First Day of Kindergarten!

We were up early (for us)! Brody was happy when he woke up, although he did tell me I was waking him up too early. Both kids got dressed and had breakfast and we hurried to be out the door by 7:30. He did great! He remembered where his classroom was and he was so excited to see his friend Jacelyn sitting next to him. He saw her and said, "Ok, bye mom, bye dad." And we left. Ella was the one who was the most upset. She was bummed to have to come home with me, she said that would be boring. We will have to figure out this routine, but we'll get it and hopefully I won't be boring.

Last Friday Brody said to Brandon: "Dad in two days you and mom are going to be old because I am going to start school...but, if you have another baby then we will pretend like it never happened." We were laughing so hard!

Brody all ready for school.In front of his classroom also known as the lady bug room Sitting at his desk next to Jacelyn.

We can't wait until 3:00 to hear about his day!

Back to School Feast

To end our fun weekend we had a back to school feast with treats and crowns. We decorated our crowns after church and all of us had one (even Brandon and I - although we didn't manage to get any pictures of those!) We had some of the kids favorites, along with a new recipe I tried of Spicy Peach BBQ sauce and topped it off with Rice Krispie Treats. After getting everything cleaned up Brandon gave each of the kids a Fathers Blessing to help comfort them as they start this school year. Brody went to bed full of questions and you could tell he was getting more and more nervous! We were glad we could end the summer with so many family memories.

Great Wolf Lodge

After leaving the museum we went and checked into the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, TX. Mom, Dad, Steph and Matt met us there to have a great time! You walk in and it is like a Casino-type resort for kids and tweens! There is a giant indoor water park with all sorts of slides and toys, and a wave pool. The highlight for everyone was that it was mostly INDOORS! That meant no sunscreen, and they kept it at 84 degrees...a whole lot better than the 107 it has been outside! This was a HOT summer (hottest we've ever had since moving here), and we were grateful to have the chance to play in the water without being in the heat! There was a giant tree house with water spraying in every direction, and above it was a giant bucket that held 1000 gallons of water. Once that bucket filled up it dumped on everything beneath it! Ella coming down the slide all by herself! Grandpa Mullin and the kids

Our group (minus Stephanie and Matt)

Brody would go on any slide he could. He was a brave boy! He was barely tall enough to go on all but two of the slides. We took him on one slide where 4 people sit in a raft and it would slide up the sides of the tube...around the first corner we slid so far up on the side that Brody's little body fell forward towards the center of the raft. After that the ride wasn't nearly as fun for me - I kept trying to hold Brody in the raft. We didn't take him on that one again! But, he did try all the others and he loved them (and he stayed in the tubes during the ride!) Ella LOVED this blue slide! She would go up the stairs and wait in line all by herself. She'd do it over and over! Ella loved all the independece she found climbing the ladders and going down the slides by herself.

Part of our crowd lounging in the wave pool. This was a favortie of Brody and Ella. Ella even curled up with Brandon in a tube on Saturday and fell asleep - in the water! On our way out we were wet and tired. It was a GREAT time!

Cyberchase Museum

We ended the summer with a weekend full of fun! Since Brandon came home from work on Thursday for Meet the Teacher Night he took Friday off and we went to the CR American Airlines Museum in Fort Worth. The kids had seen commercials on PBS for a Cyberchase exhibit and that is Brody's favortie show right now. Its a show all about math, and I think that is just how Brody's mind works, he is going to be great at math. The museum's normal exhibits are all about airplanes and the history of American Airlines, and the airplane stuff was cool to see too. There was a big IMAX movie and you flew over all sorts of pretty scenery (including cities and castles - Brody and Ella's respective favorites).

Oh yeah, Ella got glasses a couple weeks ago. She is doing really well with them. We are hoping it corrects her exotropia and help her eyes align better.
In front of Mother Board...our kids started learning about the computer and they are like sponges and are doing more and more each day

Brody's Meet the Teacher Night

I can't believe Brody is starting Kindergarten on Monday! It seems like he was just born. I knew it was coming but the closer it gets I am getting anxious. I probably have all the normal "mom" fears about their kid making friends and behaving, but also I am super worried about getting him to school on time. School starts at 7:45 and he is dismissed at 3:00...a super long day for most five year olds! They seem to have the day full of activities to keep them busy and seeing his classroom and meeting his teacher calmed most of my nerves (and hopefully Brody's too!)

What Brody is most looking forward to about Kindergarten: The sports (they have PE everyday) and playing on the playground

What Brody is most nervous about: Bullies (I don't know where this is coming from, but he truly is worried about people calling him names); and the weather (if it is too hot or too cold they can't go on the playground)

Brody and his Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Spencer

Brody's carpet spot

Brody sitting at his desk. He sits right next to a little girl from church, Jacelyn. He is at the blue table (his favorite color!) and the chair covers have pockets in the back that hold all his supplies.

A view of part of his classroom. There is a bathroom perfect for little people in the back corner and all sorts of stations set around the room. He also has a cubby to keep his backpack and coat during the winter (we are sort of longing for the day we need a coat - Im ready not to be hot anymore!)

Brody and a classmate meeting the class pet, Sparkles the Guiena Pig

After meeting Mrs. Spencer and seeing her classroom we went to the cafeteria to get a car tag to be able to pick up Brody and while we were waiting the kids had a great time playing on the stage. I said to the kids to stand together, and this other little boy jumped in the picture too -- then I realized he is in Brody's class too...hopefully a new friend!!