Countdown to Kindergarten!

We are officially back in school-mode which means up early and running around until we fall back into bed in the evenings!  The boys got their "back to school" hair cuts on the day before I started back to work..... they love getting the lollipops afterwards as a treat!

We had Maddox's open house about a week ago and he has already been back at school for a week!  We absolutely love his teachers, Ms. Lori, Ms. Cathy and Ms. Jessica.  It is so sweet to hear Maddox say each of their names in his almost three year old voice! Maddox has become so vocal lately... talking in complete sentences and really being able to carry on conversations!  Tonight as I was cuddling with him (in his toddler bed), he said "Mommy, you can get out of my bed now."  And then followed it up with "You can get out of my room now."..... I don't know where he has heard this but it was so neat to hear him be able to communicate his wishes but also heartbreaking because I probably would have cuddled with him longer!  I am already starting to miss the nights where he would cuddle into my chest as we sat in the rocking chair, singing songs until it was bedtime.  It is so crazy what people say (about how I will miss these days when they are gone).....but I am already starting to miss some of the "baby" tendencies that both boys no longer have.  I just hope I can still get bedtime cuddles and big hugs for many years to come!

The picture below was the only picture of Maddox that I got on the way home from his first day!  The picture above was from open house.  The teachers keep saying what a great kid he is and he keeps having good reports each day.... we are praying that continues! :)

 While Maddox has already started back to school, Zander has two weeks before he is officially a kindergartner.  In the meantime, he has been going to "Grammy Camp".  My parents have made sure he has had some pretty fun field trips while I've been working..... they have been to a few parks, fished in a local lake, played miniature golf twice, rode a train, went to the science center, practiced "school" things, cooked lunch and spent some time with Aunt Lindsey and Emerson!  Grammy and Grandpa spoil these boys rotten!  Zander was even able to see a friend, Olivia, from his old school that he has known since he was three months old!  I can't wait to hear what adventures Grammy has planned for this upcoming week!

 Today I took my almost kindergartner to the Wyndham Golf Championship!  We had a great time with Grandpa, Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Boomer!  Dad even had a couple of his friends join us!  Zander got his fan signed by D.A. Points.  He was actually paired with Brandt Snedeker who won the championship.... I took a picture of them (below) on hole 18 (of round 3).

Summer Break: Week Six

Sadly, this will be my last weekly summer break post.... I head back to work on Thursday.  We have had the best summer... as I tried to document with a ton of pictures! haha..... I can tell that it is about time for the boys to head back to school so they are able to spend time with peers their own age and maybe a little less time with their sibling...... I am using this thought to make it easier to head back to work! :)  Here is how we spent our last week of summer break.....

Last Monday, we headed to the science center with Grammy, Aunt Lindsey and Emerson.... we had a great time but Maddox has gotten so comfortable at the science center that he started to wander off from the group.....It made this mama very anxious so I am somewhat glad we might have a couple months before we have another visit there!  Maybe he will be older and wiser by then? ;)  As you can see, Emmy sometimes has a hard time keeping up with two rambunctious boys!  This picture of the three of them on the slide cracks me up!

We also celebrated Great Grandpa's 89th birthday together.  The boys loved singing "Happy Birthday" to him and helping blow out his candles!

 After dinner, we went to ChickFila to let the kids play for a bit since it was a very rainy week this past week.  As you can see, the moms were tired from a very busy day!

One of the biggest milestones this past week was moving the boys up to their next size beds!  Maddox now has ownership of the toddler bed that used to be in Zander's room and Zander inherited a twin bed from the Kennedys for him to use until we are ready for a full size bed! So far things have been going great!! One day I did catch Maddox "sneaking" back to his room as I was coming upstairs during nap time.  He had gone to play in Zander's room (since Zander doesn't nap every day) and knew he better get back in his bed before mommy saw him....it really was hilarious!

 This past week Zack and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary.  I am so thankful to be blessed with a decade of marriage to this amazing man that leads our family.  There is no one else I would rather do life with so it was fun celebrating such a special milestone for our family!  We went out to dinner to celebrate while Grammy watched the boys.  It rained the whole time so I didn't get a picture of the two of us other than in the car on the way to dinner and when picking up dessert.  I absolutely loved my new dress that I bought for $15 from a friend's boutique so I had to post a picture of course!

I love Zack's homemade card...... this is just so "him" and that's part of what makes our marriage work! haha

On Saturday, we went to Lazy 5 Ranch with the whole family.  We had the best time feeding all the animals and the weather was perfect.... not raining but overcast! :)

 We loved seeing the kangaroos.... especially one that had a joey in her pouch!

 This camel looks like he is posing for our family picture! haha

On Sunday, we headed to Hanging Rock for a picnic lunch and hiking with our Sunday School class.  Here are a few pictures of some of the group..... Zander was there too but he was too busy playing in the waterfalls!

 Also, we have fit in some pool days, mostly inside due to the rainy weather outside.  We hope to have one more pool day before I officially start back to work this week!

Later today we are headed to see the new "Christopher Robin" (Winnie the Pooh) movie with Grammy, Grandpa, Aunt Lindsey and Emmy.  Then, I am spending the day tomorrow with my mom ..... hoping to watch some old movies with the kids!  We are definitely making the most of the last days of summer!