Grandparents' Week & School Work

Rhett and Alexee's school celebrated Grandparents' Week this week.  Since their grandparents all live out of town and could not attend, Crosby and I had fun going as the kids' "special guests" on Tuesday (Kindergarten) and Thursday (3rd grade).  Alexee was happy to show us around her classroom now that she's been there long enough to know about all the stations, and she had some artwork on display.  Crosby found a lot of things to keep him occupied.  

Alexee also introduced us to some of her new friends.  This is her with Chloe and Lezlie in the photo on the right.

Cute artist and artwork

(I think she really likes cats!)

Showing Crosby the puzzles area

The lunch box cart

On Wednesday Crosby had his friend, Cole, over to play.  They really get along so well, and I'm just so thankful for a little friend Crosby's age.  They played fire fighters, as usual, and ate their lunches out on the deck because it was such a beautiful day.

I had not been back to R's classroom since the first day of school, so it was nice to see his teacher again and learn more about what they do each day.  They went through their morning routine for us, including saying the Pledge of Allegiance, singing the Star Spangled Banner, and putting their heads down on their desks for one minute of "reflective silence".  They also sang their closing song, "I've Got the Joy Joy Joy Joy Down in My Heart".

Crosby remembered the tarantula from open house, so Rhett took him to see that again.  One of the grandmas looked really nervous when C tried to take the lid off of the spider box!  She was very quick to point out the sign that said, "Do Not Touch!"  Crosby was much calmer with Alexee on Tuesday than he was with R when we were in his classroom.  Something about being with Rhett makes him want to climb, kick, run, yell, laugh, etc. (see pic of the three of us below).

Rhett peeking during the minute of silence.

Two things that R's class has been working on:

systems of the body and cursive writing

And here's some of Alexee's work...

She picked all of these purple flowers from the monkey grass in the back yard.  She asked for a vase and then arranged them and added leaves from Natalie's yard for a finishing touch.  :)

Monday

It's already week #4 of school, which is hard to believe!  After dropping R & A off this morning, Crosby and I built a Lego fire station.

And we went for a walk.  I was thinking I'd push him in the stroller for exercise, but he wanted to walk by himself so we just strolled along at a slow pace.  He took a snack, and we stopped to look at bugs on the sidewalk, minnows in the creek, fire hydrants, etc.

After school we went to Staples to get a flash drive and a notebook that Rhett needed for school tomorrow, then we stopped by the bakery for cookies.  As soon as we got home, Alexee got her homework sheet out of her backpack and started working.  I love that she does this without being asked.  She likes to get things done, and even though it's a small thing it seems like such a big help to me!  She drew this little picture of the color yellow today--hay, daffodils, sunshine, a duck and a smiley face.  I think yellow is a really cheerful color!

We played out in the back yard for a while before dinner, and we discovered some sort of vine and produce growing over our fence.  The new neighbors have planted something on a pole where our fences meet.  The kids thought it was funny and wanted to know what it was.  Maybe some sort of squash??  Crosby shot it with a water gun, just for fun.

Weekend

Friday morning Crosby was invited to play at his friend Cole's house, but 10:15 just wasn't getting here fast enough for him, so I got out the paints to help pass the time.  We started out making fall fingerprint trees, but his soon evolved into something else.  :)  

I was impressed by this next painting.  He said it was a "chocolate whirlpool".  I didn't know that he knew what a whirlpool was, and I sure didn't know he could paint one!  :)  The kids had been watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the night before, and C was really interested in the part where Augustus Gloop falls into the chocolate river.  I guess it was still on his mind the next day.

While C was at his play date, I made a quick trip to the garden center to buy mums.  I hurried home to plant them before time to get Crosby home for his nap.

 Made burgers for dinner Friday night

Saturday morning A & R stayed with Lane while I took C to his friend Carson's b-day party at JumpZone.  He had so much fun--he loves that place!

Cole and Crosby blocking the girls.  I heard them say, "Let's make a plan!"  :)

The very cute & sweet birthday boy!

Happy 4th!

Saturday night Lane worked at the AR football game.  He was on call for emergencies in the crowd, but didn't get paged so he just had a good view of the (very bad) game.  He'd been looking forward to being on the sidelines--I hated that he had to come home depressed.  I didn't really watch the game, but I fast-forwarded through to try to spot him on TV.  I found him and his friend Joe (in the red shirts)!

After church today Lane's parents came to visit!  We were all glad to see them.  Yesterday was Rose Mary's birthday and today was Grandparents day, so we celebrated that with lunch at Señor Tequila and dessert when we got back home.  I made her a burlap wreath for her b-day.

Grammy, Bobby & the kids
We love you!

This afternoon we had another birthday party to celebrate at the park.  Rose Mary went with me and the kids while L and his Dad went to the golf store.  It was a beautiful day!

 Grammy and the kids on the rocking seat

 Happy Birthday, Parker!

Parker is SO cute!  He's Alexee's age--I'd hoped they would be in the same K class, but that didn't work out.  His parents are in our Community Group Bible study--sweet family!

Bob and Rose Mary kept the kids for us so that Lane and I could go out to dinner.  We had a fun date night out!  It has been a busy weekend...time to get the lunches started and get ready for a new week!

Labor Day Weekend

Last Saturday the kids and I went to see my parents for the holiday weekend.  Lane had to work Sunday and Monday, so we missed him, but I'm glad we were able to spend time with Mom and Dad and Micaela and her family.  Saturday evening we went to the cabin, fished, played in the water and grilled hot dogs.  

Lots of pictures...

Crosby's collection of shells

Alexee caught a fish all by herself!

Dinner time

Crosby, Alexee, Jeryn, Jaiden & Rhett

There was the most beautiful sunset on the drive home that night!  

We went back to the river after church on Sunday.  The kids played in the water all afternoon, and that night Dad fried fish, hushpuppies and potatoes and Mom made cole slaw and baked beans.  It was all SO good!  I wish I was eating all that again tonight!

--Quick Snake Story--

Jeryn saw a snake in the creek behind Alexee (below).  The water there is a little warmer before it flows into the river, making it a more likely place to see a snake. Jeryn calmly said, "There's a snake", and then he just turned and started walking briskly to the cabin.  I called after him (not-so-calmly because I'm scared to death of snakes), "WHERE, JERYN!?!?"  Still walking away, he answered, "Right by that rock where I was standing".  I was just a few feet away from that rock.  I glanced down and there it was, swimming around in the water.  I wanted to scream and RUN, but I was the only adult right by the water watching the kids, so I couldn't leave them.  I watched it swim the other direction (away from all the kids) then we quickly moved over to the cold river water where it was shallow but swift so that hopefully we wouldn't see any more snakes!  

We were glad that Judy, Janice, Lance & Landon came to eat with us.

Rhett and Jeryn catching crawdads

We love Mom/Mo!

Crosby & Granddad, Crosby & Mo

Fun times with cousins

The kids made their own mud slide into a shallow pool of water.  They had a blast and got so dirty!

Thanks, Mo, for doing this load of laundry for us!  :)

Monday morning we went to my Grandparents' house to visit.  Mo Nina had new t-shirts for the kids so they all put them on for a picture.  She also gave us homemade bread and homemade strawberry jam!  We looked at the chickens and played with the puppies, Jet and Jane.

with my Grandparents and sister

Very fun times--thankful for every moment!