Back to School 2012

The back to school season started back at the end of July when our local Target put out their Back to School section at the back of the store!  Nothing makes me happier than the smell of a new box of crayons so of course I had to buy a bunch!

Checking out the marker selections at Target back in July

Mid-August we did the back pack shopping at Toys R Us.  Shaun chose a batman backpack and David chose a skulls backpack.  I think next year we're going to have to upgrade David to something a little sturdier, like an LLBean or Jansport, with his lunchbox and schoolwork I doubt this backpack lasts the year.  I also did some back to school clothes shopping while the boys took a trip to Cape Cod and I only had Evan with me.  I had to get all of this done before we headed to Maine for our vacation because when we returned home I would only have one day before David headed off to first grade!

Shaun surprised me with the Batman choice, I thought for sure he was going to go with the Avengers or Agent P.  

After we got back from Maine, I had one day to get the boys their haircuts and new sneakers.  It made for a much more hectic day than I had anticipated, but we got it all done and the boys love their new sneakers!

David getting his first pair of Vans

Shaun stuck with his traditional Sketchers

Ready for first grade with a new haircut!

August 28, 2012, David officially starts first grade!  We are also at the new school this year!  We missed the open house since we were on vacation, so I actually didn't get a chance to see the inside of the school until Shaun's open house which was at the end of the week.  David is most excited about being able to ride the bus to school.  He gets picked up at the end of our street and Daddy drives him down on his way to work each day.  It's heartwarming to see David follow in his Daddy's footsteps as he kisses his brothers goodbye and then me and follows Charlie out the door!  The first day we all walked down (in the rain!) to watch him get on the big yellow bus for the very first time!

As the bus approached and came to a stop David ran, lightning fast, right onto the bus, I missed getting his picture!  Thankfully the bus driver saw me with my camera and had him come back and stand on the stairs!  Thank you Mr. Bus Driver for letting me capture this big milestone in my baby's life!

At the bus stop on the first day!

So excited to get on the bus for the first time!

First Day of First Grade 2012

On Thursday August 30, 2010 Shaun had his open house!  It was like I said, the first time I had the chance to go inside the new school.  I can't even begin to describe how amazing it is!  I love all the bright colors and how open and welcoming it feels when you walk inside.  This year he has a new teacher and a new preschool curriculum, since they changed it all when the old school closed.  It was nice to be able to meet his new teacher and get a feel for how the classroom was going to be run.  This being his second year of preschool, he seemed very comfortable and enjoyed seeing some of the kids that were with him last year.

At one of the activity tables

Evan making himself right at home in Shaun's classroom!

Shaun's first day was Wednesday September 5, 2012.  He is in school 3 days a week again on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  He was so excited for it to be his turn!

First Day of Preschool 2012

Big shot on the preschool campus!

Who wants to tell Evan that he goes NEXT year?!

Evan feeling a little left out, and even had a level 4 meltdown after dropping off big brother, so we too his picture with the chalkboard too!  NEXT YEAR, Evan!!

Evan looking handsome just like his big brothers for first day of school!

Since we were away for David's meet and greet, I never got a change to meet David's teacher so I emailed her and asked to set up a time to meet.  She set up a time for the afternoon and I instructed David to NOT get on the bus!  I left him a note on his home folder and on his lunch box!  Shaun, Evan and I headed over to the school and got to see David's classroom and meet his new teacher.  She is new to the school this year having come from one of the other schools that was closed with the school merges.  I loved seeing his classroom and meeting his teacher, we talked a little about what I could expect in the next few weeks and got a sense of where he spends a good chunk of his day now!  I am looking forward to what this year brings for my enthusiastic first grader!

David's Desk

All 3 boys outside the Mill Brook School

Project 365 - Day 255

This year for swimming I have decided to split up David and Shaun. It works out better for a couple of reasons and honestly the two of them together resulted in more goofing off and less paying attention. Today was David's second class with the new schedule, but the first class with his new instructor.

After his class she had asked if 4:15 was too late for class because she thought he would be a good fit for the next level offered, beginning strokes! Here is David getting a lesson on breathing to the side.

Project 365 - Day 254

Evan, honorary PTA member, by default, helping Mommy make copies of our welcome back letter! He already walks around the new school like he owns the place, they are in trouble next year!

Project 365 - Day 253

Patriots Sunday! Anyone notice anything different?

Vacationland 2012

Right before school started we took a last minute trip and headed north to Maine. We try to go at least a few times a year but it's always the most fun in the summer when we can go to the ocean and swim at the lake! Each year it gets easier and easier and I know that is because the kids are all getting older and play so nicely together that it gives the grown-ups a real chance to hang out and chat! Also because the kids are all getting older we were able to do more fun things! This year we took them over roam around an old fort and we thought for sure we'd stay and walk around for 45 minutes, but TWO hours later and the kids were still having a blast checking out all the tunnels and climbing all the stairs. And no trip to Maine is complete without a trip to the lake and it was made even more fun with a trip on the boat where the boys got to jump into the lake right off the boat and swim around.

DAY 1 -  At the Union Fair: 

Shaun's prize from the 4H booth

David and Evan petting the cows

After lunch getting ready to do the Fair scavenger hunt!

David took a nice picture of Mom & Dad

DAY 2 - 4Points BBQ and Fort Knox and Sparklers at night:

Lunch at the yummy Maine BBQ place before heading to the Fort

The boys at Fort Knox

DAY 3: The Lake: 

The kids are ready for a boat ride!

Shaun swimming off the side of the boat!

DAY 4: Last day walking around the beach and fun at the park: 

 

Project 365 - Day 252

Shaun's turn today! Having fun playing a game called Stuck in the Mud. The kids all lined up and had to run to other side of the field without getting tagged by the "Monster", if they were tagged then they were STUCK until a friend came to get them.

Project 365 - Day 251

David's first soccer practice tonight! I might be a tad bit biased, but he's really good. Uncle David would be so proud!

 

Project 365 - Day 250

My super independent first grader, who has requested that Mom not wait at the bus stop for him. I checked with the bus driver and he said he would let him off without me since he walks with our neighbors 5th grader. I waited at the circle and waved to the bus when he got off then headed back to the house so he could walk home without me. Oh yeah, and he also requested we start calling him DAVE! He signs all of his school work with DAVE and has his classmates and teacher calling him DAVE! Apparently my sweet little first grader became a 10th grader over night.

Story Land 2010

On August 19th we took the boys up with our friends to Story Land.  The last couple years we stayed up there for a weekend, but since we all had lots of trips planned this summer we decided to just make it a day trip.  It makes for a lot of driving in one day, but the kids all had fun and were surprisingly well behaved (considering the long day spent at the park) at the restaurant we hit on our way back home.

We luck out this year with the most gorgeous day!  It was warm and sunny, but not humid or muggy like it has been for us in the years past.  Mother Nature finally cut us a break!  Here are just a few of the pictures from our fabulous day!

The boys are all ready to go to the park!

The obligatory family portrait at the entrance!

We always hit the ball pit first thing!

Happy to get at least one kid to pose for me in the pumpkin!

On the Carousel, You can't tell from Evan's face, but he really did enjoy the ride!

The big boys ready to ride the Polar Coaster!  Evan was tall enough but he didn't want to ride.

Cooling off a bit!

I think this is everyone's favorite part!

All the boys on the Bamboo Chutes!

Splash!

Me and the boys after the rapids.  I swear, Evan had a great time!

We noticed while waiting in line for the cars that David's new tooth was starting to grow in!

The Sun setting on our drive home!

Project 365 - Day 249

Ready to tackle his second year of preschool!

Project 365 - Day 248

Birthday self-portrait. 33 years YOUNG!

Project 365 - Day 247

Shaun taking his lady friend out for one last ride to close out a near perfect summer. I'm ready for Fall though, it's my favorite time of year, the smells and colors of Fall are right around the corner!

Project 365 - Day 246

Evan and Liam - the only two who were really interested in a picture today! It's so fun to see these two growing up together! They are 2 1/2 weeks apart (Evan was fashionably late and Liam surprisingly early!) and Evan is still a beast and Liam is still a string bean.

Project 365 - Day 245

David practicing his math. He loves adding and subtracting numbers and will often do word problems in his head. Some of it is memory, for example, he knows 10+10=20, and that 20+20=40. But he wanted to try bigger numbers and asked us what 100+100 was equal to so Daddy showed him how to add it on paper and then he moved on to bigger numbers.

The school uses the Everyday Math curriculum, which I hear is very different from the way math was taught when we were in elementary school so it will be fun to see as they start really getting into the curriculum this year. Now if we can just get him as interested in reading as he is with numbers...