Lately...

Things are beginning to settle down and our routine is falling into place.  Piper is easing into the increased load of homework.  Math has been hard but she seems to enjoy spelling.  I use the term "enjoy" loosely!

 Here she is on a Thursday night practicing her spelling words on the dry erase board.  We have spelling homework three nights a week and on the fourth night we practice writing out the words like this to prepare for the Friday test!

 Not all of September has been boring and drudgery!  We busted out the slip n' slide one more time before it cooled down too much.  (Or maybe the only time this season!)  Briggs was chilly but loved it.  We had neighbor friends over to enjoy the fun also!

 Briggs really is enjoying friends and socializing so much more now than he did last year.  It's especially fun to see him pretend playing!  He and Asher never seem bored together!  In fact, at Briggs' parent teacher conference, his teacher said they purposely separate Briggs and Asher because they can't keep their hands off each other and will not play with others if they're in the same activity! Ha!

And probably the most exciting thing that has occurred this month is..........................................

 Piper taught herself to ride a bike without training wheels!!!!!!!!!!!

 She's been working on this for a month or so, determined not to have either parent assist her in any way, shape, or form!

 And one day she got on the bike and took off!  She was so excited and so were we!!  There's been a lot of bike riding going on around here!

September Thus Far...

So far, September has flown by. That being said, it has been a hard month getting used to school and fall activities.  Briggs is doing really well in school and enjoying it.  Piper is not loving it as much but this happened last year and I think it just takes time for her to adjust to the new routine and expectations! Sometimes my/our attitudes are less than stellar and sometimes my/our responses are less than holy!  But in the midst of the hard days, I know the Lord has me exactly where he wants me to be...even if I don't want to be in that exact place at that moment!!  

 This is a rare sight of Briggs napping one Saturday afternoon.  Both kids were in trouble for their behavior while out shoe shopping so one of the consequences was to lay in bed for an hour.  Briggs decided he was overdue for a nap!  I won't lie!  I was thrilled at this sight!

 A first grader in our neighborhood hosted a petting zoo birthday party and my kids loved it!  Piper played with the animals some and her friends a lot!  Briggs played with the animals the entire time! He had no fear and enjoyed every second!

 In Piper's first grade class they have what is called "Flashlight Friday" in which they turn the lights off and turn their flashlights on to read quietly.  The flashlight Daddy ordered had not arrived so she was allowed to borrow his headlight last Friday!  I called this Breakfast Spelunking!

 Piper was among a group of kids who rescued a baby bunny under the swings, after school one day.  I'll be real honest.  I could have cared less about that little bunny, but it was fun to see them excited!  Hopefully, he's thriving in his new home by the creek!

First Day of Preschool for Briggs!

Oh my goodness how big does Briggs look!!??  And he's even trying to pose for the camera!  Big steps this morning!! He woke up bright and early at 4:30!  I think he may have been excited.  Maybe?? I made him go back to bed but he got up again at 6 am so I'm not sure if he slept during that time.  We've been talking about getting ready for school this past month.  Briggs has been adamant that "he not go to school!" But after meeting his teachers, I think he finally decided that school might be fun and has been acting a little excited about it. This morning he was ready to get dressed and we talked about taking his picture so he began practicing what his smile would look like.  I'm not kidding!  Once pictures were over, we went to celebrate the big day with donuts!  He had to take big bear with him because that's his fondest friend as of today.  And then we were the first to arrive at school.  He was ready to go in!  Briggs gave me a hug, kiss and said goodbye!  No tears or grabbing on to me.  He didn't ask me to hold him!  None of that clingy stuff. What a difference a year has made and even just in the last six months!  I'm excited for him because he has matured so much!  He has some fun teachers and his buddy Asher is in class with him!  It's going to be a great year!

 He was all smiles at pick up.  He said he "caught" a fish and a shark and played in the water.  "I share mom.  I not hit!"  Ha!  And when I said did you have fun he enthusiastically replied, "Yaaaaaaa!"