Safety City

Our Children's Ministry intern, Erica, and her sister Heidi coordinated a church day at Safety City a few weeks before school started. This is a really neat place...it is set up as a small version of Knoxville complete with some landmarks (SunSphere). The kids "drive" around the city obeying the rules of the road (stop lights/red lights). We had never been there as a family or as just a fun thing to do. Both Taylor and Caleb had been to this place on field trips through school. It was a really hot day even though we went pretty early. We meet quite a few families from church. The kids had a great time. I snapped a few pictures as the kids went by the covered pavilion that the mom's stayed under trying to stay cool.

Allison and Madison


Lauren stopped at a red light


Madison and Clara


Coy


Cooling off with the misters

1st Day of School

Today was the 1st official day of school for us. Caleb gets up at 6:30 which is 30 minutes earlier than Taylor (she enjoys rubbing this in already) since he has to be at school 45 minutes earlier than her. This means I get up at 5:30! When my alarm went off this morning all I could think was "no....I am not ready for this"! It wasn't so bad though...got myself up and the coffee going and was able to get ready pretty easily. Caleb got up with no problem at all and was dressed and ready to go in about 20 minutes (he was too excited to eat)!

Here is my big boy on his 1st day of 3rd grade


Taylor actually went to school last Friday for a half day. I love that the new 6th graders get to go before all the 7th and 8th graders come. It gives them a chance to meet their teachers, find their classrooms and figure out lockers.

Here is my baby girl who is now a middle schooler


When they came home today they both were in the best moods...Caleb loves his teacher and Taylor is thrilled with her schedule which includes honors math, honors science, honors reading and advanced art! I had to ask what exactly a "honors" class is and Taylor proudly told me that means she is learning the skills they are teaching in 7th grade. She was so proud (and so are we)! I keep wondering how this kid got so smart :) LOL

Madison will not go until Friday and then it is just a half day and we won't even find out who her teacher is. Madison's school spends the 1st week staggering the kids and testing them. After this week they will place the kids in specific classes. Madison is really hoping she gets Mrs Schaefer (that is who Taylor had) and so am I! Meanwhile Madison will spend this week and next getting some one-on-one attention from her grandparents since I am in the classroom or workshops these next 2 weeks getting ready for my own kids who come on the 29th.

We are ready for a very busy school year and praying it will be a great one!

Random July Pictures

Random moments in July!

Sweet friends


We enjoyed keeping Quinn quite a bit this month while Hope was going to the chiropractor. She slept alot but started smiling at us often.


My friend, Cindy, had her sweet baby girl Julia this month and we were excited to go and meet her. She is a doll with a head full of hair. I think she looks like her big brother Will. Madison and Taylor enjoyed getting to hold her while Caleb was more interested in playing with Will.

Mountain Get-away

Matt's mom had booked the resort in the mountains for the week of July 4th and they ended up not being able to go so she offered it to us. We jumped at the chance. We invited the Tomlinson's to join us. We all got to be at there at the 1st of the week (the guys took off work so they could enjoy a few days of R&R). Then it was just me, Amy and the kids. We enjoyed playing at the water park and swimming...it was great since it was so hot!









Enjoying a pancake breakfast while sneaking in a little visit!


A few of the kids enjoyed being thrown in the air

Madison's 6th Birthday

In June Madison celebrated her 6th birthday. This year we skipped the big party and just celebrated with family at home. I can't believe my baby is 6 yrs old, seems like we were just bring home this tiny little 5 lb baby girl and now my baby is going to Kindergarten. She is super excited and I am handling it pretty well.

Madison and Taylor


Handsome Caleb


Opening presents....Jessie, Woody and Bullseye, a pink scooter






Madison asked for a chocolate cake with chocolate icing


Enjoying the chocolate cake along with some Blue Bell vanilla ice cream


Madison really wanted to go to Build-a-Bear for her birthday so that is where we went a few days later. She was allowed to pick what ever she wanted which was the weiner dog and the hot dog costume. She also picked out a little pink bed for her new puppy, Fudge.








Ready to take Fudge home!