Gator Pics 2015

Every year, just before football season starts, we make a trip to the stadium to take some pictures of the kids.

DW has big plans for all of them to go to school at UF, and if they decide to, I can just see these pictures framed at their college graduation parties. ;)

Last year, we got some with Parker, too, and this year decided to get all the cousins together for a photo op.

Nie-Nie & Pappy and the grand-gators… :) (Mamie was HOT and OVER it) ha…

I love family traditions – especially those that span over several generations. My FIL’s season tickets are seats that have been in his family since the 1950’s. Pretty neat that our kids are part of the fifth generation to cheer for the Gators in them.

Years of memories and quality time spent together at that stadium.  I’m so thankful for all the future ones to be made, too.

~amw~

Dance 2015

Back to School also means back to dance!

This year, Mamie got to join in the dance fun! We had her fitted for her first pair of ballet slippers the week before and she was so excited to get to wear them to her first class.

Class time has worked out perfectly this year. The girls’ classes are back to back on Wednesday. We leave straight from school on Wednesday and Maybree’s class starts at 3:00. AB helps me keep Tucker entertained and then my mom comes by and picks he and Maybree up when her class is over. AB’s class is from 4-5 and then DW meets us at my parents’ for supper.

So far Mames is loving her combo class and says that ballet is her favorite. That shocks me, because I just knew it would be tap.

Sweet times for sure and we are all looking forward to seeing both girls on stage at the recital this year!

~amw~

The First Day of First Grade…

We woke up early on the 24th ready to start a new school year!

AB requested I make “Monkey Bread” for her back to school breakfast.

We took a few pictures on the porch and headed out.

We did a little “happy” for AB’s teacher for the first day… Thank you, Pinterest for the “Tickled Pink” idea. We packed our pink glitter bag with a pink scarf, pink polish and pink bubble gum.

At Meet-the-Teacher, we grabbed a couple post-it’s from the teacher’s wish-list, and one of them was skittles. Her room is decorated with lots of yellow and sunshine themed things, so I made her a jar with a sun for her skittles.

I felt like we might look a little over-the-top taking two gifts, but it was a very sincere “please be really nice to our baby and take really good care of her” gesture. ;)

The parking lot was full when we made it to school and I’d broken a sweat by the time we made it to the classroom. AB and I both had our hands full and were happy to pass Nen in the hallway, who helped us get everything to the classroom.

With a side hug and a smile, AB said goodbye and just like that, she was ready for the new year. Summer was over, AB was a first grader and I walked back to the car with Mamie & Tucker to count the hours until pick up.

I’m not sure it ever gets easier leaving them on the first day and in the care of their new teacher. We have a sweet little school and passing so many people on my way to and from the classroom, that we know, made me feel so much better. It’s just the thought of not being there in case she needed me and sending her off on her own that always stings and takes some getting used to. I’m sure, though, that it’s all the little stages and tiny little “letting-go” things that prepare us for the harder ones down the road.

When we picked her up that afternoon, she said it was a “good day, just different from last year in Kindergarten.” It looks like she’s about as fond of change as her Momma. :)

It’s been several weeks now, though, and she’s loving first grade.

~amw~

Countdown to School…

We spent our last week of Summer break squeezing in as much fun as we could.
- We had Allie & Whitt over and the kids were all so excited to spend the day together. Whitt took inventory of Tucker’s tractors and told me which ones he had and which ones he didn’t. He picked out a few that he told me he needed me to get him. He is one of my all-time favorite boys. I’m pretty sure Mamie stole his heart and impressed him in a BIG way when she knew what a hay baler was. The girls have gotten a couple lessons in hay bailing this summer when the farm crew was bailing in front of our house. They were too excited to get to ride with Uncle Van and Pappy a couple times.
- We met my mom one day for breakfast and some school shopping.
Shopping with Grammy always means doing something I’d never let them do… :)
- Carrie & I took AB & Allie to get their nails done! They were so excited.
Ms. Franne was speaking their love language when she said she had glitter polish.
- We had a cousin day to the museum. We love the Florida Museum of Natural History. Tyrannosaurus Sue has been on exhibit there for several months. I’ve wanted to take the kids all summer and finally made a plan during the last week of break to do it. Taylor wasn’t feeling well, but Elliot & Warren came with us.
It was a neat exhibit and there were lots of hands on things for the kids…

“He’s right behind me, isn’t he?”

DW ended up meeting us for lunch at Square One on his way to a meeting. We ended the day with some Target shopping and Yogurtology. Nobody enjoyed their yogurt more than this guy…
I probably should have said, just pick three toppings, but nobody gets to be the crazy-fun aunt saying stuff like that. ;)
- We had Meet the Teacher…
&
-  We spent the last weekend before school at Blue Run.
The kids and I went down at lunch and AB was excited to have Emma down for the afternoon…
That evening, the rest of the crew arrived for our Back to School Weekend of fun. 
Tucker taking a moment to appreciate the cuteness of his personalized life jacket. Or maybe he was just trying to chew on it.  :)
Our big 3rd & 1st grader having some snacks….
Mermaid Mamie…
Saturday morning we cooked a big breakfast and spent the day in and out of the river. Nie-Nie & Kels were visiting Uncle Sam, but Pappy was with us. We had Don Pepe’s Mexican for dinner and had game night afterward.
Sunday was another fun in the sun day.
Our little water-bug..
Parker got new wheels and Tucker was more than happy to help him break it in and put some miles on it.


That’s a rainbow over the Rainbow river… and our sunshine, Mamie. :)

We all took the day off from church and spent another day in the water, but I did perform some good ole Baptist Baptisms in the river that afternoon, so we did have a little “church.” :)
This was apparently the summer for me to loose my mind. Maybe a mid-life crisis has come early?… I’ve been a little on the adventurous side this summer, and this trip I climbed the BIG tree and jumped out. Nothing like being “adventurous” and still having to hold your nose. ;) Once a sissy, always a sissy. :)
It was a great weekend and a wonderful way to end our summer break!
~amw~