Happy Birthday Super William!!

Check out these capes Melissa made all of the kids with their initials! Daniel & Laura Ann thought they were SUPER COOL!!
 
Super William & Super Daniel!
 
Daniel & Laura Ann with the Birthday Boy!
 

We celebrated William's 4th birthday today. He is one of my most favorite boys because he reminds me so much of Daniel at this age. He is all boy & all about super heros!! He & Daniel have a special friendship too......they can relate to each other in many ways! Ha! Laura Ann loves William too & they argued all the way to his party over which one of them William loves the most. D: 'I'm the one who taught him about super heros!' LA: 'Well, he comes over to play with me after school sometimes!' D: 'Well, when he comes, he plays with MY toys!' LA:'Well, he's in my class & I see him everyday at school!" And on & on it went. I'm not sure who won the argument, but I think it is safe to say there is a lot of love for William at the James house! The party was the best! Daniel now has big plans for his next birthday party to be a super hero party like William's complete with personalized capes sewn by Melissa!!! Are you up for that, Melissa? It's kind of funny to me that he never even asked me to sew them......just automatically assigned that job to you!! :)

Oh, I have to include a funny quote from William......a couple of weeks ago, Janeena had William & asked him who his favorite super hero was & he answered, "Laura Ann...she's Spider Girl!" Ha! So maybe he does love her the most! :)

Super Saturday!

Merrill cleaned out more of her old dance costumes & sent a bag full over for Laura Ann. She changed from one to another about every 30 minutes ALL DAY LONG!
 
These four lived it up playing outside today! I didn't get any pictures, but they performed a great 'bike show' for Me, Dan, Brett & Ann, complete with stunts. It was quite impressive! Today was such a nice break from school & the weather was gorgeous!!
 

Benji

 
Thanks, Gran, for the Benji movie! They changed straight into pjs, popped popcorn & watched it after school today!

After School Fun..........

 
.........on the Gushing Geyser!

Footprints......

.....ON THE TABLE!!!
 
This would be the reason why I am constantly cleaning footprints off the top of the table! I used to try to fight this battle & eventually just gave up. This is where she likes to color, so I just let her now. She gets in her own little world & will stay like this forever. I actually think it's kind of sweet! Can you tell she's the baby?? :)

Paper Plate Notes

On the days Daniel takes his lunch, I write a note for him on the back of his paper plate & he loves it! Tonight, we ate supper on paper plates & before I made my plate he said, "Hey, mom, check the back of your plate.....there's a surprise for you!" Love my sweet boy!!

AT LAST!!

Look out Linda Dobbins Dance......here comes Laura Ann!!

Laura Ann has wanted to 'go to dance class' since she was two and AT LAST, that day finally arrived!!!   Actually, due to a couple of summer dance camps over the past 2 years & a visit with a friend to her dance class last winter, she has kind of thought all along that she WAS going to dance class.  She just thought it only happened once a year!  Ha!  I know I am a terrible mother because I haven't taken her already, but I'm a little lazy when it comes to extracurricular activities.   I knew after the dance camp this past summer that I couldn't deprive her any longer, so I signed her up to start the fall session.   I am so excited that Linda Dobbins Dance offers classes through the Conservatory at our church, so that makes it super easy for me!   Anyway, today was quite an exciting day for her!

She was beyond thrilled this morning when I told her that she had her first class this afternoon.  She immediately put on her dance clothes & wore them all day until time to leave for her class this afternoon.  She couldn't get through the doors of the church fast enough when we got there. Of course when we got to the dance room, she latched onto my leg & tried to pull her shy act. I told her she could leave with me, but that she wouldn't be able to come back to dance again. She relunctantly let go & sat down with the other girls.  When it was over & I picked her back up at the door, she was all smiles & was so excited to tell me all about it.  She loved all of the dancing, but I think her favorite part was her new friend, Amelia.  I've known Amelia's mom, Allison, for awhile (used to be in my SS class a few years ago, but they moved to Atlanta & then to Charleston & just moved back to Trussville.  Yay!)  Anyway, Amelia & Laura Ann hit it off BIG today and are already fast friends.  I'm thinking it is going to be a fun semester!

Oh, and little side note.......  those $15 dance tights that won't pull or run because they are so tightly woven aren't 'Laura Ann' proof.  She came out of class today, after having them on for an hour, with a hole the size of a quarter.  So much for them lasting the whole year!

Saturdays Are For Relaxing!

Whew! I had forgotten how hectic life is when school starts back! These two are missing our lazy days of summer & so am I! We enjoyed a day at home relaxing from our busy week. Of course, relaxing in their terms means lots of play, so we spent a little time on the waterslide too & then ate supper on the deck!

Jeb's Splash Park Party

Daniel and Laura Ann had a great time tonight running wild at the Splash Park & celebrating Jeb's birthday!

Sweet Prayer

Daniel said the prayer before supper tonight..... "Dear God, please help me get through 1st grade & all of this hard work!". Ha! So there's your 1st grade update for the week! I really don't think it is that hard, but it is a lot more 'work' than he ever had in kindergarten and that is a big adjustment for him. After supper, I gave Jeb & Daniel a practice spelling test for their test tomorrow. The hard part of a spelling test for Daniel is not spelling the words, but getting all of the letters formed correctly ON THE LINES. While handwriting is still not his strongest point, he has GREATLY improved!! I guess all of that "hard work" in first grade is paying off! :)

Fun with William!!

Laura Ann asked almost everyday when I picked her up in carline last year if William could come home with us to play. Today, Melissa & I did some shopping together while they were in school & just went through carline together to pick them up. When we parked beside Melissa's car for them to get out, Laura Ann just about fell apart because she thought that this was finally THE DAY that William was going to get to come home with us! So, we decided to give in & let them have their little play date. What Laura Ann doesn't know is that William loves to come home with her because he loves all of the boy toys in her playroom (but I won't tell her that!!:)! Anyway, these two got to have some fun until time to go get the big kids!
 
This is what came home in Laura Ann's Crayon bag today......
 
 
 

Laura Ann's First Day of 4K

Ready for 4K!
 

Today was Laura Ann's first day of 4K at the WEE Center. She was all excited this morning getting ready to go, but she decided to be a pill about getting her picture made. She finally loosened up enough to get a couple of good ones. She started her 'shy' act in the parking lot & continued it on into the classroom. Dan & I dropped her off inside the door & Mrs. Ashley peeled her off my leg. No tears, as always, just clinging. Melissa stayed behind to snap a pic of her & she, surprisingly gave her the same act that she gave me, refusing to cooperate. However, 30 seconds later, she was all smiles for her friend, Jenna's mom (I still can't get the pic to load). Further proof that she totally does that act for attention!! Ugh! Thankfully, though, she saves it only for door drop-offs & gets out of the car in carline like a champ! Carline starts tomorrow, thank goodness! Anyway, she had a FANTASTIC day.....literally loved every minute of it! She could not stop talking when she got in the car this afternoon about her day. Here are some tidbits:

-"I do NOT want to move my clip!!!" -this is her first year to have a clip to move, but she knows ALL about it from Daniel. The difference is that he could've cared less about moving his clip in 4K!! :)
-"Anyone did not move their clip today, some people ALMOST did!" -she went into details....who & why
-"I did not waste my lunch, but my friends did....didn't eat hardly any." -her teachers at school always say that she is the BEST eater in the class! Guess her teacher complimented her on not wasting her food! :)
-"I saw Katherine on the playground....she is in the Star class." -Katherine is her favorite friend from the Zebra class last year. Dan & I are always amused by how she knows whose class everyone is in. Everyone is labeled by their class.......I played with __________ from the Star class or I talked to __________ from the Frog class. So funny!
-"Fallon and Katelyn from the Ladybug class LAST year were my new friends today."

And the best part is that this was VOLUNTEERED information! Such a different experience than with her brother, who I have to drag every little detail out of! So happy that my sweet girl had a great first day! Praying for you to have a wonderful school year!!

Happy Birthday to Jeb!

Today was Jeb's birthday, so he got to choose how to spend his day, and guess what he chose........a day at the lake with the James'! Love him! We had so much fun fishing, swimming & canoeing. And being the true fan that he is, Jeb wanted a 'Husky Party', so we all enjoyed Husky birthday cake. It was an honor to spend the day with one of my most favorite boys. He is such a mess & keeps us laughing with his dry, matter-of-fact since of humor. I'm so thankful that Daniel has such a great friend right next door. Happy Birthday Jeb! We love you!

The CRAYON Class!

Laura Ann is in the CRAYON class this year!
 
Mrs. Ashley & Laura Ann
 
Laura Ann & Jenna, a friend from the Zebra class last year
 
Woo Hoo! William & Laura Ann are in the same class!! :)
 
Asher & Laura Ann.....ready to head to chickfila for some playtime after Meet the Teacher
 

We went to the WEE Center this morning to meet Laura Ann's teacher, Mrs. Ashley. I already know Ashley from church, but this was Laura Ann's first time to meet her. Mrs. Ashley is super sweet & there are lots of friends in Laura Ann's class that she knows, but despite this, she clung to either mine or Dan's leg most of the time we were in the room. This drives me nuts since this is NOT AT ALL her personality, but she does this anytime we drop her off somewhere. No tears, just clinging. Anyway, we stayed a good, long time trying to get her warmed up & she finally did investigate some in the room & agreed to a picture with Mrs. Ashley. She is SOOOO excited about starting 4K, so I think she behaves like that strictly for attention. Anyway, we left the WEE Center & went to Chickfila with the Kings for lunch & some playtime. Laura Ann & Asher lived it up there! Now we are counting down the days until Laura Ann's first day! :)

2nd Day of 1st Grade

 
 
 
I took pics at the bus stop today since I forgot my camera yesterday. Love how he RUNS to the car!! He had another great day! Yay! However, he has decided he wants to be a car rider instead of riding the bus. I guess the bus isn't so exciting in 1st grade as it was in kindergarten??? :)

Laura Ann's Teacher Letter

In addition to all of the excitement surrounding Daniel's first day, Laura Ann got a postcard from the WEE Center saying who her 4K teacher will be.......Mrs. Ashley!! Yay! We can't wait until Meet the Teacher on Friday so Laura Ann can see her classroom and meet her classmates!

First Day of FIRST GRADE!

Look out first grade.......here comes Daniel James!!
 

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Can we just rewind about 7 years? Please? I just can't believe it is possible for this sweet boy to be starting first grade! The only thing keeping me from having a major breakdown about this is that he is SOOO excited about it. So, I tell myself that I must be excited about it too! That said, today was the start of Daniel's first grade school year. The morning went great. He was up early (as always), had waffles for breakfast (his request) & was dressed & ready to go long before time to leave. Since Dan & I both wanted to drop him off, I had to wake Laura Ann up to go with us, so she looks a little sleepy in the one picture she's in. She had literally just rolled out of bed & made her best effort to join all of our excitement. I have to say that this year was so much easier because we know the routine & had done it all before. He never said anything to give it away, but I could tell he was a little nervous. When it was time, though, he jumped out the car like a champ & headed off to first grade!! I pulled myself together too, as we pulled away & remembered the all of our prayers from last night. He really is going to do great & be just fine. There is just something about watching your baby walk away into a ginormous school building on the first day!

I wasn't emotional for long though, because lots of my bffs came over for breakfast & we all swapped stories from our mornings. I think everyone's morning was just about perfect except for poor Jack Erwin, the kindergarten, who has been SO excited to ride the bus to school for months, only this morning, the bus stopped at the wrong stop & missed him altogether. He had to watch it pull away without him! How pitiful is that? But even though he was a little devastated this morning, he had a great day at school & did get to ride the bus home. Thankfully the bus driver now knows where to pick that baby up!

It was a fast day. Breakfast somehow turned into lunch & then the afternoon & there were still a few of us sitting around my kitchen table! After the grown ups had talked about every minor detail of everyone's day & the kids had played their hearts out and we all had eaten some yummy goodies, everyone left. With about an hour and a half to spare, Laura Ann & I made Daniel some cookies for a snack when he got home & started on supper. And then it was finally time to go to the bus stop. Again, we all made the trek to the bus stop. I realized when we got there that I didn't have my camera, so I just videoed it with my phone. The report was: that he had a GREAT day, loved Mrs. Johnson, saw lots of friends, had to do a little work, he will be having homework this year & he has to learn his new lunch #. I am so thankful for a great first day & am looking forward to a great school year!

The LAST Day of Summer

 
I was downstairs & kept hearing 'thud', then giggling, another 'thud', then more giggling, so I went up to the playroom to investigate & this is what I found..... They had piled all of their pillows in front of the table & were jumping off the table into the pile. The next time I wonder why both of my children have had broken bones, I shall refer myself back to this post! Ha!
 
I didn't make any big plans for today because I wanted Daniel have some down time & be rested for his big day tomorrow. We spent the morning in pjs & they spent the morning upstairs playing. He chose Chickfila for lunch, so we all did that & then spent the afternoon at home playing some more. He also got to choose what we had for dinner & chose grilled cheese sandwiches and 'Huskie' sugar cookies for dessert. It was a great, relaxing day! He is SO excited about tomorrow!!!<  
We read The Night Before First Grade at bedtime, along with The Kissing Hand. I was kind of afraid he wouldn't want to read The Kissing Hand & would say, like lots of things now, that it is for babies, but he was still all about it! Yay! Maybe first grade won't be so bad after all!
We had a special family prayer time with him as we tucked him in and prayed Phillipians 4:13, Jeremiah 29:11 (his life verse) & 29:12-13 over his first grade year!

"I can do all things through HIM, who gives me strength."
Phillipians 4:13

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 29:11-13