Rawr!

There's a new obsession brewing over here.

Don't worry, he's still just as obsessed with his trains.

Muddy Puddles II

A couple of months ago I mentioned that Jackson and Katherine liked muddy puddles.  That hasn't changed any, and for the last week it's been raining almost every afternoon.  All of that rain sure makes for some good fun!

I asked him what he was doing and he replied, "Relaxing."

 They were both so filthy they needed to be sprayed off

before coming inside for a bath.  Jackson was happily waiting for the water!

 The water hose is just as much fun as jumping in puddles.

 It wouldn't be complete if Jackson didn't strip down or rehydrate before heading inside.

School Days

The time has come again for a new school year! 

Actually two new schools this year.

Katherine started her new 'school' this past Monday.

 The sun was so bright on this morning, that neither could keep their eyes open.

I'm sad Katherine won't be returning to the preschool where she and Jackson have been.  We only changed her to a new school to better match the hours that Jackson would be in school. Otherwise, I would spend the entire day on the road and Katherine would never get an afternoon nap. And speaking of nap, it's an adjustment for Katherine. She is now a big girl and is supposed to take a nap on a nap mat. She hasn't done too well yet, so we're keeping our fingers crossed she'll catch on in the next week!

Wednesday arrived and it was time for Jackson to start his new school!

 Although he's smiling in the picture, Jackson wasn't excited at all about a new school.  He wanted his teachers from the past year, didn't want his shirt tucked in, and wouldn't wear his belt.  We knew if we could just get him to school, he would have fun.  When we picked him up the first day, I asked how his day was and he said, "I played and slept."  I don't think it gets much better.

We were up early to get out of the door on Wednesday.  Poor Katherine had only been awake a few minutes when we plopped her next to Jackson for a picture.  She has a dazed look on her little face! 

Although Jackson turned 5 last week, we made the decision several years ago that we would hold him back and let him start kindergarten late.  Over the years, we have heard stories from friends that have older children (especially boys) with a birthday late in the school year that wished they had held their child back in the beginning.  Last year we discovered a 4k program at a local Catholic school that is set up very similar to kindergarten, so we decided to enroll him there.  You always wonder if you're making the right decision for your child, but now that the first week of real school is behind us, we're excited to watch our big boy grow and learn so many new things this year.

You're off to great places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So . . . get on your way!

Am I five yet?

For the last couple of weeks, Jackson has asked every morning whether he was five yet.  It really started when we mailed his party invitations and as soon as they were in the mailbox, he asked if he was five.  Each time he asked, I hated to break his heart and tell him no, while at the same time I hated for the day to get closer that he would turn five.  The day has come and our baby is most definitely no longer a baby.

He's finally 5!!

 Jackson had his party last Friday night and we saved some presents for him to open this morning.  Apparently all of this present-opening has him spoiled.  Once he finished opening presents this morning, he ducked his head and sheepishly said he wanted more presents.

 Every gift this morning was dinosaur related.  It's becoming his new obsession.  I can't believe how many dinosaur names roll off of my tongue each day, much less all the names Jackson has learned!

 We headed to Krispy Kreme for a birthday breakfast this morning!  I had a candle to stick in his doughnut, but he informed me candles were for cakes.  My bad.

 He loves the doughnuts almost as much as the doughnut machine!

He is always asking to watch the machine.

 I tried to get a picture of the 2 of them.

I think this pretty well sums up our life with these two.

 Jackson did sit still for me to get a quick picture of the two of us!

 From here on out, I'm backtracking.

  The Sunday before Jackson's party, Grammy and Grandpa came down and we took Jackson to pick out his birthday present from them--fish!!  We found an aquarium and he picked out a blue, red, and gold fish.

 He and Katherine love feeding them and Jackson likes to put his dinosaurs in front of the tank pretending like the dinos are about to have an easy dinner.

 Fast forward to Friday . . . it's time for a party!

 Although Jackson is obsessed with dinosaurs, he discovered Angry Birds several months ago and said he wanted an Angry Birds party!

 Getting a glimpse at his cake!

 Headed to the party!

 Jackson's party last year was at a jump place and that's where he wanted it again this year.  Jackson with William and Nicholas.

 Grandpa even got in on the fun with Katherine!

 The big moment!

{If you look at Jackson's friend in the white and red shirt in the picture above and below, he was getting ready to blow the candles with Jackson!}

 I feel like I'm cutting the fun off abruptly, but after cake and ice cream, the boys jumped a little longer and we headed home to open presents.  A couple of his friends were crying when they had to leave, so I think it's safe to say they all had a good time.

We've had a fun time celebrating our FIVE year old!  We can't wait to see what this year brings with all of the new adventures we're about to have!

13 Days Ago

I'm a little late in our 4th of July pictures!

We went to Alabama for the better part of the week and had a good time.

On the morning of the 4th, Katherine was a little excited to

get in the water and started prepping early!

 Uncle Sam even made an appearance!

I'm crossing my fingers our Christmas card

will have a picture this good of the two!

Two more Uncle Sams!

Ready to swim and begging for the gate to be opened!

 Jackson's favorite thing to do in the pool!

 Jackson and Katherine both took swimming lessons this year.  Katherine's class only worked on blowing bubbles in the water and floating on their backs.  During the lessons she always wanted me to let her go, but they weren't wearing floaties in the class, so she was frustrated.  Zach took his hands off of her here and she turned into a FISH!!  Our little girl is a swimmer.  She started kicking her legs and could get to wherever she wanted.

Our future Olympic swimmer in action!

Headed to help her older cousins pick apples . . .

she ate her weight in apples!

Since seeing the 'dinosaur robots' in New Orleans, Jackson had been asking non-stop to see the 'dinosaur bones' again.  So we headed back to Atlanta for the museum and while there Katherine experienced The Varsity for the first time.

 I don't have too many pictures from the museum since it was a repeat visit, but there was this new exhibit.

 Jackson ran in the exhibit, but once we chased him down in the first room, we had seen enough. It's a good thing we had eaten prior.

We had a pretty low-key and enjoyable holiday!