Open House - Big Success

Well, it's that time of year. Public schools in our county started back today. This is the 2nd year that I have not been there, and I don't miss it at all. But this year is a little different. Rea starts school too. She is attending a local private school and since she is only 3, they are stagger-starting. Her first day is Wednesday. Although honestly, she would go today if I would send her.

Last night was Open House. Rea was over-the-moon excited to attend! It was hard for me to believe that we have reached this step already. I still vividly remember being preggers, eating dinner at PF Changs the night before she was born, the first time I saw her, the day we brought her home from the hospital... and so on.

At PF Changs celebrating Mom's bday (Rea was born the next morning)

Our first official meeting

Already my fave girl!

Tears fill my eyes when I think about what Wednesday is going to feel like for me. I know Rea will be fine (she didn't want us to stay at Open House last night). And I will put on a strong face in case she has even the smallest bit of fear.

Last night she was a champ. The kids got a "passport" with all 5 teachers on it. They had to travel around to the different stations, meet each teacher, perform the little activity, and get the teacher to stamp their passports. Rea LOVED it! She actually woke up talking about the plant she planted with her science teacher. =)

She kept cleaning off her fingers in the water bowl =)

Picking the seeds up from the teacher

Shape corner - Surprise! Rea picked only the green shapes.

Peeling stickers for the sailor cap... 

But once we got in the car, the stickers came off the hat and were used like tattoos. 

I can't wait to watch her grow this year.

Good Luck and Go Noles

Last night we celebrated Chris' 18th birthday (a little early) and said goodbye to him before he ventures off to the greener pastures of Tallahassee.

Shane asked me if this made me feel old... Well, yes. Thanks for pointing that out. I remember when Chris was born. He, like Ri, couldn't wait to start his life and decided to come early. 2 months early. He was so little! Sam was only born 10 days before Chris, but she looked ginormous compared to him... When we would take the babies out in public, people always thought Chris was a baby doll.

Idk why this pic won't rotate the correct way... it doesn't look like this on my computer. Grr. 

But now, Chris is almost 18. He is almost a college-kid. Oy.

Well, good luck Chris! We are so proud of you. We know you will be wildly successful, but please call us if you need anything at all. Oh, and your mom and I may surprise you sometime =)

Lala and Ri

Trying to get a good shot of the kids

Playing a game on Mommy's phone

Playing a game with Chris

Why eat lasagna when you can eat an Italian sub?

Jess and Justin

Stu trying desperately to beat the family in Words with Friends

Grammie and Kaka arrive

The man of the hour

Some of the men

Swapping stories

"The mean lady in green" - or as we call her, "Vickie"

Rea and Kaka

Ri and Kaka

Chris with Amy & Les (Those are some pretty proud parents)

Oh Pop.

Ri and Grammie

You know, maybe she's not SOOO mean... she does have a drink. 

CAKE!!!

The Crew

Getting up early is a punishment to us all

Rea starts school in just 2 short weeks, so I had the genius idea to start waking us up earlier and earlier each day until then. My munchkins like to sleep in, and that has made me a happy Mommy. But, oy. It is killing me to try waking up close to 7am. And that's not even early enough for us when school starts.
Oh well. Tomorrow is another practice day.

It has been a while since my last entry. Of course the kids have done blog-worthy tidbits, but there hasn't been material enough for a whole great entry or story.

So I guess I will add photos and briefly update you on our endeavors.

One day while I was in the frame shop, the kids played at Grammie's:

Yes, he just put a fistful of sand in his mouth. Yum.

Ri had a date... and we all tagged along.

K and Ri size each other up

They are so cute together! 

Ever the big sister, Rea read to K. =)

Getting this messy on a dinner date only works if you are under 2.

Prim and proper... K hardly has any yuck on her. =)

After church one evening, Rea & B rode their bikes in the parking lot... Ri watched from the sidelines. 

Rea's fashion sense hasn't changed much.

 But Ri thought it would be fun to join her.

And that's pretty much it for July. August is shaping up to be a busy work month, but I am really slacking in the photo department.