1st day of school - 2012/2013

So the night before school after summer vacation at our house probably isn't your typical "night before school" house as our kids are very used to going to bed and getting up in the morning. We have a routine even in the summer, so when school starts, it is pretty seamless for us. Unless, of course, that is, Brenley decides to be in a bad mood, which she did.

Morning came and we ate breakfast, got dressed, and then we headed outside to take pictures - like we always do - and Beau did great. Brenley.......well, it wasn't her idea, so she didn't want to have any part of it. Imagine, that?!

Here are the "1st day of 4th Grade" pictures for Beau and the very "1st day of Pre-School" for Brenley. So far, her first day mood is not an indication of how her first week went. She has Ms. Darla for her teacher, and she loves her. Plus her BFF Dale is in class with her too.

Beau has also started off on a good foot. He has Ms. Summers, who seems to be the most sought after teacher.  Beau has had a spelling, vocab, and reading test, all of which he has gotten 100% on, or an A+. That's right - finally - we are into letter grades. No more "S" or "O" bull. Something I can get my arms around! :)

Anyway, we are off to a good start - despite the pictures of Bren. Hoping for a wonderful year of learning and growing for each of them.

This one makes me laugh the most. Brian says it looks like she is being forced to hold up a ransom note. 

My babies...

Beau turns 9!

Everything seems to be a blur these days. Time is moving so fast. We've been settling into our home, getting ready for school, and starting football practice, and it just seems like the days whiz by - especially the weekends. But I need to take a minute to reflect on my son, Beau Charles Grant. He turned nine on August 6th. It was a Monday. Of course his celebration started over the weekend. He got to see both sets of Grandparents and family, which he truly loves. Of course, that brought presents and spoiling, which he loves even more.

We celebrated both Saturday and Sunday enjoying good food and company.  Then on Monday, I let him stay home from camp and that afternoon I took off work and he and I went to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He had been looking forward to that all summer.

That evening he had football practice, but when he came home we opened a few more presents, and that was it. Little uneventful, but we hope this Fall we can get a few of his friends together over here at the house to have a sleepover so he can have a good time with his buddies. As I can attest, summer birthdays are just a little tough, especially the week before school starts.

In any event, I think he had a good time. Part of me still can't believe he is nine, but he is definitely showing signs of pre-adolscence, which hurts my heart a little, and has caused me to buy a few books on how to properly communicate to kids in the pre-teen stage.

I realize my mother is laughing right now as she reads this, but seriously, that boy thinks he knows everything. He has his moments of disrespectfulness, which we are dealing with. However, you ask his grandparents how he behaves, and he is the sweetest, most thoughtful boy ever. And I truly think that is what his core is made of, but he is definitely testing his parents, which I know every child does. And if he behaves at grandparents' houses, school, and friends' homes.....then we must be doing something right.

Beau Grant has a very tender heart, and wouldn't hurt a soul.  He has NO idea how strong he is. He is 4 foot 11 inches and a little over 100 pounds. He can't wait for the day to pick me up and be taller than me, and I know that day is coming soon. Now if we could only work on his mental toughness.  He tears up a lot.  He stresses and is anxious a lot - and most of the time not over the "big" things like starting school or going to a new place, but little things like eating vegetables, and not being able to play sports for a day. I'm trying to decipher how his brain works, as we have definitely had some challenging moments this summer (insert "he knows everything and refuses to believe Mom and Dad could be right").

I love this bronzed stocky "little" boy with all my heart and soul. And every once in awhile I get a glimpse of the sweet boy that used to climb on my lap. Sometimes he forgets he is a "big" boy and slips his hand into mine. I am careful not to squeeze too tight so he notices what he has done.  He definitely thinks his Dad is cooler and funnier than his Mom, and that hurts a little too, but I understand that is all part of the growing up process.

So here he is....ripe ole age of NINE!  I took these pictures in our backyard.

Where do I begin

Going to try to do just one massive mega post and encompass the last month or so of events.

This was Beau's last baseball game, and he got on the mound for a few pitches. He had never pitched before, nor had they worked with him, but he did awesome. Faced two batters. One walk, one pop up.  Unfortunately, I only had my phone camera, but I managed to get some decent pic's.

Now we move on to Sissy's last game. It was a LONG, albeit, short season. Not sure she is cut out to be a baller, but she played the part the best she could and never complained about going to her games. And she LOVED getting a medal.

Her team and coaches

Always holding her helmet. Brother is "coaching" first base. He is in the yellow shirt.

Okay, now on to some more summer fun. We went to the National Cowboy Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.  The kids had a lot of fun. Here we are outside the kids section, and then we threw them in jail when they misbehaved.

And finally, I went to Santa Fe, New Mexico for a Sales Meeting at work. We got to have some free time so I toured the Bandelier National Monument, as well as some toured some other "wonders" of the world.

This is a staircase built inside a Catholic church and it was put together using no nails or glue. They say it was built by Jesus.  Today, it is just a site to visit while in Santa Fe. The church still operates, but no one is allowed on the staircase any longer. It is beautiful.

Oh, and let's not forget....Sis got her first Library card. She LOVES it.

And here are some random pic's of our lives......we try to have fun wherever we go.

Whew. The End....for now.... :)

Brenley Singing

I have SOOOO much to get on this blog so I can get updated and current, but this entry will be short and sweet, and too funny not to post.

So Beau and I are riding in the car to Oklahoma last week listening to Sirius radio XM2, the Hits, and Brenley starts singing a song that comes on a lot. It is from Karmin called Brokenhearted.  Catchy little tune, right?  Beau and I stop cold. We can't believe she knows so many words and the tune. It is awesome, but we stifle any laughter, and can't wait to tell Daddy what she did.

A few days go by and all four of us are in my car, and sure enough, she just starts singing again - and the song isn't even on the radio. So here she is...singing a pop song called Brokenhearted.  The words she substitutes make me laugh, but I love, love, love every minute of her singing.

Museum Trip

We took a short trip to OKC last week to the National Cowboy Heritage Museum. It was really fascinating and there was a lot to see. Brenley loved it, except she didn't like being in "jail," but she loved the dress up portion. Beau was not happy in the beginning, but he came around!

Then we headed to a pizza buffet/arcade place, and then ended the day with some shopping. Lovely family day together!!