Random Happenings...

It's been a BEAUTIFUL week here! I am loving the break from the hot weather... although Thomas has gotten a little longer and so all of the pants I had set aside for him to wear this fall and winter are too short... so I'm hoping the warm weather stays around for just a little bit longer! :) 

Thomas started his first type of preschool this week. He's with me and my two year old class, so I count that as starting. He's enjoying it, but he definitely does not like sharing his momma! He's been a little congested this week, so that's made him a bit more attached. Thomas also took quite a spill the other day and face planted into the side of my (rock) house. I think he wanted to make sure he got plenty of sympathy from me! I'd show a picture, but it looks pretty rough. The side of his little nose is scraped, and he also managed to get a bump on each side of his face, scrape under his arm and his leg! It was so sad! Last night he was playing in our church nursery while Derek and I were in a class and he fell and his his cheek, so he has a big bruise there too! It's really pitiful! 

Thankfully, we decided to have a day at home, cleaning and baking some cake pops for a friend's first birthday! This morning Thomas and I took a nice long walk around our "neighborhood." 

Anna-Kate has had a great week too! She was home with us on Monday, for Labor Day and so we all 4 enjoyed a nice day at home getting things done. Monday night she got to go play with some friends, Shelby and Riley. She loved that! I love how close Anna-Kate and Kristen are, but I think it's good for her to make other friends too. Shelby will be 4 next month and she is hilarious! She is always saying the funniest things! One day, I watched her and she said "Thank you for having me over. I had a nice time." So cute! Anna-Kate got to go to Uncle Ryne's football game last night, which is always a favorite for her. She and Kristen each filled up water bottles with rocks. I think I have mentioned before how opinionated she is about clothes. It seems like there is something wrong every day. If I'd let her she would probably wear the craziest things and shoes that are about 5 sizes too big. I got an idea from my doctor to try and give her one or two days a week that she gets to pick out her outfit. So I gave Anna-Kate one day of her choice and told her that if it went well she could have another day. She chose Saturday (yes!!). That was going well until we had a huge fit over something I picked out and I took her day away. Now she's back to the same old routine of fighting with us about everything! Shoes she used to love, she hates. Her pants are too big or sag. She doesn't like t-shirts. Anyone have any suggestions on what worked for them, besides making her wear the same outfit every day? I'm probably going to re-introduce the one day of the week thing, but I still think she's going to fight me! Anyone want to take her when she hits 13?? You can give her back when she's over the teenage phase... :) 

Derek has had a pretty good week at work. He's just struggling with the motivation to keep going. His job is challenging Derek in ways he didn't expect. I am so proud of how hard he is working and I know that things will get better. He just has to keep fighting through! He does such a good job balancing family and work. I know it's draining on him but I am so grateful that he's always here when I need him.  

Okay, sorry for the randomness! I just felt like I've missed out on updating about us! I feel like I do too many link ups and I forget to share about what's really going on! I love the link ups though... so tomorrow I'll post my normal Friday link up! 

I've been a terrible photographer and have barely busted out my camera, but here are a few of Thomas lately! 

He cracks me up! 

First Day of Preschool!

Okay- I get the bad mom award for not taking any pictures of Thomas today! We started Carpenter's Kids today (basically a Tuesday/ Thursday mother's day out program done by a local church). 

Thomas is in my class along with 8 other little boys and 3 little girls. He's by far the youngest, but he did really good today! He surprised me by sitting during the Bible lesson and during lunch. He definitely has issues with me holding or giving too much attention to the other little children, but I know he will get used to that. 

I meant to get a picture of Thomas' lunch too. Since our theme this week is God made me special, I wanted to make him a little face sandwich. Thomas loves bananas, so I thought he'd like a peanut butter and banana sandwich. I left the crust on the top and cut the bottom of the bread so that it looked like a face with hair. Then I just sliced a couple of pieces of string cheese for the eyes an a quartered grape made the pupil. He also had a string cheese mouth. I got a kick out of it, but Thomas could care less- ha! Isn't that how it always goes? 

Thomas was absolutely worn out! Derek picked him up and took him home for a nap, while I stayed and cleaned up. I really hate to wake Thomas up when he's sleeping, so it helps to get Thomas on home so he's up by the time I go pick up Anna-Kate. He was still sound asleep 4 hours later, but we had to pick up big sis. 

Anna-Kate cracked me up because she was so excited for Thomas! She told me she told her kids (her classmates) that her brother was going to school and her mommy was the teacher. Then the first thing she said when we picked her up was "Did Thomas have a good day?" Such a good big sister! 

I am one of 3 teachers in our class. Today was the first time most of them had been in any type of "school" setting so things were a little new to them. I know that it's going to be easier for them as they get used to our routine and schedules. We had a lot of fun today, but I was worn out! Who would have thought that teaching 11 2-year olds would be so tiring? ha! 

Sorry for the picture-less blog, but I promise to have pictures on Thursday! Tomorrow is my first day of Ladies Bible Class. I am so excited about getting a little time to study with other women. The ladies in the class are so inspiring. I always love to go and learn from them. 

Anna-Kate's First Day of School!

Anna-Kate started back to school a couple of weeks ago!

I was a little nervous about how it was going to go since she wasn't moving up with Kristen. I worried that she would realize it and get upset. Thankfully, she is completely happy and really has not said much about not being in the same class as her other friends. 

I am so grateful to send her to such a great school! We absolutely love her teachers and she enjoys every minute of her day. :) 

She and I talked a lot this summer about me being able to pick her up from school again. That was one thing I really missed doing last year, I know she missed it too. She kept telling me that she wanted me to get there after their afternoon snack. Well each day I picked her up at school she kept wanting to stay later and later. So Thursday afternoon I picked her up and she was so ugly about leaving! Later we talked about it and she said, "I think I over-reacted about you picking me up early. I want to play longer" It was so funny! 

I think she was trying to wave us off and tell us that she could walk herself to class from here! ha! 

After we dropped Anna-Kate off, Thomas got in the car and looked around saying "Kate-Kate? Kate-Kate?" He seemed so confused about why she was not with us in the car. He seemed to miss her the first day a whole lot, but now I think he's gotten used to getting my full attention most of the day!

We popped in Kristen's class to check on her. :) 

Oh and just for kicks- here's her first day of Pre-K from last year! 

Making Headlines!

Some friends of ours brought us this little clip from our paper! Anna-Kate's class at school sang at our local hospital. She's sitting in the front row pretty much in the middle. 

I'm so glad that someone brought it to us because I had no idea it was in the paper!! Thank goodness for caring friends! 

County Fair

Tuesday afternoon Anna-Kate had a half day for parent/ teacher conferences so I picked her and Kristen up. We went to eat lunch with the family and then came to our house to play!

The girls made tiaras... which they loved! They were so cute putting the stickers on and then wearing them for a while after!

After we played for a while, we went to the county fair with my friend, Liz and her son Ben! I was very glad to have an extra set of hands! Thanks Ryne! Thomas fussed most of the time but the girls really enjoyed it!

We took them over to see all of the animals!

They had chicks and hatchlings (those were my favorite... so sweet!)

and goats

and sheep

and a Zebu

Kristen didn't like the cows moo-ing at her! This was right before one of these ducks bit Anna-Kate! After that she asked "do they bite?" before she'd pet any animals!

and a miniature pony

and longhorns

and a yak

I loved the little Bison!

and cows

This is a Scottish Highlander... he was pretty cute!

and little piggies! 

The girls got to feed the animals!

We went pretty early so there was not a big crowd at all! After we pet the animals, the girls and Ben went for a pony ride! They loved it!

Then we walked around and got snow cones and cotton candy... but I figured Derek's parents were keeping them, so no worries about the sugar high! Ha!

After the fair the girls were WORN out! I took them to Derek's grandmother's house so that I could go meet Derek for parent teacher conferences!

I know I'm a dork, but I was so excited about going to hear what the teacher's thought of Anna-Kate! Of course, she's right on track and doing really well! She's only brought one note home because she did not take a nap and talked the whole time! Anna-Kate's teacher makes a portfolio and keeps certain papers the whole year so we can see how she's learning. Anna-Kate has never been one for coloring or drawing much. I've tried to get her interested in writing letters and drawing shapes but it just didn't interest her. Honestly, I think we are too much a like for me to be able to really teach her! So far most of her papers and drawings were just scribbles but they told us that's the first step. I'm really excited to see her drawing more shapes and making people!

Anna-Kate's class has had color days. Tuesday was purple (that's why the girls were both matching). Their class made a book with the adventure of the purple crayon. Each child "drew" some part of the adventure with a purple crayon. Anna-Kate had "the adventure" to draw! Haha! Very abstract!

When we got done, we went to get Thomas and Anna-Kate. Thomas was super sleepy so I got to nurse him to sleep and then he snuggled with me for a while. I love it when he sleeps on me!!

We laid him down when we got home and he slept Wednesday until after 11! I was sad to miss Ladies Class, but I know he needed to sleep in!

Derek and I volunteered to do a home bible study so that some of the parents with small kids can still go to a home bible study but don't have to be far from them. (We are right across the street!) So, I spent some time cleaning and getting ready for that yesterday too.

I'm really enjoying it! Derek is leading the class and he always does such a great job!

This morning Thomas decided to sleep until 9, so we were late to MOPs. (Mother's of Preschoolers) I can't remember if I mentioned that I have started doing stuff with this or not! I missed the first actual meeting so this was my first time going, excluding the kick off mixer! I'm really looking forward to meeting other moms!! I had a lot of fun today! Hopefully next time we wont be late! :) 

Hello Kids!

When I was in 3rd grade I had a teacher, Mrs. Smith, who always talked about how children should be called children not kids. 

Because a kid is a baby goat! 

Random, I know.

But that has seriously stuck with me!  

Thursday afternoon when I got to Anna-Kate's school there was a van full of kids! 

And by kids I mean baby goats! :)

Actually there were 4 cuties. I got to walk in behind them. 

They were going to visit the children in Anna-Kate's class! 

The babies were a little scared and hungry, but really cute. I was so glad that I got to see Anna-Kate with them and take a few pictures. Even if they were just on my phone! (excuse the poor quality!)

Anna-Kate was so serious about the whole thing, but she really liked it! 

Sleepy Girl

So Anna-Kate is a good napper... I mean she still takes a 2-4 hour nap and it does not affect her bedtime! 

Well at school they get an hour and a half!! Eek! Poor thing is having a bit of a rough time with it. When I pick her up she's been throwing fits over one thing or another but I hate to get mad because I know how tired she is! 

Last Monday I parked across the street to pick her up. Well she walked sooo slow that I decided that was not a good idea! ha! 

Wednesday she told her teachers that her arms were too tired to color! 

Oh my! She's a mess!

 I'm working on getting her in bed around 7 or 7:15 but that just seems SO early! Plus that's not always practical. I thought that she would sleep in on Saturday- nope! She was up at 6:45 ready for school! 

She cried when we told her that the school was closed on Saturdays! Ha! 

First Day of Preschool!

Well Anna-Kate started preschool yesterday morning! 

Last January she started a different preschool where she went Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. She did really great with it and seemed to really love it. 

Here she is last January- She's grown SO much!! 

So we decided that she could go to Harding Academy the next fall. They have a 3- and 4- year old preschool program. 

We started preparing Anna-Kate pretty early on this summer. Sometime in June or so, we took her over and let her see their playground. Then just a couple of weeks ago we took her by again to see the playground and she got to peek in at her classroom. (All the lights were off but she could see a little!) Anna-Kate was really excited! Every time we'd pass the school she'd say something about going to "hardimey cadamey!" 

I had to wake Anna-Kate up yesterday morning. As soon as she saw me she got this huge groggy grin on her face! When I told her it was time to get up for school she was so excited. She got up really easily! She was able to go right to her clothes and get dressed really easily. Putting in her bow wasn't even a big deal! 

Usually Derek will just drop her off in the mornings since he works on Harding's campus, but yesterday morning I wanted to be there too. So we all got to take her in and get a few pictures!

Kristen was already there and Anna-Kate went right over to her.

When they get to school, they pick out their name and put it on the bookshelf!

Here she is with her teacher, Mrs. Penny! So excited!

Thomas and I walked a bit after we dropped her off
 (a short bit because I'm out of shape!) and then we went home so Thomas could take a nap! He ended up sleeping about 3 hours. It was such a quiet morning that I decided to take a short nap too! 

After lunch Thomas and I just played in his room and picked up a bit! Then we ran a quick errand and went to pick up Anna-Kate around 3!

When I went in to get her she was finishing her snack but was really excited to see us and show us the picture she made! Her teacher said she did really well and had a great day! She hugged her teachers bye and said "I'll be back tomorrow"! ha! 

I parked across the street but I decided not to do that again because Anna-Kate was so tired and walked REALLY slow! It was pretty funny though! 

I'm really excited to see how things go but I'm pretty sad! It's so quiet without her! 

With that being said, I think I'm going to have to agree with what everyone else is saying... I'm READY for the fall!! I love pumpkins and mums and caramel apples and halloween and the cooler weather!!