Author: Jodi
Visiting with Grandma and Grandpa…
We loved having Grandma and Grandpa visit with us for Thanksgiving. We played games, went shopping for a nice outfit for Jonas’ 1st Reconciliation and 1st Communion (thank you, Grandma!!!), watched a Predators game, celebrated Thanksgiving with my family, decorated for Christmas, and went hiking at Henry Horton State Park.
Veteran’s Day Parade…
Tom drove one of the fire trucks in the Veteran’s Day Parade…here he is waving to the boys and our precious little friends, Claire and Katharine. A heartfelt thank you to all of our veterans!!!
Planting Bulbs…
The boys helped me plant some bulbs in our garden this morning…daffodils and tulips!
Jonas asked me why I wanted to plant bulbs, and I told him…after a long winter, it’s my favorite thing in the world to see those first flowers of spring coming up. They remind me…in much the same way as a hard season of life easing up a little bit…that no matter how long or how cold the winter…there will always be that day when spring comes. To me, those beautiful spring flowering bulbs represent faith and hope.
Happy Birthday, Jonas!!!
I can’t believe my first baby turned 8 years old today!!! Happy birthday, Jonas!!!
Here he is with his very best friend, Ethan. They met in Mrs. Watkins class in 1st grade last year, and even though they’re at two different schools this year…they’re still keeping up like true friends do. They just love each other so much and are like two peas in a pod when they are together…cutting up, laughing, and into a lot of the same things. Jonas celebrated his birthday by having Ethan over for a sleepover. They played in the woods with walkie talkies, ate pizza and birthday cake (cheesecake) for dinner, watched Finding Dory, stayed up late and woke up early, ate pancakes for breakfast, played with birthday presents, went on a hike at Long Hunter State Park, had a picnic, swung on the rope swing and built a fort in the woods, and were totally bummed out to say goodbye to each other. They had a TOTAL blast.
Halloween…
We went trick or treating in our neighborhood with my namesake, Isabelle Leigh (the daughter of one of my dearest friends, Lizza). It was so sweet to see all of the kids together (it’s amazing how they grow) and to walk around the neighborhood with Tom and Isabelle’s aunt and grandparents, marveling at the droves of trick or treaters that turn out on Halloween night in our neighborhood.
Tom was an “I don’t know”, I was Pikachu, Jonas was a wizard, Xander was Pikachu, Isabelle was a fairy princess, and Roman was Ash the Pokemon trainer.
Above All…
Jonas has been working really hard on following directions the first time at home…so hard, in fact, that he earned an hour of jumping at Above All with Daddy. Go, Jonas!
Preschool Trick or Treat…
Roman had a Halloween parade and went trick or treating at preschool this morning. He went as Ash the Pokemon trainer. What a cutie!
Gymnastics…
I took Roman to Let It Shine gymnastics this morning to play with his dearest friend, Addie. He had a blast playing with her and running around checking everything out. His gym favorite by far was the zip line. Here he is monkeying around.
Garden…
I’ve really enjoyed our garden this year…especially all of the wildflowers and the zinnias.
Roman’s Lucky Ladd Field Trip…
I loved being able to go on Roman’s preschool field trip to Lucky Ladd today. The kids got to learn about the life cycle of a pumpkin, pick out a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, pet the animals, play on the playground (including the corn box and the gigantic slide), and go on a hay ride. It was a super hot day, so all of the kids and the adults were exhausted by the end and ready for a rest at home. What a fun opportunity for the kids though!!!
Fun Run…
Jonas and Xander were SO excited to run in the Fun Run to raise money for technology for their school. It was a threatening rain kind of day, so they ended up changing the location from the playground field to the gym…it was a glow run and the kids loved it. There’s always something about watching a race that makes me tear up…especially to see my boys out there. Roman and I had fun showing our Cardinal pride and cheering them on. Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored them!!!
Fall Break: Henry Horton State Park
We took the boys hiking today at Henry Horton State Park. We did a one mile trail (with some light trail blazing/rock formation exploring on the side), and they did great!!! We all LOVE to be outside, so I’m looking forward to enjoying more of our state parks together.
Fall Break: Nashville Zoo
We went to the Nashville Zoo today…it was a beautiful fall day. Tom and Jonas rode Soar (a zip line sort of ride), Xander fed the lorikeets, Xander and Roman rode the carousel, all three boys played on the playground (actually, all four), and all three boys fed the turtles. So fun!
Fall Break: Walden Pumpkin Farm
After school today, we took the boys to Walden Pumpkin Farm to kick off Fall Break. They ran through the corn maze, went down the slide, played on the seesaw, climbed the hay bales, played in the corn box, and picked out pumpkins. It was hard to get a good picture of them all together because they were in constant motion and looking every which way, but here’s what we got. By the end of our time there, I think I was more worn out than they were!!!
Jonas’ Plantation Field Trip…
I loved being able to go on the 2nd grade field trip to Traveler’s Rest Plantation with Jonas!!! It was a beautiful fall day. The kids went on a tour of the plantation home and talked about the difference between living now and living then (electricity, indoor plumbing, air conditioning, etc.), played with old time toys (Jacob’s Ladder, Buzz Saw, Cup and Ball Toss, Ring Toss, etc.), wrote with a quill pen, and learned a folk dance (the Virginia Reel). I’m so thankful for the enriching activities that the boys get to take part in through their wonderful school.
Bentley Bear’s Adventures with Roman…
Each week, a child from Roman’s preschool class gets to take home the classroom mascot, Bentley Bear, for an adventure filled weekend. This was Roman’s weekend, and he was SO excited!!! We took lots of pictures to make some fun story pages to share with his class. Bentley shared snacks, checked out the garden and the treehouse, snuggled with Ah-Ah, went to the zoo, watched soccer games, took a trip to the dentist, and listened in on piano lessons. So fun!!!
Xander’s Orchard Field Trip…
Xander went on a field trip with his class (and all of the other 1st grade classes) to a local orchard this morning. I loved being able to be there with him. The weather was perfect (such a nice fall-ish change from the long stretch of 90 degree weather we’ve been having). It was so sweet just holding his hand and walking through the orchard. The orchard guides talked about tree spacers, grafting, bees (queens, drones, and worker bees), orchard ladders, picking apples, different types and varieties of apples, apple hummus, and apple cider. I think Xander enjoyed it. (He was sad that he only got to pick one apple though…we’re used to picking a bag full at the apple orchard we visit every fall…but I think he understood that if every child picked a bag full they wouldn’t have many apples left.) Yay for fall, yay for apples, and yay for a field trip with Xander!!!
Xander Swimming…
Xander is learning all four strokes in swimming lessons this fall. Go, Xander!!! It is so fun to see his progression from one lesson to the next. He’s listening really well and catching on quickly and will be moving up to the next level in October. I think his favorite thing thus far is the dolphin kick from the butterfly stroke…of course! 🙂
Roman Playing Soccer…
Roman just started his third season of playing soccer. He had his first game today and rocked it out until all of the games were called off early due to the stormy weather. It’s so fun to watch him play with old friends and new friends and to watch the magic that coaches of little people can work to help them grow so much each season.
