Weekend Wrap Up & a Construction Update

We had a fun weekend with Crystal, Steve, and the girls. They came to spend Friday night with us so Crystal and I could shop on tax free weekend.  This was the first time they had been to our house, so we were excited to show them around.  After a quick tour of the house, things got a little crazy.  We ended up in some sort of gymnastics talent show.  Crystal and I tried to show them how handstands and headstands were done, but then we remembered that we were old.

Miles can do a mean cartwheel. He worked on his handstand most of the night and did a pretty good job. 

Ava working on her cartwheel....

On Saturday, we shopped until we dropped. Crystal had much better luck than I did, but we had so much fun. We just did whatever we wanted and didn't get in a hurry about it.  I see this becoming an annual event.

The rest of the weekend was packed with stuff too, but I'd rather talk about what's going on with our house.  The brick is on!  We knew we couldn't get brick to match exactly, and even if we did, it wouldn't match the rest since it's 20 years old.  Seeing the difference has been concerning for me, but as the mortar continues to dry, I'm slowing coming around to it.  

The pictures make the discrepancy worse than it actually is, in my opinion.  I love the knew shape of the house.

The hallway leading to our bedroom is coming together.  It was hard to imagine how it would look. I was scared it would be too long and feel out of place, but I actually think it looks normal.  The door leading to the patio was supposed to be a window. I'm so glad we changed it. I think it's going to good from the patio and be very functional.

The first coat of paint is on the walls in our bedroom.  It looks a little turquoise in this picture, but it actually leans more towards navy. It was a little bit of a gamble for me, but I really like it.

The shower floor has been tiled. Just waiting on the grout and white subway tile on the walls.

My tub is in!  It is just like the tub at our last house, which I LOVED.   I cannot wait to have this back.

The first coat of paint is on in the sun room and the floor is down. I really like the tones in the floor, but I wish I would have gone with a 16" tile instead of 13".  Once I get the rugs down and furniture back in, I'm sure it won't make any difference to me.

I have to be honest, I'm reaching the end of my rope with the house.  I'm trying to just hang on and chill out until it's finished, but I just want a clean house with all my stuff where it belongs.  They were supposed to be finished by the end of August, but I don't see that happening. We've run into a major issue with the kitchen floor, which was a room that wasn't supposed to be touched. Deep breaths.  Just reminding myself daily that a month or two more is not very long in the scheme of things. 

Weekend Wrap Up - Part II & the First Day of Kindergarten

Country living is taking it's toll on our internet connection.  Technology issues fall outside my job duties as assigned within our marriage, along with driving, pest control, and cooking breakfast, to name a few.  I'm still waiting for hubby to find a solution. I'm sure he'll get to it very soon...wink, wink.  Until then, my posting may be random which really isn't anything new. 

Carrying on...after church on Sunday we went shopping for school supplies.  Very unlike me to wait until the day before, but we have been so busy.  There just aren't enough hours in the day lately.  There were only a few items that allowed for any personal choice. Gone are the days of cool folders and Trapper Keepers. Now, the lists consist of  12 glue sticks (they must eat them), construction paper, scissors, markers, etc.  Miles did get to choose 4 single subject notebooks.  There were all different kinds, including super heroes, video game themes, and cool colors.  Miles decided on an animal theme.  We laughed so hard at his selection.  Oh the innocence of a kindergartner.

I did lead him away from the hot pink panda notebook, but we said it was best to let him enjoy his animals.  All too soon someone will make fun of him and he'll opt for the boring colors.  Mrs. Penney told Miles she really liked them. Such a sweet teacher.

Later in the day we went to the Class of 2028 party.  Yes, the Class of 2028 already has a FB page.  The party was at a nearby park.  We had blue/orange cupcakes, gatorade, and snow cones in honor of the school colors.  I think there are around 200 kindergartners this year.  There was a good turnout for the party.  I didn't realize I dressed him in the school colors until right now.

I was hoping it would be a good opportunity for all of us to meet people but that really wasn't the case.  Miles wasn't into meeting anyone. He just ate the food and threw pine cones in the pond.  It wasn't a great setting to meet adults.  They all knew each other so they were busy with photo ops with their kids and friends. I don't blame them a bit. If we had been at such an event in Martin, I would have been totally consumed with taking pics of Miles and his friends, and talking with my friends.  The reality was sad for me.  Not starting school in Martin hit home a little.  Nonetheless we are very excited about this school year & the years ahead in what appears to be a great school district. 

On Monday, it was a come and go day for the kindergartners. The purpose was to drop off the bag fulls of supplies and get acquainted with the teacher & the school.  He wanted his hair spiked a little in the front...

After we put his supplies in the right places, Miles wasn't ready to leave. He just wanted to sit in his seat for a while and soak it all in.  

Yesterday was finally the first day of school for the boys. The boys go Tuesday/Thursday this week and the girls go Wednesday/Friday. Everyone starts full time next Monday. 

He was so excited to walk in...

Mrs. Penney was telling the boys how they will wait in the hall until she gets to the classroom.

The first thing they have to do is sit on the carpet and take their planner out of their backpacks.  Their planners are used everyday to communicate between teachers and parents. She sorts through them every day at nap time.  We can write notes to her about dismissal, behavior, homework, etc. It seems like a very good system.

After they put their planner where it goes, they hang their backpacks in their cubbies.  Miles was very eager to listen and follow directions. It was excellent to see his independence. He didn't look to us once for help or assurance. He was 100% ready for this day.

The most comforting thing to see was his confidence. Instilling confidence has always been high on my list of priorities. I read once that confidence in kids is what enables them to make good decisions later in life b/c they aren't afraid to stand alone. That totally made sense to me and I've always remembered it.

I think it's going to be a great year with Mrs. Penney. She seems like an excellent personality type for Miles.  We actually have some mutual friends, which is comforting in a school where we don't know anyone.

The verdict for the first day was that it was "good".  I thought he would talk nonstop about his day, but we ended up having to pull information out of him.  Highlight of the day was getting to move his clip up to blue for good behavior and the fact that nap time was only 30 minutes.  Low points of the day were the lunch I packed for him and the after school program. He decided he wants to buy his lunch (yuck!). We settled on him buying his lunch 2x a week and taking it 3x.  I think the after school program was boring b/c he didn't know anyone.  He said it was too long and all he did was watch TV. I think after he gets to know kids and has someone to play with he will actually be upset when I pick him up too early.  He was disappointed that he didn't have homework, so I pretended to give him some out of a workbook that he has. He worked on it for a solid 30 minutes.

After anticipating this day for weeks, I am glad that it has come and gone. I got a little choked up but didn't shed any tears. He was so happy and ready for this step that I just couldn't be sad about it. It helped that we had the open house, picnic, and come & go day on Monday.  I think by today I was just ready to get on with it.  First day of school is officially in the books.

Weekend Wrap Up - Part I

We had such a big weekend that I can't fit it all in one post and do everything justice.  Friday, Miles had his swim show wrap up after two weeks of swimming lessons at daycare.  Then, it was time to say goodbye to daycare.  The kids walk from the center to swim lessons everyday.  Miles lead the pack in a dead sprint.

Before they started the lesson, I had time to take a few pictures with his friends.  These friends have been together since they were infants.  Miles & Neeley...

Miles and Alex Pitz...

 Miles and Alex Belew...

Miles and Avery...

 

Miles hasn't been with the twins, Hannah Kate & Anna Marie, as long, but he sure has grown fond of them...

We were very impressed during the swim show.  Miles was actually doing proper strokes and swimming to the bottom and back up like a pro.

Miles and Alex Pitz (the kids always use first & last names when talking about either Alex) have always been close.

This was Miles attempt at a dive.

Nailed it.

He wouldn't jump off the diving board last year. This year, he couldn't get enough.

One quick picture with Cruz after the swim show since we didn't manage one before...

....and then it was time to say our goodbyes.  The hardest goodbye for all of us was Ms. Debra. I could cry now thinking about it. She was his teacher in Room 2 for a year, and then again in Room 4 for almost three years.

She is patient and loving with Miles and treats him a lot like we do at home. All three of us clicked with her and we will miss her dearly. She put up with my texts about this & that for years. She helped us through the good & bad phases. We love Ms. Debra and she loves Miles. We are so thankful for the time we've had with her. 

We planned a fun weekend at my mom's house to help celebrate the end of daycare....AKA, distract Miles from the sadness (and me). We threw around a couple of ideas and landed on a school shopping and playing at Dave and Busters on Saturday.  A weekend at Marmee's is good enough in Miles' eyes, but Dave & Busters was just icing on the cake.  Games and arcades are the way to Miles' heart.

Our fun weekend plans got even better when my brother, Jeff, and niece, Anna, made last minute plans to fly Jeff's plane in town for the weekend.  We met them at the airport on Friday night. Uncle Jeff and Anna had to show Miles how to do the "cool pilot" pose.

We hung around and talked for a while and made flying plans for the next day. 

Darrin has flown with Jeff before but I never have. Miles first reaction was "No!", but he quickly came around to the idea.   Miles really wanted Darrin to fly with he and Jeff, but settled with me b/c that meant that he would get to sit in the front seat. Darrin would never have been able to fit in the back seat. Meanwhile, I was quite comfortable. The next morning, Miles ran to the plane. He was totally over his fear and ready to go.

Dave helped clean the plane before it was time to go...

 

Miles was Jeff's shadow.  He really had no room to work b/c Miles was under his feet the whole time.

Jeff was completely thorough with his pre-flight preparations and then it was time to taxi down the runway.

We left the door open while we taxied to let air in until the very last minute b/c it gets a little warm this time of year. The door was on Miles' side so he had to hold it open a little.  He asked three times, "can I shut the door now?" I think he was scared that Uncle Jeff was going to forget and take off with the door open :)

He was practically in Jeff's lap the whole time the door was open.

Up in the air and loving it...

As soon as we were up, Miles took over. It turned my stomach a little when Miles took over. Partially b/c he immediately started going up and also b/c it was freaky knowing my five year old was in control of the plane. Jeff proving that Miles is flying by himself... 

We flew over my mom's house. She and Anna waved, but we weren't able to see them. Jeff rocked the plane back and forth to wave our wings at them.

Miles flew some more on the way back to the airport. He actually did a really good job the second time.

Time to land. You can see the runway ahead.  It was such a smooth flight. Often times when I fly I think to myself that I wish Jeff was the pilot b/c I know there is no one more competent.

Miles loved it so much. It was such an amazing experience for him. Who knows what this might ignite in him. 

Admittedly, I was a little nervous to fly and only did it for Miles. I ended up having a great time & am so thankful that I was able to see the joy on Miles' face.

I'll be back tomorrow with Part II of our great weekend.  Good night all!