Updates

Last Saturday, a friend of ours called and said, "You want to go to the lake?" Umm..yeah. He took us out in his boat and pulled the kids around in an floatable. He called it an inner-tube, but it was more like a triangle with two seats built into it. The kids sat down in the middle of it. Neither one of them has ever been on a boat or out on an inner tube like that. They both had a ball. Jackson was wanting to go faster and hit the bumps harder (it was pretty windy out on the lake, so it was choppy), but Reid had her limit and was readily communicating it when we started going too fast.

School has been in almost a week and both kids seem to be settling into their routines. Reid loves Pre-K and every morning we have the same conversation, "Mom, you can let me out here." Mom: "Can I stop the car first?" Reid: "Yes, but don't get out." She hops out of the car, runs in and heads to her classroom. Big, independent girl.

Tonight, Reid starts gymnastics. We had thought about dance, but between Reid telling us she didn't want to do it, she didn't want to do anything and the fact that it was near to impossible to get information out of the dance studio, we gave up on dance. She will go two days a week, for 50 minutes each night. I think she will like it once she gets started.

I have my first PTO meeting tonight - we'll see how this goes. So far, I haven't hacked anybody off, but it is early. Tonight is just a welcome/kickoff meeting, so it should be short/sweet.

Friday night, Damon and I are going on a date and going TO SEE A MOVIE WITHOUT ANIMATION. We have found a new babysitter and we are ready to rock date night again.

Saturday we are headed up to Winfield to spend the day with Grandma. The last time we were there was early June and she is getting antsy for a great-grandchildren visit. She hadn't pulled out the "roast" yet, but it was coming.

First Day of School

Big day...she gets to take her lunch, go to her Pre-K and stay there for the day! She has waited a very, very long time for this day and it is FINALLY here!

First day of 5th grade. Wow, big man on campus!

The first day of school is here. Two kids, two different schools, lots and lots of pencils, paper, notebooks, crayons, markers, and more.

We dropped Jackson off at Ranch Heights for his last, first day of school as an elementary kid. He didn't seem particularly excited, but he said he was ready. We drove over to Will Rogers Early Childhood Center, parked and got the cameras at the ready. Reid said, "I can walk in by myself." Uh, not. Jackson robbed me of this moment and dear Reid, you are paying for your brother's sin of not letting me walk him into his first day of school.

We took Reid in, found her teacher, and followed them to the classroom. I got a hug, but it was a half-hug. I don't think Dad even got a wave. This girl had things to do, people to see. Parents were huddled in the hallway and all of the kids had this look like, "Why are you guys still here?"

I teared up a little. Life has changed. Time is flying. But, at the same time, I am happy for Reid. Happy she is confident and ready to take on this new stage of her life. Happy that she isn't afraid to be in the middle of something new. Go get'em little girl.

Just Everyday Details

The summer is winding down, but the activity around here has not:

We had Jackson's birthday party at the swimming pool on July 31. He had a friend, Joseph, over to spend the night before and all day Friday. I don't think, no, I know I have never heard the word "dude" that many times. It was "Dude," "Dude," "Dude," all DAY LONG. Jackson enjoyed his party and received about $50 in cash/gift cards, plus a lava lamp.

I went to Curriculum Night at Reid's school on Monday, which gave me the opportunity to meet her teacher, see her classroom and get the low down on what she will be doing during her day. All I can say is, please pray for this teacher...she is going to have 23 four-year-olds. I need a magarita just thinking about that.

Monday night, we go back to Will Rogers Early Childhood Center for Open House. This is Reid's turn to check things out, take her school supplies and put them in her cubby, and meet her teacher. She is ready! She doesn't know this yet, but I will walk her in to her classroom, hand-in-hand. We will not have the Jackson-Running-Away-From-Me fiasco that we had when Jackson first went to school. Yes, she is paying for the sins of her brother.

Jackson's Back to School Open House night is Tuesday night. This his last year at Ranch Heights...I have a 5th grader. How did that happen?

Reid's last day of day care is tomorrow. The LAST DAY! I wrote the last check this week and I should have taken a picture of it. I will have to get an image of that check and scrapbook it. After 10 years, 9 years at the same day care...WE ARE DONE!!

Tonight, we are going to a birthday party at the pool and tomorrow night Jackson has a sleepover/birthday party at a friend's house. We are thinking about taking Reid swimming - a little Sissy one-on-one time.

This weekend, we actually have nothing, nada, zip, on our calendars. It was somewhere March the last time that happened.

Happy Birthday, Jackson

Happy Birthday, Little Man! Welcome to 10!!

Every year, you turn into a more incredible kid and, in these last six months, we have watched you mature into an even more confident, self-assured boy. You are really leaving behind your "little kid" ways and moving into your own identity as a "tween."

Even though you are maturing and becoming more independant, you still:

• Take my hand and want to walk hand-in-hand
• Can't sleep without your blankie
• Tell me I'm a good mommie at least once every day
• Say, "I love you Mom" at least 10 days times a day
• Want your parents to go to activities with you

I know those things are probably going to slip away more and more, but I am going to hold on to them and treasure them each and every time. (And continue to pray you will just stop growing for a second.)

You still surprise and delight people with your compassion and your ability accept people for who they are. We started a new church this year and you slid into that situation without a hitch, and in one ministry situation you showed your personality to a 99-year-old member of our congregation. You walked up to her, without hesitation, talked with her, and helped her blow out her candles. Not many 9-year-olds would do that.

You're a good (third parent) big brother to your Sissy. She worships you, I hope you know that. You are incredibly patient and giving to her, even when she isn't the most appreciative or the nicest to you. Thank you for that. Thank you for being someone Reid can count on.

You started a new sport this year - swimming - and joined the ConocoPhillips Splash Club. I hate to break it to you, kiddo, but you are not a natural born athlete. Mom and Dad did not bless you with athletic genes. But, that hasn't stopped you and it hasn't stopped from dreaming. This is the first sport you have done that you have aspired to moving up. Early into the training, you said you want to be on Gold Team - you are starting on bronze - and you have stuck to that. I have no doubt you will get there. It won't be easy, nothing worthwhile ever comes easy, but I see your determination and that will is your ticket. Hold on to it and swim!

In this your ninth year, we lost your Grandpa. But, you were loving, understanding and more worried about me than about yourself. I hope you know and will remember how much he loved you and how we said good-bye in a way that honored who he was and allowed you, his grandchildren, to have fun in the great outdoors, just where he was most at home.

Here's to another year of good-night tickles, food on your eyebrows, snotting Dad's pillow, leaving toys in the chair, and living, laughing, and holding on to every ounce of your childhood.

Happy 10th!

Mommie