Here’s Jonas with his landform project. He looks so proud…and he should. He worked really hard on it, and it turned out great!!! He cut out the board, mixed the salt dough, created the landforms, picked out the paint colors and painted everything, glued on the moss, and typed up the labels…all by himself. Way to go, JoJo!!!
Jonas is playing soccer again this fall (Tom is his assistant coach…go Daddy!!!). This was the first Saturday that we had fall weather…it was beautiful. Here are all three of my little dudes in action during the game:
Roman had Apple Day in his kindergarten classroom this afternoon. I loved being able to be there with my little buddy and help out. It was such a fun set up…the kids rotated through the following stations: apple stamping and face painting, apple stained glass, apple graphing, apple weighing, and apple tasting. I think Roman’s favorite station was apple tasting…with red and green and pink apple slices, red and green apple chips, apple fritters, apple pies, and apple juice.
Roman was SO excited to bring Chester, the classroom raccoon, home this afternoon for an adventure. He and his brothers had a blast running around with Chester…
The boys had Donuts with Dad this morning at school. I was SO incredibly moved by how many dads showed up to be with their kids…the line literally wrapped around the school and snaked down the hallway…I teared up and applauded all of the daddies as I walked by…especially this one with these three boys.
Tom and I were so excited to get to go to Montgomery Bell State Park for a quick backpacking and camping trip. We were beyond blessed to have a good friend stay with the boys for one day and one night, so we could spend some much needed time together away from it all out in nature. Here are some pictures from our time together…
I got up early this morning and drove to Franklin to run the Franklin Classic 10K. The weather was beautiful. The course was hilly (I heard one guy I ran beside say, “I hate Tennessee!”). But I love Tennessee, and I was so grateful to be able to run and to reach my goals (pace myself from the beginning so I could speed up at the end, run the entire time, and beat my personal best).
We picked the boys up early from school, so we could all watch the eclipse together. We drove about an hour north where totality was longer. My favorite parts, aside from sharing such an historic event with my family and watching the boys play in the lake afterwards in the changing light, was hearing this precious lady say, “Praise Jesus!” and seeing all of the fish start biting when the sky went dark. What an amazing day, and what a gift it was to witness it!
Today was Roman’s first day of kindergarten!!!
Roman, going to kindergarten: “When I grow up, I want to be a drummer.” AND “When I grow up, I want to sell cars.”
After seeing what he came up with to wear on his first day, a gray Minecraft t-shirt and gray athletic shorts…I decided that I would try to finagle him into wearing something nice for his first day of kindergarten. (I know…I know…but I just couldn’t let it go…next year.) I explained to him that every other day of the year, he can wear whatever he wants (besides picture day and church day which are nice clothes days). He heard that and agreed to put on some khaki shorts. So, I thought I’d go for the polo next (not a button down…a polo). He even picked which two he liked best but then totally put the breaks on. Being one of the stronger willed of the three, he REALLY put the breaks on. As I was watching us all lose patience with each other and the anxiety increasing and seeing his sweet little face start to break down and cry and meltdown mode beginning, I decided that it just wasn’t worth it. After Tom stepped out of the front door, Roman walked up to the kitchen counter, with his tear stained face, and started counting out poker chips (we use them as “task coins” for completing tasks and each one counts for a minute of screen time…the boys prize them…especially this one). I said, “Roman, what are you doing?” He counted out 17 task coins (to add to the three already in his jar), pushed them over to my side of the counter, and said, “I’ll do it for 17.” I said, “How about 15?” He said, “Nope. 17.” I shook his hand and said, “You’ve got a deal.” (I’m not in the habit of making deals, mind you, but I made a deal this morning…and my strong willed five and a half year old put on a red polo for his first day of kindergarten with a big confident smile.) Ah, life.
Here Roman is holding his first day of school sign, posing with mommy and daddy in front of the school, walking into the kindergarten hallway with this big brother, putting away his backpack, and getting started on a gingerbread necklace with his sweet teacher. Look out kindergarten…here Roman comes!!!
Today was the first day of school for Jonas and Xander!!!
Jonas, going into 3rd grade: “When I grow up, I want to be an artist.”
Xander, going into 2nd grade: “When I grow up, I want to be a dolphin trainer at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.”
You know, I’ve come a long way. I went from picking out their clothes (waaaaaaaaay back in the beginning of their preschool days when they would let me and didn’t have strong opinions about what they wanted to wear) to only requiring nice clothes (that they choose) on the first day of school, picture, and church days. Today, I decided to take a leap and let go of the nice clothes on the first day of school thing and just let them wear what they were comfortable in…I think it was less anxiety inducing for all.
Here they are holding their first day of school signs, being silly in front of the school, and meeting their teachers for the first time. I always love seeing the progression of pictures taken at the beginning of the school year, where they’re holding back and a little nervous…to the end of the school year, where they’re all in and confident. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful school with such precious and caring teachers and staff…they are the best!!! I can’t wait to see how much my boys change, learn, and grow this year.
The boys and I enjoyed checking out the Adventure Science Center again…
Today, even though it was the beginning of August, felt like the most beautiful fall day. It had me picking up my step on my morning run at the park, thinking of football afternoons, and not wanting the cool night to end. In the spirit of the day and the quickly approaching fall (one of my favorite times of the year), we had a bonfire tonight (courtesy of Tom…he read my mind)!!! Complete with s’mores, it was such a fun night with the boys…kind of a farewell to summer and a hello to fall. I am looking forward to many more family fall night bonfires to come.
We were BEYOND BLESSED to get to spend a week in Tampa on the bay at the house of a dear friend’s parents. We had so much fun swimming in the pool, going for rides on the boat (looking for dolphins, eating at a bayside restaurant, and riding on Big Mabel), and visiting Winter at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. It really was one of our best family trips yet.
For more pictures, click on the “Tampa 2017” page to the right…
I got to see one of my dearest friends from college this morning…Kim!!! She was in town with her husband for a conference at the Opryland Hotel, and all of my boys were in VBS…so we were able to steal away for a few hours and catch up over coffee. So precious those lifelong friends that no matter how far away you live from each other or how long it’s been since you’ve seen or talked to each other…you always just pick up right where you left off…like water for the soul!!! Praise God for dear friends.
Tom, Roman, and I ended up heading back to the splash pad with Jonas and Xander after camp…they loved it too!!!
Roman and I checked out the new splash pad in Franklin this afternoon (while Jonas and Xander were in camp at Encore). It was so cool…two slides, a huge bucket that drops water, spray rings, water guns, etc. What a fun addition to the splash pads we like to frequent in the summer!!!
We spent a wonderful week at Lake Norman in celebration of Grandma and Grandpa’s 50th Wedding Anniversary!!!
We loved getting to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa, the Northern Seyfrieds, the Longs, and the Paccassis. Fun times included: boating, tubing, kayaking, wave runnering, swimming, fishing, playing board games, watching movies, going to mass and praying as a family, slack lining over the water, playing pool and ping pong, watching fireworks, etc.
For more pictures of our time together, click on the “Lake Norman 2017” picture page to the right.
Tom and I went to the wedding rehearsal dinner for the sweet daughter of precious friends tonight at the Belle Meade Plantation. What a beautiful night!!!
Jonas ended up pulling a muscle at the indoor trampoline park a few days ago. So, he’s been visiting the pediatrician, getting his very first x-ray (a highlight for him was riding in/driving a wheelchair), taking ibuprofen, applying ice off and on throughout the day, and resting. Poor guy!!! He felt up to hobbling out to the front porch this afternoon and beautifully painted three pavers that are now brightening up our front flower beds. I’m so grateful that he didn’t get hurt worse and that he’s on the mend and am hoping that he’ll be rested and back to being his adventurous self by the time we get to the lake tomorrow afternoon.
Xander celebrated his birthday with his friends a little early this year at an indoor trampoline park. He had a total blast…I think his favorite things were dropping from the rope swing into the foam pit and climbing up to the highest obstacle (in a harness) and jumping off to fly down from the top. Happy birthday to one of the sweetest and most compassionate hearts I know. We love you, Xander!!!
