He's Off!

Well, Cole officially is a Kindergartener! I had many tears the day and night before! Dan had the tears or "sweat in his eyes" the day of. (incase you missed that story, last year after Coles flu shot he said, "Im not crying, I have sweat in my eyes!") Cole and I met Dan at school early and we all 3 walked in together! Since I had my own group of kindergarteners, Dan walked him down to his room and got him situated when the bell rang. He didn't cry a bit and was so excited!
It was (is) the weirdest thing to turn around at school and see my little boy there! The little boy who was just born, crawling, walking and talking. I still tear up thinking about it! When I saw Cole at the first recess he ran up and hugged me and I said "hey buddy, how is it? He said, I really like this place!" His teacher told me when he heard my voice in the hall with my class he said, " I hear my moms voice!" He seems to be adjusting well so far! He is very young to be in kindergarten so I have been worried, but it seems he is going to be just fine! Thanks for all of the prayers and calls to get me through this milestone!

Don't Let It End!

This picture is hysterical to me! How ironic of all nights! We tried to put Emmy to bed tonight at her normal time. Mind you she had only slept 45 minutes ALL day! I kissed and hugged her and told her how sad I was that my break was over. She must have heard my words and thought "hey, this party ain't over yet!" I heard her talking about 10 minutes after I put her down and found her pulled up on the side of the rail babbling and smiling form ear to ear! This was the first time she had figured this out, so obviously the mattress will be lowered, but it was the perfect night for this!

Good Bye Summer

Well, tonight it is a "work night!" UGh, how sad it makes me! Like maternity leave being over all over again! The breaks are so awesome, but it makes it so hard to go back. Dan is home so much, so it is just so nice for all of us to be home (well, ok, not REALLY home) together! This summer was awesome! We did everything I wanted to and more! I just wanted to take Cole as many places as possible since he starts kindergarten this week. (tear) I feel like once the kids start "real" school, you just don't have the time you used to for fun experiences as often! Emmy was such a trooper at every place we went. Never once did she cry, unless it was time to turn her around in the infant carrier for a nap. I am going to miss 24 hours of her sweet smiling face every day! I hate that I will get about 6 hours if I am lucky! Tonight at dinner I asked her if her cheeks ever hurt from smiling so much! I am glad that I got to see her crawl for the first time on my break!
Cole starts school Thursday! I am baffled at where the time went! I think of sweet little Cole in a school of big kids and mean kids and it makes me so scared for him. He is so sweet and I hope Dan and I have raised him with good morals and the ability to be a leader and not a follower! I will be kickin ass and taking names if anyone messes with my baby!
How lucky though that I get to be with him everyday! I am looking forward to our drives to and from school just talking! I love him more than words and this is such a monumental step in his life. Tomorrow is his open house so I have grandparents on duty to go with him to his room since I will be having my own in my room. They will be armed with my camera!
So, with tears in my eyes from thinking to much about my kids in this post, I say.....THIS WAS THE BEST SUMMER EVER! God truly is good!

Cave Dwellers

On Friday we went with the Glenns to Stanton, Mo to Meramec Caverns. We took an hour or so long guided tour of the cave, which was also Jesse James hideout back in the day. It was really interesting and had some amazing things to see. I had a brain fart at some point because I forgot to put the battery in my good camera which resulted in having to use my camera phone. It was hard for me to mentally overcome this! ha! However, the pics were ok since I had purchased a new phone the day before. It didnt work well in the dark, but a few are ok. After the tour, we took a short boat ride on the meramec river. We all enjoyed the day!

Pearly Whites

Cole had his first (I know, I know) dentist appointment yesterday! He was so excited to go! Dan said "he may look like me, but he talks like you!" He is so friendly. The nurse or dentist would be explaining something and would use a word that would spark a story and off he went! He told them more stories! It was so cute! They asked him what animal they should use on the tool, but that they didnt have any snakes...which led to, "well, my cousin Mammy has a snake in a cage. She feeds it mice. And my cousin Phia has a dog named Japper dog." Typical kindergartener! The funniest was when they were doing x rays. They got to the one we all hate that you bite for the back and its really uncomfortable. Well, he moved a little so the xray was blurry. She told him it was a little blurry so they might need to do it again. Cole says, "Well, we should probably just wait to do it again until next time!" You could tell he hated that! They let him hold the suction tool and use when he wanted so he thought that was fun! Then when she was using the spinny tool to clean behind his top teeth he was laughing uncontrollably because it tickled! So the first visit was a success and NO CAVITIES! I didnt figure he would since he hates sweets!

Way Back When

Facebook has brought "way back when" to now! A group of us from high school that reunited on facebook got together at Beckys to swim this week. There were 5 of us. We actually didnt even hang out as a group in high school, but now our kids have become a common denominator and made a for a great lunch time playdate! It was great to catch up and see everyones kids! Of course all I heard was "omg, thats dan!" when they saw my kids! We took a picture of the kids together. I am going to photoshop Gabe in the group photo but havent done it yet!

Independence Day!

On Sunday evening we met friends and went to Freedom Fest in O'Fallon. THey have carnival rides, food, music and fireworks. Both of our families joined us as well! Cole loved riding rides. (gigi not so much)He of course had to ride the pony! I dont think its quite as thrilling since riding "real horses" with Jackie, but he still loves it! It was hotter than all get out this evening but we enjoyed the time with friends and family!