Preschool!

Sweet Easton started preschool a few weeks after Emerson started 1st grade. She was excited to go back to where she had been for the semester I was student teaching. I've lucked out so far that the girls have always been excited to go to school and start new routines and not be anxious or worried. Maybe Nolan will be my kid who wants to stay home with his mama. I'm okay with that. :)

 Easton's classroom is the same that Emerson's was and she even has Miss Christina so it's been an easy transition.

 She got to hold the preschool sign this year and we have the girls sign the back of the posterboard so we know what their signatures looked like at the beginning of each school year.

Nolan's Blessing

Nolan was blessed at Walnut Gardens at the end of August.  It was a beautiful service with him in mind.  My mom read "On the Night You Were Born" for the children's moment and everyone in the congregation wrote a note to Nolan on a piece of frog paper.

He fell asleep (which he NEVER does) and was a total rock star during the actual blessing.  He just started taking a binky really well this past month so that came in super handy.

Several of my great girlfriends from Graceland go to Walnut Gardens now or they came just for his blessing.  It was a really special morning celebrating our sweet boy.

Best. Day. Ever.

My birthday this year fell on a Saturday and the only thing I told Ryan I wanted to do was to go swimming in Lakewood with our family.  Easily done.  We got a sitter for Nolan during his naptime and off we went.  We were all packed up and Ryan took a different turn and took us down to the marina.  He and Jonathan had rented a boat for the afternoon!  I am so hard to surprise but this was truly one of the coolest surprises Ryan was able to pull off.  I was so excited I did the ugly cry.  Just so grateful to relax and spend the day relaxing with the girls and not have to be tending to Nolan.  It was truly one of the best days of my life.  So unexpected and so amazing.

1st Grade

Emerson started 1st Grade at Franklin Smith and has Miss Bracken. She was excited, no jitters for this kid.

This year I'm letting Emerson ride the bus to and from school. Nolan is still in bed with me sleeping so it's nice not to have to pack him up to get her to school. Once Easton starts preschool in a few weeks, we'll have to be out the door a little after 9 to get her to school by 9:30 but on Tuesdays and Thursdays we can just stay home in our pjs and relax. Emerson was stoked to be able to ride the bus all the time.

Then we walked up to school to watch Emerson get off the bus (I know) and walk her into her classroom.  We're off to a good start and excited to see how much she learns this year.

While Ryan was on sabbatical last year he'd walk Emerson to and from kindergarten every day.  He'd take Easton with her and there was a house that had caught on fire and was pretty badly damaged.  As it was being fixed every day we would walk (or drive) by, Easton would ask "Daddy, why'd that house get fired on?"   This sweet picture reminds me of her asking that.  :)

Just us, kiddos!

6 Months!

Nolan turned 6 months on August 3rd and he's getting to be SO much fun. He weighs almost as much as Emerson did when she was 1- just a pound less.  These month pictures are my favorite thing ever.