Week in review

The weeks are just flying by it seems! Last week was our first full week of jr high and kindy. Both kiddos did great. Including Chase, who has to get up so dang early just to catch the bus. This is his choice and apparently loves riding with all of his buddies around the neighborhood. Between school and sports, we have stayed busy. Chase has baseball games on Monday nights then its football for the rest of the week and weekend. He is keeping up with his homework and sleep, for the most part. He is truely learning what it is like to be an teen/adult. Here are some pics from his last scrimmage.





Hey, I wanted that!




Sometimes he is so beautiful in form....


Sometimes he isn't.

We have had a great week in kindy as well with Ella. I signed up to be the room mom for the first time and plan on trying to get involved with the school and my baby girl! Little sis is doing pretty well without big sis around. I have given up on naps with her because of the shortened time and her ability to fall alseep around the time I need her to be awake. Cranky Kyndall is no fun to haul up to school.


Walking in with her besties, everyday. They all rotate who is in the middle, it is so adorable!!



We have had a couple playdates already. Ella is in heaven but leaves this behind:


Kyndall hasn't quite figured out why she can't come as well. It is a heart breaker!!



She does love to go get sister. It is a grand homecoming, one I don't think Ella understands but I know she feels the love!

Since it is almost college football season our times back to the parents' houses will be far more plentiful. Well on those weekends we don't have our own football games :). We went back last weekend for a wedding and the kids got some good nanie and papaw time.

And of course, some awesome auntie time!


Yummy nectarine galette I made for us to snack on Friday night! It was so good!!

Although it has been a little harder to wake up super early, I have been blessed to watch the sun peek her head up over the horizon for 9 days now. It is a great reminder that I am alive and it allows me to focus my brain on the crazy day ahead.


Happy Monday to all!!

A Letter to My Ella

Dear Ella,

  Last week you took a flying leap off of the building we all call life. You started kindergarten. As I sit here, late at night, I just can't get over how brave and independent you are. Your daddy and I have always said that there is something about your nature, your smile, that tells us that you, my dear lady, are going to change the world. After watching you take this flying leap last week, I am certain that this still holds true.

You are so independent and ready to be your own little person. I believe you look to Chase for that guidance, seeing as he is the same way. And although at times I cry because I want you to be the total opposite, I am immensely proud that you aren't. I was shy as a child and still am at times. But you my dearest daughter, are not at all. You want to be every one's friend and will go out of your way to make friends where ever you are. You are so confident and sure that you have just as much to offer them as they have to offer you. That is something some of us work our whole lives trying to learn, how to believe in ourselves.

Kindergarten, or just school in general, is going to be so great for you. You will learn so much and your desire to learn will be fed with great teachers and with the teacher you have waiting for you at home. I will forever be so proud to have witnessed your first day of school and every day since that day. You have taught me more in one day than I could learn in a lifetime.

I will miss you so while you are gone during the day but I know deep down that this is where you belong. Being educated is going to take you places you could only dream of. Being strong and sure of yourself, is what every mother wants for her daughter. Life couldn't get any better right now :).

Have fun and good luck to my #1 kindergartner!
Love,
Mom


PS: I TOTALLY stole this idea from my favorite blogger, Kelle Hampton! I just couldn't resist writing one to Ella after reading her letter to her daughter, Lainey. A huge thanks to her for sharing her letter and reminding all of us mom's to write down those little details in life for our girls to read when they grow up. 

Photo Day

It has been a rather long time since I set out to take "professional" photos of any of us. I start to think that instagram will be just fine in recording our everyday lives but there are moments in our lives where a good posed picture is necessary. Starting Kindergarten, is one of those moments. So without further or do, some good ole' photos of our girls.


















Here are some of Miss Kindergartener!!






We are headed to school after lunch to drop her off for her first day. I don't know who is more impatient, her or me? I hope down to the bottom of my soul that this school year goes well for her. More pictures to follow tomorrow of our first day as a big girl! For family members, if there are any pictures of the girls that you want, I was going to order some this weekend so just let me know.

Firsts

This week guarantees us all a lot of firsts. I think I can safely say that this month has started with lots of firsts as well. We have had 15 days of pure craziness. Football practice every night, this is a first.


Ryan and Michael both coaching football, a first for all of us.


Making our bodies learn to work hard, daily, a first for Chase!

Not sure if he was dancing or trying to catch the ball.

Sharing Chase with his other family, a first for us, but oh so good :). This relationship could not be going any better and boy, does it warm my heart! We talk and compromise. We share him well and keep each other appraised of his behavior. It is oh so good!! Baseball tryouts which turned  into play fall ball, a first for us. Baseball practice/games on nights that we don't have football, a first for us.


Mom and dad going on a quick vacation right before school starts, a first for us.


Mom and dad seeing a concert at Starlight, a first for us.


Mom having macaroons, a first and definitely not the last, oh my these were soooo good!!

We had a great time and a huge thanks to Grandma Sue for watching the rugrats!!

Chase starting jr. high, a first for us.


Ella starting kindergarten, a first for us.



Daddy and Ella checking out her seat in her classroom



Two seperate schools to get the kids to and from at two different times, a first for us.

So as you can tell this month has already given us so many firsts, it is a little daunting to think of what the rest of the month holds.......but we are oh so ready!! Later this week I will posts some pics of the girls! They are so adorable!! Now I'm off to see if I am supposed to be somewhere.....

Week Wrap Up

We have had a great week being stuck in the house pretty much all day, every day. Do you sense the hint of sarcasm? If so, you are right. It has been a week I wish not to replay. I am tired of heat. Heat so hot that even at 8 at night, it is still so miserable outside. With it not looking like any relief is in sight, I need to start focusing on something else. How about school? Or maybe working out? Or maybe potty training the 3 year old? The latter has won over. And she is doing fabulous! She is done, I believe. She tells us when she needs to go and today we did #2 all by herself. We are so proud of her!!


Her prize for going #2


I decided it was the perfect time to treat her to a cupcake since she rarely has the opportunity to get a treat like this


Sister was so proud of her as well

My birthday was last week and although I hate turning another year older, I am super thankful that I have been granted another year to be a mom, wife, and friend on this Earth.

My kiddos singing happy birthday to me


My beautiful and delicious cheesecake that my hubby made me for the big day

We did have a little rain but it is far too little, far too late. I did however take a picture of it so I could remember what it looks like.


There has been lots of canning going on getting ready for the winter. It is oh so much fun!!


Last weekend we enjoyed the fair with Grandma Sue. We all had a great visit. The girls had a grand time riding more carnival rides.


Then Ella's eyes lit up when she saw the pony rides. She has been looking forward to riding a horse for ever. She was so happy to ride and probably would still be on that pony, if we had let her.





Kyndall went along with it but wasn't as impressed!

We are also proud to announce that Chase's dad, along with his extended family all moved up here earlier this week. I know Chase is so excited to have them all here, finally. Chase's dad is already help coach, along with Ryan, football. I know Chase feels very lucky to have all sorts of family around him! The girls and I got to have a playdate with Chase's brother (half but who's counting). He came over and played with the girls outside. They all had a good time.

I know that our lives are going to be much more hectic than before but it is nice to know just how big this is for Chase and his dad.

Well that's about it. We have yet another week of heat and football practice every night. This is our last week before school starts. I am thinking we might need to find something to do to make it special?! Hmmm gotta go....lots of things to think about! Keep cool!!