Day 2 Outfits

I don't know if it's just because I only got to see my kids is swimsuits and mismatched PJ's for 3 months, but it's almost eye candy from me to see them dressed in a full outfit, hair combed, shoes on, and matching! So, I took pictures this morning, and I have to say I think they look even cuter today than yesterday! Last night we assessed the shoe debacle of Ava's and realized that she didn't have a pair of tennis shoes at all that were her size! So off to Target we went with a coupon in hand and got her a brand new pair for school...and we all LOVE them and she says they make her run faster!

Levi is testing out my boots in anticipation of fall...please come quickly, Fall!

First Day Interviews

First Day of school video 2012 from Emma Montandon on Vimeo.

12 Step Program

I realize that I'm backtracking just a little bit, and I had hoped to write this post on Sunday, but I was REALLY busy organizing the house and school stuff so that this morning would be successful, and it was, so it's worth writing this a little late.  I wanted to share how we survived entertained ourselves during the last week of summer vacation.
Without further adieu, the 12 steps to surviving the last week of summer:

Step 1: Buy some Orbeez. I don't really understand them, but kids are fascinated with them.  We left them on the counter in a bowl for the entire week and the girls loved playing with them every single day.

Step 2: Take a 2 year old, 5 year old, and 8 year old  to play putt-putt for the first time!  What an adventure this was!!!  We had a lot of fun, and fun watching our girls.  Thankfully, neither seems to have my issue with losing.  Elle didn't even want us to take score for her and was fine hitting the ball 17 times to finally pick it up and put it in the hole.  Ava was hilarious to watch.  She would hold her putter upside down half the time. 

 Levi was happy to stand close to the hedge and watch all the go-carts racing around the track.

 I put up a valiant effort...but Shawn beat me by one measly point.  A rematch has been scheduled, this Thanksgiving at the Putt Putt place in Tyler.

 

 

Step 3: Play pretend a lot.  Here we have two cute doggies with their water bowls.  They were very good at fetching :) (and spilling water)



Step 4: Allow the girls to make cookies, all.by.themselves.  This was a first.  I am usually overly involved in the process because I don't want to clean up a mess, but this time, I said Whatever! and let them have at it.  The only thing I did was put the cookies in the oven and take them out!  They were so excited and proud of the finished product.

Step 5: Learn how to sew with a needle and thread.  Elle got a sewing kit at Christmas I think and it was still not opened so I thought this was the perfect time to break it out, especially since it had a smaller and larger owl to sew.  The girls really loved doing this craft.  They are completely proficient at threading their own needle with a threader and very good and a few different stitches.  As I write this they are about 80% complete...the last part is kind of tedious so they bore of it quickly.

 

 

Step 6: Break out the Play-doh and clay and let me create till their hearts content.

 We realized during this craft that we are down to only a few containers of Play-doh that aren't dried up so looks like I need to make a trip to Walmart soon...

Ava's creation on the left is a pepperoni pizza and Elle's is a snowman....wishful thinking on both parts.

Step 7: Try out some Milk Art-such a simple craft.  Milk, food coloring, Q-tip, and Dawn dish soap.  If milk wasn't so expensive, I would have let them keep getting new "canvases" all afternoon!

 

 

Step 8: Experiment with Elephant Toothpaste--another easy experiment with a fun reaction!  Would have been more fun (at least for me) if I had gotten a higher percentage hydrogen peroxide than what you can get at HEB.

Step 9: Play with Oobleck: Yet another fun experiment where you can get messy.  All three kids loved this one and played with their oobleck for at least 30 minutes.

Step 10: Go fishing and have a weenie roast and S'mores.

 Here's Levi helping Daddy roast the hotdogs.

 Tried a S'mores with Reece's Peanut Butter Cups instead of plain ol' chocolate.  Not bad...but one thing I have figured out....off brand marshmallows just don't taste as good....lesson learned.

 Levi and Ava playing with mostly live minnows.

 A family picture at the River

Step 11: Spend one last late morning eating donuts.  This is a rare treat in our house so the girls were very excited to go!

 Levi was very specific that he wanted the green donut :)

 

 

Step 12: Go on a datenight alone without the kids!!!  Saturday night, Shawn planned an evening for us to get away after the intensity of the summer!  We went to Torchy's Tacos and had some great food, although mine was BURNING UP SPICY!!  Then we went to the mall and did a little window shopping.  It was a relaxing and great way to end such an eventful week and summer.  

Class of 2022 and 2025

It finally arrived....the day we've anticipated for how old is Ava a whole summer! :) It was time to take both girls to school. This morning went pretty well considering everyone had to get up early. The only meltdown to be had was by Ava because she didn't like the shoes I picked for her to wear. Total freakout with crying-snot-in-the-hair-meltdown. It was great. But as soon as we got in the car, she forgot all of her worries and the anticipation built. It took us all of 3 minutes to get from our driveway to the school which is wonderful. Just for the record, a few days ago when I was telling Ava how this mornings schedule would go, in hopes that it might calm any anxiety she had, she listened intently and then sat quietly for a minute. Then she quickly stated "Ya'll don't need to walk me to class. Just drop me off at the front of the school." Oh Ava, you could not be more ready for Kindergarten. I am so excited to hear all about their day. Elle seemed very excited too, but also a little bit timid, which is to be expected when you don't know anyone. I pray that she quickly makes friends, and the kind of friends that aren't catty--and yes, that is a lot to ask in 3rd grade. :( All of the students in Elle's class looked so much older! This might be the last year we get to walk her to class...we'll see, but I tried not to be a dorky parent that embarrassed her, though I've been told that as she gets older, no matter what I do it will embarrass her. Anyway, here's to a wonderful year at a brand spankin' new school...and here's to TWO DOWN, ONE TO GO!!!

 

 

This is the End...

.....of summer. As I write this, we have exactly 8 more days until a new school year begins.....and I will have TWO children in school and only ONE tiny little person to care for all day long!!!! We are in a mad dash in these last few days to have all kinds of "summery" experiences. I've planned some special things for the upcoming week since our pools are all now closed and the library won't be starting any story time things again until September. Last week as one of our fun things, we headed to a little water park in Temple with the Valdez's for one last pool date. The water park was wonderful and for once, the time went by very quickly. All of the kids LOVED it! I'll try to update and actually pick up my camera and take a few pictures this week of the little things we do.

You know it's been a successful trip to the water park when your kids want to fall asleep on the lounge chairs.

Brooks turns one!

We took a very quick trip this weekend to celebrate my C-U-T-E nephew turning one!  We also were picking up the girls because they'd been spending the last few days with Nana and Poppy in Tyler.  We had a really good time and my brother, his wife and their PRECIOUS baby boy were there too so it was a real treat to all be together and it wasn't even an official government holiday!  I think I spent much of the party going back and forth between both of the baby nephews.  I hadn't seen either one in quite a while so I needed to get lots of face time in with both so they'd remember me!  Of course the girls had a great time with Haydon and Levi played with everyone. 

 All the cousins

 And the adults who helped provide all those cousins :)

 Sweet Grayson-5 months old and as cute as can be...loved those blue eyes

 I could eat this little munchkin up...if he'd be still long enough!  Baby Brooks won't be a baby much longer....and on a separate note, is this not the cutest smash cake EVER?! (and it tasted good too...I helped him eat it ;)

My gift to Brooks; a hooded towel I made for him..only spent around $13 for the material needed!!!