The 2017 - 2018 school year has begun! The boys had a great first week and our weekend to celebrate was filled with family time at home - just what we needed after a hectic summer.
Pretty much what these boys did all summer...
Ellis had his three year old check up the week before school started back and while he wasn't the most cooperative kid at the appointment, he is right on track with his growth - physical and social.
Hanging out in the waiting room before the appointment. He wandered for a few minutes and told me the color of every chair in the waiting room before he realized Moana was on the TV...
Moana then had his attention until we were called back for the appointment.
We were able to attend Meet the Teacher one morning before my first day of school (I start the Friday before the boys). RF was so excited to meet his teachers, see his classroom, and check out his cubby.
What the dogs spent most of the summer doing - snoozing.
And cuddling...
My classroom for the 2017 - 2018 school year...
Changed things up a bit in terms of arrangement...
The weekend before school started RA had to make a trip to Virginia, so the boys and I hung out at the house getting everything ready for their first day of school. Give this kid a paint brush and he's good to go...
We also took down Ellis's birthday mantle decor and replaced it with a back to school mantle...
We spent some time outside and this kid let me take a few photos of him without a grimace on his face. For some reason he is in a phase where he can't stand me taking his picture. Ugh.
Kisses for mommy...
RF found one of our digital camera and took tons of photos. He told me he had to get down on the floor to get the 'perfect shot' of Gus...
We also worked on some treats for their teachers and a platter of sweets for the staff at their school...
Up bright and early with a SMILE on his face...
He was SO EXCITED about Pre-K...
Rocking his new backpack...
This little man had some smiles for us too which was surprising because we had to be up and out the door before the time he usually woke up each day over the summer.
Monday and Tuesday he did great at drop off. Wednesday - Friday was a different story - there were tears. I know it is just getting back into the swing of things. Fingers crossed we don't have any tears this week.
Ready to go!
Their school had a little photo booth set up outside - so cute!
Ellis refused to take a photo when we arrived as a family, but his teacher was able to snap one later in the morning.
Family photo!
He had SUCH A GREAT first day!
Over it.
First day of school dinner at Cracker Barrel. I've got to brag on RF here for a minute. We went to Cracker Barrel because last time we were here (about two weeks prior) he saw a shark stuffed animal that he wanted. We explained that having a great end of summer and first day of Pre-K would earn him the shark. He was on his best behavior (with a few 4-year old tantrum moments) the whole two weeks and was so excited to get to Cracker Barrel to get his shark. When we walked in, he walked right over to where it had been and it was gone. I asked the Cracker Barrel staff if they had anymore in the back and they said that they didn't. One of the girls in the store even called other Cracker Barrel locations to see if they had any - no sharks to be found. RF handled it so well. We explained that they were sold out, but that his daddy would find him one online. He didn't cry, he didn't fuss. I could tell he was bummed and disappointed, but he was such a big kid in how he dealt with the disappointment that I knew his daddy would save the day and find one online.
RF and Ellis got to see a magic show on Friday at the end of the first week of school and RF was the assistant during part of the show.
He told me, "That guy was magic, mama!"
Friday afternoon ice cream and Chick-Fil-A playground time...
Such a big kid...
His daddy and I had been tracking the package that contained the shark stuffed animal and were bummed when we saw that it wouldn't be to our house until Saturday, but Friday morning we got an alert that it was out for delivery and would be to us that afternoon. RF couldn't contain his excitement when he saw the box on the front porch.
Couldn't even get it out of the packaging before he was hugging on it...
So excited!
Sheer joy!
We knew ordering only a stuffed animal for RF would be a recipe for disaster, so we ordered Ellis a Bailey, from Finding Dory, stuffed animal. He got to open his on Friday, too.
Chompers (the shark), Destiny (the whale shark), Bailey (the beluga whale), and Ellis (the little brother) were the students in RF's class Friday evening...
He taught them their colors, numbers, and planets of the solar system. The funny thing about this photo is that I used to do the exact same thing with my stuffed animals in the afternoons after school.
Just hanging out talking about their new stuffed animals...
Kind of hard to believe that we are at the point in parenting where there are book bags hanging by the back door...
First week of school art, information, and photos...
RA and I try to spend one on one time with the boys as often as possible, so Saturday morning Ellis and I headed off to Hobby Lobby for a few things and a quick trip to Target (the popcorn store), too. He kept calling his shadow his statue.
Popcorn and an Icee - can't come to Target without getting both.
My little sidekick chowing down on his popcorn...
Bailey ran errands with us on Saturday...
This morning RF and I spent some time together and headed to the grocery store before Ellis was even awake. On the way there RF said he was hungry and wanted a biscuit, so we stopped at McDonalds. I was going to go through the drive through when RF asked if he could order his own food. I agreed, so we went into McDonalds, he walked up to the counter and placed his order - a biscuit with butter and a milk. Such a big kid.
So proud of himself.
Another pretty cool mom moment - I can go to the grocery store with a kid that can walk alongside the buggy, holding on, and help can help me get items off the shelf and put them in the buggy. Pretty cool.
When we got home from the grocery store we decided to take the dogs over to Oxford College for a walk...
Two peas in a pod.
RA man-handled the crazy puppies, so RF took care of Gracie.
Then Ellis decided he needed to be carried, so RA handled Gus and Ellis while I handled Daisy and kept an eye on RF and Gracie.
Miss Priss exhausted from her morning walk...
Gus was tired, too. They laid down on the bed when we got home and only got up to go outside to the bathroom and to eat dinner.
Fried green tomatoes!
We ended the weekend with a glass of wine down at the fire pit as a family. The boys played in the backyard while RA and I chatted.
On a completely different note, I wanted to document the change that has recently occurred in our dining room.
Before
After - looking from the kitchen towards the front library
After
After - the table, rug, corner cabinet, and hoosier cabinet we've had since we lived in Mobile.
The two cabinets on the opposite wall are new(er) - antique pieces.
A big thank you to Mrs. Margie as she helped me out a ton by stripping off the old wall paper - it was horrible. Couldn't have done it without her help.
Next project is a complete overhall of the laundry room! Stay tuned!
