Sunrise

One of our mornings at the beach we headed out early. We wanted to see the sunrise.

The kids were still in pjs, Bill and I each had a cup of coffee.

 

umbrellas ready for the day

it was worth getting out early

have you watched the sun rise lately?

Fishing

While at the beach Bill bought the kids cane poles to fish at this pond on the condo property.

 

Sydney with her first fish



 

 

Griffin's first fish, he was afraid to hold it

 

 

Just fishing in the rain waiting for the fish to bite (the wait time was less than a minute, so many fish!)

 The second day of fishing our friends Val and Vincent joined us!  Vinny with his first fish

 

Sydney actually got to the point where she would take her own fish off the hook and release it back into the water.  They were catching fish so quickly we could not keep the fish off the hooks.

 videos... so fun

 

 

 

Have you been fishing lately?  We have ponds by our house so I am sure we will be fishing again soon. 

Trip to Myrtle Beach

We have so many fun pictures from our beach trip to share but kindergarten took priority so I am just getting to vacation pictures.

Here are a few highlights:

Happy kiddos ready to start vacation-lobby of Embassy hotel

 

Sydney loving every moment of going down the water slide.  She is finally able to go by herself but just for fun she wanted to go with Bill or I every once in a while.



 

 

Our kids, best buds (most days)

 

Bill and Griffin, he loved the slide

 

 

message for my sweetie in the sand

 

 

my girl

 

snuggling in beach towels in condo

 

that is a lot of stuff for 6 days- ready to load the car and head for home

more vacation fun coming up....

First day of School

Sydney with Griffin. Of course we picked out her outfit the night before and I think she was so excited she did not sleep well. She went ahead and got dressed before eating breakfast and then I did her hair and painted her nails. I went ahead and took Griffin to daycare and met Sydney and Bill at the school.

 

 

In her classroom with her backpack on

Her teacher took pictures of each family on her camera (and ours)

 

and we took a picture of Mrs Fearnside with Sydney

Sydney was a bit clingy and hesitant to let us go but her teacher distracted her and a few others and we headed out. 

Bill and I walked out of the school holding hands, saying we want to home school.  Actually we do not want to home school and we know she is in great hands we are just in shock at how quickly we got to the school years.  Our baby girl is in kindergarten!

I picked her up at the after school building which is about 2 miles down the road from my office.  She was playing when I got there and one of  the leaders said she did just fine. 

On the way to pick up Griffin we talked about her day, and she was excited to tell me about it, yet tired.  She sat with a friend (that we know from daycare) at lunch.  She told me I did not need to pack a napkin in her lunch bag because they get a napkin, silverware and a straw when they get to the lunch room.  She also had a choice of white or chocolate milk and she picked chocolate.  For lunch I packed her clementines, an apple, cheese (cut in the shape of hearts and stars), crackers and brownie (a heart and a star). 

Bill was home for dinner so he was able to hear all about her day and tuck her in to bed. 

Tomorrow is another day!

 



Kindergarten Preview and Party

Last Thursday we had a kindergarten meeting and it was my first look at Sydney's classroom (Bill saw it at kindergarten camp).  We went over a few policies and what to expect, paid school fees, put money on her lunch account (she wants to pack lunch but will buy milk), signed up to bring snack for her class next week and the week of Valentines.  We learned that there will be 12 girls and 7 boys in her class and we just love her teacher, Mrs Fearnside. 

It is hard to see but Sydney's name is listed under S in the alphabet

silly smile

her classroom is very bright and organized

We are so excited for her first day, Monday! 

Our neighbors, Renfros, wanted to have a kindergarten celebration for Sydney so they invited us over for dinner.  Sydney playing bubble burst on ipad, new experience.

Griffin took this picture of Bonnie and Bill

we had homemade spaghetti and meatballs, salad- so delicious

Syd with special cupcake

Griffin eating frosting

Griffin and David playing catch

 

 

 

 

 

The kids went on an adventure hike with Bonnie and then with David with flashlights and discovered their attic.  We had a great time and we are so fortunate to have wonderful neighbors.

Loving his cars and trucks

Griffin loves his cars, trucks and trains. When we eat in the sunroom he loves to get all his vehicles and the train track and play while we finish eating. I had a glimpse at how fun boys can be because I nannied for a family with a sweet little boy before having my own but now I know that boys and all their toys are so much fun.

Photo Dump

A few pictures from the last week: brussel sprout, cranberry salad- So yummy

Sunday morning pancakes- smiley faces for the kids

our little man, headed outside where he would live if we would allow it

the kids and I at their dentist, Sydney is really into having her toenails painted these days

Sydney in the dentist chair- we love our dentist and both kids are still in the no cavity club- YEAH!

what is going on with you this week?

Concert in the Park

A few Sundays ago we went downtown for dinner at the Flying Pig and then walked to the park for a concert.  We know two of the guys in the band Eric and the Chill Tones.  The music was upbeat and fun and the weather was very tolerable.  The kids had fun even before the concert started running around on the dance floor entertaining the crowd.  This was not on our summer to do list but it sure was fun. 

Concert in the Park

A few Sundays ago we went downtown for dinner at the Flying Pig and then walked to the park for a concert.  We know two of the guys in the band Eric and the Chill Tones.  The music was upbeat and fun and the weather was very tolerable.  The kids had fun even before the concert started running around on the dance floor entertaining the crowd.  This was not on our summer to do list but it sure was fun. 

Two new favorites

I have two new blogs that I am enjoying but I still have not had time to really navigate them or to try any recipes.  These bloggers are also photographers in my book.

http://www.sproutedkitchen.com/

http://smittenkitchen.com/

Check them out and please let me know if you try any new recipes. 

We are getting ready.....

.....for kindergarten to start.  Sydney is so excited and actually so are the rest of us.  I am always a bit nervous about change in any situation, especially when it involves the kids.  Each time the kids have moved up a room at daycare I was nervous.  I worry they will be unsettled or just not happy with their new environment.  Every time both kids have "moved up" they have been fine. 

Sydney is ready.  Ready for a new environment, she is one of the oldest at daycare now and so she is ready to learn new things and be around more kids her age and kids at her level of maturity.  We have met her teacher and she attended kindergarten camp and is familiar with the school.  We visited the after school building and she already knows the adults in the building (many of whom have worked at her daycare).  We bought an extra car seat for Bill's car since he will be taking her to school each morning.  The school supplies have been bought and we already have her backpack and lunch bag.  Thankfully we did not need to go clothes shopping because we received so many hand me downs and have stuff that still fits until the weather changes so we are set on clothing.  Sydney wants me to pack her lunch "because we have never done that before" and we have already discussed some of the things she would like in her lunch. 

Some of her suggestions:
salad with chopped egg (like daddy)
key lime or vanilla yogurt
apple, grapes, a pear
peanut butter and honey sandwich or ham and cheese
cheese stick
spreadable wedge cheese and crackers
chocolate pudding
a note on a napkin (like daddy gets in his lunch)

So we are ready.  We have a meeting at the school on the 24th and then her first day is actually the 27th.  Until then we are soaking up our time with our girl and enjoying the rest of the summer. 



Griffin had to have a new backpack just like his big sis

Summer treat

Ice cream sandwich cake- super easy

layer ice cream sandwiches in the bottom of casserole dish

cover with cool whip, drizzle Hersey's syrup and sprinkle a crumbled Reece's cup (or two)

you could also sprinkle m & m's or maybe heath bar

let cool whip set up in freezer for 30-45 minutes

So delicious.