Hello 2nd Grade and Kindergarten!!!!!

My sister and kids were here for Olivia's first day of school. She wanted braids and the same dress she wore for K and 1st Grade. I couldn't find my camera battery charger since moving so all I have are pics from Tara's camera. She has more, but I couldn't open them. So I stole these from her blog!

 There is a pic somewhere of just O in her dress. Still fits. 3 years and counting! Maybe that's why her and Isaac look like twins when they walk around together. Same height.

After unloading some more boxes, the battery charger was found! This is Isaac eating breakfast the first day of full day Kindergarten.

 Justin leaves about 10minutes before us to get to school....which happens to be connected to the same school O&I go to!

 After picking out a cool ninja turtle back pack, we found out that all K in this school have to carry a red tote bag. At least we won't have to buy a backpack next year! (hope he still likes the turtles)

 He made it to his classroom.

 His teacher, Mrs. Harris. SUPER sweet.

 Isaac loves school. He's a go getter and ready to conquer the world. And he already has a best friend Kory. They have the same shoes. Justin was able to walk over for both the kids first day of school. That was special for them.

 And this is where Elias stayed while I finished the dishes on the first day home alone, wrapped around my leg. He REALLY misses his playmates.

I can't believe both kids are in school. I didn't cry on I's first day (probably because they didn't send a sentimental love poem home with handprints like they did for Olivia), but I'm still sad and miss him everyday. Olivia too. But it is also wonderful to get time with Elias to do 2yr old things.

Last of the Summer

Well, it's not technically summer since my sister and her kids came on the first day of school for Olivia...but these are summer-like activities.  And since Isaac had such a staggered start with K, it was still like summer.

So. Kids eating. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They are all getting bigger!

 Backyard fun! They kept running in from the back tree line. I believe right after this picture was taken, Logan and Elias were crying because of a collision. Oops.

 Justin took some time to spray them as they ran by.

 ...and when they got close.

 G&G came over to watch the gang while Tara and I got to do some shopping for our new house (more pics to come in later post).  Looks like Legos were the hit. Thanks Gramp & Nana for saving all J's legos from when he was a kid!

 There were different variations of outfits throughout the 5-day visit. My kids don't dress up much until Logan and Connor come. It's definitely funny to see what they come up with!

 My kids discovered their favorite trees while the cousins were here. I wonder why they picked these?

 The next few are just more outsideness.

 ...done all in love of course...

Me and sleep pictures. I liked this one. Yes, maybe when he's three he'll get a real bed. But for now, this works...kinda. And in case anyone was wondering...our old neighbor Sherry made the custom pillows for the boys! Thanks a million!!

 Olivia managed to get strep throat for the first time in her life. So she stayed home from school and we had to have something to do. Why not paint yourself?

 All the pictures we made had to have our hands, fingers, knuckles, or fists in the picture somehow. 

 One day after "Kindergarten camp". Head under bed. That rhymes too! 

 The very last day of summer for Isaac before going to school every day, full day. Elias was practicing writing his name. He makes all those lines for "E-L-I-A-S". He spells his name while writing each line. If you click on the pic to make it big, you may be able to see the yellow "elias" with correct amount of lines. Issac is such a good teacher! And thanks new neighbors for the dry erase board!!

Best Place to Camp

Justin and I celebrated our 9th anniversary by heading to the beach for a 2-night get-a-way. Our destination was Hunting Beach, South Carolina. Along the way we stopped at old remains of a church that had burned down twice, once in the revolutionary war and once during the civil war.

Then this is what happened once we got closer to the campground!

 It never actually rained on us while we were there, but the wind was amazingly strong. We had to put the tarp up between the trees so our tent wouldn't fly off and away! On the other side of that little fence was the beach! Awesome!

 This picture doesn't capture the awesomeness of it, but it looked like a desert sandstorm on the beach during low tide.

 This was one of the storms that went by us but never hit us. The clouds were amazing. Our last day was super sunny and hot. I actually preferred the clouds.

 Down the beach a piece from us were trees like this one. They were scattered everywhere so that you had to weave in and out of them to walk down the beach. Crabs were all over the place here.

 Somehow we were the only ones in this area which made it almost like a deserted island. I assume it was because of the rain. This light house has been there forever. The trees along the nearby road looked like we were driving through a jungle. Very unique.

 Perfect view, perfect weather. The fun part was when J and I sat in the same spot until the high tide coming in knocked us backwards off our chairs.

 The overcastness made for a great to walk down the boardwalk without getting hot. Lots of people were there to catch all kinds of fish and sharks off this thing. We only saw one. 

 Dinner at a super great place....called....

 Outside view from the restaurant. This was one of the boats the restaurant uses to get all its seafood.

 Happy Anniversary!

Random Summer

Making waffles. Sweeping up the mess.

 Neat rock spot at the zoo.

 If I could own an exotic animal, I'd own a cheetah and a monkey. These monkeys are SOOOO funny to watch at our zoo.

Just hanging out.

 Father Daughter dance at church.

Another Father Daughter.

 Man and his dog.

 Splash pad fun.

 Big ones!

 More zoo. This one is for you Tara!

 The hit for the day. Three eating turtles.

 4th of July celebration with new neighbors Kristin and Kadie. E,I, O think they are their best friends. 

 His face doesn't show the thrill we were getting from balloons, but it sure is funny.

 Stars and Stripes jello jigglers. Happy 4th.