First Day of School!

After a very busy summer, we were ready for haircuts, routine, football, and school! I think I was more ready than any of the kids! But, ready or not, here they come....

Joey and Maddox both got new backpacks for birthdays this year. And, as I pulled Saylors old backpack out, she looked at it like "That old thing?" She then said "You mean I don't get a new backpack every year???" Hahahaha. No, no you do not!

Everyone had a really great first day! The boys were definitely more quiet than usual....school has definitely lost its flair. But, Maddox had ten new kids in his class and seemed to really connect with a couple of the new kids, which was nice. And, Joey really liked the teachers. And, Saylor sat close with Ryder, played with her kindergarten friend Brooklyn at recess, and kept busy. She came home and started playing school immediately! She really needs school the most out of all of them....she's a different kid when she's more fully engaged....

Here's to a GREAT school year!!!

Happy 11th Birthday Maddox!

We had a family party for Maddox's 11th birthday....the usual of cake, swimming, family and fun! Kelly and Tony were in town so it was nice to have them!

I think we knocked Maddox's gift from us out of the park because he got teary eyed when he got it...a new bat! He was one happy boy and that melted my heart!

We had a couple of extra visitors, too- Grandma Phyllis and cousin Sophie! That was really fun too! Maddox got some great gifts....new backpacks, Chic-fil-a gift card, money, a Michigan helmet logo set, and a wireless remote control for the Xbox.

All and all, a great day with a really great family!

Maddox Turns 10!

Our Mad Diggity Dawg turned 10 in August! We had a big weekend for him planned! He hit the Iowa Cubs game with his Uncle Tony and  Aunt Kelly, he hit the Solheim Cup with Gma and Gpa Coppola and Tony and Kelly's family, and a family birthday party at our house, and a friend party! Whew! It was a lot of celebrating....but also a lot of family and friends and together time!

The Iowa Cubs game was a HUGE hit! Maddox loved it! They got to know a baseball player on the Colorado team and so they talked to him all game. The guy even gave Maddox his hitting gloves and his baseball since it was his birthday! SCORE! They stuck it out the whole game and saw the fireworks. It was really a fun treat!

The cousins swam ALL weekend long....they were in their swimsuits nearly all weekend! It was so fun watching them all!

On the day of his birthday, we celebrated a little before everyone went their separate ways! I had the girls, Kelly and Tony had the boys, and Joe and Joey had football! In the evening, we all grilled out and swam some more!

 Joe and I kept his gifts pretty simple this year- a new baseball shirt, new hitting gloves and a Correa figurine!

On Sunday, we did his family birthday party.....he got so many great birthday gifts!

 Some really great gifts....Clue, Bags, Headphones, Michigan football t-shirt and sweatpants, t-shirt, and an iPhone

And, for Maddox's bday party with his school friends, we swam, played basketball, and yard games. No presents...no favors...pizza and scotcharoos. Pretty easy group!

I love how Saylor marched herself right into the birthday party photo! All and all, it was a good birthday weekend.

On a sadder note, my dad didn't get the best news at Mayo. The cancer is back. More scans, a biopsy and radiation on the schedule now. The bad news is it's cancer. The good news is that we hope this eliminates the pain. There is hope, and that's a good thing. It's just been a long, daunting, sad journey that I'm anxious for it to be over. But, if I'm feeling like that, I know my dad is feeling it times ten. It's time to get the treatment plan on the road.....so, here we go.....

First Day of School!

The dreaded first day finally came...Maddox started third grade, Joey started fifth grade and Saylor started half-day kindergarten!

The boys...new shoes, old backpacks, new shorts, old polos....

Memories....Joey has Mrs. Battani (who told him that his hair looked like Uncle Kyle's), he got into the car and said this might be his best year in his entire life, he thought Mrs. Hunter was funny, he got new math curriculum, new discipline practices in the classroom, played football at recess....

Memories from Maddox...he is a mentor for a new kid, Jesus; he played football at recess; he likes Ms Jansen a lot, he went to Math in the 4th grade room and was worried about that, had the new music teacher and loved her, and overall had a great day! I took the kids to Chilis afterwards for big skillet desserts and Joey discovered a love for cheesecake!

Now, Saylor had her orientation for half-day kindergarten and then her first day came! She was super duper excited and not scared or nervous at all. She cannot wait to learn to read! She's constantly asking me what sounds certain letters make, and how to read or write words...I'm very ready for her to learn too! Saylor has Mrs. Basler, and both boys had her so I wasn't nervous either!

There's just something different about sending your daughter to school....I don't know what it is. Or, maybe it's that she's the baby. I'm not sure what it is....She will go to school every day this year from 8:30-11:40...which gives me a lot of time to get stuff done around the house, go to the gym, get groceries, etc. I work my butt off during those hours and am exhausted by the time I pick her up!! She loves getting to vote for the book Mrs. Basler reads every day, she loves the riddle of the day, she loves the tool man and using the tool bench, and she already knows how to read FIVE words (and loves to tell me about that). She's a lot more eager to learn than the boys were...and she's more eager to tell me all about her day than the boys were too! And, every day, I pick her up, she YELLS at her friends "BYE, BECCA! BYE JACK! BYE LAUREN!"

Here's to a great school year!!!