Halloween & randoms

We did our usual routine of going Trick or Treating with the Perry's.   We headed over to their house early and hit their street.  Then came over to our street and hit houses with the rest of the neighborhood crew.  So many kids were you just hope your kid is in the mix because you cant see them anymore.  I usually make their costumes but when they saw the Power Ranger Costumes at Costco they had to have them.  They stuck to their guns and wore them.

This past weekend we unplugged.  That is right we shut our phones down to only calls and texts, put the computers away, tried to run errands on Friday and had tons and tons of family time.  This is going to be our new thing.  Family game nights, painting, and just hanging out.  As working parents it feels at times that life is just flying by especially during the week and then trying to catch up and prep for the week during the weekend.  So we are going to just try to embrace the slower times we have to have fun.

Speaking of work, almost a year ago my role shifted at work to where I am working on project stuff.  It has been going fine although stressful at times.  We are in the peak of stress as the huge project is about to go live on the 15th.  Please pray for me, send happy thoughts, etc.  It stinks when your stress relief of going to the gym is something that is not even happening.  So here is how I tried to brighten my day one day by just working on the deck.

 I was excited to get my hair cut this past weekend.  Had to take a snapshot as my hairdresser put curls in my hair.  I loved it enough to buy a curling iron to attempt to do myself.  Luckily we have the ABC crew coming in soon so Chloe has offered to teach me some tips on how to do it myself.  Woot woot.

 Oh is that another dog in our house.  We babysat my friend's foster dog while she had to go out of town.  As crazy as it sounds we get him back on Monday so we can be his foster.  Will see how this goes.

Terrific Kid & lost teeth

Each month at school they select a kid who wins the "Terrific Kid" award in each classroom.  They have to demonstrate good behaviors and this particular month they said was focused on honesty but good kids overall.  Emmi won.  They had a cute little ceremony, got ice cream, and a bag of goodies.  We of course had to be there for it.  So proud of our big girl.

 Then this week Emmi lost not only one but two teeth.  I should actually say she pulled them out.  She had a super wiggly one that came out Monday.  Then Today she pulled the other not as wiggly one out when she got home from school.  So I guess her Birthday list will be her 2 front teeth.

 We cant forget Murph who likes to lay on the kids trampoline when they are at school.

 We went to the church that Marli attends preschool.  They have a service called the Deep where they put on skits and sing songs.  Totally geared towards families and my kids love it.  The awesome part about going it Emmi gets to hang with her preschool buddies.  These are the 3 kids that she was in class every year but her last.  Robert is also her boyfriend.

 Here is a picture from near our library.  The kids and I have gotten into reading so we frequent the library.  Mostly putting books on reserve and then just picking them up.  This day was nice so the kids were running laps outside which is also near a train that you can go on.

Kindergarten reading and writing

While we were at the beach Memere came with us.  The perfect help as she worked with Emmi on her sight words and reading since she brought chapter books with her.  Emmi mastered an additional 20+ words while being there.  When we got home Emmi's progress report was excellent.  She is now reading books on her own which her teacher sends home weekly.  She also is starting to write sentences on her own.  Here is her first one she brought home.

It reads "I am growing red tomatoes" but in the learning process they write as they think it is.  So hers is written "I em goen red tmatos".  Such a cool thing to see as a parent how it all comes together.  She is definitely loving learning.  We have to put books on reserve at the library to read as we finish each chapter book.

Yearly Fall Beach Vacation

Here in the South heading to the beach in October is actually a fantastic time to go.  The weather was in the low 80's pretty much everyday with sunny sunny skies.  There were very few people there although the other side of the house we rent was rented.  The people were super cool with 2 dogs.  May actually meet up with them in the future.  The kids had a blast as there was a sand bar not far out so they could play in the water without too much worry about the waves.  It is so much fun now with Emmi as she likes to ride the waves too.

 Jacob pretty much fishes the whole time we are at the beach.  He had some bait fish which Emmi was brave enough to pick up.  Moo not so much and screamed when Emmi came near.

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it.......

At low tide the kids would walk back and forth and swim inbetween the shore and the sand bar.  With Murph running back and forth too.  So much fun.  Emmi and I also rode waves while Marli followed suit in the tube.  Everyone seemed to have a blast.

 We always hit the island playground.

 Of course there was a family splash fest.  Murph wanted in on the action.  He loves loves the water.

After such a great time thinking this year could be the last year due to Emmi in big school now and Jacob & I want to go away next year for our 10th anniversary...  we may just have to reconsider or do a long weekend.  We love this vacation time.

Have to capture this story

Some of you may have been aware that I lost my wallet this summer while we were on vacation at the Cape.  On a good note, it was found then turned in to the police where my mom was able to retrieve it.  Of course by this time I had replaced everything but was just glad to get it back.

Well I took that wallet and made it my spare.  I had put it in Jacob's car so incase I ever were driving his car I had my license and random cards in there.

Fast forward to this morning, Marli's preschool music teacher sent me a text to call this number as a guy had my health insurance card.   I replied with what the heck was she talking about.  She said she was walking this morning before school and a guy had asked her if that was her wallet.  When he opened it, it had my name on the insurance card.  She said she knew me but he just said to have me call him.  I called and he said the same story that he just so happened to be grabbing his newspaper when he noticed the wallet and lives just around the corner from our house.

Typical mom instinct, I asked Marli when we were on our way home from school if she had taken my wallet and threw it out the window.  First reply was no.  I said Marli think about it for a minute did you throw my wallet out the window?  She said that she threw it out the window the other day on our way to the fire station since Daddy told her to.  (Side note we were headed to the fire station with cookies for the fire fighters as a thank you on 9/11.)  I told her that was not a good thing to do then called Jacob.

Now I am pissed at Jacob for telling her to do such a thing.  And he is claiming he didnt tell her to do it. 

So who to believe, my child or my husband?!?!?!?!?! 

K - weekend - preschool

Last week was a big week as our big girl started Kindergarten.  It went great.  She definitely seemed to love it even more on Friday when all her friends were around.  Here she is on her first day.

 Here she is running to the car as she was ready to go.

 Then since I WFH and had some open times in my schedule we had some friends over to play due to the staggered start and no place for kids to go.  This is the girls in the hood walking from house to house.

 

Then over the weekend we kept plenty busy due to the holiday.  From cookouts with friends to the parade, carnival, the gym, spraygrounds, ice cream, and a pool party we never stopped.  Here is E chilling at the gym.

We went to the Matthews Alive parade where we ran into our cousins and buddies.

 Then after the parade the kids rode on some carnival rides.  Definitely a hot fun filled day.

We also went to the local sprayground where the kids had fun running and playing in the water. 

Here is Moo posing on her first day of Preschool in the 3 year old room.

So the new normal schedule begins today..  Thank goodness for routine.

I need to be in the know....

Well let me start with the one man in my life who is my rock.  This guy is absolutely the best.  Considering we have known each other for 21 years and now married 9 years(today is our anniversary) he just knows me.  He knows the times to come in for a huge hug to make my day better or give me my space when I need it.  I don't even need to mention how awesome of a father he is to our kids.  It seems amazing but he just knows but to make sure he knows I just want to put it out there that I absolutely love this guy.  Couldn't ask for a better partner to tackle this adventure we all call life.  Jealous I know.  :)

I don't typically make it a point to spend special times with just one kid but this particular day I was able to hit lunch with just Emmi.  We went to a Crepe place in the center of our town.  She is the best lunch date since she will eat and try anything.  Love her and need to do this again.

She also went to tennis camp last week with her best friend from preschool.  It worked out great as the kids all came here to play one day after.  Will have to make sure those playdates continue to happen since Brooke will be headed to a different school.

Long story short I have had a little bit of stress between work demands, life to then eating like crap which resulted in my immune system taking a hit.  That went from poison ivy to ear infection then ultimately Shingles.  Luckily I wasn't in any more pain than a bad sunburn so battled that back.  Now I am back on track to eating healthy and working on making sure I get enough sleep.  So what to do when you don't have enough going on...  make jammie pants for the girls and headbands for me.  Moo wanted in on the action so here she is cutting her stuff out.

My friend Erika who you can find her blog over there ->Cole's Train of Thought

Well she wrote a whole post about kindergarten where we are kinda at a lost for this big step since you are no longer in the KNOW.  Yet I know in 4 weeks from now it will all be the new norm....  So we attend everything we can as well as read up on everything I can.  Well I will say I have already been drafted for the PTO so hopefully I will be in the know. We also attended Emmi's kindergarten social.  Here are the girlies enjoying ice creams.

The back pack is ready to go with a whole slew of other supplies.  No one prepped me for how much this stuff costs.  Lets just say sticker shock and I even braved shopping on Tax Free Weekend. 

 We only have a few days left of summer so here is where you can find my kids, just chilling in their Jammies all day.  E says she is working so look out Corporate America my kids may expect to be able to work like me from home.

Friday is teacher meet & greet.  They do a phase in week so Emmi will only go on Wednesday with some kids, Thursday will be Marli's meet & greet, then all kids Kindergarten will go next Friday.  Then after labor day will be full steam ahead with both kids in school.  I am grateful that we have great friends who we will be carpooling with this year.  Our kids are at the same schools with the same teachers, go figure those odds, so that will help greatly.