthday cake - the kids worked very hard to make those sprinkles look so good! (Ignore the attire - or lack thereof of both children...it happens)

No explanation necessary.....

The girls in Kindergarten will swoon!

So will the boys at preschool!

The Dark Knight

Logan and his tee ball trophy (which he polished with a baby wipe before posing with it and asking me to take a picture so that I could share it with everyone on the blog!)

Danny "enjoying" his time off...yeah, right!

The house before (before the trees were cut back, the shutters were put on, the front entryway was replaced, and the rock wall was built)

The house now!! We love it!

New York times......

Hi everyone! We hope you had a happy July 4th and that you got to see wonderful fireworks! We spent the 1st week of July in NY. Danny was at Brenner Mountain camping with his friends, and the kids and I went to Addison to spend time with our Aunts, Uncles, & cousins on the Baker side! We all had a great time visiting friends and family, which included lots of play time, some time in a dump truck, a trip to a small amusement park, an evening at the campground, and a graduation party for one of our favorite cousins! It was a great way to relax and enjoy some time together.

Unfortunately, our vacation "high" ended very quickly when Danny was laid off from his job on Monday. Although it was not a great way to come back to reality, we are optomistic that something better will come along, and we are staying positive! It's all about perspective, and right now we may be unlucky in one area, but we are very very blessed in the rest of our lives.

So....onto something to make everyone smile! Here are some of the MANY pictures that were taken in Addison! We hope you enjoy them! Lots of love....

Sarah

Lil Miss Attitude

Jimmy Johnson's biggest fan

Every little boy's dream come true!

Wrestling over a ball.....

Logan loved the planes at Harris Hill....

and the "Nascar" ride (he named it that)

Lila also loved the planes....

And the ponies...

She did NOT, however, like it when they started the carousel without her

The both loved the ice cream!

Logan and cousin Doug building a fire at the campground

Lila didn't trust Logan's ability to make a fire, so she wore this.

Awwwwwwwwww

Awwwwwwww again

Happy 4th of July!!!

Logan loved the sparklers, "These are awesome!!"

Lila wasn't so sure.... but she came around!

Waiting for the fireworks in the tall grass

Yippee for fireworks!!

Thanks for a great time in NY, everyone!!!