Collier Goes to Kindergarten

My heart, my first baby, my sweet handsome little man, my big boy, my love....has reached the time in his life to go to kindergarten.  He had been asking for several weeks if 'today do I have to go to school?' and I am not sure if it was out of excitement or out of dread/fear.  There is so much unknown around kindergarten...its a new school and we didn't know a single other kid at the school.  two weeks before school even started, I just couldn't escape the thought and reality that he was going to kindergarten.  I was excited and nervous and a little sad at the fact that my little boy was grown up enough to go to big school.

So on August 5th we went to meet his teacher.  Mrs. Fargason is the lucky lady to guide, teach and direct my precious little man through Kindergarten.  We took her flowers!  It was hectic and fast to go in and meet the teacher and divide up school supplies.  She was kind enough to have popcycles for the kids but Collier wasn't really interested in staying.  I was not 100% comfortable with little interaction with a total stranger who I am having to trust with my little boy.  We were told that we could not walk them into their class on the first day of school - which meant that I had to drop him off and go in the carpool line.  Heart sank, tears filled my eyes because I just wanted to see him get to his class and get settled and know that he was in the right place and ready for his first day.  This adjustment is big for me as it is for him!  We will walk though it together and adjust to our new norm..

The night before school started, we had a special school night dinner to celebrate Collier and to kick off the start of school!  I decorated with school stuff and covered the table with brown paper.  When Justin brought the kids in they both were so excited to see the table.  They immediately jumped up and started coloring! We had pizza, fruit & cheese kabobs and edamame....all things that they love! Plus a bunch of smarties! Thank you pinterest!

And Finally the big day had arrived.   I held it together.  Dropped him off in carpool line and as soon as the door closed I cried...ugly cried.  I wanted to park my car and run in and be sure he was in his class.  I wanted the peace of mind.  I had to let go!  Yep, let go a little.  Loosen that Momma, all protector, know what my little boy is doing all day grip and just drive away.  It was hard, but as Justin said, it was probably best so that he didn't see me cry and that we started off our routine as it would be every day!

 2:30 could not come quick enough that day.  I couldn't wait to get there and pick him up and just hear that he had a good day! I even ask the guys I work with not to ask me about how the morning went...because having to talk about it would only bring tears and I didn't want to cry all day at work.  So, thankfully they were kind enough to not ask ;)  I picked him up and  he did have a good day.  He survived.  He liked it...didn't love it. But he was fine.  So I grabbed him up and zoomed him off to enjoy some yummy yogurt mountain.  We both needed it and loved the moments to catch up and hear about his day.
His favorite thing was PE with coach Brown.
His least favorite was rest time.

We are now just 5 days in.  He still doesn't really say that he has 'friends' and is learning names of a few of the boys in his class.  I asked Mrs. Fargason how he is doing and she said he is great but is a little quite.  I expect that since he usually will be shy and sit back to assess his situation before he jumps in fully.  I am just praying that he continues to be comfortable and make new friends.  He is so precious and this is a big adjustment.  We went from 9pm bed time to 8:30pm bed time. From napping every day to no nap and just a little afternoon rest.  From 7:30-8am wake up's that were leisure and easy to 6:30am wake up that required breakfast to be eaten, teeth and hair brushed and dressed in exactly 45 minutes.  We went from not having to leave the house until 8:30am to leaving the house at 7:27am.  From me taking him to his class and speaking daily with his teacher to drop of in carpool and never even laying eyes on his teacher.  From knowing every single student in his class and their parents to knowing not a single child much less their parent. Adjustment to say the least, but I will stay that I have prayed all summer long about his teacher and his friends.  I trust that God's plan is perfect and that He does not make mistakes or accidents.  God has Collier right were He wants him to be and I trust that God will work His plan out andI will give Him the glory every step of the way.  Plus I tell my children all the time that Jesus is with us no matter what...always and forever!  So, although I don't know his friends or his teachers.  I do know Jesus and He is with Collier every step of the day.   Trusting in Jesus to carry us through and that alone is where I have my peace and comfort!

Kid Fun

As I am JUST NOW working through Kenley's 1 year photo book, I am looking back at old post to jog my memory about different things and milestones!  Which makes me also want to keep that up so that I have a good documentation of what we are doing now, as a reminder for me in 2 years!  So, for my two faithful and sweet Aunt's who continue to read...thank you!  I think it is just the 3 of us reading!!

Two weeks ago, Collier went to stay with Mella & Buzz for a whole week.  And since it was the week after July 4th, Mom decided she was going to keep Kenley at the lake and enjoy the time down there.  Thankfully the neighbors were back and forth and she had other people down there just to be around and in case something happened...after all it is a HUGE task to take on a very sassy and strong-willed little 2 year old all by yourself!!  Justin and I both had to work so we had a week of no kids at home.  I was so excited and then before I knew it we had decided to go back to the lake on Wednesday night (Justin had plans to go on a guys beach trip that was initially thought to start on Friday and got moved up to Thursday).  We enjoyed the peace and quite but it was quite strange to not have any obligation or responsibility.  We ended up eating out with friend the two nights we were home.  I didn't get done what I had hoped, but it was good and certainly worth the alone time for us to focus on one another rather than the kids.

So, Kenley loved her time with Mimi at the lake and she did good for Mom thank goodness!  

All Collier wanted to do was fish every day with Mella & Buzz and that he did.  Plus he got to drive Buzz's truck, go see How to Train Your Dragon 2, fish, shoot a BB Gun for the first time, feed the horses, swim, fish, ride his bike, fish and did I mention fish?  This little boy certainly got the love for fishing gene!! 

I am thankful to both of the grandparents who gave Justin and I the opportunity for a little alone and quite - because I know that your week was nothing close to quite!  Thank you for making it a special time and making sweet memories for them! 

And just for the record...after this week the swimming thing finally clicked for Collier!  He is now jumping off the dock with no life jacket and swims really really good and strong!  I was really proud of him for finally getting it and swimming to very good!  And his bike riding is excellent too, I have been quite impressed with how well he has done with riding.  He has almost out-grown his bike and we are in need to starting to search for a bit bigger one! If only I could make him stop growing and freeze time!

July 4th - Compass Lake

I love July 4th...we usually get a few extra days at the lake and extra time at Compass Lake is always good. This year we got to come down on Tuesday and I worked from the lake for a few days and it was just perfect.  A little work, a little play and a lot of family!  Chris, Amanda and the girls made it down on Friday and we actually got to enjoy the fireworks this year in the boat...instead of curled up and terrified in my Mom's bed.  The kids all did great and actually realized that fireworks are pretty from a distance!!

 Little game of baseball is always good fun!

There may or may not have been one that crashed on the boat.  

Fun and special weekend full of sweet memories!

Family Reunion

This weekend we got to travel to Jacksonville, FL to celebrate with my Dad's side of the family 100 years since my great grandfather came to the United States. He saved enough money in 7 years to bring over his wife (Annie) and daughter (Mary) for a better life in the USA. They grew an amazing, fun-loving family who gathered 5 generations together this past weekend. It was wonderful to gather with Aunts, Uncles, and cousins who we don't get to see often enough.

This is the 4th Generation! (missing several)


And the 5th Generation! (missing a few)

The day consisted of everything from learning to make Baklava with Aunt Lorraine to softball game and water slides to card games, board games, outside games and of course lots of delicious food!

The sweetest part of the baklava making was watching how Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Tom worked together so diligently to make the trays.   They were all perfectly delicious.  Thank you for taking the time to teach!!

Chris figured out that none of them knew how to place nickle nickle...he said they combined about 4 different games into one to make it work.  Not sure who won or how they kept up with it.

Softball players

 We were so glad that Ash and Hayden were there too play along with too!

And then there are these two precious and sweet and beautiful cousins...If Collier could bottle them up and bring them home with him he would!  

 Carson - who loves sports but especially football and is very patient and nice to play with Collier.  He is such a great kid not to mention he is super handsome and cool!

Madison - well she stole Collier's heart a few years ago at my cousin Cami's wedding.  He literally talks about her all year long and at the mention of her name becomes silly with a red blush across his face.  She is so very sweet to Collier and tolerant of him being a total flirt and silly goose when she is around!  He told Ashlyn 'I love Madison and you will too - I can't wait for you to meet her'.  And at every meal he wanted to sit next to her. It is awesome to have such amazing family!

Now if we can only not let 22 years go by before we have our next reunion!  

Memorial Day at Compass Lake

We were so happy to get to finally get to the lake.  Loved being in the quiet and peacefulness this place offers.  It creates so many memories and it brings our family together, which was just perfect and loads of fun!

Every single one of the kids have loved this swing...it is in the middle of the porch (slightly in the way) but it also means that someone is a mere arms length away to keep the swing a swing'n.  Here Kenley was getting in some Lulu snuggles while trying to wind-down for nap time!

Pops turned the sprinklers on and the kids were so excited...Kenley was the only one who wasn't much of a fan!  Soon enough, she will be.

 Birthday celebrations for Ashlyn (and a little revisit for Collier with his cousins)

 Water Frisbee 

 little man didn't even hesitate when Pops asked if he wanted to jump off our neighbors high doc.  He loved it! and jumped over and over again!  

someone else wanted to get in on the 'jump'n.  She wants to do everything the other kids are doing and is not going to be held back.  

 plus she thinks that aFris (Uncle Chris) is super awesome.  And she has slightly crazy hair!  After swimming and then a nap this is the chaos that occurs on top of her head. 

 Serious cousin time and love Every.Single.Minute of it.

and then the weekend wraps up and you have swam so much that you can hardly hold your eyes open and you pout because Momma won't drive the boat FAST or go around the lake AGAIN.  Packing up and going home is no fun!