As Little Will and the Girls Grow

Trick or Treating back at home after a looong night!

The kids were so excited to go to Boo at the Zoo -- I think they might have been more excited about it than the actual Halloween night.  We went about 2 weeks before Halloween with my little angel, my Ariel, and my Anakin Skywalker.  (Will did not want to carry his light saber around with him - I think he wanted to keep his hands free for trick or treating and eating candy!)

My parents with Uncle Paul who was visiting and able to join the festivities!

This picture cracks me ... its a "Where's Will?" picture.

Bapa is so special to us and to our kids.  I am so happy that he is such a big part of our lives.  We love him so very much!!!

True vintage!  Here's to 70 more years Bapa!  :-)

One of the last things we did at our beach trip was our annual beach pictures of the kids.  Unfortunately, this year two things did not cooperate: the weather (so we didn't have the right sunlight for the pictures) and Catie (so we didn't have many group shots of the kids with everyone being happy).  But we got some cute pictures nonetheless!

The week before school started we went for our annual beach trip with Bapa and Grandma.  I was so looking forward to it this year - my mom and dad found an oceanfront beach house with plenty of room for the kids, and this was the first time in 6 years we had returned to the beach without the need for pack n' plays, swim diapers, naps and other tiring elements of beach with babies.  And the trip lived up to my excitement!  The house mom found was just perfect for us.  Nothing fancy but extremely comfortable right on the beach.  It had a huge screened in porch and something of an apartment upstairs where my family went to keep the kids separated somewhat from the adults, especially in the evenings.  We've already reserved it for next year, and we are all excited to return!


Uncle Steve and Aunt Mary were able to join us for part of the beach week.  They just moved to Nashville, and Mary had to start her orientation as a professor at UT! But she was able to come until Monday afternoon.  And Uncle Steve stayed until Wednesday.  The kids just adore their aunt and uncle, and we missed them as soon as they were gone.




All the kids loved the water and waves.  We could get them to play the sand a little bit now and then, but mostly - from the second we hit the beach - they were in the water.  It kept us on our toes with Catie and Carter.  Catie had no fear of those waves and loved to venture out as far as one would let her -- so you had to watch out with her.

My dear Carter would tend to stay close to us, preferring to hold someone's hand or have them close as she jumped the waves.

Will, thankfully, knows how to swim so we did not have to keep quite as close an eye on him.  Plus, as long as Uncle Steve was at the beach that is the only person Will wanted to be with.  He LOVES playing with his Uncle Steve.  They played water guns in the ocean and watched Star Wars movies in the afternoon.





The girls, of course, enjoyed watching the Little Mermaid -- over and over and over.  :-)

 And nothing like the morning ritual at the beach -- Bapa leaves early and picks up fresh doughnuts for everyone.  The kids loved eating their cereal followed by Bapa's yummy doughnuts.

(Next year ... must work on more pictures of the adults!)

Will had his first day of first grade last Wednesday.  Because he wasn't the "new kid" going to a new school this year, he didn't seem anxious - just excited.  He has moved from tables to a desk, and his classroom is now on the big kids hall at school.  When we dropped him off for his first day last year, the kids sat and colored a picture of themselves.  This year, he had an assignment notebook and he had to write down the day of the week, today's full date, and all of his assignments (most of which were "none" for now).  He looked up at the homework board made a face and put his head down. Ellis and I laughed, patted him on the back and said, "welcome to first grade, Will!"






When I picked him up at carpool he exclaimed,"Mommy, I had the most marvelous day ever!  I made so many new friends!"  He was just bubbling with excitement.  I think its going to be a great year!

Monday was the first day of school for the girls in the 3-year-old class.  They moved to the "older kids" hall (where the 3s, 4s and 5s are).  I was a bit frazzled that morning, reminding myself again what a creature of habit I am -- just worried if the girls would like their new class (with room assignments they were separated from their good friends), wondered if they would like their new teacher, etc etc.  But they seemed to have a WONDERFUL day, which makes me so happy to hear.  I am looking forward to seeing all the things they learn in the 3s this year!

Dear Catie - pictures are just not your thing!  She had a total tantrum about her shoes that led to her refusing to smile.  Sigh.  At least I got her to stand in front of the door and hold her sister's hand without crying!

I love this picture!

Their school insists on "standard/large size" bookbags for the 3s which I just find hilarious.  The bookbags are almost as big as them!  But true to their favorite colors, I got a purple one for Carter and a pink one for Catie.  And they love to wear their bookbags.

Tomorrow my little boy starts FIRST GRADE!  I can't believe we will have a first grader - who is also moving up to the "big kids hall" at his school.  Will is so excited, I think it will be a miracle if he falls asleep at a decent hour.