A WSU Day

Here were the kids leaving for school this morning. They decided it was a WSU day! Very cute! 

Walking School Bus

This year, the kids are going to a new school. Our district built a new elementary school so they had to change the boundaries of many of the schools. Our neighborhood was included in the changes. Nathan had to switch schools as a 2nd grader. It worked out for Elizabeth as she is just starting school. 

Our new school is a walking school which means there is no bus to pick up or bring the kids home from school. The parents have to find their own way to get the kids to school. 

Several families in our neighborhood decided to set up a "Walking School Bus." We take turns walking our group of kids to and from school. We've got several kindergartners and don't feel they are able to walk by themselves yet. 

I snapped a quick picture on the way to school on Friday. Some days, we have more kids, some days we have less. 

It will be interesting to see what happens when the cold weather comes. I don't want to be out on those mornings! We might drive the kids then. 

Beautiful Clouds

More Bathtub Hairstyles

Elizabeth just loves to do these fun hairstyles by swirling her hair around in the bath tub and then seeing what comes up! Here is her latest style. 

Find the Elephant

We have been having the most beautiful evenings!

The kids have been playing and riding bikes after school. 

Everyone's grass is finally looking green again! 

Moving hoses to spray down the sidewalk chalk on the driveway. 

She sprayed, but the chalk wasn't coming off fast enough. 

She got closer. 

And very close. 

It was hard work. 

Did anyone see an elephant in the pictures? 

Civil War Reenactment

A Civil War Reenactment came to town! We decided to go check it out. 

Papa and Gram came down. We had a picnic in the park! Jeremy came a little bit later. 

Here are the kids watching the battle with their ears covered up. The cannons were very loud! The Union soldiers are shooting their cannon at the Confederate soldiers. 

Nathan was very impressed with the battle. He said it was way better than he thought it would be. There were guys riding around on horses shooting guns. People were falling over like they'd been shot. Nathan really enjoyed it!

The Confederate soldiers were across the park with their cannon, horses, and guns. 

Nathan wore a Union hat that the grandparents bought when they were in Vicksburg!

Abraham Lincoln held a question and answer session after the battle. 

Elizabeth wanted to wear her fancy hat that day since Nathan was wearing his Union soldier hat. 

Checking out the cannon. The guys there told Nathan he's almost old enough to sign up for reenactments. He would get to fire the cannon!

They had a whole Civil War tent village set up. We toured these. 

Elizabeth liked this fancy bedroom set up in a tent. 

They held a "fashion" show and we got to learn about the dresses of the time. We also got to learn about the soldier's uniforms.  Nathan thought it was interesting. Elizabeth wasn't as impressed. 

Sidewalk Chalk

After school sidewalk chalk art!

September Sunset

September is our best month for weather! We also get some beautiful sunsets. Here was a beautiful sunset we had last week. 

The kids and neighbors out riding their bikes. 

It looked like a fire back there!

Happy Birthday Laura!

Happy Birthday Laura! I found this great picture from the day of your birth. I didn't appear too impressed although Mom looks quite thrilled. Apparently yellow was the color that year for hospital furnishings! 

Cute Pajamas

The night before school the kids were nervous. I took pictures of how cute they both were right as they were getting into bed. 

Boxes of Books

Papa Ray and Kim got 3 boxes of books for $3 at a yard sale! The kids have been picking through the books and doing a lot of reading. 

Plotting World Domination

The kids really like acting out books they've read. 

Lately, they've been loving this book about a group of Weasels who plot world domination. The weasels have a big map that they use to plot where they can take over the humans. 

I walked down the hall to see the animals in our house lined up around a big map plotting world domination! They have little plastic animals they push around on the continents like they're planning an attack. 

1st day of Kindergarten!

Elizabeth started kindergarten on Friday! We had some meetings with the teacher earlier in the week. Then, half the kids went to school on Thursday and the other half went to school on Friday. Elizabeth was a Friday kid. Next week after Labor Day, she heads off to school every day all day just like the big kids! 

The weather has been so perfect this week of school! All sunny but a bit crisp. Just like fall! She wore a coat in the morning but it warmed up to like 74 by the afternoon. 

Our neighbor Charlotte was also a Friday kid. They aren't in the same class though. 

There she is in the girls line! I think there are quite a few more girls in her class than boys. There were no boys there yet! Only 10 kids were there on Friday. Come Monday, there will be 20 kids in her class. 

She found her cubby. 

Sitting at her spot at the table. 

This was a sad picture. I was taking a picture of Elizabeth and her teacher when one of the little boys tripped and did a face plant onto the ground. Ouch! He's ok. 

Heading off into class. Jeremy and I had to leave after this. Again, I cried. Twice in one week is rough on a Mom!

When she got home, she said she had a great day. She seemed to really enjoy kindergarten.