Weekend Parade and Ball Game

In our own unplanned tradition, Saturday morning we headed to the Millard Days parade and hooked up with our cousins in our usual place. I think this is the first year I remembered a bag for our candy loot, which we got plenty that will never be eaten, but its all about the capture, right?

HeeHee...totally captures them!

Cousin NR is the best...we CANNOT get enough of him!

Plus, he teaches us 'older brother' tricks.

Waiting patiently for the loot.

love us some trains.

We were all ready to check out...but couldn't
leave until we saw our "star" of the parade!

 

With some yelling from her fans, we got a smile!

Then VW had so much fun this spring with baseball, he joined his team this fall. His beaming smile and dances are too precious. He LOVES it! Headed out to the ball field for our first fall game...it was hotter than any of his summer games!

This fall it is "real" baseball. The coach still pitches, but 3 strikes your out, out at the base, still only 5 runs an inning! Boy watching these kids play baseball this way was great! We have some wonderful parents cheering on these boys, making it fun for all! Plus, Coach Cory and his dad assistants (including our Daddy) have such a heart to help this boys have fun while learning the game.

Out at first! Great throw!

 

The ended their first game with a big W! VW had some great hits and the plate. He has an amazing cut and took his one strike out in stride. Next time...

Needless to say this was just our Saturday! Sunday...pancake feast at church, new Sunday school classrooms, Legos, yummy food on the grill, a couple hours at the pool (excluding time-outs, hitting, whining, crying, wrestling)...it was a fun, eventful, exhausting weekend!

I Am the Mother

I am the mother you saw at school drop-off for her ‘amazing’ little kindergartner who refused to get out of the van for school. The one you connect with yet filled with a tinge of gratefulness that today it isn’t you.

I am the mother who crawled across the van to remove her child.

I am the mother who told her son, “Go ahead throw-up. Get out of my van and throw up!”

I am the mother that carried both her 3- and 6-year-old sons up the long sidewalk of the school, pausing to say good morning to the parents along the way.

I am the mother who walked across the school lawn, then stopped, “I will not chase you down!”

I am the mother that looked into the teachers’ eyes at the front door pleading for help and found comfort in…please take this child and bring him to his classroom.

I am the mother who turned her back, eyes filled with tears when her son was finally safe behind the school doors.

I am the mother abundantly blessed, standing firm in her mission of raising her young men; thankful that the comforts of home radiates in her sons but knowing with all her heart they must step out on the next path and they will be okay (and so will she).

Toothless

This kid seriously cracks me up! At buddies a couple weeks ago, he lost a tooth while eating a burrito! He was pretty excited, so I asked him to show me! This is what I got:

Nice gums, buddy! Thanks for thoroughly showing me the missing tooth spot in your mouth!

Mighty God

What a beautiful morning! The sun shining through the van windows as we headed into our second week of Kindergarten for VW and the continued missing of our brother at buddies for DG warms my heart!

We said our prayers for the morning...thank you God for the beautiful sun and its warmth. May we have a great day learning and playing. May we listen and have manners. May we have fun jumping, eating, running, and resting. Be with our teachers and our friends...

Then, as usual with mommy, we break out into song...these two are so precious!! They have been singing this song over and over...in the van, in Target, at the dinner table, in bed...so much so, one time VW commented that they had sung it over 100 times...that was probably enough!!

But it isn't...because what a mighty God we serve!

 

Just Like Mom

Over the years I have noticed that I am becoming more and more like my mother. The tone of my voice; that expression on my face or even my body language; my perspective on life or the exact words I use (Did I just say that? That sounded exactly like my mom)!!

This week, however I had to laugh! Now I am bruising like my mom!

I have a bruise on my hip so dark and raised that even my clothing hurts it! (I ran into the desk). I have another on my shin, nice black and purple from running into the bed!

Oh seriously, this too?!? At least at this point I know what I did! (Grandma K would sometimes have brusing she had no clue where they came from!)

From my point of view...it could be way worse...I don't really mind being like my mom (even if it means I have a few bruises)!

Grandma K is also smiling, as she also remembers the moment thinking/saying/bruising...just like her mom!

And the tradition continues...

DG-Whatcha Doing at School?

7/11 - DG had a good day but was put in time out a few times for not following directions and hitting his friends. 

7/14 - DG had an ok day; he was in time out several times after hitting his friends. After hitting them he would then say sorry but kept doing it again. I talked to him about it and he did much better throughout the day!!

7/15 - DG had a good day and enjoyed painting his ice cream!

7/16 - DG had a few time outs but did help clean up and listed during nap time.

7/17 - We didn't have splash day today because of the weather, but bring swimsuit tomorrow just in case it is nice out.

7/18 - Great listening skills today!

7/21 - DG had a few time outs for hitting and pushing his friends. I told him that our Chapel story today said that we should do good things for God so the he is happy. DG then said sorry and he had a better day!

7/22 - Dg had a few time outs today for running away from the teacher; after lunch he had a better day :)

7/24 - DG really enjoyed his lunch and got it two times!! :)

7/25 - DG had only one time out for pushing a friend. He then had an awesome rest of 
day!

7/28 - DG had a difficult time following directions in our room today. He would not line up quietly or keep hands to himself. He did enjoy coloring and dance :)

7/29 - DG had a great day! Listened very well and played nicely with friends!

7/30 - DG had a really good day with no time outs. He was really nice to his friends! :)

8/13 - Followed directions really well and had fun building things with gummy bears.

8/14 - DG played nicely with friends today. He really liked matching shapes; he knew a few more than the other kids.

K is for Kindergarten

VW was excstatic to head to Kindergarten this morning. DG was not as thrilled. DG tried to pose for the pictures in front of VW and then was kind enough to stand next to his big brother!

VW got dressed this morning in his new first day of school outfit and informed us, "I know I look a little good."

All set with his back-pack and new shoes!

When we dropped DG off at school, he walked in as normal, then quick paused, "where is brother?" Oh bubba, he is going to Kindergarten remember. "Hmmm..." This will be an adjustement for him too.

Walking to the front with Daddy!

Found our cousins!

 

Love to know what they're discussing!

All set to go! VW, we are so excited for you and your next chapter of life. We cannot believe you are a Kindergartener already. We are so proud of the young man you are becoming. It is going to be such a great year for you!

After your open house on Thursday, we asked you what you thought, you nonchalently replied, "cool." We could tell you were thinking and reflecting, then you joyfully announced..."I think I am going to love it there!" Here's to loving your first year of school!

Love that you didn't even look back,
but confidently headed into school.

Going On a Forest Adventure

Last summer for our anniversary Daddy and I headed to Nebraska City for some wine tasting, fresh apple pie, wonderful food, hand-in-hand walks through the orchards and peace and quiet. This summer we headed back during our vacation with the boys.

We played and sang:

Built a very long car that ended up not going very far; the cart was more fun to push around.

Jumped, screamed, giggled, danced on the wooden bridge.

Hung out on the log bench.

Pretended to be spiders.

Balanced and maneuvered through the obstacle course.

Then explored through the woods, over the bridges, down by the creek, listening to the birds and bugs, smelling nature, spotting deer...

We spotted some strange forest creatures.

Hung out on the big chair.

Spotted each other from various perspectives.

And wondered, who lives here?

Quite a different trip from last summer, but so much fun to watch through the boys eyes all the amazing finds along the trail. We will be back...