Rise and Shine

3 out of 4 of us started school. Delaney started full day Kindergarten. She is adjusting well. The first few weeks were pretty bad as she was horribly tired when I picked her up. Now she is still tired, but she's learned to sit in silence instead of instantly screaming at me upon sitting down in the car.

I went back to teaching this year. I am teaching half day kindergarten at Greenwood Christian Academy (where the kids go to school). Carson is in preK there 3 days a week and stays home with Matt on Mondays. On Fridays he is floating around, although we've been fortunate so far that my parents have been able to work their schedule around watching him on Fridays. It's so nice b/c they can come to the house so I don't have to drive him somewhere early in the morning and get going a half hour before we usually do. As is, I am having to wake up kids every morning!As I mentioned, Car started PreK this year. This is his first school experience and he's definitely testing the waters! I had always heard that pastor's kids were "bad," well, I think that applies to teacher's kids too!!! He is exploring his boundaries and his class is full of energetic 4 year old boys, that makes getting into trouble even easier for him as there are always people to assist him.And, finally, a little brother-sister love. They run to each other at recess and hug, they miss each other terribly during the afternoons, yet, they still fight like cats and dogs. However, the love and concern they show for each other makes my heart melt.

Making our own traditions....

One of our goals when moving to Old Towne Greenwood was to make our own traditions for our family that, hopefully, our children would remember and want to share with their families when they were old like us!! So, we loaded up in the wagon and walked to our first Greenwood Freedom Festival parade. Look at that crew....

Car was VERY excited by the blimp...it was very interesting and very quiet (that earned the blimp bonus points in his book!)

Fire trucks from old and new...wish daddy could have been with us to see those, but he was playing golf :-(

And, unfortunately, instead of just telling us that he was terrified of the fireworks, Carson decided to be horribly disobedient prior to them going off, so Matt walked him home (which, come to find out, was what he wanted to happen). I, however, stayed with Delaney and enjoyed some sparklers in the dark and a very nice fireworks display. It's funny how the simpliest things can be so exciting through the eyes of a 5 year old! And, Matt did manage to convince Carson to go outside in his jammies to watch part of the fireworks. From the very back corner of our yard you can see them coming above the trees....definitely something to remember!

From a summer that seems long ago....

Wow, what a slacker I am! Did you even know we had a summer? What fun we had...so much I never made it to this computer to sit down and write these updates. However, now I must do so before we leave for Disney and we come home and you think we've been living there for the last few months.

Our favorite summer tradition is Regatta ~ the boat races in Madison, Indiana. We make a long weekend of it and thoroughly enjoy the traditions Matt grew up loving ~ the Friday night parade, Saturday daytime eating JUNK food, Saturday night fireworks, and the Sunday boat races. Our kids have grown to love Regatta and everything it stands for ~ loud boats, junk food, no bedtimes, and FAMILY!!

He's adorable, but TERRIBLY frightened by loud noises, fire trucks at the parade included! We missed the fireworks this year b/c he refused to go. I didn't mind, I also knew he was exhausted. It had been rainy all day, I was finally dry and warm, so we snuggled up on the couch, watched fireworks on the TV, and he snoozed. I, personally, loved every minute of it much more than any fireworks display I've ever seen!!!
During the parade we saw the boat we were cheering for...mmmm....beef jerky!!
Just a little example of some of that junk food we ate....although this shaved ice was probably the healthiest thing consumed all weekend. Isn't she the prettiest thing you've seen lately??
And....the boat races. It's a tradition I hope we continue for a long time. It's tiring and usually hot (although this year it was rainy), but the memories are well worth the annoyances.