G is for Giraffe

These little guys are going to Ryan's class tomorrow for a "G" treat!

Fall is in the Air!

It is finally feeling like Fall around here. I am so thankful for the cooler temps. We all enjoy being outside so much more this time of year. I love to stand and drink my coffee on the patio in the cool mornings. I love how the day starts out cold, but ends up warm in the afternoons. And, of course, I have already stocked up on canned pumpkin and have started making pumpkin bread. As much as I love Middle Tennesse, it was way too hot this summer. But, somehow, these glorious Fall days are making up for it.

We have been busy! Some of our recent highlights:

Ryan's precious class at school took a trip to a local pumpkin farm. It was the perfect day and we all had so much fun.

We went to Springfield for a family gathering and to celebrate my great-aunts 90th birthday. We got to see all our extended family and fun cousins!

This past Friday night Will's cub scout den went to our local high school football game. The boys had a blast! You would've thought we went to the Superbowl.  Nothing like high school football games to make it feel like Fall!

I am still on our Women's Ministry Committee at church this year. Thursday night we hosted a class entitled "Food Frugality." It was a 2 hour session that one of our members worked very hard to prepare for us. She is a caterer and also a registered dietician. It was a very imformative class about how to cut your grocery bill, while not sacrificing quality.

We hosted our church Life Group at our house Sunday night. It got a little chilly, but we had the fire pit going and the kids enjoyed roasting marshmallows. My boys stayed outside on Sunday from the time we got home from church until about 7:45 that night. They didn't complain once, they didn't ask to come inside, they even ate out on the patio! Amazing! Yet, another reason to love Fall!

This week in Ryan's class is the letter "G" week.  I went yesterday to work in his class and take "G" treats. They are the sweetest bunch of kids. 9 boys and 3 girls!  I took Goldfish and Grape Gatorade for their snack. Get it? "G" snacks?  Such a cute idea. The kids get so excited to know what the letter treats will be each week.

(Somehow all my pictures just have Ryan in them. I didn't mean to leave out Will!!)

Ryan's sweet class at the pumpkin farm

I love this picture of Ryan and our cousin Libby

Poor Blog

The poor blog has been neglected lately. Days go by and life happens. I load and unload the dishwasher, make lunches, make dinner, do endless loads of laundry, drive to school, sit at pick-up, chase dogs and pick up after little boys. That is my life and I love it.  I will try to do better, but I don't promise. Here are my 2 favorite pictures recently.

Yes, Ryan is holding a flaming torch. We had a little campfire and roasted marshmallows with our cousins Friday night. It turned into Ryan setting things a-flame.

Last week Will received the Gold Medal award at his school. I think it's kind of like Citizen of the Month or something like that. I think you can only get one medal per year. Pretty big deal. We were all so proud of him!

September

Well, it's finally September. I feel like August was the longest month of my life. Maybe it was the heat. This is just a quick recap of what all we've been doing.

Will started Cub Scouts and it has been lots of fun so far. The trip all 4 of us made to the Scout Store was hilarious and I am still battling with all those patches to get them to stay on Will's scout shirt. Our pack already has a camping trip planned for this weekend.

Ryan started soccer and loves it. He does great at practice listening and following directions. His first game is this Saturday.

We had a nice Labor Day weekend. We got to visit with lots of family and the boys spent a couple nights with my parents while JW and I enjoyed some time alone. We ate lunch alone after church and it felt very weird. We just sat there for a few minutes, like, okay what do we do now? But, we quickly acclimated ourselves. We enjoyed a night out Sunday night and attended a party at one of JW's former co-workers.

And, that's about it.  I hope all of you out there in Blogworld are doing well and enjoying your September.

Will in his Cub Scout uniform

First Den Meeting

Ryan at his first soccer practice

Start of School

Will on his first day of 1st grade

Apparently, the start of school hasn't been hard on anyone but me. Will walked right back in there like he never missed a beat and declared it "fantastic." Ryan, the one I was worried about, had a great time much to my amazement. Today he told me that they dug holes in the dirt on the playground and that his hole was the biggest. Great. I'm so proud.

I have walked around in a daze drinking Diet Dr. Pepper, eating dark chocolate M&Ms, and wondering where the years have gone. (slight exaggeration, but not much.) Just yesterday my parents were helping me move into Elam dorm on the Lipscomb campus. I was a college freshman concerned only with pledging the right social club, who was playing at 328 that weekend, and avoiding math.

I turn 35 next month. I think I see this as an end to my "baby years." My boys are getting bigger, more independant, and happily going to school. I am, admittedly, having a hard time. I am convinced that getting a puppy will help me through these trying times. John Will is not in agreement yet. A puppy will be much easier than a baby. Can I get an "Amen?"

Raspberry Pistachio Tart

Raspberry Pistachio Tart

I made this tart on Saturday. Except it looked nothing like this picture (find recipe here.) I didn't have the appropriate tart pan to start with, and the crust fell all to pieces after baking it. But, boy, did it taste good! I ended up just eating it out of the dish with a spoon. (The boys didn't care for it and I couldn't let it just sit there....) Hurry and make it while you can still find fresh raspberries.

End of Summer

Dear Boys,

School starts next week. I have mixed emotions about this. In one way, I am glad because it means Fall is on it's way. But, mostly, I'm sad.

It has been a wonderful summer with you two. Despite the brutal heat and occasional fighting, we have had a great time.  We have been plenty busy, but we've also had many days with no agenda.

We have gone swimming, we have ridden bikes, and we have spent countless afternoons in our backyard with friends. We have played with grandparents, cousins, and neighborhood friends. We have had birthday parties, water slide parties, and snowcone parties. We have gone to the beach, we have gone to visit family, and we have visited the Statue of Liberty. We have explored art museums, watched fireworks from downtown Nashville, and gone canoeing.   And yes, we have sat inside and watched too much Phineas and Ferb and played too much Super Mario Galaxy 2.

I do not look forward to rushed mornings filled with making lunches and begging you to eat breakfast. I do not look forward to knowing this is my last year until you will both be gone everyday. Just typing those words makes my heart skip a beat and my eyes fill with tears. I guess I will always have summers to look forward to with you two, my favorite little human beings. You constantly amaze me and keep me laughing. You are truly my reason for getting up every morning.
Thank you, boys, for a great summer.
Mommy