The Beginning . . . Pre-school

Through ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) here in Pine Island we started evening preschool this year.  Monday nights Addalyn gets dropped off at 5:00 to have some time there by herself with other 3 & 4 year olds...then at 5:30 younger children come so we join her with Mr. Blake.

 

Every week there are different art activities and themes that they focus on - have some 'free' time & then circle time where they sing and read books.  Both of the kids LOVE going to "school". 

 

There was an Open House before the school year started where they also had different vehicles outside for the kids to tour.  Addalyn was loving all the cars - both kids got to sit in a police car, tractor, drive the school bus & fire truck. 

 

 

Look at that smile!




I had a hard time getting her off the bus...she was loving the school bus!

There is something about putting a backpack on her back that makes her look 2 years older! 



First Day!



Blake & Ms. Liz



Look at how cute they are listening to the story!!!  (They aren't always this good during circle time!)

I'm really happy with how well this is going.  It isn't much...but it is enough for their age to introduce them to the school building and the environment of a classroom.  It is also nice because we are meeting people in Pine Island that will be in their grades and meeting new people/parents our age too!

Julie (our daycare) also does preschool curriculum so they are definitely getting prepped for kindergarten.  Actually, this year she is focusing on a letter each week through words, songs, art projects and sign language. Both Blake & Addy are loving this! 

School nights are definitely an exciting night in our home!  I hope it continues this way throughout all of our future school days/years!

Berry Picking

My parents have a garden and Addy has been OBSESSED with checking strawberries.  Everyday of the summer she would run out there when we got home from work to check for strawberries and raspberries.  Eventually she got to start keeping an eye on the tomatoes and pumpkins too!

The lighting must have been just right this day, because I captured some great pics of her on the weekend doing her "daily chore"!



Heading out to the garden....

Showing off her findings!

They grew pumpkins for the first time this year...they had a good "harvest" -- they wanted 7, for each grandchild but they probably have about 20 pumpkins!

Raspberries too....!

While Addy would pick berries, Blake would swing.  This is what he was obsessed with this summer.  The kid loves his swings, I tell ya!

Lots of smiles :)  Addy joined him after her 'chore' was done!

And then we got to go in, wash the berries up and enjoy!

Good picking Addy :) 

Cabin Pics, summer of 2012

As usual, the summer goes way too fast and I always feel like I didn't get to take in the hot weather as much as I would have hoped to.  However, considering Aaron's schedule and such, we managed to have a few short weekends at the cabin that were full of wonderful memories!!! 

 

I made it up there by myself with the kids once in June, Aaron got to have one weekend off in July that we went as a family, and then he got Labor day weekend off too.  Lots of good times...SEVERAL pictures - I tried to select some from each trip that showed what the days of summer on Lake Big McKenzie consist of!

 

 

Bathin' Beauty

All the cousins (minus Blake) about to jump off!

Swimming time of course!

FISHING!

Caught a "big" one

Blaker's caught one too!

And mom!  I LOVED fishing growing up so I decided to take in on the festivities.  The sunnies were just jumping at the bait off the dock so as soon as you would cast, your bobber would go under.  It was fun!

Fishing with Grandpa

In June/July at the cabin, Blake wanted nothing to do with the water unless he was being held...he's "sad/scared" here!

CLINGING! to mom....no hands and he's holding on tight!

Not this girl!  She was loving the water...she would pretend the noodle was a horse and jump around like this.  Once, she got caught with the bouancy of the noodle and fell forward in the water.  Aaron jumped in to get her, and when she got picked up, she giggled!!!  She won't go under yet on purpose though!

Local Cutie on Duty!

So mad at mom (crying) for putting him in the water!!!

Boat Rides!

Watching everyone swim in the water (I'm in the water here taking the pic).  We always take the pontoon out into the deep waters to dive off and such.  We have a slide that goes off of it for the kids, Addy loved it summer of 2011, but didnt' want to do it this year. 

S'Mores of Course!



Sparklers

Even Blake got to do some!

Fireworks too....Addy thought they were loud :)



Fun times and giggles with dad!

This pic is out of place...but this is after he calmed down from crying earlier in the day!  Brooklynn and Addy were playing "train" with him!  Side note --- everyone says Addy and Brookie could be sisters, I'd say yes!

Grandpa relaxing with a few of his grandkids :)

Boat Driving!

Labor Day ---- who said I didn't like the water??!!!!  This time, we couldn't keep him out of it, he would walk around and splash :)

Playing in the sand ==== D - I - R- T - Y kiddos!  You can't really see, but she has sand stuck to her from head to toe!

Played a little tee-ball (check out his tongue...concentrating)

 

 

It's fun to be me...and well, it's fun to be dirty!

Dirty boy, way past bedtime....but we stay up late at teh cabin too!

And the very last day of summer festivities (Labor Day), Addy tried tubing!  My dad hooked us up behind his fishing boat, so we were just trolling along....she liked it.  Maybe next year we can go faster!!