Items of Business

1. Today was Alex's first day of preschool - no nerves, pure excitement.

We painted her fingers and toes the night before in preparation.

The morning of, she picked out her own outfit.

Even put the hair clip in herself. I tried to help and was told, "Mom I can do things myself. I'm not a baby." So sorry. I know.

Also she's in love with her new backpack. The one she and I had a full-blown fight about in the middle of wal-mart.

She won.

Alex and Carter (good friend and car-pool buddy) ready to head in for their first day!

These two are so funny together : )

2. Today was Noah's second day and

he walked himself to school??

I followed in the minivan.

Noah wants to do it on his own so bad - but Paul and I talked about it and just don't feel he's quite ready yet.

Sorry Noah, maybe next year : )

Noah has enjoyed his first couple of days - minus the part where they had to sit and learn the school rules, which Noah said was, "the most boring day of his life."

What surprised me was how badly he wanted to do "hot lunch."

So we agreed he can get it once a week - tomorrow is the big day, Tater Tot Hot Dish, mmmmmmmm.

Hilarious and sad all at the same time is how wiped out he is after school. Both days he has come home, changed right into his sweat pants, and pretty much spent the rest of the evening laying on the couch.

Tonight I was doing dishes and talking to my sister on the phone, Paul was at meetings, and Alex came and told me that Noah was asleep in bed.

I went to investigate and...Noah had put himself to bed at 7:15pm.

Jammies on, in bed under the covers, lights out and fast asleep.

What the??!?

Never done anything like that before in his life.

Poor kid : )

3. On one of the last days of summer Noah co-hosted his first ever Lemonade Stand.

Excited doesn't really begin to explain it.

His friend Keegan asked Noah to do it with him earlier in the week...and Noah talked about it all week. When he got invited to a sleepover on friday night his response was, "I don't know, I've got a lemonade stand to get to." For reals.

The kids had a little help getting set-up from the adults, but then we let them do their thing, just checking in once in awhile.

I snuck these pictures when Alex and I walked up to buy some lemonade.

The kids split the proceeds and he came home with $5 after about an hour.

There may have been some coercion on their part...

4. As for Avery, she's on the move. Growing into the clothes Alex was wearing as a toddler, cruising around all the furniture for awhile now, and...

starting to balance on her own! She sooo wants to take a step but she's not quite there yet.

Soon.

I know this picture is blurry but doesn't she look so BIG?!?

She's also giving all kinds of attitude, throwing tantrums, and generally making my life difficult...but let's not focus on that.

Her cuteness and snuggles override all that stuff anyway.

5. Wow. Getting the kids to bed at a decent hour, one kid out of the house all day...I am getting a lot more done : )