The First Day

The kids were so exited for the first day of school.

Everyone was up early and ready to go long before the buses even started rolling.

Mikayla left first and it was pitch black outside.

I can hardly believe she is starting high school.

How did that happen?

But...she is so strong and capable, I have no doubt she is doing to do great.

Joe and Emma are in 7th grade and now without their big sister at the middle school.

The students in the middle school are split into teams -- with half the students getting one set of teachers and half the students getting another.

Joe and Emma have never had the same teachers in school and last year were on totally different teams -- which meant two sets of field trips...totally different learning schedules, etc.

It made for interesting times here.

But this year, for the first time, they are on the same team and will actually have three academic classes together. 

I am excited as a mom for this -- but I hope it's okay for them.

I guess the one upside is that most people don't even realize that they are related and when told that they are brother and sister often don't believe it's true.

Josh is in the 3rd grade.

We are very excited for this teacher this year.

3rd grade is a big year here -- it's the first time they get grades and the first time they really have a significant amount of homework.

Josh is a really smart boy but he's not a huge fan of working hard.

We'll see how it goes.

And Becky. She is in the 1st grade and all of the sudden looks so grown up to me.

I am so excited for her to have a good year and continue to grow. 

And poor Katie. She just didn't understand why everyone else got to leave this morning except her.

She said, "Mom. I don't like this."

I know baby.

But...look for a post on little miss next week when she starts preschool - 5 days a week. MY WORD. 

I'll try not to happy dance in front of her. 

Happy First Day of School.

We Will Miss You

Last day of summer.

I really enjoy having the kids home for summer...it's a lazy time spent swimming and sunning and playing.

Other than never being able to get my house all the way clean...it's really a wonderful time for us.

But...I actually think the kids are more ready to return to school this year than I am.

So, we made it one last time to the pool.

Oh summer. We will miss you.

Hurricane Josh

It's been a crazy few weeks back here in Virginia.

An Earthquake.

A Hurricane.

Troy left town to visit his family and attend his high school reunion.

And as you know, we have a long history of some major disaster happening whenever Troy is gone.

We have had the water heater explode, a flood, emergency room visits, the list goes on an on.

Troy is headed home today, and I thought we were out of the woods as far as disasters go...but I didn't count on one thing -- Josh.

Now, don't get me wrong...on the scale of disasters, this one is pretty mild...and actually, I am probably the only one would even consider this a disaster.

But...after spending this morning getting all the kids ready for church by myself, getting into the car and being almost on time -- I was patting myself on the back from a job well done.

Until we got out of the car...and I saw this:

Are you kidding me?

Sigh.

Oh well.

5 of 6 well dressed children is good, right?

Instagram Love

I haven't been good about taking my camera with me this summer...but I have just started using instagram and I love the images I have been able to capture.

and even one of me.

Fun in the Sun

When we went up to get Emma from sailing camp, we had the chance to play a little as a family.

We went to the yacht club (uh...never imagined myself at a yacht club!),  went swimming, went boating and tubing. It was a blast.

The kids even talked me into giving it a try.

And totally loved it when i had a major wipeout.

Which, by the way, reaffirms for me that I am well and truly old.

And, poor sweet Becky.

She took a ride with the big kids and had a major wipe out. MAJOR. She was so scared and did not want to ride again.

But, Troy and I got on with her and told her that we would take it nice and slow.

She was terrified of it all. But, she was a trooper and held on. I am so proud of her!

We really appreciate Quoc and Ellen taking Emma for the week and showing us a really good time.

Summer - What's Up With Josh?

Josh had cub camp this summer...and I am pretty sure he asked every day between the day that school let out and the first day of scout camp if today was the day.

I was able to go to scout camp this year and had a lot of fun being a camp helper and a walker.

Josh had a blast and they did all kinds of crazy cool things at camp, including making a catapult, making a marshmallow gun...and swimming every day.

I was glad that Jared and Josh got to do a couple of activities together at camp.  I am a firm believer that these two were actually twins in heaven who decided one family couldn't handle them both.

It was really hot during camp, so swimming was a much anticipated activity.

Marshmallow guns.

Josh also had the chance to try out a slingshot. These are super hard to use! Thank goodness the ammo was just marshmallows.

Typecasting?

We had cub pack meeting last night and I have to say it was wonderful!

We had picnic and the scouts put on skits for us.

Josh was a squirrel. I think there may have been some typecasting going on here.

Cause He's the Dad

We had an excellent father's day -- well, at least I did, so I am hoping Troy did too.

The kids made cards and Josh included some coupons in his. Troy's favorite coupon was the one which promised that Josh would give him a whole hour alone. lol! 

Joe's card showed his vision of his super dad ... and for some reason, I was falling off a tall building when Troy swooped in to save me.

Should I be worried that Joe sees me needing to be rescued or that I am falling off a building?

The kids got Troy this great Super Dad card -- and we doctored up the photo on the card to show our own favorite Super Dad.

What more perfect card could you find for Troy than one that has him wearing socks, sandals, and a cape. Classic Troy.

I also made Troy a little gift and made him this little frame with an "I LOVE YOU MORE THAN COKE ZERO" sign.

BTW, It's true.

I know.

Shocking.

We also found Husker Du...one of Troy's favorite kids game.

I love you Troy.

Thanks for being such a great Dad!!!

The Last

My goodness. 

Where did the year go?

The kids had a great school year and I am so proud of all of them.

It has been a year of growth and change. I was thinking that the kids really have changed this year...but I was surprised to see just how much with these side by sides of the first day and the last day of school. 

These kids are amazing. I am such a lucky mom! 

Play Hard

What do you do with a houseful of crazy children? 

Well...when there are 10 of them...you load them into two cars and hit one of the funnest parks around -- fantasy park in woodbridge.

The kids had a blast.

The big ones.

The honorary Beatty ones.

The in between ones.

The little ones.

The kids loved this slide -- and it was FAST.

So fast in fact...katie went down -- and evan landed right on her.

Really -- is there a better way to go through life?