First Official Dance Class

I can't even believe it! Juel's dance class started this week. She was so excited and so was I!(I had no control over pictures!)

Weekend Beach Trip

We are on the way home from a weekend trip to AB! The weather was perfect, beach was clear of tourists, kids were happy...and so was the mom and Gee!

 

 

 

Weekend Fun

We have been hanging on to the last days of summer...having lots of fun outside, at the pool, and with the pets.

 

My children would probably choose going to Gee's house over Disney World. They love to go every time they get the chance (which is a certainty on Saturday mornings.)

 

Tea with Gee

 

A backyard campout for Tyson and Daddy on a cool summer night!

 

Pool time! This summer we have had so much fun around the pool talking about the exciting things happening in the Alford girl's lives. Leigh Ann got engaged to her long-time guy Matt. Lots of conversations have been about wedding plans! Oh the delight!! Shannon has met a wonderful man, Johnathan, who works for Campus Crusade. We are inspired by his ministry and blessed to have spent time with both of them. I cherish the friendship we share with our "family"!

 

 

In other news, we have a kitten. Did I just type that? Well about a month ago when the Moores were visiting, the boys heard meows late one night. The next morning this TINY, injured kitten was on our front porch. We took care of her for several days, unsure if we would keep her. We had been thinking of getting an outdoor cat to keep away pesky mice that like to come live in our garage, but were not sure about taking on another pet. However, you know the drill, my kids are in love with this cat. For now we are taking care of her and she is living in our back yard. (I am allergic to cat hair so she will not be granted indoor living space. I may or may not have once declared that "I will never own another cat--my mom is so right "never say never!" And in truth, I have always loved kittens. I have many fond memories of searching for baby kittens in the hayloft at my grandparents' house.) She is the sweetest kitty and Tyson and Juel are having so much fun playing with her. Ralph even likes her!?! They named her "Mushu" from the movie Mulan, a recent favorite.

 

(This is a scene straight from my childhood! Many-a-cat spent time in a stroller, shopping cart, or bike basket going around the tree at Grandma Juel's house!)

 

 

Back to School

It is hard to believe that school has been in session for 2 weeks already! I could never put into words the craziness of the first of the year for school teachers: the frenzied week of meetings and preparing, meeting the families at open house, the night before anxiety, the anticipation of all to come...Now I am learning from a parent's view point. Tyson had open house for preschool this week and then started his first day. He loved it! I feel like this year was my grace period. You know last year I had tears because he was old enough to go to preschool. This year I feel lucky that I have him little for one more year because next year....I will have a Kindergartener. Just typing that makes me feel a lump in my throat. I am still having trouble believing Gabriel is in "real school"!  However, in just the two days that he has been to school this week I have already seen so much excitement for learning in him. He came home telling me all about the stories he read  (Pete the Cat--it's so good) and the friends he played with on the playground. His teacher is great and has done this for 17 years. She has lots of energy and already had a good relationship with Tyson from the hallway last year. When she was talking to the parents about all they would work on learning this year (letters, numbers, READING, lunch skills, sharing etc) I was just shocked imagining my boy doing all of these things so soon. I know--I am a teacher--but he was just born 5 minutes ago! Truly I am excited to see him grow and learn!
                                        Open House: Wakefield Central Baptist Church Preschool

(He was pretending to by scared. He saw this and just said "I told you I don't like pictures.")

 

Ready to Go!!!