School is in Session!

Jake and Dylan started school bright and early last Monday, August 25th.

It was a big day for Dylan as it was his first day of Kindergarten! Dylan is thrilled with his new teacher (he got the same teacher Jake had for kindergarten). He had a great day at school, and even got to ride home on the bus.

Jake is in third grade this year. I can't believe how fast he's grown! Jake is thrilled with his new teacher too. She is a real peach, and does a lot of things that really foster excitiment and love of learning and reading.

Muddy Buddies

We got a lot of rain this week here in Texas, and Jake had his first soccer practice of the season a few nights ago. So guess where Dylan and Ryan decided to hang out while they waited for soccer practice to be over? You guessed it, in the nearest mud puddle. What is it about boys and mud? I swear they are magnetically attracted to it. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me so I couldn't capture the whole moment (please picture it in your mind). But I did snap this picture right before they got into the shower...... ...I know it looks like a precious moment doesn't it? But I didn't think it was so precious as I spent the next hour scrubbing muddy socks, clothes & tennis shoes :). Just one of the many joys of little boys!

Where do I Sleep?

Ryan has decided that it's "Not Fair". After all, Jake and Dylan get to share a room and Mommy and Daddy get to share a room, so why doesn't Ryan get to share a room? So after a couple of months of bedtime battles I finally got a bright idea -- Why not let the three little monkeys share a room? So, here's the some pictures of the plan in action, and we transformed Ryan's old room into a play room. So far, so good. Everyone's happy :)

The Brave Little Swimmer

We just completed two weeks of swimming lessons. We took lessons from a family who teaches in their backyard pool and the teacher/student ratio is 1:2 (which we love).

Jake & Dylan did great and worked on their strokes (breastroke, freestyle, backstroke) and diving.

This was Ryan's first year of swimming lessons and he was amazing. He was not scared at all and surpassed all of my expectations. He takes the title of "The Brave Little Swimmer". He jumped off the diving board on his 3rd day of lessons!!

Clown Lips?

Okay, so it didn't take long. The boys apparently did pick up some new tricks at the circus. Here's Ryan making an attempt at clown lips. So much for the latest hiding place for my lipstick :-)

The Circus Comes To Town

I know what you're thinking.....you don't even have to say it. You're wondering why in the world we would pay good money to go to a 3-ring circus when we have front row seats to one everyday!! Well, it's true, we did. We attended the Barnum & Bailey's Ringling Brother's Circus in Ft. Worth on August 15th. It was a great time, and I think the boys may have even learned a few new tricks. We also took some time to enjoy the Ft. Worth Water Gardens and Botanical Gardens.

Ryan's favorite thing at the circus were the elephants & the tigers. Jake & Dylan both liked the human cannon. Personally I liked the clowns best (maybe it's because I felt right at home - ha ha).

Take Me Out To The Ballgame...But Don't Buy Me Peanuts

We attended a Texas Rangers vs. the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim major league baseball game on July 8th. It was a great time. It was Ryan's first ballgame and we made it all the way to the end of the game! We even enjoyed a 30 minute rain delay. I say enjoyed, because it was the week our air conditioner was out at home and it was a nice cooling rain with a breeze that went with it.

The one shocking thing was how many peanuts were at the ballgame. Ryan has a peanut allergy, and I have to say in the past I never gave peanuts much thought. However, when you attend a ballgame with a 2 year old who has a peanut allergy (who doesn't understand he has a peanut allergy) I must say it's a bit unnerving. We survived and all had a great time!