This was taken a couple of days after school started. If you look closely at Brinley's nose it's all skinned up. She fell and "rug burned" the end of her nose. It looked so awful!!
Proof that sometimes he will practice his piano!
Addie after her 1st day of 2nd grade. She did great! AND had a great day! Thank goodness!
I can't believe I have a 2nd grader and a 4th grader.....
Brinley on her way to try to find someway to stow away on the bus too!
Chandler at the end of his first day of 4th grade.
Chandler, Addie & Sydnee (girl I watch) at the end of their 1st day of school!
If you look closely you can see Addie lined up ready to get off of the bus on her 1st day of 2nd grade!
Lined up ready to get on the bus for their 1st of school! Addie was very nervous! Chandler thinking he's so grown up!
Brinley, Addie & Chandler ready for their 1st day of school. (Not Brinley yet, she just wants to grow up way too fast!)
Let's see, where to begin.....well school started for Chandler and Addie. They are both thrilled to be back to school! Addie loves her teacher this year and is FINALLY excited to go to school each day. Thank goodness... I don't think I could put up with another year of tears everyday!
Piano lessons started again with a new teacher. Our previous teacher moved to Oklahoma and now her daughter has taken over for her. She is a college age girl and so far is doing great! The kids seem to like her and the treats she hands out at the end of her lessons.....
Soccer season has also started. I think we are officially an over the top soccer family. Derek plays, Chandler and Addie play, Derek coaches and he referees. It is keeping our evenings and Saturdays very, very busy! Brinley wants to play too, so when the kids put on their soccer gear she insists on having her cleats on as well. I just couldn't bring myself to add one more game to our Saturdays just yet. Derek is coaching Addie's team this year. He has a team of nearly all girls with only 2 boys. A couple of the girls are in our ward so it makes it fun for Addie. The nice thing about Addie's age group is the games are usually around the same time and always at the same place. She's a good little player and not afraid to get her petite little self in the thick of it all. Derek is proud that she can knock over other players twice her size....Chandler is on the traveling team now. So I will be taking him to most of his games by myself. I get to venture further into eastern Colorado to teeny tiny towns and hopefully won't get myself too lost. I figure as long as I have cell phone coverage we'll be in good shape! Chandler is a great player, not nearly as aggressive as Addie, but he can run fast and is great at passing. Derek is playing on and adult men's indoor league in Ft. Collins. His games are usually Monday nights around 8:30, so we haven't been to any yet this season. Now that school has started the kids are usually wiped out by 7:30ish. I am assuming he's doing great. He comes home happy and tired.
Chandler is involved this year in some new activites. He decided to run for student council and was elected. He has student council meetings every Monday before school. Luckily a bunch of other kids in our ward and neighborhood were elected as well. So we have quite the carpool going. I think I'll only have to drive every other month. Another new thing he is starting is band. In 4th grade the kids can start playing instruments. They are bused to another elementary school in our area after school and get to do that. He has been excited about this all summer. Last week we went and tried out some instruments and he has decided to play the trumpet. I smiled and secretly thought ohh...I am going to need some serious ear plugs! I keep teasing him he's going to have to practice in the garage.....although that may become reality once we get the instrument later this week. He also celebrated his 10th birthday on the 1st. I can't believe I have a 10 year old kid. My how time flies! He's turning into quite the young man. I am amazed daily by what he knows and how well he can handle himself. He's very patient and mild mannered. He's a great kid and I feel blessed to be his mom!
Brinley is home with me. She is lonely without Addie and Chandler. She asks everyday about them and then asks "Where we going, Mom?" and usually follows up with "What friends are coming?" She then is very disappointed to find it is usually just me.
Derek also started working from home. Most days it's nice to have him home, but I miss having my own space. We are adjusting to being around eachother so much. I am trying to not get in his way or give him a hard time about all the soccer games that he watches while he works. Overall things are going well. We've certainly kicked up our schedules. Some days I feel like all I do is run up and down Highway 60, but I suppose this is what life is all about....:)
