Let the Volunteering Begin

Today was the first day that I was able to volunteer in Savannah's class. Although I'll admit that I wasn't too sure it would be a worthwhile experience, I now can say that Tuesday mornings just became my absolute favorite part of the week!! What an amazing opportunity I have to see Savannah learning first hand in the classroom of a master teacher. I'm not sure what impressed me more . . . that Mrs. Hindman had so many different things going at once and expects the kids to actually do the activity on their own OR that the kids were actually doing it and learning!! Coming from a middle school background where kids are given hardly any freedom, I was amazed at how efficiently Mrs. Hindman runs the classroom of 19 students in at least 7 different stations at once. Several times she was across the classroom and could still handle behavior problems at a completely different station AND help me too! She is beyond impressive, really unlike any teacher I've ever seen. I'm not sure how she plans so many things, gathers the materials, and handles regular teacher stuff (all the while being so calm, loving and patient), but I'll sure do what I can to help make her life easier. :)

I can't wait for next Tuesday!!

Learning to Love Change

It has been awhile since I updated our blog . . . which means life around here has been insane lately! Between two consignment sales the same week (volunteering, tagging to sale, and shopping at each of them), Harris Teeter triples, mystery shopping, GROW at church, homework, meetings and lots of other things, I have barely had time to read a blog, much less update one. Anyway, we are chugging along and are learning to love our new routines.

Savannah has been doing amazingly well at school! She has stayed on green every day, received a fabulous progress report, has been able to choose from the treasure chest twice for "getting a moveless" which I assume means she was where she needed to be without wandering all over the classroom, and has made a few new friends. We are finally over the morning tummy issues and, although we still are challenged with getting to the bus on time in the mornings, things are going fairly smoothly. We also have a good afternoon routine with snack, homework, and a little down time before dinner. Whew! What an adjustment it has been, but also what a joy it has been watching my little girl learn and get so excited about school.

Preston, on the other hand, isn't learning to love change at all. All of a sudden he SCREAMS every time I try to drop him off at school. I have never seen him like this as he has always loved going to church and school. But he has realized that life without sissy isn't as much fun. He wakes up every single morning whining/crying for his sister and continues to cry for her though out the day. It's sweet to know that he loves her so, but honestly I'm over hearing "sissy" whined all day long.

This weekend was a fun break from the routine as we had Dave's sister and her girls here for the weekend. It was fun watching the kids run and play all weekend long. We spent time at Sports Connection on Saturday and all went to church today.

I'm hoping this week will be uneventful so that I can work on the never ending to do list!

More Fun with Pawpaw!!

Today my dad called and surprised us with wanting to come and visit. We had a low key day planned at home with nothing big to do so we were super excited when he called and wanted to come to Charlotte! He also wanted to bring Preston this John Deere tractor that he'd been saving in his garage. Last time we were at Pawpaw's house, Preston saw it and immediately went to try to ride it. At that point his legs weren't quite long enough to reach the gas pedal, but now it is perfect!! :) This was one happy boy today. He rode and rode and rode the tractor. I think there is a big learning curve to driving it because he managed to ride through our neighbor's garden, hit our shed, house, and even a tree all within a few minutes. Finally we took him to the street where there was less to hit and more open space . . .

Of course, then sissy wanted her Barbie jeep to ride . . .

Crazy cousins (minus Maddie who only wanted to play inside) in front of Pawpaw's new Hummer!

Some love for Great Grandma!

Some love for Pawpaw

What an awesome day this has been! The only hard part was dragging Preston off of the tractor and listening to him scream for the "tactor" as Pawpaw was leaving. I think he thought that Pawpaw took the tractor with him. Maybe I'll let him think that for a few days. :)

Happy, Happy Birthday Dave!

Today we are celebrating the birthday of an amazing man, one who just happens to be my sweet husband and the daddy to our two crazy kids. We've been married 7 years and I have to say that he still amazes me. I am in awe of his patience with our kids. When the world pulls and tugs us to fill life with busyness, Dave seems to ignore all of that and daily spends time playing with our children. Not only do they LOVE playing with daddy, but both of their little faces light up every single days he gets home from work; It's usually a race to the door to greet him. And to me, he is the rock. The one who is always calm, cool and collected. The one who assures me that things are going to be okay and the one who loves me despite my flaws. :) Dave, today we celebrate you and pray that this coming year is an awesome one as we continue to see all the Lord has planned for our family. We love you!

Grandparent Fun

The past two weekends our kids have been spoiled rotten by both sets of grandparents!! It all started on Saturday, August 27 when we made a trip to Burlington to meet Pawpaw, Deborah, Great Grandma, and Denny's family at the Burlington City Park. Although the hurricane was threatening to wash us out, we made the trip anyway and boy are we glad that we did! The weather was perfect for a day at the city park! It was overcast, breezy, and only an occasional drizzle that aggravated us. Savannah and Preston had an absolute blast riding the rides and enjoying a sno cone treat from Pawpaw! Probably the funniest part was watching Preston jump up and down saying "ticket, ticket" to Pawpaw. Once he figured out that you had to have a ticket to ride and Pawpaw had the tickets, it was all over. I even got one of the episodes on video but of course have no idea how to upload it! :(

Preston and Savannah's favorite ride was this one, the helicopter

Savannah also loved the boats

. . . and so did Preston

But Preston wasn't so sure about the carousel

Time for some sno cone treats from Pawpaw. What a purple, sticky mess!!!

Then this past weekend, Dave's parents came for a long weekend so that Dave and I could go on vacation alone!! It has been since before Preston was born that Dave and I had a solo vacation . . . but this weekend was well worth the wait. The weather was incredible, mid 80s with bright sun and a slight breeze. We stayed on the beach for over 7 hours Sunday. Being able to read, people watch, sleep, and just relax in general without having to watch 2 little ones was such a treat. I do have to say that every time I saw a kid on the beach it made me miss Savannah and Preston A LOT, but we had a great weekend. A huge thank you to Grammy and Papa for offering to babysit for the weekend!!

Back to School for Preston!!

Today was the official start of WEE school!! As we have every year I took a picture by the bench outside of Preston's classroom. This is his last year downstairs so it was a big deal! We met Preston's teachers for the first time today since we did a switch-a-roo over the last week so that he could go an additional day. He now will be in school 3 days a week! Yippee! His teachers were just precious so we're looking forward to a super fun year. I have to say that things were quite different only dropping off one child at WEE school today . . . it makes me realize how quickly time flies and how I'm starting to try to hold onto my baby more!

A Kindergarten First . . . the BUS!!

Getting on the bus this morning, super excited!

All smiles when arriving home this afternoon too!

I think I can safely say that it was harder to let Savannah get onto the big yellow bus today than it was to drop her off for the first day of school! It has been a topic of discussion at home since school started so today was the day I finally gave in. Dave had to go in early and work late so I figured it might be helpful not to have to wait in the carpool line this afternoon. I was so anxious letting go and letting her ride without a seat belt but she did wonderfully!

When the bus arrived this afternoon she said that "riding the bus" was the best part of her day and then proceed to say "mom, when I get on the bus I just forget everything else about my day." So although the details about her school day are few, there were lots about the bus.

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  Her two friends from the neighborhood, Christian and Lena, both sat with her on the way to school



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  These same sweet girls walked her to her class and told her that they wanted to walk her to the class every day. :)



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  She has to look for bus K in the afternoon, but after school her bus wasn't there so she had to wait with a man holding the K sign. Then when the bus came he put the sign on the bus number and she knew that was her bus



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  Coming home she sat with some kindergarten boy who has a brother



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  The bus driver was not nice to some big kids who wouldn't get in their seats in the back of the bus before leaving school



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  Because there are no seatbelts she can just wear her backpack all of the way home!



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  And last but not least, she says she is "going to ride the bus every day, to school and back from school"

They seem to have a great system going at PSE (as with everything else). They have letters that they stick on on the buses so kids can easily find their bus. Savannah also has to wear a bus name tag that has all of her information on the back. Name, address, bus stops and times, and bus numbers. So if she were to head in the wrong direction she would easily be redirected. Maybe the big yellow bus isn't so bad after all!