First Week of Kindergarten

It is hard to believe our little boy is old enough for Kindergarten. It really doesn't seem that long ago when I was teaching Kindergarten and he was kicking around my belly.
He was so excited and eager. We had been to Kindergarten orientation months ago, then to Meet the teacher night last week, and now the first day of school was here. I had gotten him a backpack, lunch box and a new insulated straw cup he was geared up and nothing was going to wipe that smile off his face.

As we waited for the bus I could tell he was getting nervous as he started saying "I love you Mommy" which he will say randomly when he is either nervous or tired. The bus pulled up and he was off! The day went smoothly he made friends with a very shy girl, Emma.

I was very torn to let the boy ride the bus or if I was going to drive him, ride bikes or walk. It seemed that walking was not so much an option as it would just take us too long. Riding bikes for now is out because Emilia is too small to put a helmet on and ride in my baby bike seat or trailer. So we were down to car or bus...the line for pick up in the afternoons averages 45 min and that just seemed mean to make us four girls sit and wait just to stick the little guy in the car when they could be out playing or still napping. And with so many kids on campus the district really pushes for everyone to take advantage of the FREE bus service. So we decided we'd try it. One week into it, seems to be working well. And a little added bonus is I now know more neighbors!
Things are run a bit different here then they were when I was little or taught in California but it works. We are and will continue to adjust. I'm so happy we live in a great school district where he gets a PE teacher, a Music teacher, an art teacher, a computer teacher in a lab, and a librarian in the most beautiful elementary library I've ever seen. The library and school has murals of the ocean painted all over it is so cheerful and inviting. They have an abundance of supplies and volunteers. He will have a 3rd grade reading buddy and then high school kids come in to play and help sometimes too! So far I am happy we picked this community to live. Our School is ranked 'Exemplary' by the state and four of the district high schools were ranked in the top 1,622 High Schools for both public and private by Newsweek. The High School we feed into was ranked 689th, that says a lot for all the elementary and middle schools that feed into it. I know our little man is in good hands and will love learning and going to school. He still wants to be an entomologist when he grows up.

Our Little Pixie is 2

Yesterday was AbyKates 2nd birthday.
In the past few weeks AbyKate has started to talk, even uses two word phrases! But I think her favorite new skill is opening doors. This keeps anyone from hiding from her, which is very frustrating to William and Claira but OH so wonderful for her. She can also get to the stool in the kitchen pantry and reach/climb to get anything and everything, which is frustrating for me. She still has the spunkiest personality of all the kids. She is the loudest by far, I know amazing if you have ever spent anytime with Claira. Her favorite activities...well anything to do with water, 'reading' her cards (animals, shapes, colors etc.), chasing bugs with her big brother, puzzles and giving a 'diss' to her her baby sister. Actually come to think of what her favorite activity would be...screaming and making a mess! She doesn't really have a favorite food, some days she eats everything and other nothing, but noodles are almost always a hit. But she does love her beverages, Milk is #1 then comes any thing from a box or plastic bottle.

To celebrate the big day we went to the zoo. Oh how she loves the carousel, it was our first stop.

Here is Claira and her best friend Natalie.  They had such a good day, giggling, screaming and running around.

OH IT WAS HOT!

These misting fans were a wonderful pit stop.

After we ate our cupcakes the pigeons came over and started to peck at our crumbs.  Aby did not like this!  "MINE!" she yelled at those crumb stealing pigeons.

I think she had a great time.  She was asleep before we left the parking lot and took a 

3 1/2 hour nap!

Finally after she woke up she got to see the cheap little pool we got her.  Cheap or not, she spent all afternoon yesterday in it and was outside playing in it from 8-1 today!  

The one that got away!

We ventured to the beach today with our neighbors. Yes, the neighbor who also has a 3 week old. She and I sat and enjoyed the shade of the EZ-Up with the babies and watched the other four kids play in the sand, water and sun. Thank goodness for the Gulf Breeze or we would have roasted in the 100 degree August heat.

One of the past times at the beach besides the obvious like digging and swimming

is the fishing.

Today they caught the normal small bait fish with the casting net.

But Mr. Gabe also caught a "SHARK!"

Everyone had a great time getting to touch the shark.

And though Andy didn't catch anything on his big poll he came in from a casting swim with quite story. Apparently just after he cast his line and began to swim from Sandbar three in to Sandbar two something took his bait. It started to take the line, and fast! He tried to reel it in while swimming but that didn't work out. It took him under and he actually thought about letting go of pole! As it drug him back to Sandbar three he found his footing and tried to fight it but his line broke. I'm happy he held on a few seconds longer and had his line break because if he would have let that pole go I'm sure he would have been more disappointed then just coming back to shore to fix his line. Maybe he should wear a life jacket like he makes the kids wear!

Is his back kick strong enough?

Take a guess...Does he break the board?

HE DOES!!!! He is now a very proud Green Belt.