I know, I know....

So much to catch up on.... But for now I leave you with these sweet faces :)

Grant's First Day of School (and speech and soccer!)

Right after we got big sister on the bus it started..."I don't want to go to school."  This pretty much continued for the next 45 minutes and even as we were pulling into the parking lot he was still saying it.  So I took his hand and I kissed it and I told him to save it for whenever he needed it.  He said "I put it in my pocket mom."  I took him into the room and we found his hook and name tag and then found some dinosaurs to play with.  Then we started the "Ok, I'm going to go now, you have a fun day, I love you."  And after about ten minutes and lots more kisses and hugs he was very brave and let me walk out of the room.  I stood outside the door and we both held it together very well.  At least this year I got to the car before I started crying and I am getting smarter...I parked in the back of the parking lot.

Last hug before Elizabeth gets on the bus - he had to have his backpack on too!

When I picked him up he was all smiles and had a great time.  He told me I could have my kiss back, he didn't need to use it (insert my heart melting).  We headed to DQ for a special lunch.  He really only wanted the  Dilly Bar but he ate the hot dog and we ran out of time so off to speech we went.  His speech is at Elizabeth's school and during her lunch time so I sat down with her while she ate her lunch.  I still don't think he knows that EB and I had lunch together and I am pretty sure she doesn't know that he had DQ.  They are getting much better at keeping their mouths shut about the special things they get to do!  Lunch was very interesting, a little insight to the world of kindergarten!  Grant had a good speech session.  His s blends are better we are now working on g's and hard k's.  It would be great if he could say his own name really well :)

Throwing the ball in - I really don't understand the rules of soccer!

That night he had his first soccer game.  They had a little practice before and then a 30 minute game.  There are only 6 players on the team and in the first 5 minutes our team was down to 3.  One injury and two girls who weren't really feeling like playing soccer.  Grant got a lot of playing time and he did so good.  Soccer academy hadn't gone so well.  And by not well I mean he insisted one of us be on the field with him the whole time.  I anticipated he would like the game setting better and Brandon and our good friend Matt are coaching so he was comfortable.  I was pretty impressed with the skill set of the little ones and the coaches did good too ;)  Not sure I realized that soccer was saturday mornings at 8am, so I hope he likes it!

This is Grant just being silly - but that is so his "I'm teasing" face!

Such a goofball!

Second day before school...."Why did you sign me up for preschool?"
On the way home after 2nd day of school...."Can I come back on Tuesday?"  Maybe there is hope because not going to school is not an option.  He did say on the way home he did not want to go to kindergarten.  Guess we have a few years to work on that one!

Elizabeth's First Day of School

A new charm for her bracelet...Minnie Mouse.

Elizabeth and the neighbor boy who rides the bus with her

Elle and Grant the pre-schoolers!

Just focus on the braid here people!

Hello Mr.Martin! 

That is her in the window there...it is oh so appropriate that she would choose the seat with the emergency window!

She is so ready!!!

I can only describe the first day of school as being like a birth plan.  Toss it out the window because it's not going to go the way you think it will!  I can say that because it is all in the past and we all survived - if I had only known that morning to forget the plan!

The kids always get to choose their breakfast on the first day of school.  EB wanted chocolate chip muffins so I made them from scratch and cooked them in our little Babycakes appliance.  These are mini sized.  She ate one and I burnt the last batch.  The outfit went as planned - phew!  We all took pictures and walked to the corner to catch the bus.  The neighbor peeked down the road and said "Here comes the bus!" my stomach seized up inside of it's self and for a moment I considered grabbing her and running inside with her - NO you can't have her!  But of course I wiped my lipstick mark off her forehead and watched her spring up the stair of the big yellow bus.  Lord help me this is really happening.  But not to fear we were loading up ourselves to meet her up at the school.  We could go into the gym where the kids would all be assembled with their classes, give our last hugs and take a few more dozen pictures and then finally say goodbye for good (well until 11:30 anyway!).  There was just one problem...Elizabeth wasn't there.  Was the bus late? Did they take her directly to the classroom? Was their an accident? My (yes my) 4th grade teacher and the principal were working hard to track her down.  Parent's aren't allowed in the classroom on the  first day so they were trying to bring her to me.  In their defense, neither of them knew what she looked like.  Good thing they give us those name tags to put on them!  But no they didn't find her.  So I took pictures of Elizabeth's class walking  to their room only to suddenly hear a friend yell "Alison! She's over here!" And there she was marching down the hallway at the front of her class.  So I did what any sane first time kindergarten mommy would do...(no I didn't run after her, B would have restrained me for sure!) I tossed my arms in the air and yelled "Goodbye Elizabeth!!!"  (yes picture a low budget 80's film and I'm sure that's how I looked).  She didn't turn her head I knew she couldn't hear me.  Brandon gave me a nod and I knew we had to leave...she was gone.  My dear 4th grade teacher tracked us down outside and said she had tried to find her but couldn't.  She promised to go to the classroom and give her a hug from me.  Thank goodness for a small community where my previous teacher could tell my daughter goodbye for me!  Oh my and it wasn't even 8:35 yet!

When she got off the bus she ran into my arms!! She had a wonderful day.  My friend told me that the principal had personally escorted her off the bus and into the line with her class.  She talked about two boys and asked when she could get a phone ("I'm just joking mom!").  Her hair tie broke but that perfect braid stayed in pretty well!  Tomorrow she will tackle all day and (drum roll please...) hot lunch! I think she is going to love school!

Train Ride to Chicago

We took the train with Ima & Pops to Chicago this past weekend.  We got to the station a half hour early and the train was a half hour late.  We still made it to Union Station on time - go figure!  Obviously there is quite a bit of cushion built into these train timetables!

We decided to focus on Navy Pier.  The Air Show was also going that weekend.  First  stop was the ferris wheel.  Ima and daddy stayed with the stroller! We did the Children's Museum, had lunch and then Grant had a stroller nap.  Ima and Elizabeth headed back to the museum, while the rest found a bench to watch the air show.  Grant woke up in time to enjoy a little more of the museum and then we took an architectural boat tour.  The boat tour was really fun and something we had wanted to do for a really long time.  Chicago has so much to offer but it was really nice to focus on a just few things.  Grant who really wanted to take a boat ride in the morning was a little restless when the time actually came.  The smell of brownies in the air as we floated near the chocolate factory was amazing!  We learned a lot about the Chicago fire of 1871 and the different types of architecture downtown.

Putting out a fire at the museum

We found a pizza place (Beggar's for future reference!) near Union Station and ordered a deep dish to go to enjoy on the train ride home.  The pizza probably weighed 5 pounds and every ounce was delicious!

Elizabeth's 6th Birthday

Where have the last 6 years gone? I send my baby to kindergarten tomorrow! She put it in prospective for me when I told her that calling her brother names was not appropriate and her response was "Mom! That is something a 5 year old would do, I am 6 now!"

Daddy stayed home and had strawberries and waffles with us.  She opened a few presents (FedEx still had one to deliver!).  Ima joined us for lunch at our favorite "chips and salsa" restaurant after she helped me put the final touches on her party.

The theme for her party was FLOWERS.  I was hoping for a beautiful summer day and we would be out in the yard, painting flowers and enjoying a breeze.  Mother nature decided a drizzly, humid day was more in order so we moved the party inside from the get go.  I will let the pictures tell the story.

Anna!

Cupcake flower bouquet, complete with candles and a balloon that  someone special sent her!

Good morning! Traditional picture with the birthday chair cover.

The flower cake a la Alison (someday they are really going to want a professional cake!) 

My Elsa braid!

Waiting for the girls to arrive for the party.  Ima made us all matching aprons!

Decorate your own cupcake.  I am not going to lie, I had the sweeper out 5 minutes after they left.  Remember I had imagined this party outside!

Decorate your own special box.  For all those trinkets girls have to keep forever!

Trying to perfect the "swoopy" braid for the 1st day of school. 

By the time she was done opening her gifts the girls were practically sitting on top of her!  I love how kids just can't get close enough.  These little ladies were all so well behaved! 

The sprinkle aftermath. 

Evening with the grandparents. 

Daddy likes to help read the cards and make them really funny! 

New gymnastics leotard.

A little game of pin the flower on the flower! 

Awesome little artists!

Pops' card came with a very special crown!

Hold on tight to her Grandpa!   

THE BIRTHDAY QUIZ :)

1) WHAT IS YOUR NAME? Elizabeth

2) HOW OLD ARE YOU? 6

3) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? Pink, purple & blue

4) WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND? Julianna

5) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? A vet

6) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? The Pirate Fairy 

7) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? Wild Kratts

8) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK? Crafty Chloe

9) WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? When Daddy tickles me

10) WHAT MAKES YOU SAD? When Daddy yells at me

11) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Sweet & sour chicken

12) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG? VBS music

13) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GAME TO PLAY? 20 questions with animals

14) WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE GIFT? Tinkerbell & Periwinkle with different outfits

She had a great day and we could not be more proud of her!  School is just around the corner for her and she is ready and excited and I can only imagine what she will do in the next chapter!