Lost Tooth & Other Misc. Catch-Up

We're still here!  

Sept. 12-13th was Grandparents' Day events at school.  Lane's parents were so sweet to go both days so they could do both the 1st grade and 4th grade activities.  They came over for dinner on that Thursday night, but I somehow forgot to take a single picture.  Thank you, Grammy and Bobba, for being here--the kids were so happy to have you at their school!!

On September 16th, I pulled Alexee's third tooth.  It was the top one that she'd chipped on the countertop right before Rhett started Kindergarten.  She was nervous about having it pulled, but was excited once it was done!  She looks super cute.  :) The other top tooth is very loose now!

Here's some of Alexee's recent artwork and schoolwork.  We can see improvement in her reading and writing already--we love Mrs. C!

These next two were pages in her "My Neighborhood" book that she brought home last week.  After seeing this first page, I'm reminded that I really need to work on my grocery store attitude.  :(  If you've ever seen our crew at the store together, I'm sure you'd agree.  

"My Mom goes to Kroger a lot.  But she doesn't like taking us."

This page was more encouraging:  "I like going a lot of places, but I mostly like to be home."  I agree 100%.  Home is/has always been my favorite place to be.   :)

Crosby's class is having fun doing color activities.  I thought these were all cute, especially the flamingo.  I love to see their work displayed in the school hallway.

 We made sugar cookies one Sunday afternoon.

Crosby and I have been going to the library once a week for the preschool story time.  There is a different theme every week.  This one was about pirates.

C has also been working on writing his letters.  He recognizes all of them and knows most of their sounds, but hasn't been interested in trying to write them.  I bought a preschool letter workbook and made a sticker-chart for him which has helped motivate him.  Once he made it to the "M" page, he got to go pick out a small toy at Target, with another prize waiting after he makes it through the whole workbook.  This is what he chose for learning to write half of the letters:  A Switch & Go Dino (as seen on commercials and at Cole's house!)

He is supposed to "sign in" at preschool every morning, and until yesterday has always wanted me to help him.  But he wrote this all by himself yesterday!

We've had two more "skills & drills" practices and two more soccer games since I last posted.  He LOVES the games (which he calls "real soccer with one ball"), but doesn't really want to do the drills.  He scored two goals at the game last Saturday.  He was SO excited about that!!  It's been really fun.

 C and Bogart in their booster seats during afternoon carpool line.

Alexee and Rhett went to my parents' house last Thursday night and then Crosby and I went there after his game on Saturday.  We all had a great time.  Mom and Alexee went out to see the Harvest Moon and sent me this cool picture!

Dad let Rhett help him paint the old Jeep bumpers in the paint booth.  They were getting them ready to list on ebay.

I didn't take many pictures here either, but here are just a few from playing outside at Mo & Grandad's house.  The weather was PERFECT--so glad we could spend the weekend there.  

First Soccer Game

Crosby has been SO excited about the start of a new soccer season!  He and several buddies are playing on the same team--it should be super fun!  They practice drills for the first 30 minutes then they play a 30 minute game (every Saturday morning through the end of October).  

Ready to go!

Rhett getting comfortable for the game

We loved having guests at the game!!  My Dad spent the night with us Friday night, and my cousin, Keith, was in town too so he met us there.  We were so happy they came to watch C play!

Alexee & her friend Kylie

Go Crosby!

The game was the cutest thing!  The boys had a difficult time remembering which goal was ours, but they started to figure it out by the end.  :)  

Crosby & Grandad after the game

He had such a good time and he's already looking forward to next weekend!  I took him to the skills practice this evening.  When he got back in the car he said, "I love my soccer team".

Short but Busy Week

Even though it was a four-day week due to Labor Day, last week was busy!  It was all good things, though.  On Tuesday my Grandparents were in town for the day so I got to have lunch with them!  The kids were all at school, so it was a treat to have an hour just to sit down and visit with them.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  They are so special to me, and I'm very grateful for them.  What a great way to start the week!

On Wednesday Crosby worked on his tricycle, we played basketball at the gym and then attended the first fall story time at the library.  The story time theme was Grandparents' Day, which Crosby loved.  He said he'd like to go back, so this might be a weekly activity for the two of us this year.  That afternoon R had a make-up guitar lesson then we picked up a pizza for dinner.

Listening to the stories.  (sweet little hands clasped!)

School updates:

Cros seems to be doing fine at preschool!  He likes going and has such sweet teachers.  I loved his answers on the interview.  :)

Rhett decided that he wanted to run for Student Council VP this year (a 4th grade position).  His essay and poster were due on Friday so that was his after-school project on Thursday.  He likes to be very involved at school--I hope he wins!  I think elections are this Friday.  :)

Alexee loves her 1st grade teacher, and I love that I can already see growth in her reading and writing.  Rhett is reading a few chapters of Because of Winn-Dixie to her each night, and she wanted to write about the first chapter in her notebook.  She asked me to read through it and correct her mistakes while she was at school.  :)

Friday night my parents were in town for an Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation dinner.  My Granddad was being honored there as a Legacy Award Recipient.  We're all so proud of him for his passion and devotion to our state!  It was great to get to see Mom and Dad.

Shortly after my parents left it was time for Alexee to go to an "Almost Sleepover" birthday party.  She was so excited!

Saturday morning was Crosby's first soccer game (separate post)--it was really fun!  That afternoon Crosby took a long nap and Alexee made BFF necklaces.  She's very crafty and loves to spend time making things.

Saturday night Lane was on call at the Razorbacks game.  I think this was his third year to work there.  There were no emergencies in his section, so he just got to enjoy watching the game from the sidelines!  I took this picture to send to his parents--him in the new Hogs shirt and cap that they gave him for his birthday last week.

While he was at the game, the kids wanted to go to the playground.  Rhett wanted us to play "Monkey-in-the-Middle". 

Then we went to Big Orange for dinner and had a good time.  They must have worked up quite an appetite at the playground.  Rhett ate every bite of his burger, I ordered a chicken strip and fruit basket for A & C to share and they ate all of that and asked me to order another one.  Crosby ate most of it too, then we shared two milkshakes:  Chocolate Factory and Cookies and Cream.  They have delicious shakes there!  That night they all had a "sleepover" in Rhett's room.

Labor Day Weekend Trip

Happy 40th Birthday to Lane today!

Labor Day Weekend was fun!  We met my friends Ali, Lianne and Stacy (and their families) in Dallas.  It was great to get to hang out together--I wish we all still lived in the same town.  :(  Saturday night we all went to the Texas Rangers game.  It's such a neat atmosphere at the stadium, but I have to admit that it was pretty hot and humid.  We didn't stay for the whole game. 

Sunday morning our family went to la Madeleine for breakfast.  Lane and I (usually) love going there, but this time it was one of those eating-out experiences that was just way too complicated to be at all enjoyable.  Crosby cried because I ordered him milk instead of juice, Rhett didn't see anything on the menu that he wanted, everyone had to go to the bathroom at least once during the meal (I think C went three times) and he somehow made it inside with his leftover cotton candy from the baseball game and basically ate that for breakfast.

When we parked at the restaurant, there was an elderly man standing on the sidewalk.  He was needing directions so he asked Lane for assistance.  With the help of Google maps, Lane was able to point him to the right road. I thought it was cute how Alexee stood at the lobby window and looked out to see what Lane was doing. 

After breakfast we met up with our friends at the pool, then we all went to the resort's water park.  This is the only picture I took there...it was just too crowded and busy to think about photos!

That evening we all (17 of us!) had dinner at one of the restaurants at the hotel.  Here's the kids' table and Ali's husband trying to help the waiter with drink orders!  

Sweet friends!

These boys have been friends since they were toddlers.

I loved spending time with these girls.  Their friendships are so special to me!  One of my favorite parts of the weekend was sitting out in the hallway talking and laughing after the kids were asleep.  

Vacation is tiring!  :)

Crosby in super-hero mode, jumping from one bed to the other

The kids liked looking at the model trains that circled through the lobby.

(Crosby climbs on everything.)

Monday morning we actually went back to la Madeleine with the whole group.  Things went better for our family that morning...maybe going to be a little earlier helped.

The girls braiding hair

I didn't want breakfast to end because I didn't want it to be time to say good-bye to everyone again.  I'm really glad we were able to spend the holiday weekend together!