First Day of School

Both Wade and Bree had a "first day" this year! 

Bree started in the same 2 year old class that Wade was in at Mt. Bethel Preschool. I love that they had the same teacher, our good friend Ms. Kay. Bree was all excited about the day.....until she realized what we were actually doing. She wouldn't pose for a picture, but she did water my plants!

There were lots of tears and panicked clinging at drop off. She did eventually calm down, but her separation anxiety was at all an all time high. When I picked her up, she was able to play with Celie and Asher on the red cart. 

By the second day, she would at least walk into school with her red bag. That's an improvement. She did start by taking her pacifier with her to class (in hopes that it made it easier for the teachers). We quickly found out that the pacifier became a projectile weapon when she got pissed I left her. That was the end of that. Her crying did improve over the next few weeks and eventually she was able to walk in happily and begin playing with friends!

Wade's return to Casa Montessori was filled with excitement about seeing school friends. I LOVE that they stay in the same class for 3 years and have that consistency year to year.

 Dropping off was easy! All smiles and ready for a new year!

Lake Oconee with the Benichs

We spent a long weekend at Lake Oconee with the Benich crew in August. It just so happened to be Nicci's birthday as well, so we had extra reason to celebrate!! The 4 cousins have really started to play well together and they can't wait to be together again. Wade talks about Lake Oconee all the time and holds on to these memories year after year! What a great family tradition!

Renting jet skis was a favorite activity

We buried the 2 trouble makers...

Most of our days were spent in the pool (or lake)

Lots of eating and drinking!!!

DeDe brought great goody bags for the kids. Rowan and Wade were pirates. Ellis and Bree got Hello Kitty stuff.

I don't know where Bree found these rings, but they offered hours of entertainment in the pool. She'd stack them on her head, dance around until they all fell off, rinse and repeat...

2 best friends.

2 more best friends.

And then as soon as the smiling's done, this is what happens. Rowan and Wade immediately switch gears to army battle.

The adults enjoyed one night out without the kiddos! A little adult time never hurts :)

Of course, S'mores by the fire pit are a necessity. We get rooms that are right there at walkout level by the S'mores. The kids have a blast eating lots of sugar, swinging, running, and playing flash light tag

One night they had a Native American fire ritual. So fun!

We pressed our luck and made the kids take this picture with Poppa and Dede. Can you see how fried they all are at the end of the day. About to crash!!!

Someone Barbara Jones (a friend of the family that lives on the lake) taught the kids to say "bunny farts" to smile in pictures. So as we're begging them all to smile for the picture, Wade screams "BUNNY FARTS". Dede immediately covered his mouth, but thankfully all the families around us laughed.

I guess I can't be too upset with Barb for teaching my son to say bunny farts (let's be honest, it could be worse!), she did get us into their private pool with a water slide. The kids + Beau had a blast cruising down the slide!

What a great trip!!! We miss Nicci, Rowan and Ellis in Charleston and we will cherish our summer days together!!!!