Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Goodbye Summer, Hello School

And they are off.... Ashlyn 2nd grade and Brinley Kindergarten

They were both so excited!  Brinley has been coming into our bedroom in the mornings counting down the days until school started.   They also wanted to be matchy-matchy.

When I was younger there was a target commerical where it showed this mom dancing down the aisles putting school supplies in the cart while playing the christmas song "It's the most wonderful time of the year."  That is exactly how I felt!  I was so excited for the girls, but I was also excited for myself.  Summer has been a blast and very eventful, but since adding Baby Emmett there have been some overwhelming moments having all 5 kids home.  I am excited to focus on the three youngers and get some projects done.



Kindergarten

2nd Grade

 Claire is always gravitating towards Emmett and being so kind and sweet to him.  She is a great big sister.  This is Emmett's first time in the bumbo.


2nd day of school.  They were so excited to ride in Daddy's truck to school.
Derek got his truck the last week of school so he is excited as well.


Matchy matchy again


These girls were so excited to start Mommy school.  They were eager to gather their backpacks, I waved them goodbye in the garage and they run around to the front door.  They love to ring the doorbell and wait for me to answer.  Can you see their excitement?!


So these girls have begged to do Mommy school everyday.  I am so happy that they enjoy it as much as I do.
Digging for the alphabet while singing the ABC's


Dotting the alphabet


Alphabet train puzzle


Building their names

This is Desi's face 


Our sweet Chunk-a-dunk
He is always happy and we love his laugh
(He is laughing in this picture)


This is how we roll in the Williams' house during Mommy School


I am really excited about this homeschooling program that I am doing for the first time.  It is called The Good and the Beautiful by Jenny Phillips (yes the LDS singer). The package was with this workbook and 8-10 activities and games with 4 flip book all ready to go.  I am at the stage where I don't have time to plan and prep so this is perfect.  We have enjoyed it so far!


I also bought these workbooks while I was in Utah at Costco (Oh how much I miss Costco).  They were so excited to start "their homework".


Claire is learning to write A



Roll Big A/little a


So I forgot to take a picture at the physical therapist and this is a picture right after I got home.  My hip area has been hurting for sometime now and it has gotten worse since I started working out more intensely doing a program called Beachbody.  As the pain increased I decided I should see someone about it sooner than later.  I first went to the dr which he instructed me to stop working out for 2 weeks and that didn't help. After that I got a prescription (who knew you had to get one) for a physcial therapist. I have gone twice now and I am seeing improvement slowly. 
As I am getting older (why do we have to age?) I have a desire to take better care of my body.


We found the baby toys.  I don't know who was more excited, the girls or Emmett.



Well these two rascals can be the best of friends and the worst of friends.  20 minutes they are laughing and having fun and then 10 mintures of fighting.  The cycle continues throughout the day.  Well this mama was going crazy and bought these cute clocks (one is a flower and the other a monster) and I can set a timer and the clock will light up green at the end.  I am going to teach these girls quiet time because since Desi doesn't nap anymore- separation will be good for them and myself :)


Cool Dude
(Style by Claire) 

Some more pictures of the first day of school. 



His new favorite seat- a pink bumbo


Storytime by Claire


Derek and I are dedicated to changing our lifestyle of health and nutrition.  We are excited for this journey and taking better care of our bodies.  We are learning to listen to our bodies for when we are hungry and full.  We have been amazed at how little you can eat and be satisfied.  

This is Derek calling a local gym to ask about getting a gym pass.  I love his nervous/excited face.  This is a big step for him!


At the zoo park with their matchy-matchy outfits.
They are in a matchy-matchy stage in life.




First time in the bouncer!



My project since the girls started school!  We bought a carpet cleaner (Thanks Scott and Ruth Ann for the idea) and I have been going to town.  I have cleaned our van and the whole upstairs (4 bedrooms, hallway and stairs) in one week.  I am doing one room a day which is all I can handle with my kiddos. This week I am doing the downstairs. 




Beach Time with our Omaha family!

Omaha Family Reunion!

We met at a halfway point in Gulf Shores Alabama.  We rented a beach out with this whole crew.  We had a blast and made so many memories.  Our two families have grown in height and numbers since we finished dental school so it was fun to catch up and see how our kids have grown-up.

We feel so blessed to have the Van de Graaffs as such close friends.  Derek was telling his staff, "What are the odds that Steve and I were best friends, Mindy and Jenny were best friends, and our kids are all best friends- plus we lived right next door to each other!" 


Best Buds


We got about a day and half together with just our family before our friends arrived.  It was an 8 1/2 hr drive and as soon as possible we were out on the beach!


As I was looking out on the beach I was thinking how cool it is that God created an entertainment for all ages.  The beach is a perfect place to go that all ages will enjoy.








Jumping the waves


Perfect "little ocean" for the youngers


Mermaid Brinley


Finding seashells





Beach boy is a happy boy



We thought of Grandma Martinson when we saw this at our beach house.  Grandma Martinson always says to the grandkids, "Love you to the moon and back."


Around and around and around...


Ash loved doing cartwheels on the beach










Beach bunch
The beach house was right across the street.  Perfect walk with all these kids.


Steve and Mindy had a canopy where all the kids gathered to build their sand creations.


There was a girls only room where there was 2 bunk beds.  The girls had a blast!  It was fun to hear Ashlyn perspective of being with our friends.  She said that they were all shy at the beginning because they had to get to know each other again.  It was a fun perspective because Mindy and I talk, and Derek and Steve talk on the phone so I didn't realize that the kids have to reconnect.  But it happened very quickly!


We went to dinner as a family before our friends came and the restaurant that we went to called Tacky Jacks has a tradition that you write your name on a duct tape and stick it on the wall.




Ashlyn had crab for the first time and she loved it!


Art time


 Ice cream at our fav: Chick-fil-a 
Halfway point in the drive.
Our girls have become excellent travelers since our road trips to Utah during Dental School.


Ashlyn and Hailey digging themselves holes to fit in.


While Derek and Steve where with the olders playing in the ocean, Mindy and I took care of the youngers on the beach.







Penny and Brinley spent a lot of their time boogie boarding







One morning we went to explore a park in the area
The highlight was playing tag








Pool Time with popsicles 






Playing Categories and judging who had the best dives.



Pizza for dinner


Our little crew watching a movie

We hate to say goodbye, but we might have to do this next year.