Weekend Family Fun

This weekend C took a car to another car show for work.  They ended up winning two more awards this weekend.  Way to go Milestone!  While C was at the car show, the boys and I went to watch the boys' cousin, Donevyn's football game.  Isaac and Alex have been saying that they want to play football, so I wanted them to see what it is really like.  It was hot on Saturday.  A perfect example for Isaac for what it would be like.  Since he was hot just standing there watching Donevyn, he decided that maybe he's not ready to play football yet.  After the football game, we took the boys to Nana and Pop's house to swim.  That was about the only good thing to do when it's hot! 

Then on Sunday, the boys were invited to spend more time with their cousins at Chuck E Cheese.  So, C and I took the boys up there for a little while and then when back to get them when Nana was ready to go home.  I think they had a good time.  Nana said they ate good and spent all the tokens.  In the meantime, C and I got to go to the grocery store alone.  Oh how much easier and peaceful it was without children! :)

Today started the second full week of school for the boys.  Everything is going really well so far.  The boys are doing great in school and still behaving.  I hope it lasts all year!  Alex made Friday a little more lively when he decided that he was going to run from the school bus when it came.  You should have seen me running down the sidewalk chasing after him!  When everyone asked him why he ran, he said he just didn't want to go to school.  Oh dear... He has sooo many years of school ahead of him.  He needs to get over not wanting to go to school now, or the next 16 years are going to be long ones!  Any way, he finally did get on the bus, after one of our neighbors helped me get him on there.  I asked the bus driver to ask Isaac to come to the front of the bus and walk him back to a seat.  He was such a good big brother!

Here are some pictures of our weekend.  This week the boys and I go back for our 6 month dental check ups, and I hope everything goes well!

Parris, Chris and Devin

Chris and his son Devin

Donevyn on the field, #1

Devin, Camden and Alex

Isaac and Parris
Isaac was eating a snow cone and apparently unable to smile.

Alex, Isaac and Nana

Cam with his Smurf blue tongue!

Alex with his I-don't-know-what-color tongue!

The little ones swimming: Alex, Devin and Camden

Relaxing in the fish float

Devin with his puddle jumper float

my big boy with his ring

Wilson County Fair

This has been the boys' first full week of school.  Things are going well so far.  The boys have been riding the bus to school in the morning, and Alex loves it!  I am so proud of how well he is adapting to school.  Isaac is doing well and has gotten back into the swing of things very well.  He has had homework every night this week, and the last two nights he has had it finished before we get home.  I'm glad he's finally using Fun Co (after care) for something other than playing.  Alex has had homework once this week.  He didn't want to do it at first, so he needed a little encouragement.

This past weekend, C's work took several cars to the car show at the Wilson County Fair.  The boys and I tagged along so they could have fun at the fair.  We bought them wristbands so they could ride as many rides as they wanted to.  Isaac rode several, and Alex wanted to ride a lot more than he was tall enough for.  Most of the ones he was tall enough to ride didn't go fast enough for him.  So, he rode his favorite ones over and over.  Here are some of the pictures I took while we were there.  I forgot the good cameras, so these were taken with my phone. :(

the tractor pulls

Isaac and Alex riding together

Isaac and Alex on the smaller ferris wheel

Isaac on the bumper cars

one of the trucks I liked at the show.  Not one of Milestone's.

Alex riding by himself

Isaac and Alex next to the Viper that C drove to the show.  It won 1st place in its class.  Some of the other cars they took won awards too.  Pretty awesome.

I love this old car.  It's not one of Milestone's either.

Another picture of the old car

C will be going to another car show this weekend.  So, the boys and I are trying to find something fun to do since we won't be tagging along this time.

Back to School Success!

Today was the boys' first day of school.  They only went half a day, so I took the day off work.  Our morning started off well.  The boys didn't give me too much trouble getting up.  Alex woke up about 1:30 this morning complaining of a tummy ache.  The first thought that popped into my mind was, "oh no, not on his first day of Kindergarten!"  I gave him some Pepto and told him he could get in the bed with us.  It came to mind that he might be nervous about his first day of Kindergarten... not sure about that though.  He was feeling fine this morning, regardless.  So after I got them up and they got dressed we actually had several minutes to sit around before we left for school.  Our mayor encourages all parents to take their children to school on the first day, so that's what I did.  We got to school about 7:30, and the boys and I lugged in all of their school supplies along with their backpacks.  One parent asked me if I had bought the whole store (because the bag I had was one of those big Target ones like you get at Christmastime, full of supplies), I felt like I had as heavy as the bag was.  But, I try to accommodate all of the teachers' requests, because I feel like it's the right thing to do.  Anyway, when we got to school, we went to Alex's class first.  His supply list was the longest and bag the heaviest.  I was feeling most nervous about this moment.  Anyone who knows my Alex knows that you never know what to expect with him.  I wasn't sure if he would be excited like he said he was, or if he would completely melt down when I went to leave.  Thankfully, he was still very excited, and didn't care a thing about me and his brother leaving him.  As soon as he got to his classroom, he remembered where his locker was and went immediately to put his backpack in it.  He was so proud and excited.  I took a quick picture of him and his teacher, Mrs. Tomes, and then Isaac and I walked to his room.  I was so relieved!  My big boy walked into Kindergarten full of confidence!  Makes this Momma's heart proud too!

Isaac remembered exactly how to get to his classroom and went straight to his desk to start on the busy work his teacher had laid out.  I left his school supplies and then got a quick picture of him and Mrs. Allen.  Mrs. Allen told me that her children weren't much older than Isaac when they wouldn't let her take pictures with their teachers anymore on the first day of school.  She jokingly said this will probably be the last year he'll let me get away with it.  I hope she's not right!  I like those first day of school with the teacher pictures... :)

While I took the boys to school this morning, I let them ride the bus home since  I was there.  I told Isaac that he needed to sit with his brother and make sure that he did not get off the bus without Alex.  And he listened!  I was waiting outside when the bus got home, and when it stopped in front of our house, Isaac got off first, and Alex came following right behind him.  They came running to the house and exclaimed how great their first day at school was.  I am so glad they had a great first day, and I hope it is just a preface to a great school year!

my big Kindergartener

my big 3rd grader

brothers

all my men: big and little

Momma and her boys

backpacks on, ready to go

another backpack shot

Isaac just had to have a sling backpack, and Alex loves Transformers.  His backpack is reversible, so he can display Bumblebee or Optimus.  Pretty cool.

Alex and his teacher, Mrs. Tomes.  Her room is decorated like the ocean.  And another interesting fact: her husband also teaches at the boys' school.

Isaac and Mrs. Allen

Running from the bus to the house

Also running from the bus to the house and watching his friends go to their house

So, I would say the first day of school was definitely a success.  It has been a great day!

#1 For Family Fun!!

Last week we had the privilege of going to Holiday World again.  Clarence's Dad and Stepmom invited the boys, Clarence and I to go camping with them and to the parks: Holiday World and Splashin' Safari.  We left after work last Wednesday and arrived in Santa Claus, Indiana around 8:30.  Thursday and Friday we spent the whole day at Holiday World and Splashin' Safari.  This was the first year the older cousins got to ride all of the rides and roam the park without an adult.  I would have been nervous, but these three boys stuck together and looked out for each other.  In total, there were 4 adults and 6 boys.  Yep, 6 boys: two 8 year olds, one 7 year old (8 in September), two 5 year olds and one 3 year old (4 in September).  The three older boys rode almost everything in the parks at least once.  Isaac really surprised me with his sense of adventure.  He rode Pilgrim's Plunge with his cousins, and then he and I with his cousins rode the Voyage.  Both of these rides are pretty scary, but fun!  Isaac wasn't sure that he wanted to ride the Voyage.  It is one of the fastest and roughest roller coasters I know of.  We stood in line, and when we got up to being next in line to get on the coaster, he said, "I don't know if I want to ride this."  I told him it would be scary at first, but then he would love it.  And, he did!  After it was over, he said, "It's scary, but it's fun!"  That's my boy!  I am looking forward to riding many more roller coasters with him!  Alex will be there right along with us when he gets old enough, because he was sad he couldn't ride the roller coasters yet.  There was one roller coaster at Holidog's Playground that was small enough for him to ride, and he rode it 4 times while we were there.  He also rode the smaller version of the Liberty Launch which takes you straight up in the air and then drops you a few times.  He loved it!  I see lots of theme park visits in our future!

Until our next trip, here are some pictures from our adventures at Holiday World, where "We're #1 for Family Fun!"  Must have heard that 100 times....

Nana and Pops rented a golf cart while we were at the camp grounds.  It was very handy to transport the boys to the playground.

Nana with her boys: Alex wouldn't look at the camera, Isaac is holding him, Jaylen is next to Isaac, Nana is holding Camden, next to Camden are Devin and Donevyn

Alex and I on the back of the golf cart

at the playground

on the slide at the playground

Devin - 5 years old

Alex - 5 years old
Camden - 3 years old

Jaylen - 8 years old
Donevyn - 7 years old (almost 8)
Isaac - 8 years old

Sitting by the camp fire

just a little wet :)

yep, they got wet too

Alex on the ride like the smaller version of the Liberty Launch

Jaylen on the Salmon ride

The Turkey Twister... or something like that...  The kind of ride that makes your stomach turn!

This trip, I guess, would be considered our only real vacation of the summer.  The boys start school on Thursday.  We went to the Preview Night at school tonight to meet Isaac and Alex's teachers.  I am still trying to get used to the idea of both of my boys being in real school.  I have a Kindergartener and a 3rd grader.  What!?  This should be an interesting year.  I heard Isaac's teacher telling another parent that 3rd grade can be quite a transitional year.  I hope Isaac continues to do well and takes the challenge head-on.  Of course, his Daddy and I will be here to encourage him and help him along the way.  It could be one long school year.  We shall see!  Clarence also started school tonight.  He started with University of Phoenix to earn the rest of the credits he needs for his Bachelor's degree.  I am beyond words proud of him for going back to school.  He is such a great example for our boys!