Week in Review - Last Week at CCS

This was Hollon's last week at Covenant Classical School. We have loved this school/daycare and have used it during the summer for both Jake (when he was little) and Hollon. If I was to ever go back to work full time and outside the home, we'd definitely use CCS as our full time daycare. 

She set up her Frozen figures and then wanted me to take her picture beside them

This is not a very clear picture, but it is a face I get all the time from Hollon, so I want to document it. This is her "I didn't get my way" pout. I get it approximately 20 times a day.

For some reason, she has been wanting me to take her picture while she stands on her bed

As an early birthday gift, Granddad Jake & GG Kathy sent her this stuffed squirrel. She has loved it!

She has also been obsessed with this old Batman figure of Jake's

She was showing me how her and Batman were sitting the same

She is having a conversation with him here 

Another typical Hollon face/pose I want to document. Whenever you tell her to do something, she'll put her hand on her hip and say "fiiiiiiinnnnnneeeeee". And then smile. If she was 13, I'm sure it would be super annoying. But at almost 3, it is a little cute.

Thursday, after school, we went to pick up treats to give Hollon's teachers on her last day. K&J's Elegant Pastries is becoming well known in Birmingham for their outrageous shakes. I let the kids pick one to split. They were not disappointed!!

Friday, Hollon's last day at CCS. Here she is with her 2 main teachers Miss Amber & Miss Sarah. She ADORED these girls. She called them "her friends". They were so sweet to Hollon and welcomed her with such open arms. They loved on her, her personality (& her outfits:) and it just meant the world to me. We will miss them so so much.

Once everyone was home from school, we went swimming at the pool

Another extremely low key weekend. Our neighbors were at the beach, so it seemed weird and quiet! Saturday morning we went for a family walk to the clubhouse and had their breakfast (the first time we've done that in the 5.5 years we've lived here!). Jake had a birthday party that afternoon and then we grilled out that night. Sunday Jake went into big church with us, to see one of his best friends get baptized.  

Can we just take a moment, for a second of sadness? Sniff, sniff.... Jake's tennis shoes. 

Our church is very casual. People dress causal, the service is casual. It is completely opposite of what Robbie & I grew up with and the type of churches we've always attended (as children & adults). We are just used to a very traditional church. We looked for so many reasons not to attend the church we do now, but at the end of the day, we just knew that God was speaking to our hearts. That was the best church for our family and for us to serve in. And it has been absolutely the right decision. We just still dress up (and dress the children up) like it is a traditional church. But all of the boys in Jake's Sunday School class wear tennis shoes. And he asked me if he could too. I wanted to say "no". But I knew that the type of shoes you wore, did not matter in God's eyes, as long as your heart was in the right place. So I said yes. 

And now we have our first Sunday picture with someone wearing tennis shoes.     

Week in Review - Partial Week of School & Tacky Friday

Jake's school didn't start until Thursday, so he was home with me the first 3 days of the week. Somebody did not like that they had to go to daycare when brother got to stay home.

But she did like getting to take advantage of some of brother's back to school treats

Ready for Tuesday

Tuesday night, we had meet the teacher at Jake's school. We are so excited about this year. Last year, we were having to start out in the old school building, because the new school was not ready yet. And it was the first year with the new zoning and division of schools. It was just crazy and hectic. Most of the kinks have been worked out at the new school and we get to start school in the actual building, instead of having to move midyear! Another reason we are excited, is because Jake got an awesome teacher - Ms. Sadberry. She came highly recommended (not that you can really request teachers) and everyone has raved about her. Jake's 2 best friends are not in his class this year (it was just complete luck that they were all 3 in the same class last year!), but there are several of his friends from the neighborhood in his class. Plus, one of his best friends is getting to ride the bus home this year, so Jake is super excited to get to sit with Braden on the bus. 

From a social aspect, it is gearing up to be an awesome year. My fingers are crossed and my head is bowed praying, that from an educational aspect, the year will be just as awesome.   

Jake & Ms. Sadberry

Another rainy day.... 

Thursday! First Day of School!

Rob was out of town, so I was on my own with the kids. We were doing a little party for the kindergarten parents after they dropped their kids off, that I had to set up for, so we had to be at the school super early. Which meant I had to drop Hollon off at daycare even earlier. 

Ready for day 1!

Not ready for the day! 

And mad that I woke her up. And mad that this was not the swimsuit she wanted to wear for splash pad day. And mad that I took a picture of brother. And mad that she was being dropped off first.

Home from school!

Jake said that the first day of school was great, but they did not learn a thing.

(Oh Jake!) 

 On Friday, at daycare, was tacky day

Since either Rob or I had been out of town the last 2 weekends, we had absolutely no plans for the weekend. We cleaned, hung out and spent time outside.

Sunday was promotion day at church

These last 2 pictures are actually from a few weeks ago, but I just remembered they were on my phone. Hollon was over at the neighbors playing. Because they have 2 little girls, they have every Disney costume imaginable, along with all of the accessories, like wigs. The little girls were dressed up (in their costumes & wigs), but then came downstairs. Corrie was shucking corn and the girls wanted to "help". Corrie texted me these pictures.....

Hollon (aka Ariel the Little Mermaid)

Merrin (aka Elsa from Frozen)

Bahahahahaha!!

First Day of School - Jake

First Day of Third Grade!

August 10, 2017

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Summer Week 10 - Last Week Before School Starts

Monday, ready for a new week!

Dancing

 In no mood for pictures on Tuesday

Mad because I made her take off the princess dress so we could leave for daycare

 Much better on Wednesday. My mom got her the pigeon from the Mo Willems Pigeon book series. And it is her new favorite. The pigeon (which she calls a penguin and refuses to call it anything else) has gone everywhere with us.

Just eating an apple with pigeon/penguin 

He gets a bite as well

Having a tea party with talking Doc McStuffins (who lost her voice when Hollon drowned her in the water table) and naked baby (who Hollon refuses to let wear clothes)

Video of the tea party/doctor's visit

Thursday was splash pad day at daycare!

Jake's cousin Jackson was in town staying with Mimi & Granddad for the week, so on Thursday, I offered to take the boys to a local water park. After I dropped Hollon off at daycare, we headed to Alabama Splash Adventure.

The boys had a blast!

Jake coming down one of the slides

Thursday night, it was just me & this girl. Dad was on his boys trip to Chicago and Jake was spending the night with Mimi & Granddad. Little sister was NOT HAPPY to get left out. 

TGIF! Since dad was away, we sent him lots of pictures like this....

Usually, I take the kids to the zoo {here} and {here} for our back to school trip. But it was likely going to rain on Saturday, so we picked an indoor activity. We decided on Chuck E Cheese. Now, I know most people despise CEC. Strangely enough, I don't mind it. The one nearest to us, is fairly new, super clean, large enough that there are lots of things for the kids to do, but not so much that they get lost or overwhelmed. Plus, it is sometimes hard to find things that an 8-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl will both enjoy. So CEC it was, and the kids had a great time.  

On the roller coaster ride. The first time we rode it, I held Hollon in my lap. Later, she wanted to ride it again. So this time, I let her ride by herself and I just stood beside her and put my hand under her head and helped hold her on the bench.

The lady at the prize counter was so sweet and gave the kids some "extra" points. Hollon got a diamond ring and some skittles and Jake got a nerf type gun.

Showing their loot

 That night, we had dinner with our neighbors outside and then watched a movie. After Hollon went to bed, Jake and I watched another movie.

Meanwhile, Dad was in Chicago with some buddies....