The First of the Next 13 Years!

It happened.  Rowan started Kindergarten.  People always say how quickly time passes, but I never have been one to see it.  Oh, how true it is!

I can't believe it has been 5 and a half years since we brought that little guy home from the hospital.  He was so needy, wouldn't eat, and caused me a few tears in those first few weeks.  We survived, though, and I wouldn't ever guess time would pass so quickly.

Rowan Blane Just Days Old

We celebrated a few birthday parties along the way.  We've done frogs, pirates, trains, and superhero parties as his interests have evolved and Dad's baking skills for that matter;-)

1st Birthday

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday

4th Birthday-(I'm not sure why we didn't frost the whole cake-weird)

5th Birthday

We've done  t-ball and soccer to develop those social skills and maybe foster a wee bit of athleticism;-)

We've been to preschool to build those foundational skills and learn how to be a friend!

And somewhere along the way, 5 and a half years passed, and I sent my little boy off to the big world of school!  He has the sweetest teacher, and he is rocking this school thing.  Alex drops him off at the community center in the a.m. since I have to be to work so early, and they walk him over to school at 8:15.  He is going back to the community center in the evening until I'm done coaching volleyball, and I get him picked up about 5:00.  He is exhausted by then, and I can tell he has worked hard all day!

The Duo

Rowan's First Day of School and My 10th Year of 7th Grade

We are finding our groove, and Rowan is proud to get to go to "big" school now! Now if he could just ride a school bus, his world would be complete!    

Summer Update Finale

It's over...officially.  I feel great about our summer to-do list, and I feel like we bopped along pretty well.  I'm hopeful this will be a summer tradition as our children get older.  They loved talking about the list and what we could accomplish each day, and it made me mix up our schedule!  I highly recommend an activities list for any long break.  It definitely held me accountable, and it was fun! 

1.  Go to the North Pool
2. Summer Reading Program for All-Done and prizes collected from library!
3. Swimming Lessons-
4. T-Ball for Rowan-
5. Firepit-
6. Snow Cones
7. Happy Hour at Dairy Queen
8. Cupcake Trip 
9. Go Fishing-
10. Chuck-E-Cheese 
11. Vacation Bible School-
12. Discovery Center Camp for Rowan-LOVED this!  If you don't know about our Discovery Center here in Topeka, you need to check it out.  It is amazing and a great community resource for children! 
13. Bike Ride at Lake Shawnee
14. Feed the Geese:-o (Insert horrified look here-I hate geese)
15. SpRiNkLeR!
16. Bake Cookies-
17. Discovery Center-
18. Bowling
19. Paint Therapy Uncorked
20. Movie Theater-
21. Make Homeade Ice Cream- My friend Lindsey loaned me her Cuisinart ice cream maker last week.  I made butterfinger vanilla ice cream.  It was amazing!!  If you are looking for Christmas ideas, I'm putting that baby on my list!  It was awesome!  Now I must have one;-)
22. Picnic at Park
23. Paint own rock
24. Donut Shop
25. Go to Branson
26. Video Games with Dad

The Beginning~

Well, summer has come and gone, and tomorrow marks the beginning of Rowan's formal educational experience. My heart is a bit sad that this formally marks the end of his preschool world, but I feel blessed that he has the ability to learn and is oh so ready to go to school;-)  We unpacked his backpack tonight, and his teacher was darling.  I could tell she is a lover, and there is a certain amount of comfort in knowing that. 

 We've been back in the swing on things for a week, and I am excited to get back to a schedule.  Summer was easy and laid back, but the kids were starting to get antsy as was I.  Isla will continue at the same center she has been at, and Rowan will bookend his school day at a local community center while I coach volleyball.  The plans are all made, and tomorrow we will start to live out this new pace of life one day at a time.

I have been busy in my own classroom getting it ready for our new bunch.  Tonight is kind of a rainbows and roses night as I know very little about our caseload.  There is a bit of peace in naivity tonight, and I kind of like it;-)

My room~

Home Away From Home~

Our Flock Rocks~

The alarm is set for 5:30, and I'm ready to start back at the beginning~