Necessarily Rewinding: Part 1

Here's the thing about blogging. It is very much a habit into which one must GET. This is especially true when sitting down to "journal" about life's happenings does not come naturally to you. Well, SOMEhow I managed to get myself into that habit--in 2008. I had a lot going on that inspired me at the time. And...I was enamored with the trend, I'll admit. It turns out it was a lot of fun. Of course, there were times I got behind and struggled to keep up with the various blogging commitments I had made for myself, but I did okay.
UNTIL..........

....we decided to put our kiddos in school. Whoa. School proved to be a schedule that I was not cut out for. So, for that reason and many others, we didn't keep them there long. But right on the heels of their coming home, we then decided to put our house back on the market..:eeeeek:....then we sold it.....then we moved out....then we became (literal) gypsies....then we moved into a rental home. And because of ALL THIS, I just couldn't do it any.more. I want to catch up. I have missed blogging and sharing our lives with others. I have missed having an online photo journal to look back on. So........


we must REWIND!!


Project 365: Week 34 "first week of school"

Monday, August 20, 2012

The Big Day:

It sure is earrrrrly...

First Day of "Real" School

Little Miss Photogenic

Bless his heart. It was so bright out there.

He looks all grown up, doesn't he?

I did great. No tears. No panic attacks. Got everybody to their respective classrooms. Saved the youngest for last so I'd have more time to make HIM feel comfortable. We put all his belongings away and he sat down at his table...and he opened his little school box...and took out an orange crayon...and held it correctly without any help from me.........................

.......and THAT would be the moment that left me undone. I had to turn away quickly and get out of there...and blink away the tears that were very much there and coming fast, because I'm gonna miss my babies who are growing up way too fast!!! And by sending them to school, I'm gonna miss SO much of their little lives...!  :(   :(   :(

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Our new lunchboxes were a day too late in getting here for the first day of school, but we sure are enjoying them today! Atticus has one, too, so I can just go ahead and make four lunches the night before. It's nice having his ready and waiting. Besides, he's going to be needing it in a couple of weeks...

One last moment with Silky before we begin.  ;)

On the menu today: squash and carrot sticks with homemade Caesar dressing, sushi, Gouda cheese, hard-boiled egg, rice crackers with homemade guacamole, and a gluten-free cookie for a treat.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

It's the third day of school and Noah's already forgotten his lunchbox. Good thing he has a helpful little brother.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

We met friends at the park after school today.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Gabriel's first "homework" was due today. Here he is helping with it last night. The stickers and pop dots were the fun part!

It's an "About Me" scrapbook page for a classroom book. Now that it's done, though, I sort of hate to send it!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Today ended with a game of catch. Gabriel is excellent at both throwing and catching, but he was really impressing us with his receiving abilities--on the run!

Good catch!!

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Project 365: Week 35 "work and play"

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Guess I simply relaxed today.

Monday, August 27, 2012

We are still walking the kids in to the school this week. (It's a really big :frightening: school.) Saylor wanted to hold my hand. How I cherish these little moments!

After taking Paul to work (if you'll remember, Paul sold his car), Atticus and I returned to the school to do a little volunteer work for Gabriel's teacher.

Atticus read books in the flex space.

And then we checked in on Gabriel having his lunch.

That cutie-patootie.

We got back home just in time for our own lunch.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Saylor is back in ballet this year. Only this time, she gets to do a little tapping as well! She's overjoyed! No little girl ever enjoyed "clumping" in shoes half as much as Saylor.

The brothers watch.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

We had a dance show tonight before bed.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Atticus got to go meet his teacher and see his classroom at his "Mother's Day Out." He will start next week. It was a mid-morning event, so we had to eat lunch in the car on the way home. Today it's organic blue corn chips with hummus, peaches, carrot, zucchini, and red pepper sticks.

Friday, August 31, 2012

First some MORE car shopping...during which we found a "Bumblebee"(he's a Transformer in case ya didn't know) and just had to get in it.

And then we had homemade ice cream with homemade chocolate syrup for dessert. We love Fridays!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

This morning we got up bright and early and headed to Branson for the weekend. We managed to get there in time to spend a few hours at Silver Dollar City before it closed.

This is Noah's new favorite ride: The Wildfire. (Whew!)

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Project 365: Week 36 "family fun"

Sunday, September 2, 2012

We spent all day at SDC today. Well, after we sat in the worst traffic ever, that is. This was most likely THE busiest day of their entire season. Gollee, it was crowded.

We learned about the Sicilian donkey today. And met one!

It is said that the Sicilian donkey is the kind that the pregnant Mary rode on as she traveled into Bethlehem with her husband, Joseph. The amazing part? Look at the marking on the back of the Sicilian donkey! A cross!

As you can see, Atticus is still our little animal lover.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Happy Labor Day!

We spent a couple hours this morning at Silver Dollar City before heading to a little diner for some lunch. And then it was back on the road for us. We have school tomorrow...   :(

More Branson pictures here.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Today is Atticus's first day at Mother's Day Out! He calls it his "green school" because when he visited before, he noticed there were some green walls. Green happens to be his favorite color, so he tends to notice it everywhere. In fact, he sported as much of it as he could today.

Green shirt, green shoes, green backpack, green sleep mat, green lunchbox, and green toy to share!

See the green walls??

Here's what he was doing when I came to pick him up. :sigh: Is that not precious?

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Noah's Lego Club magazine came today.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

It seems he's still happy about coming to school...

Friday, September 7, 2012

Tonight was Family Movie Night at the school. We had pizza and ate popcorn we brought from home while we watched The Lorax. Great time!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Gabriel and I went shopping today for a birthday gift for a little friend.

And then we got his hair cut.

I think he enjoyed his one-on-one time. :)

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Project 365: Week 37  "special days and special visits"

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Love our church

I also really love seeing big brother let little brother rest in his lap.

We took Daddy out for lunch after church to celebrate his birthday and did our table-waiting over at the Apple store. Always a fun time.

Monday, September 10, 2012

We FINALLY found Daddy a car! The children were sooooo excited to get to ride to school in the "new" car today.

And Noah decided to try Cub Scouts this year. Tonight is his first night as a Webelos Scout.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

It's Grandparents' Week at school. Mimi (my mom) and Poppy (Paul's dad) both made it out each day.

(They "adopted" this little classmate who didn't have any grandparents attend.)

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Thursday, September 13, 2012

There were no kiddos needing a grandparent to visit today, so my mom and I went to visit my great aunt and uncle. This lady is so precious to us.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Of all the kids, I think Noah may have been the most excited about his grandparents coming for a visit at school.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

These crazy boys played in the rain and mud today.

That's it for "Project 365" posts, I believe. It was at this point that I realized I could NOT keep up with one photo per day. So I abruptly just stopped. It was depressing for sure. However, there are still many more photos to show and stories to tell. Stay tuned for more "Rewind" posts. I fully intend to catch up completely.