Labor Day

Because we didn't get to make it up to Orlando for the usual 4th of July family weekend getaway, we decided to go up for Labor Day. The kids love a pool. Especially the littlest kid. I tried to capture Hope's love of the water in pictures, but I don't think it's possible to do. I have never seen anyone be so happy about anything ever in my life. Chris thinks that maybe she was a fish in a previous life.

These two crazy kids...

Summer Ends and a School Year Begins

The End of Summer :(

And here comes school

The night before the first day of school, I thought we might have some problems. Liam was pretty scared and even went so far as to ask me about death and aging. "Am I going to die one day?" When I explained to him that we would all die one day, but it was a far way off and he didn't have to worry about it, he started to cry and said that he didn't want to go to school the next day because  he didn't want to get older and die. Jeesh.

But the next morning was far smoother. He was past his morbid thoughts and excited to put on his uniform. He had a few jitters, but got past them and didn't even cry once we left in his classroom.  I, however, did get a little teary eyed. 

When I got home, I assaulted him with questions about how his first day went and if there were any problems getting picked up for aftercare. He sorta rolled his eyes and his daddy said, "See Liam, I told you she would ask a lot of questions". I didn't get much out of him except that he saw some of his friends from Oxford and Neighborhood Kids, but he seemed confident and happy. Is it horrible that that made me a little sad? It is, but he is so big now and I have to accept it. This is like the next level. The level were they don't take naps and have homework and even occasionally get embarrassed by their parents.

 

Here's to Health

About a year and a half ago, it wasn't uncommon to hear my daughter say "We going to gym, be right back" as she strolled her babydoll away into the other room. At barely two, she understood that running or going to the gym was something I did. As I gradually stopped being active and spent more time working or watching tv at night, that phrase turned into "We going to mall, be right back". It was a bit painful to hear, but I had completely let go and became lazy. The miscarriage prompted me to go running a handful of time to get my mind off of it and try to loose the baby fat, but that quickly faded too. It wasn't until my lovely (and also crazy) friend asked me to join her Tough Mudder team that I really decided I would get back into shape... for real this time.

 Neither of us had been exercising with any regularity and this event is one of the toughest of its kind so it's just what I needed to force me to take it seriously. I've been working out 4-5 days a week now and I am so thankful for the push. Not only do I feel better all around, but my kids have taken to stretching with me. I know that everytime my kids see Chris or I head out the door to go running, it makes an impact. They see that this is something we make a priority in our day now. Writing about it here is a way to keep myself accountable. I want to remember what a positive outcome it has had on me and my family. I don't want to let it go again. And the other day, the best thing happened. Livi walked out with her doll and said to her "You want to go running? Let's go exercise."

Awesome Things Livi Says

Me: Livi, how much does Mommy love you?
Livi: 20
Me: um, ok. How much do you love mommy?
Livi: 5
Daddy: how much so you love daddy?
Livi: 4

Someone's...

My Little Ballerina

Ever since Livi saw the Man on Fire music video, she has done nothing but plie and jete her way through the house. Her clumsy attempts at gracefulness are nothing short of adorable. What I thought would be a passing phase became a constant source of entertainment. Eventually, her grandma got her a book about a little girl who starts to take a ballet class and soon after she was asking if she could take dance class. We found a studio that starts classes at 3 years old that is a half hour of ballet and a half hour of tap once a week. She's only been twice and I don't really know how long it will hold her fancy, but for right now the idea of wearing all pink and spinning around in a studio is pretty much the best thing ever.

Graduation

Full disclosure: I think having a proper graduation for PreKindergarten is a little bit on the ridiculous side. I did however, buy into it. He was just so excited and it turned out to be such a fun day. We bought him a little present and when he asked what we were celebrating I didn't really know how to answer. "We are celebrating all the hard work you.. uhh... well, we are celebrating that you are done with VPK and get to go to Kindergarten next year!" And honestly, any excuse to get this kid into a tie is one I will use. So damn cute!!!

When did he become a little man?

It's like... how does one handle this?

Did you notice the untucked shirt and dirt on the knees?

Troublemakers

He actually signed an end-of-year doll

Ms Naelor is the best!

Every kid had their nicknames written on the back of their certificate