First Day of School

Connor went through his first day of school last week like a real champ. He's in an all-day class on Mondays and Wednesdays at Second Friends preschool with one of his best buds from last year, Truman.

I made Connor pose for the traditional "first day of school" photo right before we went inside Second Friends. He looks thrilled, as you can see. He is pretty cool with his Spiderman backpack (which has wheels, at his request) and his coordinating lunchbox. Thanks, Aunt Sarah!

He did pretty well walking into school to face a barrage of parents getting their kids settled in the new classroom. There was a small degree of leg-clinging when I tried to leave, but I peeled him right off and away he went. Here he is playing with Truman right before I left.

The house is really quiet without him around, and I mean this in a literal sense. I didn't realize how much audio accompaniment Connor brings to our world with his almost constant verbal percussion and various sound effects that accompany almost everything he does. I kind of miss it, but look forward to the one-on-one time with Kylee.

He started his second week today...he had to take something for show-and-tell, and as we were sorting through various options last night, he chose one of his cars telling me, with a serious expression on his face, that it "would be more impressive" than another one.

Our kids are so cool.

Hot Fun in the Summertime

It's been awhile since I've posted...I wish I had something really exciting to update you on, but basically, we've been pretty focused on simply trying not to melt in this crazy heat these last few weeks. :)

We've really been enjoying the summer. We've made a couple trips to the pool, and have been blessed to be invited to swim with friends at their neighborhood pools. We've played with cousins, church friends, and school friends. I've really enjoyed being away from work for awhile, and it's wild to think that next week, Connor and I both head back to school.

We spent a weekend away in Branson at the end of July. A student of mine was gracious enough to offer us her family's BEAUTIFUL cabin down in Branson, so we enjoyed a free place to stay and had a great time boating out on Table Rock Lake and even made a trip to Celebration City, where Connor especially had a great time riding all the rides. It was the kids' first experience with boating, and a good time was had by all (see the pics--I have to admit that as I was resizing them, I was especially struck by how much Kylee looks like her Mommy!). Both of the kids jumped right in the lake and swam like crazy with their lifevests on--it was wonderful!

The kids and I made a trip the week before last to see Dana in Springfield. It was so great to see where she and her family have settled, and to hear how happy they are with their new surroundings. She took the kids and I to the Wonders of Wildlife Museum next to the Bass Pro Shop in town and we really enjoyed it. Connor was fascinated by the animals, and the kids especially liked watching the HUGE aquarium (the sharks were the highlight). It was a great roadtrip for us. Above is a picture of Connor and I with Aleksander and Rocky.

The kids are doing really well. We went school shopping for Connor this weekend, and it is incredible to see how "grown up" his tastes are becoming. He is excited to start school, but a little apprehensive about his new teacher. She came and did a home visit a week or so ago, and it went well, so we're optimistic about another great year at Second Friends for him. He is a little disappointed that he won't be starting kindergarten this year, but we're still confident that we've made the decision that is right for him in the long run.

Kylee is still insistent that she is four (and lately, she is also emphatic that Connor is two). Her latest adventure includes giving herself a haircut. She has cut a few hairs before, but this time, she took a rather signficant chunk out of the left side of her head. It was like a scavenger hunt finding all the pieces of hair scattered around the living room. And I swear, she was only unsupervised for 5 minutes!!