September Phone Dump

With school starting, September flew by so my phone captured the moments of the month.  We made a Labor Day weekend trip to my parents condo and spent the month getting acclimated to school and routine.

Sometimes these two love each other.  ;-)

 Siblings saying the pledge

 Cousin lunch with Reese

 Pigtail Quints with Gigi

 Dollar store face paint fun

1st Day of School 2014/2015

Kate is in Pre-K again this year, and she has done SO well.  This was her first day, but now a few months in and we see her flourishing and learning and LOVING school.  The first day she said, "it was amazing" when I picked her up and has become quite the leader in her class leading other students at her table in work and helping them out.

Jack is a big first grader this year and they hit the ground running with learning.  They ease you in with Kindergarten, but we were doing a lot the first week.  It was challenging to adjust and homeschool two at once, but we are in a great routine.  Jack is already learning tons of grammar, reading like a champ and asking to be given math problems to see how fast he can go - always loving a competition.  

As usual, we have the amazing morning assembly with reciting the school creed, praying and praise and worship time.  It is such a great way to start the day!  Can't wait for a great rest of the year!!!

Jack and Kate's Birthdays!

Our not so little anymore kids, turned 7 and 5 in August and had a joint birthday to celebrate.  It was such an easy, fun birthday and we still tried to make it unique for each of them.  Jack wanted a Lego birthday and Kate wanted a Beanie Boo birthday.  All the guests were able to "adopt" a Beanie Boo and take it home and build any lego item they would like.  Again, it was very easy and fun and indoors with A/C!!!

Happy Birthday to the best kids I know!!!  We love you!

Beach or Mountains?

Which one do you like?  I like both and sometimes you get to do both.  We've been the beach a few times this summer and we were also able to go to the mountains.  My mom and dad took the 4 girls to the beach and Craig, Brent, Kimberly and I took the 3 boys to the mountains!

Here are a few pictures from their week at the beach which looked pretty awesome!

They headed to sun and water, and we headed to cool, mountain air with some sun and water too.  We went hiking, mountain viewing, the boys went tubing, we relaxed, caught and ate trout and had a great time.  We made our way to the amazing Biltmore House.  The 59 degree mornings were so nice and sunny afternoons were perfect.  

Kimberly KILLED it with making the trout.  Very impressive and pretty cool to eat what we caught!

Gem Mining