First Day of School

Today is the day.  The one I was looking forward to as well as dreading for the past 5 years.  Riley started kindergarten.  Last night the "Back to School" fairy visited our home.  The fairy brought Riley a coloring book, crayons, a camo folder for his school papers, a box of pencils,  and the book "The Best Teacher Ever" by Mercer Mayer.  To make sure Riley knew it was from her, she left some fairy dust from her wings all over the table and his loot!  I have started this tradition so that no matter where we live and no matter how many schools the kids go to, the fairy will always visit them...I know it's corny to have a "Back to School" fairy, but I want to make something consistent for them in their lives since their environment most likely will not be.

When Riley got up this morning, he came running into my room to tell me that the yummy smell of the cinnamon bread in the oven woke him.  He was so excited about the fact that I made it for him, he didn't even notice the fairy had visited!

Thank goodness my wonderful friend Kevin was able to help me out this morning...He graciously offered to watch Kendall for me so I could take Riley to school today.  The parents were supposed to help the kids with a few activities.  We measured their height, hands and feet, made a graph of how everyone gets to and from school, got pictures taken, painted their hand and made a print, created their name tag, and got them started on a self portrait.  I can't imagine how that would have gone if I had Kendall along...She's still working on her eye teeth and can be wild card when it comes to her behavior.

When it was time for me to go, Riley got a little sad.  I was afraid he might cry so I tried to make him laugh...I told him that I had to go because if I didn't, I wouldn't get home before I'd have to come right back and get him...Kindergarten is from 9-11:40 Mon-Thurs and 9-11 on Fridays.  He's used to being in school for 4 hours a day!

I have him convinced that tomorrow would be a great day to take the bus - to and from school.  This will also give me some extra time while he's gone.  He'll get picked up at 8:30 and arrive home around noon on most days.  Once we move into our new home, he will walk to school.  It's a very short walk and one he will be able to do solo.

When I picked him up today he was so excited to tell me about his day and all that they did!  Whew!  I wasn't sure what to expect since this is a new place, new school and he hasn't made any friends that live near us yet.  Both of us made it through today without any tears...which is what I expected.  Next year may be a completely different story with him being gone all day...

Every year we are going to take a picture holding the sign with the grade level, school, and location.

Riley with his loot and fairy dust!

We borrowed this idea from our good friends in Jax...Riley was the only one to take his teacher a present today...Hope she doesn't think we're brown nosers!  

Kendall giving her big brother a good bye kiss!

Go West....

The lyrics from the song "Go West" by the Village People best describes the past few weeks for us.  It's been awhile since my last post because so much has happened in a short period of time.  I spent half a week in Utah with Andy on a house hunting trip where we decided that building (yes, this is our 3rd for those of you keeping track) was the best option for us.  We chose our lot and most of the options during that trip.  We were fortunate enough to find us a temporary apt. that allowed a dog within the elementary school boundary of where our house will be built.  The move in date was scheduled for Aug. 22.

After I got back to Jax from picking up the munchkins at my parents house where they were during this trip, we got an offer on the house.  God's timing is always perfect.   We had the movers and packing crew lined up for the week of the 17th and a flight booked for me and kids to Pennsylvania where we visited with friends and family while the moving truck as well as Andy and Penton were all driving out west.  

The kids and I stayed with my mother-in-law for 5 days while we visited with everyone.  My brother & parents were also in town because my grandfather's cancer had taken a turn for the worse.  My grandfather's spirit lifted when he saw his great grandbabies.  I just wish he could have seen my niece as well.  

Andy will argue that he had the worst deal of our moving adventure.  He drove his pickup truck with our person items and his co-pilot, Penton for 3 days.  I on the other hand had to manage the packers, movers, two kids, a dog and then fly myself and the kids w/ a suitcase, two car seats, a diaper bag, a backpack and a stroller!  The flight to BWI was easy b/c it was less than 2 hrs.  The flight to SLC was a nightmare!  By the time Kendall finally fell asleep, Riley decided he had to go to the bathroom and refused to go alone.  Well, as you can imagine, Kendall woke up and remained awake for the next 4 hrs of the 5 hr. flight...I dodged a few ugly stares, but what is a mom to do, the poor kid was up at 5:45am for a 9am flight!

We all arrived safe and sound in Utah and got ourselves into our new apt.  A few minor glitches, but nothing to complain about.  Finally getting our satellite hooked up this weekend (I hope)!  I didn't realize how much I depended on the news to keep me informed...I hadn't realized Ted Kennedy had died until my friend Chris sent me a text message about it!

Unpacking with a VERY active 13 month old has been interesting.  Our apt is very nice, but is 1/2 the sq. footage of our home in Jax.  We have two storage units nearby housing the rest of our stuff that doesn't fit in the apt, but trying to keep Kendall from moving things from room to room has proven ineffective!  I get something out of a box and in moments it's gone and I can't find it!  Oh well, it can't go far in small quarters!

Riley is set to start school on Thurs. the 3rd.  We met his teacher and she's really nice.  He's in the morning class which will hopefully allow me some time to get things done while he's gone - groceries, errands, etc.  I will drive him to school in the morning, but I think I'll let him have the experience of riding the bus home since it will only be kindergarteners.  (for all my Florida friends, kdg is 2 hrs. 40 min M-Th and 2 hrs. on Fri.)  From our new home, he will be able to walk to school, which he is very excited about.  

Here are some pictures of the past few weeks I thought some of you might enjoy seeing.  Sorry for the long blog...just wanted to catch everyone up

Riley and Kendall at the Dinosaur Museum in Utah:

Kendall's first trip to Pine View Dairy:

Look how big that dog is Mom!

Riley and his good friend Silly Jilly:

Riley visiting with his buddy Myles:

Riley and Jameson deciding which jump will produce the biggest splash:

Riley and Sammy playing together:

Kelsey the cheetah catcher:

Kyle and Kendall:

Jody finally getting to meet Kendall in person:

Riley and Uncle Matt pondering the many questions of life:

This picture was taken for Meredith since she and I both love this place and we were wishing she was with us:

Big Girl Slide

Here is Kendall, the daredevil that she is, attempting a new trick on a slide at a local swing set...

Slide Update

Well, I'm happy to report that today Miss Kendall has figured out how to do the slide the correct way and is having lots of fun.  She now sits and slides down it all by herself - like the big girl she is!

I'm A Big Kid Now

Well, we are quickly approaching Kendall's first birthday and she's hit all kinds of milestones...She's got a mouth full of teeth - 8 to be exact with #s 9 & 10 on their way.  She's been walking since the second week of June by herself and now she's practically running.  She goes under the water in the pool without me having to blow in her face - she is conditioned to know what's going to happen when I count to three.  She uses sign language to tell you when she's finished eating and working on learning new signs every day.  She loves to eat - pretty much everything and anything.  No peanut allergies in our house!  She's even taste tested the dog's food and went back for seconds.  We affectionately call her "Swiper" (from Dora the Explorer) because she is always looking for things that do not belong to her and taking off with them.  This is how she got so good at running!

Well, her latest and greatest is to climb up our indoor 3 step slide and stand on the top by herself...she use to sit down right away when she got to the top, but in true youngest child fashion, she's demonstrating her lack of fear by standing on top of the slide!

Watch and enjoy!

A Trip to the Mountain House...

As many of you know, our family has been living apart for the past month and a half.  Things have been rough on all of us.  Riley has been struggling to sleep through the night since Andy left and of course that means I rarely get a full night of sleep either.  My parents had just returned from their vacation to Colorado/New Mexico as well as a trip to see my brother and his family and called to see if we wanted to come up to visit them at the "mountain house."  My parents live in western North Carolina and they also own a condo on Kiawah Island, SC (aka the Beach House).  Riley has been anxious to go to the mountain house all summer.  He LOVES to play with Uncle Matt's star wars toys.  His favorite is the "milleanna falcon."  I don't have the heart to correct him!  

I was a wonderful break for me - even though he did wake me every night but two, I still didn't have to cook, clean or change many diapers.  The dog went with us and loved hanging out on the back porch with my dad or heading out into the woods on my parents' property, sniffing for deer, rabbits, etc.  Riley and my dad spent time in the woods too.  Crossing a log over the "river" was great fun for him as well as throwing rocks in the water to see what kind of sound they'd make.  We also went to the park and the pool at the club.  My dad worked on teaching Riley how to ride a bike w/o training wheels, but he's not quite ready yet...

The drive there was killer.  I had all of us loaded up in the truck and Kendall slept for a grand total of 20 minutes and screamed for maybe all but 2 out of the 7 1/2 hour trip!  YIKES.  Wasn't sure I wanted to make the trek home today, but it was much better than expected.  She still didn't sleep much, but was a bit happier.  

I got my new DSLR camera the morning we left so I was able to practice taking pictures with it while I was there.  Here are a few:

Riley playing in the creek that runs through my parents' property.

What a handsome dude like his dad!

One of my favorites!

Checking out the action off the back deck.

Another favorite!

Riley made a friend.

Hey, where did you go?

He thought the turtle would like to sit on his head...He even hugged it!  Crazy kid!

Riley and Pappy went to see a friend's old car collection...and plane collection, and motorcycle collection.  This guy has it all!  Amazing!

An original sprint car...before the wings on top!

Loving the baby pool at the club.

Showing off his swimming skills at the club.

Wonder what he sees...

Check out the worry in that face!

Riley was being a chicken so Nanny ran through the water park with him!

Kendall at the splash park.

From my mom's beautiful garden...

Isn't this the picture of pure relaxation...

Pappy!  What's that over there?

Watch me walk over the log by myself mom!

Playing with the Star Wars land cruiser...I think he's got storm troopers driving it...

Cutie Pie!  She's been crinkling up her nose when she smiles now and I love it!

Enjoying one of Nanny's yummy meals

Yummy cornbread!

Water, Water, Everywhere

Today we ventured out to Hanna Park in Mayport, Fl.  It's next to the naval base and it's a park w/ beach, lake, camping, and a splash park.  It is perfect for Kendall because she's walking all over the place.  She can walk through the spray and chase after her big brother.  It's also fenced in so she can't pull a Houdini on me.  (Although we've been calling her "Swiper" lately since she loves to take things that don't belong to her)  We met one of Riley's friends from church there later on, but only got to play for about 45 min. before the heavens opened up and we got soaked...I know that sounds funny since we were at a splash park, but I had all of our towels, food and the stroller with us so we ended up leaving.  

I'm not sure what she was doing in this shot...

This is her new way of walking - fingers pointed and arms up...