First Day!

Well, it's finally here. Grant's first day in Kindergarten.

Yesterday was our getting ready for school day. Grant and I went to the grocery store so he could choose his lunches for the week. Then we came home, packed up all the snack bags and made a sign for my cheesy first day pictures. (Roger was so embarrassed!) First day clothes were chosen, backpack packed up, and checklist rechecked. He has been so nervous and excited, I tried to give him something else to concentrate on. Thankfully we got the kids to bed super early and I think he got a good night sleep.

The mornings are going to be hectic. If we walk to school, we have to leave around 7. UGH. And for those that know me, you know I am NOT a morning person. The kids were up bright and early though - at 5:30. (Double UGH!)

No nerves this morning - all excitement.

 Such a cheesy smile. And then the scrunched up shoulders. :-) Oh well. Shows his excitement! :-)

There were ants all over the walk this morning. Beckett said something about being afraid (don't know why...), so Grant grabbed his hand to "protect" him. Pretty cute. I think they are going to miss each other!

 Love this one. 

 Name tag, check.

Hugs all around. These are blurry because it was fast and I was on the verge of losing it. I heard that counting helps keep the tears at bay - engages the left side of your brain. I think I was on 54 at this point. :-)

 Waiting for Mrs. Schneider to lead him in.

 One last smile.

And to leave you with a big smile - here's Beckett. It was a humid walk and so when we got home he stripped down to his boxers and crashed on the couch. Classic.

On the way home Beckett said, "I'm glad Grant is starting school." When Roger and I asked him why, he responded, "Because I need some space." And I agree. I think that the time apart is going to do them a world of good. Most of the time they get along really well. But this summer, they definitely discovered each others buttons (and mine as well). And every day, they thoroughly enjoyed pushing and pushing and pushing those buttons.

Beckett and I head to his preschool tomorrow. I have training and classroom prep for the next 2 weeks and then he starts school on September 9th.

Day Trip to Bee Cave

On Saturday we decided to check out an area of the Hill Country we hadn't visited yet - Bee Cave. Unfortunately, as you will see in the pictures, the kids were exhausted and just weren't in the mood for "exploring." So we went to the mall, got lunch and then just headed home. FORTUNATELY, the boys fell asleep on the way home. These 5am mornings have GOT to stop!

 We stopped in a department store and the kids had to try out these hats. Once again, good one Beckett.... :-)

 Classic Beckett. He literally had just yelled at me to turn off the AC. I turned it down, turned around to ask him to be quiet since Grant was sleeping, and this is what I saw. He really goes 100% until he passes out. Never seen anything like it!

Poor Grant just hasn't felt well for a couple of days. I think it's nerves associated with Kinder starting - he's such little worrier. I don't think he ate anything today.

Monday is the big day!

Grant, meet Mrs. Schneider

Thursday night held a much anticipated event in our household - meet the teacher. All day, Grant wanted to know the time and if it was time to get dressed. First thing in the morning, he turned to Beckett and said, "Tonight is the night I meet my teacher!"

After dinner, Grant and I drove up to the school. (If it wasn't still 95 outside then we would have walked.) As we were walking up to the school, an employee came over the intercom and announced, "students with the last names N-Z may now check in." Oh boy, we are in the big leagues now! (In the 4 years that the school has been open, the student population has grown from 400 to 840 students. Luckily they planned ahead and began with empty classrooms.)

We walk up to the check-in desk and a volunteer asks for our last name. Before I can answer, Grant says "Simmons." He picks up his teacher assignment and we head down to the Kindergarten-1st grade wing. He's all smiles and says, "follow me mom!"

Upon walking into his classroom, we are greeted by Mrs. Schneider. Grant says hello and instantly grabs my hand. From here on out, Grant is a very different kiddo. He won't let go of my hand and is right at my side. I think the reality of everything finally set in. I asked him if he was OK. He looked at me all teary (oh no, I need him to be strong! I was on the verge of tears the moment we walked into the school!) and said that he didn't know what was wrong. So I asked, are you excited. Yes. Are you nervous? Yes. So I gave him a hug and we decided to explore the school.

So, Monday is the big day. The countdown is in the final digits. I promise to take lots of pictures and will post Monday. Tuesday, Beckett and I head to the preschool. Beck doesn't start school until September 9th, but I am working. The school has hired someone to keep an eye on the teachers' kiddos.

Grant and Mrs. Schneider. You can tell he's nervous - weird smile and fiddling fingers. LOVE YOU BUB!

 Grant's task while I was filling out paperwork - putting his school supplies in the right bins. 

Grant and his friend Jud in their Kinder shirts. Jud is not in his class, but in the classroom right next door. Grant does have a friend in the class - AJ. We don't know him as well as Jud, but they have played together a couple of times. He's a sweet boy and I like his mom.

This picture was taken in the center area. The Kinder classrooms surround this open space. I anticipate the classes using this area for group projects. Lots of tables. Grant will go to other classrooms for art, music and PE.

Difficult Morning Turned Into Fun Day

My wake up call this morning at 5:30 am
Beck - MOM. It wasn't me...it was Grant!
Mom - What? Wait? When did you get up? What are you talking about?
Beck - Grant stuck something in the fan. I turned it off because you aren't supposed to do that.
Grant comes running in the room
Grant - MOM, it wasn't me. It was him! Don't believe him! I really didn't do it!

UGH! It's going to be a LONG day.

So, I packed everyone up and we were out the door at 8:30.

First stop - a park in Georgetown I have been meaning to find. Lo and behold, it's across the street from the bowling alley!

We brought Riley with us today because she is also full of energy and needs to run. Here are a couple of Riley trying to cool off.

 I forgot her water in the car, so she improvised. :-)

 Why lay on the ground when you can be comfortable on the bench?

BLUE HOLE

So the kids and I were just too hot to stay there. So I decided to head to another place I had heard about - Blue Hole on the San Gabriel River. They dammed up part of the river and made a nice swimming area. When we first arrived I was really concerned for the moss on the rocks. SO SLIPPERY! I worried about the kids slipping into the water. I worried about the kids hitting their heads. 

And then, after our snack and water break, I got a good look at the drop off behind us. WHAT!?!? How did I not see that? SO, I crossed my fingers, said a quick prayer, and let the kids play. They had a blast. 

When we first arrived, the kids were a bit timid. Grant kept saying, "I don't know how to do this." Then I overheard Beckett saying "Come on Beckett. You can do this. Come on Beckett." So funny. 

 Kids climbing up to the small waterfall.

 Grant at the bottom of the falls.

 Kids getting ready to slide down.

 Riley in her own little pool.

 Kids climbing the water fall again.

 Trying to get a good one of them together. 

 I think this is the winner.

 I love this one too. Grant looking at the camera - classic!

 Another cute one. Grant's idea to get them sliding out of the water.

 I thought this one was cool. Grant looks like he's walking on water. 

 These 2 are such a pair. Beckett loves Riley and Riley loves Beckett. Not the exact shots I was hoping for, but cute nonetheless.

Here is a video of the kids jumping. Grant's trying to perfect his flips. Another example of them making me a nervous wreck!

Here are a couple from this week. 

 We are so lucky to have met the Ridgeway family. Katy, the mom, and I are becoming good friends. Jud and Grant are both going into Kindergarten, hoping to be in the same class. Luke, Katy's oldest is almost 9 and then there's Beckett. The 4 of these guys are quite a site and always have a great tie together. (That's Katy behind Beckett. He wasn't too steady on the railing.)

During our most recent trip to Costco, the boys each grabbed an extra box. It has become their movie/show watching box. Nothing like it!

Kindergarten - Here I Come!

Grant is SO READY for school to start.

A couple of Saturdays ago, we made tie dye shirts for the upcoming Open House. My friend recommended adding some iron on letters - so great! Grant can't wait to wear the shirt Thursday night to Open House. We get to meet his teacher, see classroom and get him ready for Monday morning. UGH! I can't believe it's already here.

Here are a couple of shots of him before he left for orientation. So handsome!

I will take pics Thursday at Open House and then, of course, Monday. Look for another post!

Oh Beckett.....

Last week we checked out a new pool in Round Rock. There were 2 main attractions for my kiddos - the lazy river and 2 BIG slides. Unfortunately you have to be 48" to go down the slides, so Beckett didn't make the cut. He was OK with that though - he LOVED the lazy river.

I was a bit nervous for Grant on the slides. They were by FAR the tallest and longest he has ever experienced. He was by himself, surrounded by much older kids. I waited at the bottom, and waited and waited. One slide had kid after kid coming down and the other, nothing. I started to worry that he was scared and just sitting somewhere on the slide or sitting at the top. Right as I was about to climb the stairs, here he comes. He slides out the end with a HUGE smile on his face. He looks at me and says - THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!! Whew.

Like I said, Beckett loved the lazy river. He is a decent swimmer and the water wasn't deep, so I wasn't concerned. I sat nearby and kept checking for him. Well...I see a life guard in the water lifting Beckett out. I go running over - terrified that he had been stuck under the water. BECKETT, are you OK? The lifeguard is telling her 2 supervisors that she saved him, he was asking for help. I look at Beck, are you OK? Yea mom - I couldn't grab an innertube and I needed help grabbing one. Whew - OK. I fill out the paperwork and off we go.

An hour later, I put Beckett into another innertube and tell him to stay put. OK mom! Next thing I know, another lifeguard is lifting him out of the water. Again, run over. Beckett, are you OK? Mam - your son is a safety risk and he needs to wear a lifevest. OK...Beckett are you OK? Yea mom, I was playing Rescue Heroes with Grant and I wanted him to rescue me. UGH. Beck, you can't do that! At that point, I packed up and we left. I think that we are banned. :-)

Here are some pics from the lazy river.

 Pure joy. :-)

These are from our neighborhood pool. We were on our way out and I couldn't resist getting a pic of the shades and Super Soakers. And yes, their towels from way back. :-) I couldn't decide which one I liked best, so I posted all 4. :-)

 LOVE Grant's face in this one!

 And here's Beckett! Such a goof ball sometimes.