Date night

The girls both had invites, and David was out of town, so Bennett and I had a date night tonight! We went to Megumi, my favorite sushi restaurant, and Bennett was super excited about the kids meal. They serve it in a big boat- tempura chicken, rice, salad, and cantaloupe. He loved it!!

When we got home we watched American Ninja Warrior and I let him have a "sleepover" with me in David's spot. It was a fun night with my sweet boy. I loved hearing all that he had to say, without having to compete for my attention with his sisters. He's a funny guy.

Late night

We are still adjusting to and trying to figure out our new school schedule and Wednesday nights are super full. We LOVE going to Wednesday night dinner at church, but this year Elise has ballet on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:45. So, without time to do her homework before ballet (if we go to WND) it makes for a very late night for her. 

Tonight she was up late sprawled on the kitchen floor with her best friend Boss hanging out with her. Broken pencil and all.

Math Night

PES Math Night is always a fun time for the kids to go to school at night and have fun with Math, their parents, and their peers. Lila and Bennett were so excited about their first one- we skipped soccer so that they could be there! School before extra curricular, right?

Izzy, Lila, Annabella, Reece

Bennett and Stevie

Somehow Elise escaped pics, but she was there in full force as well. David and I each spent a half hour with Kindergarten and a half hour with second grade.

It was a great night!

wasp sting with a happy ending

I was working at Posh today when my cell started ringing. First a call from the school secretary, Julie, to let me know that sweet Lila had been stung by a wasp at recess. As soon as I hung up with her I called David (his new office is right next to school) to see if he could pop over there to give her some Benadryl. As soon as I hung up with him, Ms. Farris called and said that she actually had meds and since I had her as an emergency contact she could go ahead and give them to her. I could tell, as usual, that she was getting a lot of love at school. I got a text from a friend who was volunteering in the office letting me know how brave she was being. :)

By the time I got back in touch with David he was already on his way there and so he stopped in to check on our girl and Ms. Farris invited him to read a story to the class. It was second grade lunch time at this point, so he had a lunch date with Elise in the cafeteria and then went and read to the class afterwards.

The kids were thrilled, as was David to get to spend a little time at school.

Drama filled morning with a very happy ending.

rewarding

Being able to volunteer at the kids school has been so rewarding on so many levels. Today was a perfect example of a moment I will cherish forever. A sweet little girl from our church, who is new to our school this year, brought me this sweet note today as I was working in the front office. I saw her last week when I worked and asked her about school and how she was liking her teacher, etc, and apparently what I thought was just a sweet little moment meant a lot to her- and that really touches my heart.

Ballet

This year Elise is definitely going to be challenging herself with dance. Rather than taking a ballet/tap combo class, she is doing Classical Ballet for an hour and 15 mins on Wednesday nights with 8-12 year olds and a very distinguished teacher. She is also taking a Jazz Technique class on Monday nights, which will help with flexibility and turns. She is very, very excited.

Tonight was the first ballet class and the girls were thrilled to get on their new ballet "uniforms" and have their tight ballet buns done. I think it is going to be a great year!!

Lila is back in dance as well, taking a ballet/tap combo class on Monday nights. The girls both are sad to have had to pull out of acro, but with soccer practice during the week now for Lila and Bennett, and the long school day, we decided something had to go.

First win!

One of the things I am trying this year is tennis! David has always played, and is very good, and I have always wanted to play, but have not had the time. I think it is something that we could do together for exercise and fun! Erinn had been wanting to play as well, and so we are easing into it together by playing in a fun "C" league on Wednesday mornings.

This morning was our second match ever together, and our first win!!!

Stylin'

Lila was super excited about her uniform choice this morning and wanted me to take a pic.

Ready for some football

Elise's specs

Since school started, Elise has mentioned a few times that her eyes get "tired" by lunchtime and that sometimes her head hurts. Part of me thought that she may just be adjusting to being back in school all day, and a much more challenging teacher and curriculum.  Plus, it is no secret that she is a big fan of glasses- often rocking some faux ones. But, since David and I both needed glasses at relatively young ages, we decided to have her vision checked.

Sure enough, our girl needs glasses.

She is actually a little far sighted and so needs them for reading. The Dr. said she could grow out of it, or maybe not- that we should have her re-screened in a year or two unless she complains of any other issues. She is super excited, and enjoyed picking out her frames.

I have to admit- she looks adorable in them.

Bingo Night

PES PTA hosted their first ever bingo night last night and it was a great time!

We weren't winners this time, but we enjoyed the time spent at school with friends.

Labor Day weekend fun

Erinn and Jared went to New York with friends for her 30th birthday and so were blessed to get to spend some time with Greyson!! He is such a fun and happy baby- we loved our time with him!

Bennett loved helping to feed his cousin.

Although Greyson is a big boy and can pretty much handle it himself. :)

Elise spending time with him.

And Bennett teaching him about Skylanders.

Lila was super involved too- not sure why I don't have a picture!

Rex stayed with us as well, and by the end of the weekend he and Boss were getting along better than ever before. #besties

Coyote watch

Boss is not a happy camper. We have seen a few coyotes in our yard, and so he is on lockdown and can no longer go back there and explore. I think this is what a depressed maltipoo looks like. 

Elise's First Piano Recital

Elise started taking piano lessons in January, after asking to do so for a while. Tonight was her very first recital and she played "It's a Small World". She was a little nervous, but did a wonderful job.

We are happy that she enjoys her piano lessons so much.

And they are off...

This morning all three got on the bus, excited as could be.

It was so weird. I totally thought I was fine. And then, I walked back into the empty house and completely lost it.

It feels a little strange. 

They have been my full-time job for 8 years.

Now they will be out of my hands for 8 hours a day. My babies. They aren't babies anymore.

I definitely wouldn't trade that time for anything in the world, but when it suddenly (I guess not really "suddenly" although it does feel that way) comes to an end it is an interesting feeling.

I got a text from Stacy, who went through this when Reese started K three years ago. She was checking on me, and when I said I was crying she responded  "#identitycrisis?"- and that kind of summed it up.

As they start this new chapter I will take this year to figure out my new role in our family. Going to try some new things, spend even more time volunteering at school, commit to a serious Bible study, be in their classroom once a week like I was for Elise, and try to figure out how I can best contribute to the family. From 4pm until bedtime they need me more than ever. That is one thing I know for sure.

Changing times and new adventures for all of us.

Lila's first day of Kindergarten

Today it was Lila's turn!!!

Sisters goofing around waiting for Mr. CJ.

I also went up to school to meet Lila on her first day.

Myrt was already waiting for her on the playground.

And then shortly after Reece arrived. These three are super excited to be in class together this year.

Time to line up to go inside. Lindsey caught this shot of me giving my girl a hug! :)

Sweet Ms. F sent me this pic of Lila enjoying her first lunch in the cafeteria.

***

Meanwhile, just like Lila and I had a special day on Bennett's first day, we met a group of Bennett's friends and got in some end of summer swimming with the boys on their final day of summer.

***

Lila also had a great first day and was thrilled when she got off of the bus. 

Such a great feeling!

Bennett's first day of Kindergarten

In order to ease the kids into their new school half of the K kids go today, the other half Monday, and then they all start together on Tuesday. This year the split the boys and the girls, and so Bennett is taking on K without his partner in crime. Most classes at our school have about 20-22 kids, so this enables the teachers to get to know the kids for a full day in smaller groups before the school year starts.

Lila was a little sad that she had to sit out, as they had been counting down the days all week...But, when it was time for him to go she gave him a big (unprompted by me) hug! Made my morning!

And as the bus turned around in our cul-de-sac, Elise reached over and grabbed her little brother's hand. :)

After we watched them get on to the bus, I brought Lila to my parents so that I could head up to school and greet him when they arrived.

Here is our big boy arriving at school.

He immediately found some of his best buds from St. Timothy's on the playground.

Stevie, Landon, Bennett

Landon, Bennett, Stevie, Jackson

Ms. Farris showing her boys where they will line up each morning on the K playground.

One more pic of our sweet boy.

Half way through the day I received a text from his teacher- "Bennett is awesome!"

So glad she thinks so, because we do too.

***

As I treat I took Lila to get her toes done. She was thrilled, and got over the fact that she wasn't at school pretty quickly.

Then we met up with some of the other boys' Moms for a fun lunch! Love these ladies!!

Holly, me, TJ, Witney, and Juliet

All of our kids were in PreK5 together at St. Timothy's and we grew closer over the last year. They are a great group of  Moms!

***

Bennett got off of the bus with a huge smile on his face - that is all you can hope for!

So thrilled that he loved his first day.

First day of Second Grade

Hard to believe it. Second Grade.

(On a side note, Aunt Mo, as a favor to me designed these grade level shirts for the school! The response was great! We appreciate it!!)

HaHa David and Todd....Stacy and I went up to school early to help out on the first day and we left them in charge of pics....They think they are so funny. :)

Meet and Greet the Teachers

 We found out the kids' teachers last night and we are super excited about the upcoming year!!! 

Per our request, the twins will have the same FABULOUS Kindergarten teacher that Elise had, Ms. Farris.

We are so grateful!!

In addition they have many classmates that they know in their class (Myrt, Reece, Stevie, Delaney)- so they are super excited and can't wait for school to begin. 

Elise, per Ms. Farris' recommendation, was screened and qualified for an academic gifted program and will spend most of her time this year with a teacher specializing in teaching gifted children, Mrs. Rios. She will also have a much loved teacher, Mrs. Madden, for the rest of the day.

(Not a huge fan of that term because we believe all children are gifted, but anyway... the program has been a great thing for her.)

Lila and sweet Reece, who will be taking on Kindergarten together

And the fabulous Ms. Farris!!

Elise starts tomorrow, and the twins are going to have a hard time waiting out the delayed kindergarten start! But, we get to go back up to school tomorrow for their screenings and then I plan to get them together with some fellow kindergardeners next week to make the best of the last few days of summer.