"School Days Are Here Again"

Landon, I cannot believe you are starting four year old preschool today. This is your second year at Immanuel Lutheran, and we all just love it. It is a small program with just one four year old class, so it's intimate and welcomming. Mrs. Sorenson, your teacher this year, has been teaching this program for over thirty years. She's a sweet grandmotherly type, with an English accent, who just adores all you children so much. But she does get her students ready for kindergarten; she has lots of great plans for you all this year. You were very excited, but a little shy, to see all your friends from last year. On this first day, we read a nursery rhyme about a boy and a fish (I had never heard of this one before), but it was cute. You colored your fish very well and hung it on the bulletin board. There was a fishy snack too, goldfish crackers with a little fishing pole with cherry licorice. Then we all did handprint puzzle pieces to go on another bulletin board about how we all fit. It was a really good first day of school, and I know this year will be filled with all kinds of new discoveries!

First day of PreK 4

Busy working on your coloring.

Making our handprint puzzle pieces

"Beavers Make Dams"

Landon, when we were on our "bacation," you and Daddy spent a lot of time cruising on the boat. On one of these cruises, y'all found where one of the dams were. You were fascinated by it: its size, how it worked, how it could be dangerous, etc. That was really the highlight, it seemed, of the trip. When we got home, you told Poppie and JuJu all about it. One afternoon at their house, you and Poppie got crafty, because you wanted to build a dam. Using a plastic rubbermaid box, a small toy boat, foam earplugs, and plenty of sand from your sandbox, you and he constructed a replica dam. You were so proud and excited and played out there with it for quite some time.

As a sidenote... the title of this post actually comes from an instance that occurred not too long ago. You slipped with the expletive 'damn,' and when I asked you (in that corrective mother tone) what you said, you looked at me and grinned and said, "Beavers make dams, right momma?" uggghhh!

The dam complete with buoys

The lake, the dam, and our condo (purple house on left)

Shelby, you were not that interested in the dam, but you sure had fun with the waterhose.

"Cool in the Pool"

While in Hot Springs on 'bacation," we spent a lot of time in our condo's pool. Because we were there fairly late in the season, there was never anyone at the pool, and that was just fine with us. It was a nice pool; perfect for our needs: a shallow end with large steps for Shelby, plenty of space to jump and splash, plenty of lounge chairs (not that there was much lying around!) and a grilling area. We brought floaties and noodles to float with. Landon, you and Kylie had a great time running and jumping in to see who could make the biggest splash. Y'all also enjoyed diving under the water trying to find various items that sunk to the bottom. You got pretty good and holding your breath for a long time! You really enjoyed horsing around with Daddy. He would lift you in the air, and then slam you down in the water. We bought a little baby pool for Shelby, thinking she may rather just splash around outside the big pool. Yeah, that went over like a lead balloon! You hung out in it for a little while, but all the action was in the real pool, and that is where you wanted to be. But, if you're in the water, someone is holding you, because you will not have anything to do with blow-up boats, inner tubes, or any kind of floating device. Only arms; Mommy's preferably. But even then, you are trying to get out of our arms because you want to SWIM! It's so funny how you put your little face in the water and actually seem to like getting a little choked up!

And with all this swimming we were doing, comes a hefty appetite. One of our last pool evenings, we grilled some big juicy burgers, poolside. Mine was a Boca veggie thing that was pretty good, but I think your burgers may have been a little tastier. It really was the perfect way to end a perfect 'bacation' day.

"Into the Mystic"

This year for our summer vacation, we had to alter our plans a little, out of fear from the oil spill that endangered the beach where we had planned to go. Instead, we rented a fabulous three bedroom condo on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was an awesome location right on the water with our own boat slip, so we took Geno's boat with us so we could toodle around and the boys could fish. The first morning we were there, we all loaded up, life-jacketed of course, for our maiden voyage in the 'Fish Master.' Landon, you couldn't get enough of riding with Daddy at the helm; Shelby...it took you a little warming up to. And once you did warm up, you had a little enjoyment before you got too sleepy and nothing would make you happy. That's when we cruised on back home. We loved having the boat right there, ready for us whenever we wanted to go out again; Shelby free, however.

"Gone Too Soon"

Today we lost a dear family member. Squirrel, one of our kitties that we have had since he was three weeks old, went to heaven today. Squirrel was an awesome cat, more like a dog really. He was always right in the middle of anything we were doing. Sometimes, too much! But it is so sad not to have him around greeting Daddy when he walks through the door (they had such a close bond), spilling my cup of water in the middle of the night as he tried to drink from it, chasing a stray ice cube that we drop, waiting for Daddy to get out of the shower so he could jump on his shoulder, getting in the clean, warm clothes right out of the dryer, and even trying to sneak a lick of your food. It is very strange to be playing with you two, and not have a cat in the room with us. Squirrel was the only one tolerant enough to hang out with us. Although his life was short, he had a good one, and gave us so many memories. We will meet again, sweet "Skirl" at the rainbow bridge.

Gone, but never forgotten...