Nate - Cross Country

Nate is running cross country this year. Our school district lets the 6th graders run with the Middle School (7th & 8th graders). He likes it - even though its been super hot a good part of September - and we are so proud of him! Scott has been going to run with the team on the days he is off, so he's like a volunteer coach too (although Nate would not admit to that:) Ha!)

His first meet was in University City and he did a great job! The season lasts until the end of October and he has a few more meets to go.

And just for fun...this is Nate on the day he dressed up like his teacher. It was spirit week for Homecoming and he really got into this day. And only this day. 

Apple Farm with Lila's Class

I had the pleasure of joining Lila's class at the Apple Farm a couple of weeks ago. It was a new apple farm for us and we liked it! The farmers helped the 1st Grade make apple cider and Lila was a fan!

They had animals to visit as well and the kids really loved them. Me? I was standing in the back with the hand sanitizer. Ha! 

We also got to take a trip to the orchard to pick some apples!

Lila loves to pick apples and tasted a few too:)

We had a great time and I noticed that 1st Graders are different than Kindergartners on field trips. At least this one. I was very impressed with all of their behavior! 

Georgia vs. Notre Dame Weekend

The weekend after Labor Day, we headed to Indianapolis to see our good friends, the Pooleys! Georgia played Notre Dame and since the biggest fans of those two schools are Scott & Ryan, we had to be together! Scott & Ryan talked about going to the game, but tickets turned out to be like $500 so we passed on that. Watching it together was a close second to actually being there! Except for those that went to bed at half time. Ahem. Georgia won! So maybe I'll employ that tactic more often. Ha!

During the day on Saturday, before the Big Game, we went to Conner's Prairie. It is an outside, interactive town setup like the 1800's. The kids loved it! 

Petting the sheep...I'm standing in the back with the hand sanitizer...

This was in the school house, Nate was in his element the whole visit.

How are Nate & Quinn this big?!?! I know I say that all the time. But truly, all of the kids are growing up way too fast!

In the covered wagon...Nate gave everyone else a history lesson of how covered wagons were used. Quinn & Sullivan listened. Lila was like, "yeah yeah, what-EVER?" Keepin it real:)

Lying on the pine needle mattress in one of the houses. They decided they were thankful for their mattresses at home. 

Practicing on the pottery wheels...

and Scott & the kids making some music at the Treehouse. This was Lila's favorite part of course, the little climber!

They have a hot air balloon onsite, but all of the tickets were sold out by the time we got there. They had to settle for this one.

It was a short visit, but oh so fun! Any time spent with the Pooleys is treasured - thank you SO much for having us! Until next time!

Early Fall Randoms

Even though it is hotter than the surface of the sun here this week (and last for that matter!), it is starting to feel like Fall. Or maybe it's just my imagination. I tried to get into the spirit over Labor Day weekend by fixing up the front yard. Scott planted some yellow mums in the porch boxes and I added my Missouri flag. It's not helping the boys in CoMO. Not one bit. Sigh.

One morning over Labor Day (we didn't do anything by the way, it was pretty much glorious), Lila & I walked to get donuts. I took this on the way back. I happen to love it.

And just because this is how I feel every.single.day right now. I mean really.  Also, I'm pretty sure Nate doesn't really need all that much help but he's identified this as an acceptable form of torture for him to dish out to the parents. Because, ya know, we HAVE to help him. Ha!

First Day of School - 1st & 6th

How do the years go by so fast?!?! The kids started another school year on August 23rd. Nate began his last year at the elementary school and yes, of course I shed a tear. He was quick to say, "Mom!! Stop crying!! 

He has had a great start to the year and really likes his teacher. He is running cross country this Fall and we can't wait to see what this year holds for him!

My sweet ones! Nate stood this arrangement for about 1.2 seconds. Ha!

Yes, yes sweet Lila wore pearls to start her 1st grade year. Her personality is SO large. She likes her teacher too and has many friends from last year in her class. We are excited to see what she will be up to this year!

Finding her locker on the first day. She was so proud to have a locker! Six going on sixteen she is:)

Eclipse 2017

Eclipse! We were 3 of the billion people excited about the eclipse! We had our glasses and were ready to go. Scott was working so we decided just to hang out around our house and walk over to the green space when it was time for the big event.

Before we left the house, trying out the glasses...I don't think the kids believed me that it was going to get dark.

Oh Lila...:)

Getting dark!

And those are all the pictures I have because the rest of the time I was trying hard to make sure the kids didn't burn their corneas. Ha!

Gulfport 2017

Lila's school building underwent major construction beginning in May of this year. The project continued through August so the entire district's first day of school was pushed back about a week and a half. This meant we had some extra days to fill when we would normally be getting ready to go back to school. 

Scott was going to be in New York running a relay with the Boyle side of the family, so we decided to go somewhere! My Mom, Hamil, Sarah, Thane & Ruel were up for a road trip too. We decided to go to Gulfport, MS, mainly because it is the closest beach to us. Ha! 

We arrived after a long day of traveling, but the beach view was worth it! 

We immediately got our swim suits on and headed out to the beach.

The water was not as pretty as some of the beaches we've been to, but the kids had fun and it was a nice get-away!

Keeping the tradition alive - burying each other in the sand...

Dinner one night...we loved the extra time with Nana!

The Three Amigos:)

  It rained almost every day we were there at some point. But the plus side were the rainbows!

My sweet one heading out to Ship Island for the day!

Ship Island is not inhabited but the National Park Service keeps up Fort Massachusetts. It was a beautiful little island with an amazing beach. The bonus was that we got to get a history lesson of this fort, which you know I love.

Hamil caught this crab (they were everywhere!). He was the kids hero. And then it bit him. Ha!

The waves on this beach were so good - the kids loved every minute of our time there.

We also toured the fort. It was so neat. But I have to say, the bugs and humidity inside there got to me after about 10 minutes. I can't imagine the soldiers and POWs that were there full time back in the day.

A view of paradise from the inside...

The boardwalk connected the fort to the beach. There were no railings and signs that said Beware of the Alligators. Yikes.

Sweet Ruel! He looks so much like Hamil that it's like a blast from the past every time I look at him! I love it.

Coloring cousins...

It was a fun trip with some of my very favorite people! We can't wait for the next one!