The First Day of Kindergarten

He looks excited right? Of Course he was the first one out of his classroom!

Yep it is official, Ethan had his first day of school yesterday. He was so excited, he wanted to do everything himself. He told me that I could just drop him off, I didn't need to walk him in. I told him I needed to walk him in. When he got home from school I ask him how his day went. He said fine. I asked "what did you do?" he said I colored a picture. He said that his park (the playground) is not built and that he had to play with balls and jump ropes. And really that is all I got out of him. A man of many words, just like his Father! The funniest story about this whole back to school experience was his assessment test he did last week. I had been working with him on reviewing the things that he learned in preschool. Evidently it was not enough. He knew his letter, sounds and numbers. He could count and write his name. He could not read or write a sentence...go figure!

Funny things that happened during the assessment: 1. His teacher handed him a book and said what is this? Ethan replied : Froggy goes to school (The name of the book). She said yes but what is this, pointing to the book again. He said again...Froggy goes to school. She tried a new approach, "this is a...." Ethan looks at her and says "Boook". Just the way he said it was like, you should already know what this is. 2. Ethan was counting groups of objects on a piece of paper. He had noticed that the teacher was writing on another piece of paper after every time he answered a question. She asked Ethan which group of objects had more. He leaned over to her paper and pointed to the group that had more on her paper. I guess he was just trying to make it easier for her. Last but not least they were naming shapes. Ethan was done I think. He had his hands on this cheeks and his elbows propped on the table. His teacher held up a black circle. She asked what is this? Ethan replied a Truck tire. She wrote that down. She held up a square...What is this? Ethan: Two triangles put together. He is replying in this I am bored out of my mind voice. It was so funny. I know he knows his shapes, he was just lazy! Well I guess at least he will be able to progress a lot on his future assessments!! I love my little, sorry BIG guy!!

Adventure at the Zoo

My friend Nicole wanted to hook up at the Zoo this past week for one more hoo-rah before school started back up. I was all game. Who would give up the chance to get out of their own personal Zoo (aka the Dawdy House)? The kids love the Zoo and they had their carousel up and going so we definitely had to go check that out.

Ethan said "Look Mom I am a turtle!" Sometimes I wish he would slow down to a turtles pace. This is Ethan and Karlee on the sneezing Elephant. I don't know if the Zoo people meant for it to happen but really there is a line to sit on the elephant's trunk...don't ask me why. Here is the new Carousel... Ethan had to sit on the snake and Emilee loved the Jaguar..."Like Diego!" The animals were very active this time that we went. We saw a giraffe trying to pull leaves off of a tree with his massive tongue. A gorilla was climbing and swinging all over the place. The white alligator was swimming, I honestly have thought it was fake because it never moved.

The Zoo keepers were out with lots of animals. I am the one taking the picture because I will not touch a snake!! Gross!

They also brought out hissing cockroaches...even more gross! We saw a barn owl, which brings me to the bird show which is always fantastic!!! I think that is my favorite part of the Zoo!!

We had a great Summer and I think we are now officially done playing...I hope!

More Grandpa Fun...finally!

The Last day Aaron's Dad was in town we went to Thanksgiving Point Gardens. I have been to the children's garden lots of times but I have never gone to all of the gardens...let me just say I am in Love!! It was so beautiful and so unique. I think we all had a really great time exploring the gardens with Grandpa!

Emilee and Grandpa Scoping out the fish.

On the pier you can buy fish pellets and throw them to the fish. The fish are evidently used to this because they just hang out around here.

They were jumping out of the water and on top of each other for a measly fish pellet. It was really borderline disgusting. Really...I don't like fish.

The secret garden fountain!

The waterfalls were amazing!! They're man made you know!!!

We ended the day at the children's garden playing in the fountain.

Ethan Climbs anything he can.

Emilee loves to splash!

To All of My FRIENDS:

My sister in law sent this to me and I thought it was great...I'm not into all the mushy stuff, so here it goes:

Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality?

Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.

You will see no cutesy little smiley faces, just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1. W hen you are sad --I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew!

2. W hen you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. W hen you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

4. W hen you're scared -- we will high tail it out of here.

5. W hen you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining, ya big baby!!!!

6. W hen you are confused -- I will use little words.

7. W hen you are sick --Stay away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. W hen you fall -- I'll pick you up and dust you off.

9. This is my oath...I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask -- because you are my FRIEND!

Hugs and kissed to all of my great friends!

This is my idea of Camping!

Aaron's dad is an avid outdoors man, He loves camping and fishing and hiking...me not so much. I used to, when my mom did all of the packing for the family and all I had to do was show up. Now I have to do all of the packing and it is not much fun. My Brother and Sister in Law have the same feeling. So while grandpa was here we went to Kim's family's cabin. It was a lot of fun there was a huge tire swing for the kids and horseshoes for the adults. It was fun to get away and just be with our family. And there was not a tent in sight! Thanks Matt & Kim!!

This is the tire swing, Emilee lived in it. She went so high I was scared at first but she stayed in and had a blast!! I can not count how many games of horseshoes were played. It was a favorite with the adults, well except me ( I could not throw the horseshoe far enough, they were heavy because they were real horseshoes) I just kept the score! They were also too technical for me, constantly measuring and debating on who got one measly point. This is Marshall Sam and Ethan "Catching Alligators" in the swamp. They were so fun! Emilee Braved the freezing cold water too!

This is a close as I get when I say "Let mom take a picture of you".

Playing in the "river". People in Illinois call this a swamp.

What is camping without the Marshmallows? Ethan just cooked them, he wouldn't eat them. Grandpa had to do that, good thing they are fat free!

Emilee didn't cook them, she just ate them.

Mmmm....marshmallows!!

It was a great weekend!