Back to school

Back to school!

These girls were so excited to start preschool!  We went to meet the teacher and they couldn't wait to get going.  Desi asked if I was leaving when we were there.

I have been debating for quite some time deciding to put Desi in preschool or not.  If it was 5 years ago, I would have never pictured myself putting my kids in school earlier than a year before school.  It makes me laugh now that I had such an expectation on myself.  Fast forwarding time, I am so glad I did!  She is thriving and so excited to go (she wishes it was everyday- which stings my heart a little because I want her to want to be with me).  It is awesome for me to be productive and reset myself as a mom and person so I can be fully present when I am around my kids.  The older the kids get and the busier we get, I really want to be my best self for them.

Long story short: IT'S A WIN-WIN!!!!

First day of Preschool

Desi has been begging to wear her butterfly dress since we bought it for preschool so she was super excited.  Sadly I couldn't find the new outfit (the rainbow dress) which we bought, but I was so impressed because she didn't may a fuss about it.  She just wanted to go to preschool.

We planned a special date for Derek, Brinley, Ashlyn, Emmett, and I because Claire and Desi started preschool a week earlier than the girls.  We wanted to make a special day with them before they will be gone most of the day when school started.  While sadly Brinley was sick so we changed plans (which is hard for Ashlyn- bless her little planning heart (she is a planner like her mama)). Derek stayed with B and E while Ashlyn and I had a fun date.  

She planned it all out.  We went to Olive Garden and while we were eating we passed a notebook to write questions to each other to answer.  Then we went to the library and got Junie B. Jones on audiobook.  It has been so fun to listen to together.  Ashlyn is so much fun to be around.  She is one of my best friends and so mature for her age.  I am going to miss her when school starts, but 3rd grade will be great!  I keep telling her that 3rd grade was my fave! 

Ashlyn's activity days leader is so creative with her activities.  This week they did a lip gloss and gossiping lesson while they made their own lip gloss.  We did a lip gloss contest to see what lip gloss everyone liked the most .

Another hike in Nac

I made new chore charts for the girls.  They are super excited to hang them in their closets.

Emmett loves pushing the stroller around the swim pool. 

For the end of summer, we did a family movie party and had a sleepover in the living room.

Sunday Sundaes

We were so excited when we found out that Brinley got Ms. Horan (the same teacher Ash had when she was in 1st grade).  Brinley was a little nervous, but more excited. 

Derek and I had to drop off the girls separately because traffic is crazy the first week of school and Derek had to get to work on time.  We asked the girls who they wanted to drop them off and Ashlyn said, "I want Mommy because she mades things more exciting".  That meant so much to me.  So I got to drop off Ashlyn.  She was so excited and then when we got to the classroom she got a little nervous.  She did great!

After I dropped the kids to school I pull up the gym and saw a woman pushing this red car so it wouldn't hit the white one.  She told me that she just pulled up a few minutes ago and saw the red car roll without anyone in it, so she jumped out of her car to stop it.  I helped her hold it and man, that thing is heavy- luckily the owner of the gym came and put blocks on the wheels to hold the car.  I told the lady that she is getting extra blessing for saving this white car.

2nd day of preschool.

We went to a MOPS playgroup at the library and they had a kids nutrition class and we made food art.  The kids loved it!

I looked in my rear view mirror and saw these cuties holding hands.  I just had to take a picture.  It is fun to see them became such good friends.

Letter A in preschool

Got this picture from Brin's teacher- so cute!

I am beyond excited for this new season on my life!  I finally got a gym pass and I am so so excited!  I haven't had a gym pass since Derek and I were first married and so I was a little nervous to workout not in the comfort of my own home, but excited to learn something new.  I got this new app and program that I am doing where I am doing a lot of resistant/lifting weights.  I love it!  It is something different and it has a big learning curve.  I am excited to see where this will lead.  I have always been into working out, but I really need to tackle my real issue of nutrition.  I am starting to learn about Macro counting.

Ashlyn begged to have an ice cream cone from McD's on Friday to celebrate the first week of school.  

We tried out this biking trail in Lufkin and had a blast.  It was so beautiful and it connects two parks.  It was a fun bike ride.  We definitely want to do it when people come to visit.

Park adventure halfway through our bike journey.

Found a fun tunnel

Derek has been so impressive with his goals of working out.  A year ago he couldn't do a pull-up and he could only bench 115lbs.  Today he can do 12 pull-ups in a row and bench 225lbs!!!

After dinner fun- magformers

Look how adorable he was for Sunday.

Sable's family gave us pie-face and so we played it after church.  The girls were so excited.

Brinley was helping Dad with his wardrobe.

On the days the girls don't have preschool, we do Mommy School.  Today Claire had a part about hot chocolate and Desi had a part about doughnuts so we decided to do a Hot Chocolate and Donut Party. We took a special field trip to the store and the kids picked out a doughnut.

Emmett loves eating corn on the cob

I love THURSDAYS!  The kids are at school, Emmett is in the daycare, and Derek and I get to workout together.  It has been really helpful to have him as a gym buddy because he corrects my form and pushes me to keep going.