Golf-widows Weekend

As the majority of fall weeks go, ours was packed full of fun!
Before the rain came in this week, we spent a lot of time outside! Eric left for a golf trip on Thursday so it was all about me and the kids and we did everything we could to keep it fun! Friday night was a social event for Kyle's school. The event was at Crump Park and Johnathan the Juggler (Ri's Favorite guy!) and the hot dog guy were there and the kids played hard with their school friends and teachers! After Crump park, we dropped Riley off for a sleep over with Lexa at Uncle Mikes house and Nate came over to play with Kyle - it was a fun and late night!

Riley and Kyle playing at Crump Park

I get dizzy looking at this pix!
Kyle is LOVING soccer - he still thinks he rocks at the game and honestly, he is getting better and better each week.

Down he goes in this pix - this happens often! He really throws himself into the game!

Look at his face - so intense! Grayson is the boy in yellow with the ball - he is one of K's best buds from school.

The boy in blue is really good - I over head him tell his dad that he was "giving the other kids a chance" once when his dad questioned why he wasn't in the mix at that moment. But look at Kyle, trying hard!

Kyle with his two Buds, Grayson and Nate.

That afternoon, we crashed the backyard of the Scholtens - There were 6 of the 8 golf widows and a couple other friends - I think it totalled 19 kids!

This pix is Riley and one of Jill and Byrons beautiful girls chillin out!

Falling into Fall

Kyle continues to LOVE soccer - week two was a huge success and he proceeded to tell us on the way home that he "is really good at soccer" and "knows everything about soccer". We hope his skills some day measure up to his confidence:-)

Riley had another great week at school - still all Green (relating to their behavior chart). She has the schedule down pat due to the daily songs she sings with her class about the various activities they are doing. There is a lot of singing, which Ri loves! She has not been willing to buy lunch yet, but did buy icecream the past 2 tuesday's (with our permission - she is our rule abider!)

We spent a good amount of time at the park and ran into 2 of Ri's classmates this weekend and had a great dinner with the Berniers. Hannah may have her 1st crush and Kyle was a complete gentleman - even when Hannah wouldn't let him go outside b/c she wanted him to stay in and play with her! Sooo cute!!

Riley holding baby Sean

Riley, Hanna, and Kyle at dinner
Daisy's started this week and we have a great group of girls! None are in Riley's kindergarten class so this is another great way to get to know more girls in the area! Ri was crazy at our first meeting - wild, silly, and outgoing - Daisy's may be her thing!

Silly Faces!!

We also started a new playgroup on Wednesdays and next week have another Tuesday after school playgroup starting up again too! No rest for the weary!

But the most fun of the week for us was back to school night! Riley's teacher, Mrs. Sullivan, seems wonderful and we are all excited about the year!

Kindergarten here we come!

WOW! What a week of FIRSTS!! Kindergarten, pre-school, biking, bubbles, and soccer! Fall is in the air and the kids are loving every moment!

Riley started Kindergarten on September 7th - also Darcy's birthday! Happy Birthday Aunt Darcy!!! The morning was surprisingly relaxing and everyone was just chilling... we had about 10 min or so and we headed outside to take some pix and stand at the corner to wait for the bus... as we began to take a pix, what rolls on by... yes, our BUS!! Well, we made it on the bus, but no time for tears, fears... or even pix!

Riley's first day was fabulous! She loves her teacher and knows of a couple kids in her class. None of the kids she regularly plays with are in her class but this will be a great way of getting to know more kids! Her teacher is super sweet and has already begun sending us daily 'snap shots' of the day which explain everything the kids did during the day. We are all sure it is going to be a great year!

Breakfast on the first morning of Kindergarten and preschool! The only pix I got that morning!

I may have missed the getting on the bus pix, but I didn't miss the getting off! Ri and I spent quite a while chatting about the day and having a snack. She had so much to say - I know this is going to be a great year for her!

Kyle has an exciting day too - his first day of preschool with a new class and teacher. His teacher seems Great and he is already super happy to have moved to Ms. Katy's class!

This is our do-over pix day! day 2 of kindergarten - still all smiles!

They really do love each other!!

Not only is Riley in kindergarten now, she also can blow bubbles (she is obsessed with gum) and ride her bike with no training wheels!!! We bribed her to try riding with 2 packs of gum... we never claimed to be above bribery!

Kyle also had some first this week - he is now playing soccer with Strikers and LOVES it!

Look at that smile!

He really seems to pay attention and want to play and do well.
Riley enjoyed hanging and will enjoy next week even more when one of her buddies, Elena, is there to play with (sister of K's buddy Grayson)

Score!
I love this shot - it looks like such good form, but really he missed the ball:-)

Bush Gardens & Birthdays

The crazy heat has finally broke (for a couple days anyway!) however that didn't happen before we hit Bush Gardens for the day! I had surgery on both feet a couple weeks ago so before I had to be off my feet and school started, the 4 of us spent an ENTIRE day playing at Bush Gardens (9:30am-9:30pm) and man did we have fun (even in the heat!)

We started off riding all the rides in the Sesame Street area (which you can probably tell b/c we aren't covered in sweat yet in the early pix!) - the kids had fun but were ready for more so we took on the rest of the park!

I remember the ropes from when I was a kid - they weren't as scary now... for me! Riley and Kyle took them on with force and only lost a shoe through the ropes a couple times:-)

The swings are the only thing I can't stomach but both kids needed an adult rider, so off we went - this pix was the only time I opened my eyes through the entire ride. The kids Loved it (however I'm not going back on!)

This pix is on the sky ride - we left the stroller in the car till nearly 4pm and took the sky ride and the train all over the park. After we grabbed the stroller, we headed to Germany and enjoyed some pudding (and beer) in the A/C and watched the German show. Riley and Kyle were asked to dance but didn't want to go - then later someone in the show asked me to dance, which I did - this gave Ri the confidence she needed and in the next number, she was asked to dance again and performed the chicken dance like a master:-)

Before Germany, we headed back to see Elmo and cool off in the water - our kids danced like no one was watching:-) We even hung out to see the fireworks - they were GREAT! However, we watched them from our car and then bolted on home! Such a great day!!

This past week little Lexa turned SIX years old! She had a pool party which was so much fun on Saturday and got her ears pierced earlier in the week!
Lexa did such a great job introducing her cousins to all her friends and everyone played so well together (however, these three still love playing together more than with anyone else!) Some of Lexa's friends will be going to Riley's school in September so it was great to meet some more girls and hopefully that will be more familiar faces for Ri! Our next post will include First day of School pictures!!!

Beach Babes

I swear the beach and the weather at the beach gets better every year!! We spent the last week of July at Emerald Isle Beach and what a week! The kids had a room full of bunk beds and learned early in the week to go wake up a grand parent at 6:30 instead of a parent - good kids, smart kids!! In fact, when Papa was the one woken up, he gave the kids chocolate cake for breakfast! Yumm:-)

Everyone had a blast! Wonderful dinners, tons of sun, loads of relaxing and even a couple of rounds of golf for some (Grandma, Papa, Eric, and Justin). Darcy, Bebe, the kids and me chilled on the beach instead of golf and everyone was Happy!

The kids loved playing in the waves and sand and especially loved the sand bar! No signs of sharks this year (thank God!) and the water was perfect temp for swimming! Enjoy the pix...

Daddy and his baby girl

Little beach babes

Only one tooth missing... for now - but the dentist said many are getting ready to come out!

Doesn't the background look fake??

Tracy and her monkeys

This truck was the biggest hit on the beach - aside from the putter that the O'Sullivans gave Kyle. He actually dug little holes in the sand to put into!!

Our 1st boogie board experience

Grandma and Papa brought this game (can't recall what it is called) The kids loved it! Kyle amazed us with his arm - -hope this continues as he grows up! Justin also bring the Wii to play. This was my kids 1st exposure to the Wii... they just may be asking Santa for the Wii this year!

RUNNING like always!!

Look Mom, No teeth!

Riding the waves - All the kids loved the water, but I think Kyle wanted in the most and the longest

My beautiful baby girl!