October

October turned out to be a very busy month. 

While I realize that every month is busy...it seemed that October had it out for me. 

In the interest of trying to make sure I got everything covered, here are a couple of tidbits that got missed along the way.

1. Blake went to a FEMA training for a long weekend. It wasn't too bad for me. Although trying to get Canon to his soccer game at 9:30, Laney to ballet at 10:15, and Gavin to his soccer game at 10:30 proved to be mildly challenging.

2. The kids had "Crazy Hat Day" at school. It wasn't super crazy for us. We just opened up the old Halloween costume buckets and viola...instant hats.

Even though Canon doesn't go to school with Laney and Gavin he couldn't help  in wanting to participate. 

3. Canon loves to eat cereal. Just not at breakfast. He likes to get it out of the cupboard later in the day as a snack. Sometimes he puts some in his pockets "for later." It is especially entertaining when he is snacking on Cookie Crisp, from his pocket, during church. Lately I have been finding boxes in the oddest spots such as: between the ottomans in the living room, in Blake's closet upstairs, down stairs in the family room behind the lamp and a personal favorite of mine...2 boxes of Mini Wheats in the upstairs bathroom.

4. Canon has also made a habit of helping himself to other things in the cupboard. One day he finished off 3 BOXES of fruit snacks by himself. Then the next day he had 3 suckers. We are working on it.

5. Grandma Dana sent us this card in the mail for Halloween. The kids loved it. Every time Penny would walk by it on the fridge she would say "Scary. Gama Dana. Not scary." 

6. The kids also did their Red Ribbon week this last week at school. They had, a luau day which was the only day I managed to get a picture. Not that this picture is anything to write home about. This is what happens when Blake takes the good camera to work and all I can find is our camera, that our kids mess with...and now can't figure out how to get it off of sepia.

Laney's coconut bra was made by yours truly. I thought she would think it was great...I had made it out of real coconut shells after all...she hated it.

7. Gavin discovered a talent. We are so proud.  

It's Settled.

My dad says I am a slacker. I would tend to agree.

Posts have been a little sparse around here.

The kids are back in school.

They all started on different days over the course of 2 weeks. 

Gavin was first. 

He is in the second grade now...so it is old hat.

Look at him. Too cool for...school? Err...pictures?

Laney started Kindergarten a week later.

She was super excited. 

To go to school or just to wear her new clothes, I am not sure.

Canon could not wait for Preschool. 

Literally. 

He asked everyday.

So when I told him the day had come...

Say what?!

Super stoked.

Penny has been a little confused by the whole thing.

When we bought new clothes for the kids Penny kept asking "Where my school shoes at?"

And she also refers to random people as "her teacher".

I mostly just agree with her.

Perhaps I am leading my child astray, but trust me when I say there is nothing worse than fighting with a two year old that doesn't get tired of saying "Ya huh."

End of May

I am sure I sound like a Debby Downer but May is over! 

Can I get an amen?

Mostly we spent the end of the month wrapping things up. 

And we learned some things along the way.

Canon finished up his soccer season.

He is pretty sure that he is a pro now.

I think a little more training is in order.

I am not really sure if he knows what soccer is.

I think him and I might just agree to disagree.

Laney had her ballet performance.

She did good, given her stage fright.

At times she looked like a deer in the headlights.

A valuable lesson was learned: Mom needs to pay more attention to what the flyer says. 

Laney is the only one wearing a bight pink leotard and no ballet skirt. 

You will also notice that Laney is so distracted by everyone looking at her that she can hardly focus.

Blake was gone for a good portion of the month.

For one week he was in California doing his FEMA training.

The kids missed him.

Although they did love playing with his gear. 

   To all of our amazement,

we survived.

Laney graduated Preschool. 

They had a program that they put on.

It was cute, albeit deafening at times.

Don't believe me?

Just listen to Screamy McSreamerson on the left.

-With your volume turned down.-

Consider yourself warned.

Laney can't wait to go to kindergarten.

Gavin ran in a race at school. 

Although he would possibly tell you otherwise, Gavin learned that he would not die from not being able to catch your breath.

We also learned that these two already have their wedding mapped out.

You can't hide love forever.

Penny discovered that not only is Brown baby a good companion but an excellent buffer between the ground and her.

Laney learned that sometimes consequences are not fun, and sometimes hard.

 

If I ever need a replacement we learned that Laney is pretty good at doing Penny's hair.

The month was a little trying at times.

But if we learned anything, 

it is that sometimes that is OK.

A Note From Gavin's Teacher

I couldn't resist taking the attached photos. Gavin LOVES to braid hair! He always does it during carpet time. It is not distracting him from learning and he is really doing great with French, a perfect accent.

Merci,
Cindy

All Is Right In the World

The computer is fixed. Can I get a collective Amen.

The kids started school a couple of weeks ago. So far they love it. Gavin is in 1st grade. He is doing the french immersion program at his school, so every day he comes home speaking French. His favorite thing about school so far is buying "Hot Lunch." Can you blame him? It sounds delicious. Especially when I ask him what he gets for hot lunch and the answer is "I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich." I informed him that I make PB&J's for him everyday, why is the school one better? He told me "They are circle." So I couldn't help but ask why circles taste better than squares? He had no answer for that. Ideally I would like to have more pictures of Gavin on his first day of school. But in all of the others he looks like he is giving you side eye or he is heavily intoxicated. Laney on the other hand looks like she has been watching America's Next Top Model. I would just like to say...for the record...she picks out all of her own clothes and styles them herself. I have NO say. Canon hasn't really noticed that the kids are gone. He has been occupying his time doing things like running around. Hugging trees while his sister sits around all blurry. Teaching Penny how to do handstands. And Penny has been just chilling, appreciating the fact that no one is mauling her while she enjoys a little pacifier.

Summer Starts For Laney

On Wednesday I packed the kids into the car and headed to Laney's preschool end of the year program.

With the camera in hand I couldn't help but think, "Best Mom ever." But only because I have forgotten to bring the camera to Gavin's last TWO programs.

We went into the preschool room sat down and got situated then Blake snapped a couple of photos and....battery dead.

Worst Mom ever.

Well, at least I can prove we were there.

Then on Thursday we went to her end of the year party at a nearby park.

Homemade macaroni and cheese was made, camera battery was charged, kids were dressed, present was wrapped (Gavin was attending a birthday party at the same park), kids were loaded into the car and off we went.

We arrived at the park, dropped Gavin off and...crap. I forgot the camera. Worst Mom ever.

So we have no picture of Laney with her preschool teachers or her with her friends.

But we were there, and she has them. Friends I mean.As a gift to the kids her teacher Miss Erin made a CD of all the songs that were their favorite.

Laney loves it and we haven't stopped listening to it.

I can't stop singing "we are the dinosaurs marching, marching. We are the dinosaurs what do ya think of that?..." Laney thoroughly enjoyed school this year and everyday she would wake up and ask if she could go to school.

It may be a long summer filled with wanting to go back to school.

In the meantime we can just watch the grass grow out of our very own Preschool made Chia Pet.