Box Tops

I have recently learned that I can turn in Box Tops for Education and receive some money to go towards Eric's school costs. This is fabulous news to me. So, I am putting out there that we would love to receive any box tops that anyone is throwing out. If you are already saving them for a teacher or student or school, please continue to do so. But, if you are just throwing them out, we would love to have them. If you are unfamiliar with them, you can go to www.boxtops4education.com for more info. Thanks!

Playing in the rain

It rained here for 48 straight hours. Constant, never ending rain. No thunder, no lightening, just a constant downpour. Eric wanted to wear his rain boots to church last night, and he was looking for puddles to jump in. After church, I let him run around in the river going down our street. He had the best time. He was soaking wet, but he loved it! I had a hard time getting pictures because my camera kept fogging up from the rain. These are the best I could get. You can see everything better if you click on the pictures.
The rain has stopped today, and the water is drying up. I am so glad we did this last night. What a fun memory for a little boy! (by the way, soccer is cancelled for tonight)

First soccer practice

Well, I have been kind of avoiding my blog. As most of you know, the co-op thing was a minor disaster. So I have not wanted to look at that sweet boy's excited eyes. Anyway, we had our first soccer practice last night, and he had a blast! His coach was nice and had a lot of energy. Eric did everything the coach asked him to and loved every minute of it. Here are some pics from last night. We don't know when his first game will be - probably sometime in mid-September.

Giving the coach a thumb's up. You can see one of his teammates in the background. This little girl is Cameron and is 4.

He got so sweatty! The coach had them break often for water. I had bought Eric the Aquapods water with sports balls printed on the label. He was so excited about those. It made me laugh that his hair was sticking straight up.


Here is the other girl on his team. Her name is Savannah, and she is 5. (she is also homeschooled and goes to the co-op)

Here are the other 3 boys on his team (there are 6 children total), The boy on the right is Elijah. He is the coach's son. I think he is 5 because the coach said he played last year. The boy in the tie-dyed shirt is Jonathon (I think). And I don't know the boy's name on the far left.

What a great time! And we get to do it every week. Can't wait!

Hardly able to contain his excitement..

My child is about to burst from the excitement of going to school. I got him a new backpack and lunch bag last week, and he has been anxious to use them ever since. He immediately came in from purchasing them and put a Kool-Aid in his lunch box. Tonight he decided to finish packing his lunch. I discovered that he had put several more items in his lunch sack, and he was so very proud of himself. I went ahead and helped him pack some school supplies. I had purchased a pencil sharpener. After I sharpened the first pencil, he decided he wanted to try. I never dreamed he would be able to do it, but he did, with no problem. He was so very proud of himself! He cannot wait to go to school. He will be going to the co-op on Tuesdays starting in 10 days. He will be in the Kindergarten class with Kaden, and we are very excited about that!

Here are the lunch items he packed for himself - Kool-Aid, 3 packages of breadsticks and cheese, one package of peanut butter crackers, and 2 packages of fruit snacks.

He said he looked like a turtle with his backpack on.

He was concentrating on sharpening that pencil. He looks way too young to be doing this! Look at that baby face.

In case you haven't seen it, this is his very proud of himself expression.

My baby boy ready for school. He is just so excited!

Fab Four

We had a fun play day with Abbie, Kaden, and Elaina Thursday. These kids are the best buds and get along so well. Typically the boys pair off and the girls pair off, but they will happily play with any in the group. It is so great! This day was cooler than we have had lately, but so incredibly muggy!

My sweet, sweatty boy!

Anyone with a preschooler knows that you must get a silly pic for every couple of pretty pics you get. :) These are just as much fun to have as the pretty ones, though. I just don't let them know that.

Firehouse Field Trip

I never got around to posting these pictures, but in June we had a fun field trip to the firestation. Abbie's dad is a driver for a firetruck, so we received a great tour from him and another fireman. The bonus is that twice while we were there, the alarm sounded and men started dropping from the ceiling, sirens came on, and the place was emptied. It was pretty cool. While the men were gone, we tried on some of their gear.

Eric thought it was cool that this tire was bigger than he was.

What a trooper! Phillip's fellow firefighter got decked out in full gear for the kiddos (and let me tell you, it was HOT that day).

After watching Phillip give the tour, Eric decided to give a little tour of his own, "Hey, everybody, look at this!"

Firehouse cuties!

These pipes are attached to the trucks when they return to remove all the exhaust. Eric thought they were cool and kept trying to talk into them (guess it reminded him of the two way pipes you can talk in at the park).

Ms. Tracie lovin' on my boy. Thanks, girl, for arranging such a fun outing!

Eat Mor Chikin

What is it about moms and Chick-fil-a? Maybe it is the delicious chicken. Maybe it is the great books that come as prizes (Click Clack Moo is now one of our favorite books at bedtime). Maybe it is the fact that they follow any request with "my pleasure". Maybe it is the great indoor playground. Maybe it is the fact that they offer Purel wipes and placemats to help keep little kids germ free. Whatever it is, we all have a passion for this place. So, when we found out they were having Cow Appreciation Day, I knew we would be there. Eric got to dress up as a cow (so did Abbie and Aubrie), and because he did, he got a free kids meal. He was so excited about his cow costume and was very proud of his colored letters. I love the above picture of him and the cow.