whobody went fishing on the river?

One of the things on our "list" from last summer that never got done was fishing on the river.  So this summer we made sure to do it.  This was the first time we have ever fished off of our pontoon. It all went well....until Nash started playing with his backhoes in the worm dirt. :)  We got it cleaned up though. 

 

It was a very hot night...but we knew that we would be fishing in the shade...so we grabbed food to go from Bill's....and headed out to catch some sheepshead. 

 

The kids had a blast catching such BIG fish.

 

 

 

 

 

Even Cruz was a good sport (as usual) and enjoyed playing on the boat...once we were in the shade!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I mention that we fished with crawdads?  Lola loved playing with the crawdads....this was her pet one....until she threw it in the river on the way into the dock.

 

 

 

We really had a GREAT night.  It is so much fun to spend time as a family.  This was one of those nights that just went perfect!

whobody loves to fish at the pond?

Grandpa Tractor has a pond....and the kids LOVE to go fishing there.  It is a very relaxing and peaceful place...as long as no one is crying or whining.  The pictures below are from a night that we met some of Jason's family at the pond for supper... The kids had a great time and caught lots of bluegill!

 

Lola enjoys the idea of fishing...but doesn't stick with anything for too long.  She is easily bored and distracted. :) This night she actually stuck with it for quite a while. It helped that her cousins were fishing too!

 

 

 

Even NASH caught a fish!

 

 Keaton is the one who enjoys it the most....he is even starting to get the fish off the hook by himself! (For a kid who was scared of baby kitties when he was three...that is pretty good!)

 

whobody went to cassville?

Well...we are getting to the official end of summer....and I am looking through my pictures and realizing that I have a lot to catch up on here on the blog! As I have said before...I am planning on using this blog as a scrapbook....so I want to cover as much as possible. 

 

We really had a great summer....Jason and I were just reminiscing last night...and we really got to do almost everything on our 'list' with the kids for the summer.  I didn't know if that would be possible with Cruz (since he is still, ahem 'little' and still naps and all that baby stuff), but, as usual he was a trooper on our little outings.

 

In the beginning of July we took the kids on our annual ferry trip across the river to Cassville. The plan was to go there and eat and play at the parks....but it was SO HOT that we skipped the parks....but still had a wonderful lunch. 

 

 

Here are the kids when we were waiting for the ferry.

 

 

Cruz and I stuck in the shade...but the others went and played by the water.

 

 

The kids loved being on the ferry. 

(but sometimes I have a hard time getting Nash to cooperate.)

 

 

 

Here is our attempt at a family picture....

 

 

 

Now...check out what was really happening around us....no wonder we couldn't get Nash to look!

 

Even though the weather didn't let us play at the park, we still all had a great time on our 'family fun day'!

whobody does not like salmon?

Lola's all time favorite meal (well...other than hot dogs or pizza) is salmon and white rice.  So...I made her favorite meal...and this is how Keaton entered the kitchen at dinnertime:

 

He really wanted to keep it on the whole time....but we can only handle so much ridiculousness. :) He is a picky kid...but usually doesn't complain too much (he just doesn't eat if he doesn't like it) BUT on nights we have fish...he HATES it. In his defense...it does smell pretty strong....so I did give him hamburger on his plate.. I didn't make him eat the salmon...but I DID make him take the clothespin off of his nose...

whobody is liking their time at home with Mom?

Today is Keaton and Lola's 4th day of school and they are LOVING it!

 

I should confess...that those of us left at home each day are loving it too.

Nash has truly been a PEACH since the kids have gone to school. He is really playing by himself well, and is really enjoying spending the extra time with me AND cruz

(or wittow cwoozie woozie woozie as he likes to call him)

 

 

 

 

The first day of school, I set up something special for an after school snack.  This was mostly for Nash, but Keaton and Lola enjoyed it too.  For a couple of months Nash has been talking about how he has to go to his "tractor birthday party" and has explained to us that it is a birthday party for his tractors. SO....during his nap, I set up a tractor birthday party downstairs.  Luckily it met his expectations...and Keaton and Lola enjoyed the cupcakes that came along with it.

 My goal (in an attempt to keep Lola's papers where they belong, and to learn about the school day from both kids) is to have a snack ready and sit down at the table for a few minutes with the kids as soon as they get home from school.  I figure this is a good way for me to 'touch base' with them, and have them show me everything in their back pack before it gets lost behind the couch!  NOW...there will not be another tractor birthday party for awhile...but that was fun too.  Nash really did love it...especially when we sang happy birthday to the tractors..and then NASH got to blow out the candle!

 

 

I cannot believe how peaceful and productive things are around here with the 2 oldest gone! I love to have them around....but I also LOVE to get things done!  Today I sorted both Keaton & Lola's rooms and closets (they were bad).  Can I turn my 7 year old in for hoarding??? Wow! :) He is getting better...but still likes his 'stuff'. 

 

 

Cruz is especially enjoying the more peaceful house.  He has been napping better! (because no one is running past his room waking him up I suppose!)

By the way, he LOVES lasagna. :) I am so glad the kids are enjoying school...and that Nash is not too sad he isn't going too.  We are all adjusting well!

whobody can ride a bike?

Nash can ride a bike without training wheels!

 

Can you believe it??? I can't. He will be three in October.  He has had a balance bike since this spring...and seemed to really glide a long time on that.  We bought him this "rocketship bike" a few weeks ago, and he has tootled around on it a lot.  2 nights ago when I came outside after putting Cruz to bed...Jason had taken the training wheels off and Nash was trying to ride.  It only took him about 10 minutes and he had it! Now last night he was riding all over the yard...no problem  Of course the flip flops and huge pj pants weren't the most appropriate safety gear for learning to ride...but he survived! This kid is hilarious!

 

Last night Jason and I realized that Keaton learned to ride his bike only 2 summers ago (when he was 5), Lola learned last summer (when she was 4), Nash learned this summer (at age 2)....so I guess Cruz will have to learn next summer (age 1 1/2) ;).  We'll see how that goes!

 

 

 

He is SO proud (and so am I).  Now he can keep up with Keaton and Lola.

This morning he told me "I'm a big guy, Mom!"

whobody is nervous for his 5th 1st day of school?

Oh Keaton! I swear he looks exactly the same in all of these pictures....just taller.

 

Today he started 2nd grade. His 5th first day of school.  He actually seemed more nervous for 2nd grade than any other one. It is bothering him that he is one of the 'big kids' at school.

 

 

His school career began when he was 3 years old. He went to "Little Preschool" here in Garnavillo with Lisa. He was very timid...and I (felt the need to) stay for the first 5 or 10 minutes of school for quite a while.  It was a whole new thing being "left" somewhere without me (other than Grandma's house.)  Because I stay home, he had never gone to daycare or anything like that before. He was extremely nervous...which I'm sure partially stemmed from ME being nervous too.  He adjusted to school very well though...He is a gem in the classroom. 

 

Keaton IS a people pleaser and a task completer. He loves to get things 'done'.  He is a perfectionist...and loves to follow directions.

 

 

 

His 2nd year of school was at "big preschool" with Ms. Vaughan.  He enjoyed being at the Clayton Ridge middle school building...and seeing his babysitters.  Keaton had a great time in preschool and loved the structure of the room and the new friends that he made.

 He really started to come out of his shell in his year of 4 year old preschool....being much more willing to try new things and do more without my help.

 

 

 

 This was the picture when Keaton was 5...on his FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN. 

Funny thing: Nash is actually wearing this shirt today. It was Keaton's favorite shirt for 3 years....and now Nash is choosing it all of the time...although a little big on him....still adorable.  Keaton loved Kindergarten, but really had a hard time adjusting to being engaged all day long.  7:30 to 3:30 is a long day for a 5 year old. Especially a 5 year old who LOVES to play by himself in his room.  We quickly learned that as soon as Keaton got home from school....we should give him a snack...and send him into his room for a little alone time.  He is such a hard worker.  He loved the new challenges and tasks in Kindergarten, and most of all...he LOVED to come home and teach Lola all that he was learning. He started SO many sentences with "Lola, when you are in Kindergarten...." 

 

 

 

When Keaton started 1st grade he was 6.  He was extremely nervous.....and I had a very hard time with it.  Keaton and I both have a hard time with change. I never let him know that...but he lets me know. :)  I will never forget when we went to the open house for 1st grade (I wrote a post about this last year) and we walked in the school door and instantly ran into Mrs. Tujetsch...his beloved Kindergarten teacher.  After he got a big hug...we walked away, and he said "my eyes are itchy".  Mine were very itchy too....because, as my friend Shannon pointed out one year ago.... Kindergarten is for little boys....but grades are for big boys.  We met Ms. Streich...and after about the 1st week of school....all nervousness and longing for Kindergarten went away...and he settled into 1st grade.  His favorite thing about 1st grade was, of course, the homework. As I said before....a task completer at heart.  What a GOOD kid.

 

 

 

 

Now, here we are at 2nd grade. Unbelievable.  Of course we ran into Ms. Streich last night...and she got a big ole hug from Mr. Keaton. He has expressed his fears about 2nd grade to me.

 

He is venturing into unknown territories this year. The 2nd-4th grade classrooms are UPSTAIRS...not downstairs...so the environment is completely different. He now has to ride the BIG KID SHUTTLE not the little kid one. He desperately wants to stay on Bill's bus.  He doesn't know Linda as well...so he is nervous to ride Linda's bus. He is covering this by saying that he should probably ride Bill's bus for about 2 months....you know, til Lola is comfortable on there by herself. :) He is just not sure about being one of the 'big kids' at school. 

He will LOVE the increased homework and increased responsibility, though.  We did visit his classroom and teacher last night. He has Mrs. Reichard...and he is pretty excited about her (now that he figured out which one she was).  The coolest thing is that Keaton has an AWESOME view from his desk. I am not kidding when I say, he has a perfect view of the lock&dam and the river from his seat. He will LOVE watching the barges go by.   

 

As in other years, I am sure that Keaton will settle into 2nd grade just fine....and then NEXT year as he is getting nervous about 3rd grade....he will be crying and saying he just wants to go back to second grade.  I know the pattern. I have been there (and am there every year).  I spent my whole senior year of high school crying about my "last first day of volleyball practice" and my "last homecoming" and my "last show choir trip".... but, like Keaton, I always adjusted to the new year ahead just fine. It just takes a little getting used to.

 

 I am so thankful that Keaton enjoys life SO MUCH that he isn't always looking forward to the NEXT THING. 

 

We are SO lucky that he is such a good leader for the rest of our kids (and a good introduction to our family for the teachers).  I have a sign hanging right by our door....and I think of it all of the time....especially on days like today when I am a little bit emotional about our kids doing exactly what they are supposed to do: grow up.

 

 

Don't cry because it's over.

Smile because it happened.

-Dr. Seuss

 

 

 

I am so proud of my BIG KID.

whobody is excited for her 4th 1st day of school?

I know.

It is crazy that Lola's 1st day of kindergarten is actually her

FOURTH 1st day of school.

 

So, it is funny....as much as I don't like sending my kids to school...

I did send Lola to preschool when she was 2 (almost 3).

 

In my defense...she needed it. :) She gets awful bored here at home.  So, when she was 2 and school was starting, I was like 12 months pregnant with Nash (okay, only 7...but it felt like more).  A few days before school started at the 'little preschool'....the wonderful teacher, Lisa, and I chatted on the street....and she mentioned that the class was small, and Lola was very verbal...so if I wanted to send her to 3 year old preschool as a 2 year old....I sure could.  This explains Lola's blue backpack with the name "Lauren" on it for her first day of school. (Garage sale find from our toy room).    Lola loved school right away! She is very social, and really doesn't like to play independently. *very unlike Keaton.  So, below...Lola on her first day of Little Preschool (2 years old)....isn't she cute? and so little?

 

 

 

 

The next year when Lola was 3 we sent her to Lisa again at the Little Preschool.  She also had a great year...and was joined at the hip with her best friend, Colton. (Some day Colton and Lola will be so embarrassed about how we made them best friends when they were little....I think they will always watch out for each other...even though they will be a grade apart).  So...below is a picture of Lola getting into the car. I had lots of other pictures...but she is so silly in ALL of them.

 

Then, when Lola was 4 she finally got to go to Big Preschool with Ms. Vaughan.  She loved this year too...but still really felt like she was missing out on all of the fun that Keaton got to have at Clayton Ridge Elementary.  She made some new friends at preschool (since Colton was still with Lisa) and loved to play with Olivia, Mia and Lily.  I should mention that she has already decided she is marrying a boy named Caleb from her class too.... (again, she will love me for saying that.)

 

 

Now, as a 5 year old, she is finally in Kindergarten. She is very excited. She gets the same teacher Keaton had (I should also mention that this teacher was also JASON'S kindergarten teacher....AND a teacher that I taught with back in the day!)  We have a lot of connections with Mrs. Tujetsch. She is wonderful....she really is. Lola is most excited about the classroom pet...a tortiose named Scooter...AND Mrs. Tujetsch always hatches baby chicks in her room in the Spring. 

 

Lola can't wait.  She will love being in school all day...and she will love not having to do "quiet time" at home.  I am amazed at how much Lola has grown up in the last year...and how much she has picked up from Keaton academically.  Lola can SERIOUSLY READ.  She really can. She can read as well as Keaton did at the END of kindergarten.  She picked it up just from watching Keaton. Amazing.

 

She will love learning new things...and meeting new people.  She will also love being busy all day.  She may get herself into a little more trouble than Keaton ever did.  Lola is not a people pleaser....she is more of a people entertainer. This sometimes tends to get her into trouble.  She is a daring adventurer that likes to make people laugh...and have fun.  She said she is a little nervous about today...but I know that she will love it and do JUST fine.

 

I can't believe that she is in Kindergarten already.  Keaton has big plans of "helping" Lola at school and on the bus...but she is not going to need any help at all. I am so proud of her.  She is a lovable little lady with a strong personality. I know she will thrive in Kindergarten...but I will sure miss her around here (most of the time anyway).

whobody is on the bus?

Boy, my house is QUIET!

 

It is just me, Nash and Cruz today (and Cruz is already napping.)

 

Today was Lola's first day of Kindergarten, and Keaton's first day of 2nd grade!

 

I can't believe my kids are already getting so old. We just realized last night that when Nash is going to kindergarten....Keaton will be here in Garnavillo at the Middle School!!!! Wow. Time really flies.

 

This morning we had our annual first day of school photo shoot....

 

I have  noticed that when my kids are nervous, they get silly.

(They get that from me.)

 

They both got up early and were ready by 7:15.  The bus doesn't come til at least 7:35. I guarantee that Lola will NOT be ready by 7:15 every day....Keaton might...but, Lola needs a lot of reminders....and tends to dawdle.  But, not today.

 

 

 

 

 

 I really am excited for my kids to go to school. I hate to have them out of my 'controlled bubble' for so many hours of the day....and I miss them terribly...and I worry about their little hearts getting hurt (or knees) and me not being there to comfort them.... but I am excited for them.  I do know that having them in school, things will be much more under control around here...and we will have a better daily routine. (I thrive on routine.)  But I really do hate to miss out on so much of their day. Such is life, I guess.

 

Of course the kiddos had to ride their bikes around until the bus got here. Shelby was a little late, so they were a little worried that I forgot to tell the school that they were riding the bus!

 But she eventually showed up, they both threw down their bikes, and reluctantly turned around for one more picture....

 And, they're off.

For some reason, this year is easier for me than the last 2 have been.  I guess that there is something to be said about knowing that they are together. Safety in numbers. Now...I am going to look for their past first day of school pictures....and then spend the rest of the day playing with Nash (and hopefully catching up around here). 

 

Deep breath in, deep breath out. 

It is not easy for me to see my kids growing up.

whobody is getting ready?

Well. My kids start school tomorrow.

YIKES.

I will now have a kindergartner & and second grader.

 

 

A few weeks ago we got our school supplies ready to go.

Of course, Nash packed a backpack too...and Cruz wanted to be a part of the action.

 

 

Don't worry...he was safe. He wasn't in a bumbo or anything ;)  At this time, he wasn't crawling yet....and I was standing right there the whole time!  He LOVED to be right in the middle of it all.

 

Our school does an open house the night before school. THIS is wonderful.  They get their supplies to their rooms...and meet their teachers again...and see where they are headed the next day!  This is a great way to get those jitters out. (Which we needed....)

 Keaton is more nervous than Lola about school (which doesn't make any sense at all...since she is the one starting Kindergarten in a totally new building and everything).  Keaton would prefer to stay in 1st grade...on the bottom floor of the school...riding Bill's bus.  I think he feels better after tonight...but still a bit timid.

 Lola on the other hand said this "at kindergarten round up I was nervous, at kindergarten practice I was nervous, but tonight DID IT....I am SO excited and not nervous at all!"  No worries there.

I am not going to get too into my emotions....tonight at least. :) I do have a hard time seeing my kids pass into different stages of life and meet different challenges. Like Keaton, I am anxious about change.  But, I too will get used to only 1/2 of my kids being here during the day...and hopefully, that will make me a little more productive around here...and make the little boys' lives a little more routine. 

We will see how things go tomorrow on the BIG first day!!!