Monday, September 30, 2013

Climbing

The other day, while the big boys were at school, Archer got to go rock climbing with Daddy! He has talked about it pretty much nonstop since, so apparently he had fun. He is definitely our little monkey, and gets himself into lots of precarious situations on his own, so he got to actually do that in a safe environment (instead of his usual dangerous situations!). 

So cute! John said he did awesome and is a natural. Not surprising, but it's still kinda weird to see my 4-year-old all harnessed up and roped in!

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Day 1

Today was our first day of back-to-back soccer games and swimming lessons. It was crazy. Crazy. Crazy. 

We started the morning with soccer for Archer from 9:30-10:45, then games for B at 11 and 11:45. Thankfully those were at the same location, but then we had to rush over to Preston's game at 1:00. Preston's game was running a little behind so I had to leave with the little boys to make it to swimming lessons by 2:00, and then John and Preston joined us there when they were done.

I am exhausted. 

But on the plus side, we have two swimmers! Preston is now learning to take breaths while he swims, and B can swim for quite a while (hasn't gotten to learning to take breaths yet), and Archer isn't too far behind! I am amazed at how much they have learned in just a few lessons. 

The boys all had fun at soccer today, but I'm pretty sure we're going to have to figure out a way to stagger sports in the future so we aren't running around like crazy. I wish it could be a fun family activity for us, but with a Saturday schedule like this...well, not exactly my idea of fun!




Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Fall

The end of summer is here. This morning I had to bundle up to ride bikes with the boys to school. And I still froze. I'm sure we're not too far away from our first frost (but I'm hoping for a few more tomato harvests!), and some of the leaves are turning. Our backyard squirrels are busy gathering acorns and stashing them away for winter. It was inevitable, but it is so difficult to go from 90 degree highs to 50 degree highs in just a few days. Brrrrrrrr. It is nearing the end of September though, and that's totally pushing it here. It's actually amazing that it's stayed "summery" for as long as it has...but I will never be satisfied unless (until??) we live somewhere summery year-round. 

I was just looking through pictures on my phone (cleaning things up so I have space to take more pictures!), and found these cute pictures from Fall 2011. Preston was 5, Bryton was 4, and Archer was 2.


I can't believe how much they have changed in two short years! 

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Monday, September 16, 2013

The Superstar

B was chosen as the first "superstar of the week" for his class! The teacher chooses one kid per week that shows good manners, kindness, a good example to others, etc. We are so proud of our little superstar. 

He got to make a poster all about himself to share with the class, and he gets to be the line leader and special helper all week. He is super excited!

His poster included pictures of him doing his favorite things (dirt biking, fishing, paddleboarding, skiing, skateboarding, at Silverwood), and he cut pictures out of magazines of some of his favorite foods (granola, fruit, veggies), and a picture of bugs which he loves to catch. He also drew pictures of himself camping and roasting marshmallows, a soccer ball, and a picture of his all-time favorite food: taco salad! 


Friday, September 13, 2013

Oh Deer!

Last night we discovered that the deer broke into our garden. We have suspicions of how they got in (there is a low spot in the corner next to our neighbor's gigantic arborvitae), but they completely destroyed our baby fruit trees, eggplants, chard, kohlrabi, and I'm sure plenty more that I haven't discovered yet. So sad. While I used to love deer, they have definitely become an irritation to me since we moved to this house. 

Luckily I had just picked a bunch of tomatoes yesterday, so they could only feast on the green ones. And of course they completely ignored our wormy apples that were destined for our neighbor's house (because they don't have a garden and they LIKE the deer over there!).



Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Tomatoes!

We have been getting tomatoes for over a month now and it's amazing, especially considering that in years past, we've actually had to ripen our tomatoes in the garage. So far, I've canned 7 quarts of sauce, 13 pints of salsa, and dehydrated diced tomatoes, tomato leather, and tomato slices. Up next is canning some more sauce, and then if there are more left, maybe some diced tomatoes or whole tomatoes. 

We are still getting cherry tomatoes too, but the boys (well, Preston & Archer...B doesn't like them) are starting to get sick of them. I never thought that day would come!

Archer and his little friend helped me pick tomatoes yesterday
And just a cute picture of my little guy waiting to pick up the biggest boy from school.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Lazy Sunday

John has been hunting since yesterday so the boys and I are relaxing. I'm a bit burned out by mom duty at this point, so we have been doing lots of reading, movie watching (Spy Kids & Spy Kids 2!), gardening, and game playing. 

I'm so ready to have another parent in the house!


Busy Busy Busy

We have quite a few activities that the boys are doing this fall, and I'm already wondering how we're going to juggle everything. All 3 boys will be doing swimming lessons and soccer, and Preston is planning to start Cub Scouts as well. Along with everyday stuff...we may have overcommitted, but the boys are super excited. Archer actually got to have his first swimming lesson this weekend while the other 2 were at a birthday party, and it was a success! Hoping that all 3 boys will be proficient swimmers by next summer since we spend so much time around the water. 

A few pictures from this weekend...
Swimming! He was so proud of himself...he "floated", went all the way under water, and jumped in to the pool!

John and I had a kid free night (the boys were with Grandma), so we went to our favorite sushi place. (This is John trying the octopus.)

My phone was hijacked by a couple of boys! They took this picture of their lego creation.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Week 1

Done.

We made it through the first week of school. I'm exhausted. 

The boys are loving school, which is a huge change from last year when Preston maintained that he "hated school" for the entire school year. I'm seriously hoping the school love continues!

Bryton surprised me as well...he's such a quiet, reserved kid (at times anyway, and especially in new situations) that I was a little concerned about him going into a class with 25 other kids in a school with over 400 kids. I thought it might overwhelm him, but thankfully, I was wrong! He loves his teacher (both boys do actually), and he jabbers about all the fun things he did for the entire walk home. 

It is so nice to see big smiles on my kids' faces when they come out of school! 

B, on the midday walk home from school. He spends a lot of time running because he has so much excited energy!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

First Day

First day of school for my 2nd grader and kindergartener. As I was walking home with just Archer, I realized that next year I'll be walking home alone because he will be in kindergarten. How did this happen???

Preston (2nd grade)

Bryton (kindergarten)

My sweet boys!

6

Bryton officially turns 6 today. We celebrated with friends in Sunday with a BBQ (tons of fun! Beautiful weather! Lots of friends!), and because today is the first day of school, we're keeping it calm. 

I might be having issues this morning. My little B turning 6 and starting kindergarten...too much for me to handle!  He's growing up to be such a sweet and considerate kid. 

At 6...
Bryton loves all things sports. Not watching them, PLAYING them. We are set to start soccer this fall. He's into soccer, baseball, biking, scooter, skateboarding, badminton, the list could go on and on.

Dirt biking. This child wants to do motocross. I am actively discouraging any competitive dirt biking (I couldn't handle it!!), but he zooms around the backyard any chance he gets. And he's good!

Favorite color: blue. Still!

He loves Batman.

He loves Legos.

He still loves hugs and cuddles (thank goodness!).

He sneaks books into his bed constantly, and he loves to learn. He got a list of sight words to work on at school open house and he has been diligently studying them.

I'm about ready I go pick him up from his first day of kindergarten, but here are a few birthday party pics!

Happy birthday Mr. B!