First day of school 2012 & Kyle's first day of Kindergarten

I just dropped off Kyle at school for his first day of kindergarten. He was cool as a cucumber, but I’m sweatin’ bullets. Oh man, there were a lot of boys in that class and I’m worried about his poor teacher. She is in my prayers. This year is different, maybe because I did it last year with Barrett, but I don’t feel sad…just a little unsettled. Kyle has a friend from Pre-K in his class too, and somehow that makes me feel better, like he’s not alone entering this new environment.



I believe everyone’s life should have a soundtrack like in the movies. The perfect song for every moment…that would be so awesome! If my life had a soundtrack, this is the song that would have been playing as I peeked into the tiny window of the classroom door just before I left my little guy on his first day of elementary school.

My Wish:
I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you're faced with the choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin' ‘til you find the window
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile
But more than anything, more than anything
My wish for you Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things tooYeah, this is my wish
I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you and the place you left
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get
Oh, you'd find God's grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take

Barrett's teacher is new to the school and this is her first year with her own class. She seems excited about teaching and I think it will be a good year for Barrett.

First day of school clothes: Kyle is wearing none of the new clothes I bought, and Barrett is only wearing a new shirt. Both boys opted for the old ratty shoes over the new awesome shoes. ugh.

Back to School

It's that time of the year...backpacks stuffed with school supplies are waiting by the back door, new shoes and outfits are set out to be worn, and alarms are set for the first time since early June...Back to school!
Kyle will be starting Kindergarten this year.  It's a big year.  So to commemorate the occasion, I took him out for a quick back to school session.

Celebrating 12 years

We just celebrated 12 years of marriage by taking a quick trip down to Austin. We stayed at a very nice, nature-y (that's totally a word) spa. We did none of the "activities" like yoga or early morning mountain hike. We did however get massages, swim at the pool, and swing lazily in a hammock. What does that say about us? hmm. We also had lunch and caught up with my friend Elizabeth from high school and I got to meet her precious baby. We had a sunset dinner at The Oasis (which has really changed since the last time I was there!) and had coffee at Mozarts. It was a fantastic quick getaway. I always forget how cool Austin is.

These Boots Are Made For...

Gardening...Naked? No, that's not how that song goes. 


These Boots Are Made For Wearing with Pajamas?


These Boots Are Made For Playing Basketball...while wearing pajamas?


These Boots Are Made For Wearing with a Dress?


I have a feeling These Boots Are Made For Preschool in the very near future!
I cannot get Annabelle to wear a cute little sandal to save my life, but she willingly puts these boots on by herself.  She will be starting Preschool for the first time in just a few weeks and I think they kinda frown upon bare feet. 

Photos taken over the course of a couple weeks, hence the different clothes (or lack thereof).

More Beach Pictures

I am slowly working my way through our beach trip pictures.  There is a pile of laundry on the dining room table along with 3 half-unpacked suitcases, and nothing to eat in the fridge, but I am proofing/posting pictures.  C'mon! Priorities!

tiny footprints in the sand

We got back home from the beach very late Saturday night after driving all day.  We were so tired that night we just put the kids in bed and didn't even unload the car. I am slowly coming out of my beach induced trance. Maybe someday I'll unpack our suitcases...maybe.You know you had a good day at the beach when you drop two armloads of floaties and snacks and towels, shake the sand out of places it should never be, and you're tan and tired.  That was how we felt everyday, but it was a good tired...a relaxed tired. 

I am starting to go through the photos I took and I am realizing it's going to take several posts to document the trip.  I was determined to do a better job of taking more pictures this time. 

On our last day at the beach, I ended up taking a bunch of pics of Annabelle because the boys were way out in the waves and THIS, our last day at the beach, was the day she finally decided to put her toes in the sand.  Before, this day, whenever we'd try to put her down she would lift her feet, keeping them from making contact with the sand.  She wanted us to carry her, and hold her.  She would sit in her little purple folding chair and reach down with a little shovel in her hand and try to play in the sand without letting it touch any part of her. But this day was different. 

It was almost like she knew this was our last day at the beach, her last chance to do the thing she was working up the nerve to do.  I was walking behind Annabelle and my mom aS we crossed the bridge over the dunes. Annabelle paused for a second when she spotted the sand, considering her choices.  She could do more of the same and insist on being carried through the scary stuff, OR she could stand tall and confident and experience the grittiness as she walked through it.  She made up her mind and quickened her stride.  She held her Gigi's hand down the steps and then let go and walked on her own through the sand.  She chose to do something that challenged her, overcame her fears and siezed the day.  Then she ventured out to where the waves slowly glide up on the wet sand. She got in a little farther and a wave knocked her down. She cried. The salt water stung her eyes. I picked her up to comfort her but soon she wanted to stand on her own. Then she walked into the water again but this time when the waves knocked her down she laughed knowing she could handle it.


Today's hurdle was sand and waves, but many more challenges await. There will be skinned knees, and feeling left out, and break-ups, but a strong, confident, I-can-tackle-anything attitude will emerge. Because a person's character is shaped by erosion.  Just like how over time sand and water slowly shape the Grand Canyon, hurt feelings and broken hearts and disappointment shape us into beautiful, interesting, people.  I'm with Annabelle, I want to experience life's challenges. Because the sand and waves might be even more fun than being carried and because challenges are followed closely by perseverence, adventure, victory, and confidence.

Turning into a 7 year old

Barrett turned into a seven year old on our trip to the beach.  We were all there to watch him turn another year older.  The morning started off with a picture of the birthday boy first thing in the morning...well, as early as I could get my behind out of bed after an exhausting day at the beach and staying up way too late playing Spades with the grown ups!  Needless to say, by that time, Barrett was already up and out on the back porch with Gigi and Grandma while they enjoyed their coffee. 
Barrett was excited about opening his birthday presents, but he couldn't do that until he completed his Birthday Missions.  Birthday Missions are fun/silly things you do on your birthday before you can become a year older.  He was a little nervous about his missions, but the lure of presents awaiting him gave him the push he needed.  So we gobbled up breakfast and headed to the pool to do his 3 Missions.  There were other people at the pool and at first they all watched without trying to stare, the way you would if a person walked into a room with 2 heads.  But by the end they were with us in celebrating our Awesome Boy and wishing him a happy day. 

After he completed his missions, Barrett opened his presents, and then we hit the beach for boogie boarding and floating in the waves.  That night we went out to dinner at family friendly Piano Bar.  While there was a Piano, the act that night was a man who sang and played guitar.  Even better.  We were seated right next to him and made many requests.  Our first request was to play a song for Barrett on his birthday, Sweet Child o' Mine.  He later led everyone in the restaurant in singing Happy Birthday to Barrett. We had strawberry cake with strawberry icing and danced to Sweet Home Alabama.  It was a good day.

Barrett's first picture as a seven year old.
Barrett was feeling a little bashful when we were singing Happy Birthday to him.