3rd week of October, 2016

She loves the slides and is fearless (even in her cute dresses)

He was really into it and was even serenading me with my own rock ballad.  "I love you.  I love you, yeah!  I love you.  I love you, yeah!  I love you, mommy.  I love you, yeah!  I love you, mommy.  So much, the rest of your lives.  And so much that I love you.  I love you so much that I'll never ever forget you."

All three of them had guitars to play rock and roll.

Enjoy some of the kids' "rock and roll"

Peter and I went to meet with Maxwell's teacher after school for Parent/Teacher Conference. 

 (I had gone a few weeks ago to talk about how he was doing.  I asked to meet with her because I was concerned that we were more than one month into school and I still felt like I was yet to see him being challenged or learning anything new - especially in math.  She showed me some of his writing and drawing and talked about how she was challenging him to give her more details and tell/show her more.  She basically said that in regards to math that they would only be covering kindergarten curriculum.  I asked if he could possibly go to first grade for math and she said she would ask the principal (the answer that came back was no).   I was really hoping to walk away feeling like she was engaged in helping him learn and grow this school year but unfortunately I didn't walk away feeling much better.  She said they were finishing up assessing each of the kids and that the kids would be put into learning groups for certain subjects with kids at their level.  So, my hope was that being grouped with kids with higher skills would help a little.  So, when I showed up today I was hoping that I might get a difference experience from the P/T Conference.) 

Here was her feedback.  Subitizing is basically having the kids look at dots and comprehending what the number is without having to count the dots (think dice).  So I said what numbers should he be working on and she said numbers above 10.  So, I guess we will work on that.

Maxwell's picture about the pumpkin patch.   I'll translate -

"I saw pumpkins.  I saw lots of pumpkins there."

We are still getting cucumbers from our garden!

Happy with her Halloween sticker

Britt had lunch with the boys at school and brought Emmalyn along.

I had a work trip to attend NACS - The National Association of Convenience Stores convention.  It's fun to spend time with some of my CROSSMARK associates plus it's a good opportunity to spend time with my clients as well.  I also walked the floor collecting bags of candy/snacks/trinkets/etc.  It is such a huge convention!

Me, Alla, and Maureen went to dinner at this crazy restaurant called "the Vortex" in Atlanta

I got the burger in the middle.  It was delicious but oh so unhealthy. I got a salad as my side to compensate but it was covered in bacon, cheese, and croutons so not very healthy.

While I was out of town, they had a dinosaur exhibit at the school one of the evenings.  The kids all had a good time.

Peeping into the neighbor's yard

Silly kids.  It's a very small hole.

Being goofy with Uncle Joe - she adores him.

This will be Maxwell's Halloween costume. We got it out to try it on.  He LOVED it.  He specifically wanted to be a blue ninja.

Ninja moves

And of course, she's got her own ninja moves.

We got our garage doors and front door re-stained.  After living in the house 4 years, they needed it.  They look so nice!!

Second week of August 2017 - saying goodbye to Montessori

I helped coordinate an event at work where we had the American Heart Association and an expert in heart health come and talk to us.  We learned hands-only CPR.  It was a really great event while shocking and scary to heart all the statistics.

To help Donna be more comfortable in her room, I went and bought her a desk and a chair and then Peter put it together (he was thrilled - can you tell?).

I went and read to Maxwell's preschool class during their library time for the last time.  :(  I've loved doing it once a month for the past two years and will really miss it.  I have a ton of respect for his teacher - it's not easy wrangling all these 3-5 year olds!

Pool style

Mr Chris spoiled her with a popsicle after swimming.

My cousin posted this picture of my Grandparent's house with such a nice thought.  She is so right on!  This room has changed very little in the last 25 years (how is that possible with so many little grandkids and great grandkids running around that everything has held up so well?!) and I love it and my grandparents so much!

He got to wear a big backpack to school.

My giggly little girl was helping water the tree...

...but quickly decided it was more fun to get other people wet,

including herself!

Once she was all wet, we put on her swim suit and her and Landen played in the pool (still with the hose).

Video - Emmalyn singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Maxwell's note to his preschool teacher on the last day of school.  This is the front of the envelope.

And his note inside.  

Last time driving him to preschool.  I have LOVED the quality time we've gotten together during the 15-20 minute drive to school in the mornings.  

(tickling himself for a good smile)

Last picture out in front of the school.  He's certainly grown since the first day.

Last time for him to sign in with his code.  He's been in charge of doing it himself for awhile now.  I stayed for a little bit so I could watch the kids participate in field day.

They had a field day. (It wasn't technically the last day of summer school but just the last day that Maxwell would go.  I wanted him to have a couple weeks "off" before he started Kinder.)  I took this picture because at many previous school parties he would refuse to walk along the beam because he was scared so I was super proud of him for doing it this time while trying to balance a frisbee on his head.

water/sponge relay

We love Ms. Cynthia so much!  She and I both teared up as I gave her a hug goodbye.  She has been a great teacher for him and he's thrived in her class.  I am already looking forward to Emmalyn having her as a teacher in a year.

His cubby

All these boys are going to Kinder at different schools - Dylan, Luckshya, Maxwell, and Joshua.

Diaper head shenanigans

She swapped her couture hat for some heels and a backpack (backpacks are a big staple of her wardrobe lately).

The kids and I hit up the farmer's market on Saturday

She's eyeing his sucker with a determined look on her face!

Then we had a birthday party for Emmalyn's neighborhood friend, Hudson, at a play place.  The cash register again was popular for both of them.

Giddyup!

Enjoying her cupcake

The wall was a big light brite toy - it entertained them for a long time. 

Our busy Saturday wasn't over yet.  We also went to the library for new books, (Maxwell has rocked the city's summer reading program) a few minutes on the computer, and to play with the new toy area.

Sweet little hand on that mouse.  Computer skills run in his genes.

And if this wasn't a busiest enough day?  We also fit in a haircut! Got to look studly for Kindergarten.

A few details that show his personality...  He's wearing an "in-n-out" pin on his shirt that Uncle Joe gave him.  He totally loves it.  He's also rocking his sweat band on his wrist.  He loves things on his wrist whether it's a bracelet, a watch, or his sweat band.

The kids wrapped up their night with their favorite babysitter, Bridgette, while Peter and I went out on a date.

Peter created this "Emmalyn" pancake on Sunday morning.  It's stuffed with Nutella. mmmm

The kids still have their weekly swimming lessons with Coach Katie and Coach Jada.  Maxwell's getting better thanks to the private lesson but Emmalyn is still hesitant to swim and wants me in the pool with her.