2011 Week 34

Enjoying the last little bit of summer at home and looking forward to school

which started for Kaitlyn on Thursday. She was so excited and had a great first day.

After the kids got off on the bus I had a little party with the other women in the neighborhood. It was a small group of women that showed up, but oh what a great group it turned out to bed. I'm looking forward to a lot more parties like that one and getting to know everyone a whole lot better.

2011 Week 33

No large events, no real outings, no plans of any sort. It was all about the little things this week.

Getting supplies organized and ready for school. I also organized the art/craft supplies in the playroom and am working on our recipe binder.

- Kaitlyn's first day of dance class - she love it! urgh - really can't believe I didn't take photos but it was kinda chaotic in there with class changes and it being the first day and all. I got her new shoes, got her settled in class then the rest of us did the grocery shopping very quickly while she danced. I hope to stay and watch some of the class next week.
-Kaitlyn learned to tie her shoes! She had learned before then forgotten since kids shoes now are almost all velcro or slip-on. But with only a couple times practicing, she has it down and can now tie her athletic shoes all on her own.
-Hairbow modeling for me

-Tyler is on an "organizing" kick (it's so fun to hear him say that word in his little boy voice). He takes the time to make sure all the trucks and backhoes are perfectly placed and facing the same way when he "parks" them. Each of his favorite toys has it's own special place on his bed and he places them there carefully when he makes his bed.
-I have been turning on the music in the house more often than usual lately and Tyler loves it. He will dance and spin (and spin and spin) to the same few songs over and over.
-I have gone a full week now of nightly walks with the neighbor - 3 miles after the sun goes down and the kids are settled for the night. An actual start to a regular exercise routine!

-for all intents and purposes the neighborhood pool looks finished - right down to the lounge chairs and sun umbrellas on the tables. Hoping to hear about the grand opening soon!
-Sam has had a nasty busy week at work. I think we're all glad it's coming to an end.

2011 Week 32

Museum of Natural Sciences - our fun family outting for the weekend. It had a little bit about a lot of stuff from birds (Kaitlyn's current obsession - we got a whole stack of books about them at the library and she and Tyler have been "bird watching" from the back porch) to dinosaurs. Tyler's favorite part was the T-Rex

Kaitlyn loved the butterfly garden. I think I liked it the best too - it was great to be so close to butterflies that would just go about their business. Really pretty ones too.

Tyler fixates on a few toys at a time and plays with them over and over. Right now he loves his little Optimus Prime Transformer and carries it everywhere, including with him to bed. He has been on a board game kick lately and we play 2-3 every day (Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Zingo, etc). He also loves the army guys and dressing up - cat tail, white gloves, and his "cowboy rope" (which he is also holding in this photo, attached to Optimus).

*need to get photo of Kaitlyn and the girls that Eileen took. They all went out to dinner with her family and to a movie. Kaitlyn has had a lot of friend time and outings lately - sleepovers a couple times per week, playing at friends' houses daily (and them over here), etc. Poor Tyler though feels a little left out. We need to find him some friends his age. I'll work on that this fall.

And we can't forget - Kaitlyn lost another tooth! That one has been barely hanging on since our weekend at Audrey's and Kate finally got brave and yanked it out.

Sam has mid-way through a really long and busy month at work. He's not exactly enjoying it. The kids and I have been doing our best to stay entertained. I do some playing with the kids, worked on some crafting (made my own argyle hat pattern!), walks outside when it isn't too hot. Basically just killing time until school starts and life changes again - which will be soon! We did final registration for Kaitlyn's dance class and ordered shoes. First class is next week!

2011 Week 31

This week in photos
Ty was a BIG help this week with my Friday morning bathroom scrubbing.
Weekend trip to Audrey! Always so fun and something we all look forward to.

The drive isn't bad. Just 2 hours and the whole thing is tree lined and pretty. I love that sections of the medians are all landscaped - crepe myrtle (I think) are in bloom right now. I need some of these for my yard.

At least 5 hours in the pool at Audrey's both Saturday and Sunday - pretty much the only way anyone wants to be outside in this heat. My kids LOVE the water. Kaitlyn is fearless and Ty makes progress with his swimming every time we're out.

Sam took advantage of us being gone and went on a motorcycle ride with his buddy to Charlotte (to see a NASCAR shop of course). Got caught in the rain on the way home and spent time shining up the bike Sunday morning. I gave him a hard time about it and took a photo :)

ha! That hummingbird is fast but I caught it on film (after at least 3 missed attempts). I think this is the last of our gladiolas to bloom

I opened a shop on etsy to sell some crafts - spent a good part of the week getting things done to sell and then getting the online stuff done. Kaitlyn was a very willing model for the headbands and hairbows.