Carter's first day of school!

Carter started school last week. It's a pretty big event considering he's never been in any type of daycare or preschool. All summer I was fine with the fact of him starting Kg this year. Well... I was fine until a few weeks before school started and I was looking through the Walmart school supplies adds. That's when it hit me. My little boy was starting school!

Well, Wednesday 8/13 he went for testing while I had parent orientation. I had him take the first grade assessment test because from what I've read of Avon's kindergarten curriculum, he would be more advanced than things they'd be working on through the year. He did very well on the tests, scoring just about where the average kindergartner scored on this test at the end of the school year. The school said they'd leave the decision up to me since he was right on the fence, but they did tell me he was pretty ancy and asking when they'd be finished. So, I made the decision to keep him on track in kindergarten rather than bumping him up to first. I know he'd probably do well academically in first, but considering he's never been in any more of a structured environment than Sunday School at church, I know he needs to adjust.

We had debated on me taking him and picking him up from school, or letting him ride the bus. After going back and forth, we decided to let him ride the bus. That's what he wanted anyway.

So... Thursday came. Zach had gone in early (4am) and worked until almost 8 so he could come home and also experience Carter's first day! We got ready and walked to the corner where his bus stop is. We waited and met the other kids that would be riding his bus. As the bus pulled up, so did Carter's nerves! He walked up the steps on the bus and I could tell it in his eyes he was going to be upset. Sure enough, as the bus pulled away he started to cry. Poor guy. =(

We rushed back to the house and all loaded up in the van because I wanted to get up to the school to see him get off the bus and walk inside. As we pulled up he was just getting off his bus. He glanced over and saw us and punched his fist at us! (not like an "I'm doing it.. yeah" kind of punch. But, more of an "I'm so mad at you for making me do this!" kind of punch! lol!)

We sat there until he was in the building and as we pulled away that's when I got emotional. Yes- you all knew I would! School's only 9-11:30, so it's not like I was missing much... but I want to know everything! So, when we went to pick him up at the bus stop after school you can imagine my disappointment when he really didn't have much to say! He was just very casual with everything and asked me in a very annoyed manner, "uh, are you going to ask me what I did at school every day?" Little snot! =)



Maybe I'll just put a hidden camera in his backpack and then I'll stop bothering him by asking what he did that day!!

Trip to the zoo 8/12/08

Yesterday I decided to take the kids to the zoo. I didn't have Alex, so it was just my three, plus my neice, Mya. It was a perfect, beautiful day! So, here are just a few pictures!


We started the day by visiting the butterfly exhibit. We didn't make it there last time we visited the zoo, so Nathan reminded me that I promised him we'd go there first the next time. So, we did. =)



I have no idea how I ended up managing getting the timer set on the camera and everyone actually looking at it!!


Mya and Lylah waiting for the walrus to visit!


The boys were excited to see the polar bear back out!

Visit with Zach's Grandma

Last week Zach's Grandma came over for a visit. She's from FL so we don't see or talk to her very often. I think the kids were kind of taken back, wondering who this strange lady was! But, they did pretty good. You know in some movies when the crazy aunt with big lips, scary teeth, and bright red lipstick comes to visit and the mom always makes the little child give her a big kiss hello? Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's kind of what it was like for them! Well... she didn't wear lipstick, and she's a Gmaw not aunt, but I'm sure they were begging us to not let her sqeeze their cheeks!




Seriously though! We had a wonderful visit with her. I wanted to post a few of the great pics I got from our visit with her. Zach's dad (Paul) and brother (Travis) as well as one of his sons were over for the visit too. It was a good day!

We're officially members of God's family!

Yesterday Zach and I were baptized! It was very exciting. I wasn't nervous at all last week. But, yesterday morning the nerves hit me. I wasn't worried about the act of being baptized that transforms and renews me to a new person; I knew I was ready for that. What I was worried about was the actual act- walking down the steps into the water, repeating the good confession without messing up, being dipped without getting water in my nose- should I plug or not, and then getting out of the water without slipping. Oh, and I also was worrying about wearing a bikini under the robe and if everyone would be able to tell it was a bikini- and if that would be inappropriate. Yes, I know these things are silly things to worry about, so I prayed that I wouldn't worry about them then! I have to say, after I put on that HUGE robe and our minister prayed with us, I felt so confident and happy!

The music quieted and the lights shined brightly down on the baptistry. Don, our minister entered the water, then I, followed by Zach. I was so comforted when my first toes entered the water and I realized it was very warm! Don had mentioned before about how chilly the water always was, so I was glad someone remembered to turn on the heater! (or whatever they do to get it to be warm water!)

Zach went first and then it was my turn. It was such a wonderful experience for both of us! I'm so glad we have finally come to the point in our lives when we realized how important it really is to actively have God in our lives and to actually SHOW our commitment though being baptized. It's one thing to believe whole-heartedly. But, for us, actually being a part of the church is something we are excited about and look forward to every week. We know how important it is. =)

So, yes- we're Baby Christians and will still make tons of mistakes. But, Zach and I are on this wonderful journey together and know we'll always be there for one another, learning right along each other's side. <3

I do want to say thank you to the family that was able to make it to the service to share our special day! It really meant a lot to have those closest to us there to witness our commitment to God.

My tree story

Last Thursday I found 6 trees (I think they're Bradford Pears) mixed in with tons of trash sitting on the curb in front of a new construction build in the neighborhood behind ours. So, I got them! Yay- free trees! We worked on getting the holes dug and the trees planted on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday we got the last tree in the ground. I'm working on nursing them back to good health. Well, on Wed. my neighbor, who until this point has been pretty cool, approaches Zach and states he has a problem with one of the trees we planted. I'll try to make a long story not so long. We planted 5 of the trees along the back side of our privacy fence. We planted one tree on the side. His problem is that we planted that one in our back-side-yard on the outside of the privacy fence. He said IF he decides to ever put a fence up, it will look silly having the tree growing in between our two fences. He also used other lame reasons on why he has a problem with it. (like he doesn't want to duck under branches to mow. I told him it was our propery, so he shouldn't be mowing by the tree anyway- AND... he's shorter than I am, so he'd have no problem!) I told him I wasn't digging another hole and moving the tree. It's planted on our property, just on the outside of the fence. (Our backyard is on a hill and our yard on the outside of the fence is more level- so there's our reason incase you're wondering why the trees aren't inside the fence.) I said I'd leave it up to Zach bc he'll be the one troubled by digging it up and moving it.

So... Zach said we should just be neighborly and move it. HA! Not me! I told him I'd like to pay the arm and leg for a survey ($350), get our property line marked, and then MOVE the privacy fence to exactly on our property line. But, of course, we'd first have to get approval from our HOA to put our fence right on the line- because I guess they control everything. Then, we'd have an extra 4-6 feet of yard included within our fence down that side and up the back.

But anyway- after that on Wed. it pretty much has been bothering me all week. I'm trying not to be worried with it and to just listen to what God says we should do. But, I'm just a spiteful thing I guess!

Lylah just woke up from her nap, so I need to get her before she wakes up Alex and Mya. I'll try to update Sunday night on our baptism!!


UPDATE This evening my neighbor came over and appologized about making such a big deal over the tree. So- whew... thank you God for taking care of this! (although I told Zach, it probably would be a good idea to move the fence anyway.)

Checking in!

Well, this is the end of the second week of me watching my neice, Mya, and things are still going great! That makes 5 kids in the house- and they all get along for the most part- most of the time! Mya will be three next month, so she's just a DOLL! Her and Lylah do not always get along like I had hoped though- which I guess should be expected. Mya will tell Lylah "that's MY Dana" and Lylah will come back: "No, MY Dana". They go back and forth arguing over me. hehe! Gotta love it! ;) But, most of the time they are best buds!

I'm working with Mya on potty training. She's doing great and just about there. This week I made her a sticker chart and her reward for filling it up was to have a potty party. She was so proud of herself!

Lylah I think is a little jealous of the time I'm spending helping Mya potty, so she's regressed a little and has been having more accidents this week. She rarely had been having accidents, so the only logical reason is because she sees the extra attention Mya's getting. So, she'll have a sticker chart this coming week too! =)

The boys are good. Carter has started testing talking back and having a little attitude. He's learning it's not something he can get away with- and I'm REALLY good at giving attitude adjustments! lol He starts Kindergarten on the 13th. I'm going to be a wreck. I think I'm going to drive him because I don't think I can stand the picture of him getting onto that big school bus and driving away. =( I need to change the topic to a different child before I depress myself!

Nathan has been doing so well with sleeping in his bed all night. He's always gone to bed fine, but at some point in the middle of the night he'd get up and sneak in bed next to Zach. Well, we bribed him with a new bike. (Judge me if you want to but I don't care!) I went a bought it and everything. It stayed in the closet until he could sleep in his bed for only 5 nights. 2 months later... he FINALLY earned his new bike! Now, every night he sleeps in his bed all night, it means he gets to ride his bike the next day. It's working- so that's all that matters!

We went to a demolition derby last weekend. It was a blast! I'm actually looking forward to the next one! Lylah, of course didn't like it. But, she wasn't feeling too good either. She actually fell asleep twice during it. If you've never been, it's pretty loud!



Anyway! That's all the update I have time for now!