Tinker and her teacher!

Lily is having a blast at school and she adores Ms. Peggy! We are so happy that she is doing so well! She is so excited to be in school! She has been waiting to go to school for a long time!

~ School Days~

Now that I have 2 kids in school...our mornings are twice the fun! Aidan is doing well and Lily loves school!

Doesn't this just melt your heart.....they are holding hands...my big boy and big girl!

My big girl is in pre-school!

Lily looked so big on Tuesday when she went for her 1st official day! She had on a Hello Kitty shirt-to match her backpack-that also matched her lunch box! Oh my...she looked adorable!

I am just so proud of Tinker! On Tuesday's and Thursday's she only has 4 kids in her class so it was a good day to start school! She saw Ms. Peggy and although she hid behind me at first...that only lasted about 1 minute. Ms. Peggy took her off to go play! She just waved goodbye! She has been ready for school for a long time! She just looked so big! I was so proud of her. You never know how these days will go but my Tinker did amazing! She came home with a big painting and 2 pictures. I think she is going to love it!

Lily gets ready for school!

On Monday we had Lily's pre-school play date where she meets her teacher and sees her classroom! She was very excited!

I can't believe Lily is going to pre-school! It seems like she has grown up sooo fast! She loved her new classroom and is very excited to be starting school!

~WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN!~

Today was a very big day at our house! Aidan started Kindergarten today! He was ready...new shirt, new socks, new backpack and new haircut! He looked so cute! The day started with some waffles and chocolate milk! We loaded up his backpack and packed his lunch and then we were off to catch the bus!

Gibson and Aidan have both gone to Ms. Amy's since they were 1! They have a long history together and are friends! I was very glad he would have a buddy to ride the bus with on his 1st day!
This is the moment that I got a bit teary eyed! It's like...there he goes....my big boy! I just wanted to hug and kiss him one more time! He grabbed a seat and was looking out the window waving bye! He just kept waving and smiling! I couldn't help but at that moment think...I can't believe he is riding a bus by himself...on his way to his very 1st day of Kindergarten!
This is Mrs. Fitch and Aidan! Words cannot say how happy I am that he has her as a teacher! He was a little nervous at first but we walked in and hung up his backpack! After a few moments, I asked him if I could take a picture of him and his teacher! He was all smiles!

Then he sat at his desk and began to write his name. I just watched him for a few moments. I think I was more nervous then him. He looked up at me and said,"Ok mom, you can go now!" I smiled and he said,"See you later. I love you!" With that, I was out the door. Walking out of the building was a little emotional as I realized....Aidan is in school. He is at a school..a new school where everything is unfamiliar! With so many thought running through my head it was hard not to shed a few tears once I got to the car!

Today I have been thinking a lot about Aidan...hoping his first day goes well...and thinking about how brave he is! He is going to a new school with a new teacher and doesn't know anyone in his class. I am so thankful that I got to share this big moment with him and didn't have to go to work today! I just love him so much! It seems like the last 5 years have flown by and it is hard for me to believe that I have a child this old or that he is old enough to go to school now! I can't wait to see how his first day went! There is one thing I know for sure: I love him and I am so proud of my boy today!

Fun with Daddy at WORK!!!!!!

Matt had a PCR on Saturday! I was planning on taking the kids to the park since Aidan seemed to be feeling better. Matt called and said to bring the kids out to the park he was at because he thought the kids would enjoy it! I am so glad he called! They had some unexpected fun! Not only did they think it was so cool to see daddy working but also they got to climb in daddy's SWAT truck! We played in the bubbles, did some science experiments, got our faces painted and got to watch the police helicopter land and take off! The kids had so much fun!

We all watched the police helicopter take off! The kids thought it was really neat!

Face painting was a big hit....we didn't take a nap today so we could avoid messing up our faces!

Anabelle Devaney~Almost 16 months

Anabelle loves to dance!!!!! If there is music on the radio or on the TV...she is dancing!

Anabelle is almost 16 months and she has really taken on a personality all of her own!

First of all, she has discovered a love for dancing! If music is on she rocks back and forth...puts her hands on her knees and bobs up and down...and just laughs and laughs! It is absolutely the cutest thing I have ever seen!

She also has started not to let her big brother and sister push her around so much! Before she would just kinda go along with them but now if she has something and they take it away from her...she yells and screams!

She likes to close doors....the other day she closed herself in Aidan's room and I was in the kitchen. I heard a little voice yell,"MAMA...MAMA"!

She has discovered dropping something and then saying...Uh-OH! This is also a new game she likes to play!

~Cardinal Game~

Nana and Pa Pa and all the kids!

Aidan took this picture of the ballpark!
It was a little ....but oh so fun......
Tinker ate so much candy.....it was unbelievable!

Anabelle took a long nap during the game! Beth brought some spray fans and we stripped her down so she could stay cool!
Aidan with his Pa Pa! I think Aidan really enjoyed the game. Especially since he played Tball this year. He was really into the batting and watching the players catch the ball!

My whole family came up for a little visit. It was soo much fun! We stayed at Union Station...we ate, walked around, and of course went swimming! That night we went to the Cardinals Game! We rode the Metro Link there and the kids got the biggest kick out of it! We had really great seats at the Cardinals game and the kids were amazing! They made it all 10 innings! Thanks mom and dad for a super great time!

~Turtle Park~

We met Caleb and Kelly and the babies at Turtle Park. We have never been there before. The kids had fun playing on a variety of concrete turtles. We then headed to the Discovery Center at the Science Center for some more fun! All in all it was a great morning spent with friends. School is getting ready to start so it was a perfect day to play.

What I am thinking now....

We had so much fun on Matt's vacation...wow...it was a great time!

I can't believe I have to go back to work soon. This summer has been really great! We have done a lot of fun stuff! I think the kids really had a good summer!

Aidan is starting Kindergarten....I am a bit anxious. I know he will do great but I am also a little nervous since it is a new school! I just can't believe he is in Kindergarten....

Tinker is going to Preschool...I mean..My Lily is going to school. Is this possible that she is old enough to go to school.

When I am back to working will I remember to think about all the fun we had this summer?

How will I function without a mid-day nap....I nap with the kids probably 3 or 4 times a week.

I am going to try and not fret...I am going to enjoy these last days of summer! I feel like I have so much to do. Organizing school supplies, filling out even more paperwork that was just mailed to me for Kindergarten, heading back to work and all the work that will come with that since we did not make AYP....

Something to look forward too----hanging out with some friends on Friday and then next week staying downtown with my family for a Cardinals game!

~Our Family~

At the farm...July 24th, 2011!

Down to Cape!

We got back from the farm and were home one day...then decided to head to Cape early. Matt was on vacation and so we thought we would make the most of it! We went to Ironton to visit my grandma and then headed to Cape. We stayed at my sister's all weekend because my mom was working. Matt and Byron caught like 75 fish and we had an amazing fish fry! The kids played and even spent the night in the camper (it has Ac so maybe we can count it as sleeping in a tent since that was one of the things on our summer to do!) It was so much fun! We defineltly made the most of Matt's vacation! It was sooo much fun!

Thursday: Stayed up until 2:30 am with the Beth and Byron..so tired the next day (our kids wake up early)

Friday: Stayed up until 2:00 am with Beth and Byron...so tired again!

Having some beers and laughs with your sister: Priceless!

~FARM~

At the Farm....
1. We don't worry about time...schedules...it's kinda relaxing!

2. We ate lots of delicious food. We grilled Tuna steaks for Matt's birthday!

3. We had lots of beers.....lots and lots!

4. We celebrated Matt's birthday! The kids were so excited to sing Happy Birthday to him and eat cookie cake! The cake said,"Happy Birthday Daddy!" They were very proud!

5. The kids swam in the lake for the 1st time! They had so much fun and looked so cute in their life jackets!

6. By the end of the weekend...Aidan learned to cast really well! He practiced and practiced and was very proud of himself! Matt finally just let him cast and reel...cast and reel...without bait on his hook and he was as happy as could be!

7. Matt and the kids caught some fish...Tinker decided to kiss the fish! You know Lily...she has no fear and thought it sounded like a good idea!

8. Lily collected shells in a bucket...this activity kept her busy on several occasions!

9. The kids road in the paddle boat! They thought it was pretty neat!

10. Anabelle was a trooper...even in the heat!

11. We made it without having to leave early or Aidan having to use his breathing machine!

12. The kids took lots of golf cart rides and both of them became expert drivers. Anabelle would just laugh when she got in the cart!

13. It was such good-quality-family fun! We all had such a great time!