Kindergarten Kid

Cam had a successful start to kindergarten!  Although it is obvious at times that he is his mother's child, he has done great with the adjustment to a new school and class.  More than ever before, I was actually excited about going back to school.  This is just how I pictured it as I was picking out my career all those years ago.  I love having my little guy with me! 

Tying shoes on the first day!  So independent!

All ready and all smiles!

New backpack

Headed to Kindergarten!

I now have a riding buddy and don't have to rely on the radio for company on the way to school.  And seeing him by surprise throughout the day is just the best!  We get to see each other everyday at lunch because his class comes in right after mine.  I love being able to check on him even when he doesn't know. 

"My class is this way!"

"Right down here, Mom and Dad!"

Found a hook for his backpack

Found a book to read

My sweet, sweet big boy!

He is so excited about learning already.  After the first few days, he was discussing books that he reads and making suggestions of ones I should read in my classroom.  I can't wait to watch all that he will learn this year. 

Made it through the first day and got to bring home a friend, Puff!

Looking forward to the best year ever! 

Sayonara Summer

At the very beginning of summer, I helped Cam make top-ten list of the things he was thankful for about summer. 

10 - Fishing

9 - Swimming

8 - Vacaction

7 - Wii

6 - Exercise

5 - Baseball

4 - Cousins

3 - Beach

2 - Staying up late

1 - Camping

We were able to enjoy all the things on the list and so much more.  I feel very blessed to have this time each year to refresh, renew, and reconnect with my sweet family.  It's bittersweet to think about moving on from this time.  Here is my top-ten lists of what I will miss the most about summer:

10 - Spending time with our favorite people

9 - Wearing comfy clothes everyday

8 - Making ordinary things fun with just an added twist

7 -Completing tasks that seem to get swept under the rug during the rest of the year

6 - Having time to cut loose

5 - Enjoying new places and sights.

4 - Having extra time to make messes and fully enjoy what we are doing

3 - Reading good books and playing games

2- Taking time to enjoy the the beauty that surrounds us

1 - Simply relaxing with a beautiful view

BabyLand General

Another item on my summer agenda was to take a trip to BabyLand General. We turned this trip into a girls trip (much to Tony and Cam's delight). We loaded up our princess and headed for the hopsital where the the babies grew in cabbages. Maeve was eager to get there and was looking for a field of cabbages all the way.

She finally found the cabbage patch!

Two new patch friends

Squeals and skips led us up to the doors of the BabyLand General Hospital. Maeve was looking in the windows and seeing the all the babies. We walked through the nursery and saw babies upon babies. "Ooowee! Look at this baby! He's so little! She's so cute!" were some of the things Maeve kept saying over and over.

"Let me get this baby's paci."

She was dashing from one cabbage to the next and wanting to love on all of the little babies. She was on pacifier patrol even in the patch.  She watched the mother cabbage deliver a baby boy at first, then a girl.  Perhaps the funniest part was when Maeve walked into the party room and sat down beside some of the bigger cabbabe kids who were having a birthday party.  When she sat, she said, " Hello friends!"  She pretended to have cake with them.  She also made us sing "Happy Birthday," and, of course, we did!

I think she would have picked up all of them if she had the chance.

Maeve sat down at this party table like she had a personal invitation.

We decided on a bigger kid for her so that she could show her how to use the potty.  So, after much searching, we finally found the perfect one to adopt.  Welcome to the family, Marylou Anna! 

Marylou is headed home with Maeve

Maeve and Marylou have the same initials. 
It works perfect for to be able to pass down her monogrammed outfits!

Build A Bear, A Bunny, and A Bean

When I realized Build-a-Bear had a brown dachshund to build this summer, I made it my mission to take my two this summer.  We made it a fun trip with Brenna. 

Taking home their new friends

I had plugged Maeve to want to build a dog like CoCo, so she had no trouble picking out her flopsy, no-stuffing shell of a dog and getting busy with the building.  When it was time to name the dog, Maeve was stuck on CoCo Bean.  So, now we have a live CoCo and a stuffed one.  The stuffed one doesn't mind being dragged around with the leash quite as much as the real one does. 

Maeve squeezing her CoCo Bean

Cam, his mother's child, had a difficult time deciding what he wanted.  At first he thought maybe he was too big to build a stuffed animal.  He had decided on just an angry bird.  But, then when he realized he had the opportunity to dress his animal in a Georgia football uniform, he decided on a  cute bear he named George.  The best part about George's uniform is that his helmet comes off.  Cam has had a great time pretending with George. 

Cam and George the Georgia Monkey

Brenna fell in love with a floppy eared bunny she named Bella.  Of course Bella got an Oconee blue cheerleading outfit.  I can picture her now dragging Bella to all the games this year. 

Brenna with Bella Bunny

Can you tell which one is the real CoCo?

Yes.  They are just another stuffed animal to add to the collection, but I hope that building them and bringing them to life will open up a whole new world of imagination that these stuffed things can bring.