BIG, BIG Stuff

So, we've had an incredibly busy...and productive few days.

After a really, really long day at work on Wednesday, I woke up Thursday morning exhausted. Fortunately, Craig was home so he got up with the kids...and made pancakes for breakfast. We all walked Connor out to the bus. We were chilling in the rec room trying to figure out what to do when the phone rang. It was my BFF Chris...she needed to go to Target and asked if she could come visit. Absolutely, I said. She and her youngest drove up and spent a few hours a our house. It was great.

She's to blame for this next picture though.



Here we are at the Strasburg Railroad on Saturday. We went to celebrate a HUGE event in our lives.

Jackson is potty trained!!!!! (okay...we're 99.9999% there, but what's an accident among friends?)

It all started with Chris sharing her potty boot camp strategy with us. Craig and I were both off Friday. We woke up...it was pouring...we put Connor on the bus and potty boot camp here we come! We started off slow...but by the afternoon we were having great success! Jackson did awesome. We couldn't have been prouder...we cheering, we danced, we clapped....he pooped. He even called me into the bathroom at one point to see his "accomplishment". Yeah.

To further reward and encourage him, we headed over to the Strasburg Railroad to see Thomas. It is usually crazy busy over there when Thomas is in town...but because of the rain and overcast skies, we were good to go. The boys had a great time...and Jackson smiled like you wouldn't believe.

As if all this wasn't exciting enough....


Mitchell is now 6 months old! Can you believe it!? And you know what comes with 6 months...



His first taste of real food. Green beans were the vegetable of choice. He seemed to like it. As a matter of fact, he really seemed ready for more than cereal. He did a great job. A few faces and some mess...but hey, what are you gonna do.

At 6 months, here's a few tidbits on Mitchell....

• you have 3 teeth...but are drooling to beat the band. there are a bunch more just ready to break through
• you are roly poly and are always flipping around in your crib
• you coo and laugh all the time
• you are starting to sit up on your own...but topple over as soon as you reach for something
• you love your brothers...they cover you with kisses and hugs always...though you can sometimes be overwhelmed by their "excessive" love
• you still don't sleep through the night. you're up at least once to nurse. i'm convinced it's just so you can smile at mommy in the middle of the night
• you have the cutest smile...its worth those wake-up calls just to see it
• you are super healthy and head to your 6 month doctor visit this week.
• you are loved beyond measure

On a side note...I got a chance to see a movie star today. Jonathon Groff was in town for the local premier of "Taking Woodstock". He's such a super nice guy.

Wow...what a weekend.

Labor Day

We've been trying to labor as little as possible this holiday weekend. Craig finished up the water line project on Friday...so now we have a "water hydrant" at the end of the lane. He did a great job. He also hung the new door on the tobacco shed...with the help of our neighbor. It looks good too. This is the first time that the tobacco shed has been used since Craig's father grew tobacco. It's nice to make use of the barn.

Saturday afternoon Mitchell and I headed out to the Hospice Auction for a bit. He was a real hit. Everyone said he looks like me...I hope that's a good thing.

When we got home, we headed out to the pond with Connor, Jackson and Daddy and did some fishin'. Didn't catch a darn thing, but we had a good time trying. Turns out our fishing rods are not in the best shape (not a big surprise). We'll have to work on them for next time.


jackson loved helping Craig get the line ready...though he was the most patient of fishermen. As soon as I headed in to get Mitchell a hat...Jackson was right behind.


Connor enjoyed it. When I asked if he caught anything he said...no fish...just a bunch of this green stuff! Yech. He though maybe we'd eat fish for dinner if they caught something. I have a feeling his "fish" would have turned out looking a lot like chicken nuggets.

Connor and Jackson had a cute moment on the way home from church. Jackson was trying to talk to me while Craig was in the store getting milk and a paper...I was having a hard time hearing him so he kept repeating himself. To which Connor yelled out..."shut it off Jackson". Jackson responded defiantly..."I will not shut it off...I'm trying to talk here.". Craig and I cracked up. Connor quickly pointed out that he did not say shut up...that's not allowed in our house!

Oh, my.

We're (okay...it's actually Craig that's done 99.6% of the work) almost done painting the barns. Tomorrow I'll take some pictures and share.

School Daze

Okay...so I mentioned the help from the Grandmas for the first day of school, but I only included a picture of them from the knees down. So, I thought I'd add this picture. Here we are waiting for the bus. (I'm honestly not sure where Connor is in this picture...I promise he is not in the middle of the road!)

This is Day 2. It was chilly again...but this time Connor's sweatshirt did not have pockets. (Minor issue!?!?!) So, I dug out the spider man gloves. Good thing I knew right where they were. Connor was tickled.

Here's the bus...pulling right up to the end of our lane! It was so nice. Mitchell was actually still sleeping, so Connor, Jackson, Sawyer and I walked out to the end of the lane together. (Jackson even put on his new back pack)

Jackson was a little sad that he didn't get to go with Connor. Connor asked me to take a picture of he and Jackson next to the bus....that way Jackson could look at the picture later and feel good...like it was his bus too. It was such a kind thought...too bad I couldn't get the shot off in time. I promise I'll try again this week.

Toothers

just wanted ot update...mitchell now has three teeth. the two on the bottom have been joined by a beauty on the top right. he's been handling it well. very little fussing! what a good guy.

by the way...there are two more on the way. bottom on either side.

First Day of K

Wow...the day I've been preparing for for so long....is over. Connor is now a kindergartener. The day was pretty great. We got up early...got out of the house okay. (thanks to the Grandmas for coming over to help with that.) It was a brisk morning..so Connor asked to wear a jacket (I know my son and had one ready and waiting). He also wanted pants...but that was not going to happen.

We walked down the lane together...Connor and I held back a little. I wanted to chat a bit about what he should expect. I was sooooo nervous. I truly had butterflies in my stomach! He was a-okay though.

We paused part way to the bus stop to take this pic. He was so cute! When we got to the bus stop, we were actually surprised when a different bus showed up (bus 21 pulled up instead of bus 6). The driver told us that from now on he would be picking Connor up at the end of the lane. I was a bit concerned and stopped traffic to figure it all out...but after my questions were answered...Connor took his first steps onto the big yellow.

Once he was on...he asked me, what do i do now? I told him...while sniffling back tears...to sit down and relax and soon I would be there picking him up. So he did.

Ugh.

My little boy is growing up.

I cried the whole way back home.

My mom and the boys and I went to Panera...then took a walk.

I couldn't wait to pick him up. We were the first people in the parking lot...though I let another car pull in front of me to be kind.

He spotted us right away. I couldn't wait to give him a hug and hear about his day!

He climbed right in the van...i hugged and kissed him...and started to tear up again.

His teacher stopped by the car and told us he had a great day......except.....for one minor? meltdown. He didn't want to cut out a school bus with scissors...said he hated cutting and couldn't do it....refused to do it. She kindly said that we'll have to work on fine motor skills at home. Hmmm.

Wow. My baby is a kindergartener.

Watch out world.

A Dutch Wonderful Day

we promised the boys a day at dutch wonderland before the end of summer. so friday...amidst the rain drops, we fulfilled our promise.

we had a great time. so many smiles. jackson was non-stop!



Sawyer didn't get to ride too much...but loved the slide and all the trains.



connor and i posed. he thought this was pretty cool!

my boys on the merry go round. this is the first time we actually rode it. we branched out this trip. we road at least 5 new things!

of course, their favorite....the train. choo....chooo.

we got there at 11 am...left for lunch for 20 minutes at sonic...and came home at 7 pm. they closed the park early because it was pouring!

the boys were awesome. no naps, no fussying...just patient, polite little boys. they crashed at 8:30...craig and i followed at 9:30!

picture pages

We pulled out the ol' exer-saucer for Mitchell. Its on its fourth little one in our house (plus the two kids from the family who gave it to us.) He loved it right away.

Craig called it...he said Mitchell would love chewing on the plastic flower. Mitchell reached right for it.



We painted a little bit this week too. The boys had a good time. Connor painted the "whole earth". Jackson loved it too. And Sawyer...well, Sawyer ate and wore more paint than he painted. YUM!