New Schedules Stink

I can't even pretend that this new school schedule isn't kicking our butts.  B and I feel like we've been chewed up and spit out every morning.  We actually got decent sleep last night but woke up still feeling like we've been hit by a semi.  I know we will eventually get used to the schedule but for now we are barely surviving.  Is it Fall Break yet?

As if adjusting to a new schedule hasn't been enough, we've been running here, there and yonder as well.  Two weekends ago, we went to B's hometown for a surprise birthday party for his grandmother.  She was turning 80 and deserved a big party.  And of course a trip north means lots of cousin time.

Muncie has this cool little place called The Island that takes you out of the city and into the beach, sand and all.  The kids loved it!

This is Nora and C's shocked face.  Well it's Nora shocked face.  I'm not sure what face of C's this is but I can tell you its not dramatic or over the top.

Saturday, was mainly spent with the kids playing and us gathering last minute items for the party.  Sunday, was the big surprise party and we had the best turn out!

I used the "Having a Ball Since 1935" theme because if you don't know, Ball jars are made in Muncie so it seemed fitting.

We used lots of old pictures as decorations as well as Ball jars.  I love seeing a person's life in pictures and they are always a good conversation starter.

I also love seeing how much things cost and what happened that year.  A new house was $3,450.00.  Crazy.

Lots of friends and family showed up and it was nice catching up with people who we don't see that often.

As a gift to B's grandmother, all of us grandkids got together for a photo shoot.  It was the most comical 30 minutes I've had in my life. We had crying babies, sassy girls and adults who were less than thrilled about being there but the pictures turned out great and it was a huge surprise to his grandmother.

Just as we were getting over the jam packed weekend, I picked C up from school on Wednesday and she tells me her head and stomach hurt.  Nothing unusual, as she fakes these symptoms often to get out of whatever we've asked her to do.  I offered her a brownie I brought her from work and she told me she didn't want it.  I kid you not, I texted B right then and there and told him C was sick.  If she passes on chocolate, I know she's sick.

She spent her evening looking like this...

I took her to the doctor the next morning to test her for strep which resulted in me holding her down while the rudest nurse we've ever had jammed those cotton swab things down her throat.  I came close to punching the nurse but since B wasn't here to hold C, I thought better of it.  

Both tests came back negative for strep so we are guessing she got a bad case of the school germs.  We are barely into the school year and she's already taken 2 sick days.  Nice.

Thankfully, she perked up by lunch and was begging for Chic-fil-a for dinner.  I swear she can recover about as fast as she can get sick.

 We moved pretty slow this past weekend because well, a new schedule and a sick kid will suck the life right out of you.

C was banned from touching her brother for 48 hours while she was sick and recovering.  It nearly KILLED her not to touch or kiss him.  She made up for it once the ban was over.

Thanks Bubberz for being a good sport about it.  :)

First Day of Kindergarten

Tuesday was the day I've been dreading since C was born.  It marked the day where I would have less protection over her and the day when time would really start flying by.  I do believe I was more nervous than her but she had no clue.  We have made a huge deal out of her starting school so to her, she thought we were ecstatic and couldn't wait for her first day.

To celebrate, I decorated the table and made her cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  She got dressed and ready faster than I've ever seen her and was ready to get the day started.

Overly excited smile.

She'll be mad I posted this picture because she HATES the orange vest they have to wear.  She rips it off as soon as she gets in the car in the afternoons.  :)

When we walked into school, they had music blaring and teachers out in the hall greeting all the students.  A sign it was going to be an awesome year. 

After finding her desk, she put her backpack and lunchbox in her cubie, we hugged and she went to sit on the floor with the rest of her classmates 

I made it halfway down the hall before I started crying.  In my defense, I was going to hold it together until I got to the car but I passed another mom bawling as she was walking her son to class and I couldn't hold the tears back.  I cried off and on all morning.

Not only have I worried about sending her out into the world, I've also worried that she wouldn't have a good first year of school especially when none of her friends were in her class.  I had a horrible Kindergarten experience and didn't want the same for her.  All those worries melted away when I saw this face getting into the car.

We celebrated with ice cream.

Later that night, I was getting her out of the bath and found an eyelash on her face.  I told her to make a wish.  "I wish I was all grown up."

It will happen soon enough chick.  

Soaking Up the Last Bit of Summer

Last Friday marked C's last day of daycare.

It was so sad watching her hug all her friends and telling them goodbye.  We are going to miss seeing those little faces everyday.

To celebrate her last day, I told her we could go anywhere she wanted.  Her first stop was the library then it was off to the park.

She has been begging to go to Mellow Mushroom so we decided it was the perfect night to go and have dinner.

Saturday was Open House at her school.

She wasn't too thrilled with her teacher at first (it's a male teacher and she is SUPER shy around males) but after learning he sings and plays the guitar in class, she felt a little better about it.

Not only was she a little bummed about her teacher, she figured out that two of her friends got in a class together and she didn't.  It was heartbreaking having to explain why they were together and she wasn't.  I cried the whole time we where there.  Thank goodness B was there to listen while I cried and filled out paperwork.  Not the best way to start the weekend.

Things turned around though when we ran into two of her friends at Target and it turned into a spontaneous play date.

  

The girls were so excited to see each other!

C hasn't seen them all summer and what a better way to end summer than with a fun night with her friends.

Sunday, C's fun continued when my parent's came to take her to get a mani/pedi and then to dinner. I don't have any pictures but she had the time of her life getting pampered.

On our last day of summer, we met up with one of C's friends, Avery, from daycare for some bowling and lunch. 

These crazy girls have been together since their nursery days at the daycare.

C had mentioned several times how much she missed Avery.  Thankfully, we will continue to see her each week at gymnastics.

By Monday night, we were all exhausted and excited for the first day of school the next morning.

Family Getaway

We spent the weekend in one of Brent's favorite cities, Cincinnati (and Northern KY).

Saturday, we spent the day at Newport on the Levee and enjoyed walking around and seeing the sights.

C loved looking out over the river and watching the boats.

U enjoyed the cool breeze and people watching.

C had commented several times that she had "never been on a bridge before" so we walked the old bridge and she thought it was the best thing. 

We had to stop several times so she could watch the boats.

After our sightseeing, we made our way to the aquarium.  This was C's first time at something like this and she loved it well expect for the small meltdowns she had over the alligators and the frog exhibit.  Frogs freak her out because they jump (never mind they are behind glass) and I told B she has watched too many episodes of Swamp People to be comfortable around gators.

Thankfully, I only had to threaten to go home before she perked and enjoyed the rest of the animals.

Oddly enough the giant shark didn't phase her.

U babbled, squeeled and kicked around the whole time.

2 seconds after the below picture was taken, C freaked because she thought she was stuck.  She was flipping and flopping around trying to get unstuck but only making it worse.  I ended up having to yank her out before she caused a scene.  Lawd that child is D.R.A.M.A.

Besides the few small bumps, we had a really good afternoon.

Everyone enjoyed it and C asked multiple times to go back.

I know our luck might run out one day but for now, I will continue to brag on The Best Baby Ever.  Our dinner was taking a ridiculous amount of time Saturday night and U was exhausted so after he got his belly full, he laid in my lap for a good 45 minutes and napped.

My leg fell asleep and went numb but I could have cared less.  My child was sleeping in a noisy restaurant and was content.

Once we got to the hotel, it was time for a little night time swimming.

 

Sunday, we took U to his first Reds game.

He was pumped as you can tell.

It was a little warm but there was a breeze blowing in parts of the stadium so it wasn't too bad.

B was happy to share his love for the game and the Reds with two of his favorite people.

It was a nice little getaway for us and we are already making plans to go back.