1st Day of School

My firstborn started kindergarten last week; it was hard on his momma. Other than me trying to figure out how to home-school him 3 days a week (that's a different post for a different time!), I'm very thankful that he's only gone to school for 2 days of the week.

  

The first morning of school, he woke up quite melancholy and resistant to the fact that he was having to go to school. However, once he got his uniform shirt, his belt (which he's been dying to wear), and his khaki shorts on, he was in a fantastic mood. Getting him to stand still long enough to get a picture was virtually impossible!

 

 Some of Ethan's best friends are going to school with him, and it was absolutely perfect that all 4 families arrived at almost the same time to walk in together. Watching the boys together made us parents say several prayers for their teachers and the staff...

 The parents were able to walk the kids to their classroom and take a few pictures before the day started, and it was so cute watching the kids find their table and get their name tags on. Ethan briefly got clingy as I told him good-bye but was quickly distracted by his friend, Brady, telling him it was "time to be respectful to the teacher" (I hope that good influence lasts!!). I rushed out before I was a weepy mess. I fully expected to bawl in the car, but Owen quickly reminded me that I still had 2 other kids to take care of as he talked my ear off the whole way home. When I asked him if he was going to be sad about Ethan not being home 2 days a week, his response was, "Nope. I'm going to love it." And I'm pretty sure he has.

The first day went well for everyone, but I think Ethan was exhausted when I picked him up. The first thing he said when he got in the car was, "That was the longest I have ever spent anywhere!" His favorite part of the day was recess, big surprise, and he told his grandma that he didn't like anything else about it. I don't think that feeling last long, though, because he was very excited to go to school after a day at home.

15, 16 AND 17 Months...Oh, my...

The last 3 months have been a blur. When people ask how old Harper is, I keep telling them 14 months old... My brain needs to get caught up with time...

Okay, so I LOVE having a daughter. The boys have been doing several things with just Chris lately, and it's fun to have Harper to hang out with. The picture above was from a morning at the Farmer's Market with her. She's one of the very few people I would share my crepe with!

I think the most common comment I get about her is how small she is. We really are trying to fatten her up, but she's holding strong at 18 pounds. Maybe by the time she's 2 she'll be able to face forward in her car seat. She really started walking well at the end of 14 months. Within a week, she went from toddling to almost running everywhere. It made for a much happier girl (and Mom!). 

 She seems to be a great mix of a girlie-girl and a tom-boy. She carries her pink satin purse outside with her as she plays in the dirt with tractors. She loves her baby and pink blanket, but she can throw a mean left hook. It is a little disconcerting, though, when she's the kid making others cry b/c she punched them or is growling at them. All I can say is that she has 2 older brothers...

Getting dirty is one of her favorite past times. If she can find a mud puddle or dirt, she's quite content. I'm fairly certain she's ruined more clothes than her brother's combined. Another passion of hers is ranch dressing. She wears it well. (see, we really are trying to get her fattened up!)

She does have a flair for the dramatic. She can be bawling like the world is ending and as soon as you say, "Would you like some ice cream?", the waterworks stop and she's as happy as can be. Oh, how fun will the teens be...

It's been a really fun summer with Harper. She has loved swimming with her floaties on, and she loves going down the slide by herself at the pool. She climbs on anything and everything, and is thankfully tough as she's taken her fair share of falls. (When I say "where are you knees", she says "boo boo" as she points to them!) I'm so thankful for this feisty little lady and am looking forward to the fall with her and her brothers!

A full camera...

I didn't realize I had over 184 pictures in my camera from events starting in early July. I'm not entirely sure where the summer went, but I'm going to do my best at catching up!

These pictures were from our 4th of July block party. It was SO hot, but it didn't keep us all from having a great time. We had wonderful food, good conversation, and lots of entertainment watching the kiddos run all over. Once it got dark, our party walked from our house to Orchard's Park where the city put on quite an impressive fireworks show. It was Owen's first year to watch the fireworks, and after he got used to the loud noise, he was a huge fan.