First Day of School!

Sam went back to school on Monday.  The sixth graders go for what is called Jump Start Day.  They go a day ahead of the seventh and eighth graders to get a feel for middle school without the pressure of having the older kids around.  He and I were both a little bit nervous but he had a great day!  He has come home with a positive attitude every day this week and has said his days are going well.  We will see if his attitude changes when he comes home with more homework but the year is starting off well.  

Ella started school on Tuesday.  She was a little nervous and a little sad to be going to school without her big brother.  She had thought about getting up to take a picture with him that morning but sleep won out and she didn't wake up until Sam was already on the bus.  She had a good first day though and I am sure will have a great year. 

Back to School Nights

Last week we went to back to school nights for Ella and Sam.  Sam's night was on Wednesday.  We got his picture taken for the year, got his schedule, then walked around to find his classes, meet his teachers and practice opening his locker.  This is Sam's first time ever opening a padlock so we have to practice the right, left, right and when to go past the number, etc.  He did a great job with it and we were able to find all of his classrooms.  The school is pretty big and he was feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the places he would be going but his math teacher helped to reassure him that they would help him and he seemed to feel much better.  Truth be told, I was a bit overwhelmed too with him being more on his own but I know he will do well.   We have no pictures from his night because it just isn't cool for your mom to take pictures at school any more.  

Ella's meet the teacher was on Thursday.  It was a busy night because I was also working the PTA membership table most of the night and Ella and Sam were helping give tours to new families.  But we snuck a way for a little bit to go to Ella's room and meet her new teacher, Mrs. Howard.   I knew that I was excited about the teacher that Ella had this year but I was even more excited when we went to her room.  She had some great activities for the kids, she interacts with them so well, and she is very organized.  Ella is excited to have her too except that she is the only teacher in second grade without desks, which she was really looking forward to having for the first time.  It was a good night and got Ella ready to head back to school. 

Guess whose favorite color is purple?  Supplies for the new year. 

Backpacks are ready!  

Ella outside her new classroom.

The Kona Ice truck was at meet the teacher! 

Any Time is Tee Time

Sam has spent a lot of his summer learning the game of golf.  He had gone out golfing with John occasionally but has really started to play this summer.  He signed up and took lessons, played a lot with his dad, and even went out and played with some friends from school.  The golf program at the country club this summer was the first time he ever had actual instructions on his golf swing and gave him chances to go out and play with other kids around his age.  They had two events to finish the season this last month that he really enjoyed.  One day they had a Big Break Skills Challenge.  It was patterned off of the television show where they started with numerous chipping challenges.  The kids had fun aiming at kiddie pools, coolers, hoops,etc.  all for chances to win golf balls.  They also had a putting contest set up on the putting green for the kids to participate in after chipping.  It was a fun time and great way to practice golf.  

Sam also decided to enter the club championship.  There were three kids that played in his age group and he finished with the highest score but he enjoyed his day and the experience.  Who knows with a few years practice he might be able to move up the leader board? 

Heading to lessons

Chipping at the Big Break Skills Challenge

Diving In!

Ella has really come a long way with her swimming this summer.  A year ago she didn't even like to put her face in the water.  This spring when we went to The Great Wolf Lodge she was getting more adventurous with getting her face wet and didn't like having to wear her life jacket (her turtle) so we decided that we would sign her up for swim lessons this summer.  She took two weeks of private lessons at the beginning of the summer and made some great progress.  All summer she has been practicing and has become pretty good at getting herself around in the water. 
Lately, she had been talking about wanting to go off the diving board.  At our pool you are supposed to swim a length of the pool before going off the board.  She could probably swim a length but hasn't really wanted to try.  When we went to Highland this last week we spent an afternoon at the pool there while the boys were golfing.  The board is very close to the ladder and she had gone off that board before with her life jacket (they don't let you do that at our new pool).  She decided she wanted to give jumping in with no jacket a try.  She was awesome she came up and swam to the side like a pro.  Then it was over and over again for the next hour with me having her take little breaks every once in a while so she didn't get tired.  She was so proud of herself and proud to show off her skill to John, Sam and Hannah! 

Ella and Hannah doing some stunts in the pool! 

More Splashing and Sliding

We headed down to White Water again, this time to hang out with the Lowes.  It was the last weekend before school started for Sarah and Caleb and the last weekend before Hannah headed down to college.  It is hard to believe that the summer has come to an end but we decided to make the best of our last week off of school.  The kids all had a good time at White Water.  It was a little more crowded than our last lucky visit but we still were able to do everything we wanted to do and enjoy time together.  
We stayed at the Lowes' house through Tuesday and were able to catch up on everything that had gone on since our last visit.  It was a good way to finish off our summer! 

The kids coming around in the lazy river!

The girls (thanks guy in the tube for photo bombing). 

Lunch together on Monday! 

Hole in One!

Before we left Branson we decided to do a little miniature golfing with the Siegels.  We went to our favorite course and everyone had a fun time.  Scott was the big winner of the morning.  Then it was time for the Siegels to head back home and we went to do a little school shopping at the outlet mall.  I knew it was tax free weekend in Missouri but Branson was not participating so we would only save the state sales tax.  I figured that coupled with it being a Friday would make the mall a little more crowded but not much. I was wrong!  The place was absolutely crazy.  The lines at the stores were long but we were able to get what we needed and head back to Columbia.  It was a busy but fun and productive day! 

Life in the Fast Lane

Last week the kids and I headed down to Branson to spend a day with Scott, Becky, Emma and Aiden while they were there for a week of vacation.  My kids and I love White Water so we asked if we could join them the day they decided to go there.  We are so blessed to have kids around the same age who play so well together and enjoy each others company. 

I had been watching the weather all week and was worrying about the day we chose to visit.  When we drove into Branson the skies were dark and sprinkles were hitting the windshield.  We were considering calling the Siegels to see if they wanted to postpone until the next day.  The day turned out to be perfect though.  The bad weather kept away the crowds and we could ride everything with no lines.  There were no crowds in the lazy river or the wave pool and the sidewalks were cool on your feet.  I don't think we could have asked for anything better.  

The day had a lot of first for Emma and Aiden, since they had not been to White Water before and I think they really enjoyed themselves.  Ella did her first big water slide solo, and then she did it repeatedly for the rest of the day.  Scott and I tried out the new water slide.  I will have to admit, it is a bit scary.  You get into a tube they close the door and then the floor you are standing on drops out and you fly down the tube.  We liked it though and rode it twice.  It was a great day filled with thrills and some relaxing time on the lazy river or laying out while the kids played.  

While Scott and Sam were off riding rides Sam hatched a plan with him for some more rides that evening at The Track.  So after heading back to our hotels to shower and have a snack we met up at The Track.  Ella and Aiden were tall enough to drive the rookie go karts.  While the line took a lot of patience they had a good time driving themselves.  The rest of the crew were all able to drive the faster go karts on the Heavy Metal High Rise and had a good time.  They also all rode a second go kart course and then the kids rode (and got soaked) on bumper boats.  It was a great end to a great day! 

   

Smiling in front of the not so crowded wave pool!

Emma and Scott ready to head up to ride.

Smiling at the bottom of the slide!

Becky, Emma and Sam coming around the corner. 

Waiting for their turn to drive. 

Thumbs up Mom!

Happy to be in the lead! 

Ready for some bumper boat action. 

Sam, Ella and Aiden made the picture. 

Jesus' Love is One of a Kind (VBS)!

We had plans during the week of vacation bible school at The Newman Center but luckily some friends invited us to go to vacation bible school at their church (Community United Methodist).  Their church was so warm and welcoming and the kids both had a great time.  I would drop them off a six each evening where the kids were divided into teams by age group.  They would start the evening by feeding the kids dinner then divide up for the activities. 

Ella participated in the bible school program where the theme was, Weird Animals: Jesus' Love is One of a Kind.  They learned about weird animals that God has made and about God's love for each of us.  It is the same program that our church used to use in Springfield and Sam loved it when he did it.  Ella loved it too.  They would learn a bible story each night, learn about the weird animal of the night and what he had to teach them about God's love, play games, make crafts and learn some great songs.  We purchased the CD so Ella can sing the songs in the car.  It even inspired us to find our old cd's from when Sam was her age and listen to those songs.  

Sam was in the tween group where after dinner they would spend the evening doing some type of mission project.  The first night they made blankets for animals at the local humane society.  The second night they traveled to a local food bank and helped package food for families that are in need.  On Tuesday, they had some local veterans come and talk to them about the Honor Flights.  The kids then wrote thank you notes that would be given to veterans traveling on the next Honor Flight.  On Wednesday (which was our last day) the kids went to a warehouse where they make vehicles that are sent to other countries that help people get around that have been injured by land mines and helped out there.  Sam has such a great heart and really liked being able to spend the week helping others. 

We are so thankful our friends reached out to us and let us participate with them in this great week.  My kids have already said they are wanting to return next summer.  

Ella participating in the games. 

Ella listening with her friend Ava. 

Sam with a blanket for the humane society. 

Sam and friends sorting food at the Central Mo Food Bank. 

Having fun! 

Enjoying dinner! 

Ella with some of her group! 

Company!

We were excited to get visitors the week before last.  AC, Emma and Aiden came to Columbia to spend a few days with us.  They arrived on a Tuesday afternoon.  After getting them off of their electronics the kids tried to play outside for a while but it was one of the few really hot days this summer so the came back inside for games.  They played some intense games of Chutes and Ladders and spent quite a while building a big fort downstairs where they planned to sleep that night.   That evening we headed to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants for dinner.  We had to wait a while but the kids were great and Aiden said it was his favorite restaurant ever!

After dinner, John and AC took the kids down to our neighborhood pond.  He had promised Emma the week before that he would take her fishing and it turns out all the kids wanted to go.  Despite a few mosquito bites it was a good night because all of the kids caught at least one fish.  They also caught a lot of variety.  It was a good way to end the day. 

The next morning I took Ella to tennis and AC brought the other kids at the end of Ella's lesson.  While Sam had his lesson the rest of us headed up to the pool.  The weather had cooled down and we had almost the whole pool to ourselves.  The kids had a great time playing and Sam came and joined in the fun after his lesson.  After the pool they played some more at home then we headed to dinner and finished their time in Columbia with some ice cream.  It was a great visit and we already talked about them having to come more next summer.