Pete the Cat

Last Friday when I went to pick up Braidy from school, his teacher said she needed to talk to me real quick (am I the only parent whose heart drops when teachers say this to you? I just know it's something bad!). She had good news! Braidy was chosen as the first student to get to take home "Pete the Cat' for the weekend. She said Braidy needed to take great care of him, take him everywhere we went, and take pictures to bring to school on Monday! He was pumped! He recites the Pete the Cat book everyday in the car, so I was thrilled to see what his little story was about! He loved Pete the Cat. He introduced him to his Lulu and his Nena via facetime, Pete got to go to football practice, to the park, the Tech game (he sat in the car), John's football game, to get ice cream twice, he rode in the car with Braidy, slept with Braidy and ate with Braidy. He had a great weekend with Pete and was very sad when it was time to take him back to school this morning. Here's pictures of our weekend with Pete!

Quin's Turn!

Wednesday was Quin's first day of PDO! He went last year and was SUPER excited to be going back! He was mostly (maybe only) excited about "taking my yunch box and my packpack!" Every morning of school he tells us he is taking his lunchbox and backpack, no mention of anything else. I think he sees big brothers with their's and thinks he is SO big taking his own to school too!

On the first day, I wasn't sure how he'd do. Lately he's been crying when we drop him off at church (very random, but all summer he'd do this, recently he'd quit), and it had been a while since he'd been to school, so I had no idea what his reaction would be! I should have known by his excitement that he'd do great! He walked right into his new class, gave his teacher all his stuff, and didn't even look back for a kiss, hug or goodbye! He was set! They said he did great all day and what a sweet boy he was!

I can already tell I am going to LOVE his teachers. It's going to be a great year! I'm excited for Quin and all of his new buddies in his class!! I'm excited for me too! 2 days a week I'll be childless for several hours. I absolutely ADORE my children, but a few hours to myself will be wonderful! =)

First Days of School 2013

These 2 handsome boys started school on Monday! I can't believe it's that time again, but we were all pretty excited for school to start!

 John is now in 3rd grade! He's a pro at this by now. He has always loved school and looks forward to it. He has an awesome teacher and I know he is going to have a great year! When I picked him up and asked how his day went, he answered with "it was good!". We got several details and it seemed like it was a successful first day of school! He knows several of the kids in his class and is looking forward to this year!

Braidy also started big boy school this year! He is in Pre-K, which goes alllll day long! He had been super excited about going which was making my heartache not quite as bad. He did great as we dropped him off, but when I went to pick him up, he had the saddest look on his face with big tears in his eyes. It broke my heart into a million pieces. Not the response I was expecting or hoping for! I asked how his day went and he said, "It was NOT good!". I think it was just a long day, a big adjustment, and you know, the first day(s) of school are all about learning procedures, how to walk in the halls, how to do things in the cafeteria, classroom, and all that other BORING stuff! He said "we didn't even get to play!" He told me he didn't make any friends. He didn't like eating in the cafeteria. They got to play block, but apparently on this day, he decided he didn't like blocks. He was a huge Debbie Downer on the car ride home. He told me he did NOT like Pre-K. I told him we should at least give it a week or 2 before he decided that. He said "I'll give it one more day, and then I'm going to be done with Pre-K!" So...needless to say, I went to bed with BIG prayers for a better day 2! Prayers were answered. Day 2 and 3 have been smiles and "good" days. He still isn't sold on it, but next week when they start doing "real" stuff I think he will love it! Once we picked up John, he was SO sweet. He assured Braidy he would make friends, but it takes a few days. He was so encouraging and it really seemed to help. We love Johnny. He's such a great big brother and role model for the little 2!

 His precious teacher took this on the first day! We LOVE his teacher!

It's been quite an adjustment for momma too! I have decided I'm a MUCH better and happier momma with school going on. Summer starts off awesome, but the days are L-O-N-G and mom's patience is S-H-O-R-T! That sounds bad and like I don't LOVE every second I get with my boys. I do, I really do! But I love having structure and a routine. I love getting up early and showering and fixing lunches (ok not really this), and dropping them off, picking them up, and having the afternoon and evening to play and enjoy the heck out of them! I have never been very schedule oriented (I'm a go with the flow-type-gal), but being a momma of several little boys....I love and need a schedule. I'll probably recant everything I've just stated come the end of May, but for now, we are loving it.

My momma heart had a hard time with the fact that Braidy would be at school all day. He's so big. I blinked and he turned 5 and started school. I can't believe he is old enough to be doing all of this. But he is and here we are. I had gotten teary all month at the thought of him going, when reading letters from the school I'd find myself tearing up. I knew the first day was going to be ugly. But it wasn't. Daddy and I dropped him off, I had Quin as a distraction, we said goodbye and no tears. UNTIL I got into my car and read the poem that his teacher sent with the moms (with a pack of kleenex). That definitely started the tears, but not for long. Soon Quin and I were on our way, ready to spend the day just the 2 of us! Quin definitely misses his brothers, but I think he's loving the 1 on 1 time he's getting!

Summer Wrap-Up!

With school starting TOMORROW, I thought I'd do one last summer blog. I've been TERRIBLE at blogging lately, so here's a giant catch all....with LOTS of iphone pictures from the last month (or so) of summer!

Lulu took us to JOYLAND! The boys (and moms/lulu) had a blast! We rode almost every ride and shut the place down. The boys still ask about going to Joyland daily. To say they had fun would be a huge understatement!

Braidy has turned into a little Cowboy! Since he got all the "attire" for his birthday, he loves wearing his hat, boots, and sometimes his spurs!

We got to go out to the Falls' to ride their horse, Jose'! We also got some farm fresh eggs (YUM), a few onions, zucchini and squash too! Delicious! Made me want a garden of my own...chickens too!

These sweet statue people are right by Ryan's office, and ever since they have been there, Braidy and Quin always say they are "Lulu and Papaw". Kinda does resemble them. So one day when we met dad for lunch, they wanted a picture with Lulu and Papaw! I love how Quin is holding Lulu's hand! We have loved having some lunch dates with daddy this summer!

Just a sweet moment as we were shopping at the mall. Braidy said "Mom! Take our picture!" Couldn't pass up the chance!

Sleepy Quinny at a baseball game! Nothing better!

Several times this summer we'd grab lunch somewhere and head to the park for a picnic! The boys got to play, and I didn't have a mess to pick up in my kitchen! Win, Win!

Our neighbor/buddy had a Cowboy birthday party with horses! We had a blast!

We got to go to the lake with the Wheatley's a few weeks ago. It was so much fun. To me, there is NOTHING better than spending the day at the lake. I Love it! We tubed, swam and enjoyed the sun! We love our friends!

The boys and I went to several "big movies"...many were the $1 shows on Thursday morning, but we splurged last week and went to see Planes! It was super cute and the boys love the big movie!

Just for memory's sake. Anytime we go to Academy, my children turn into heathens. We are that family that people are judging and whispering about behind our backs. They make it look like they've never been disciplined a day in their life. I'm not sure what it is about that store.....but we may decide to boycott it forever.

Last week, Chick-fil-A hosted a "Mother/Son date Knight", so me and my 3 boys went for dinner and fun! The boys got to make swords, our food was served to us, and they got to have their faces painted as well. Sweet night!

Last weekend, we found a HORNY TOAD! We kept him for a day and then decided to let him free. He liked us. It took him a while to scurry off. We haven't seen one of these in a long time, sure was neat!

Later that same day, we celebrated Uncle Todd's 35th birthday! Also, it was Ryan and My 6th wedding anniversary! Yes, I did put 35 candles in that cake!