My big backyard

We went to Memphis this past weekend for the annual Father/Son Golf tournament.  This is a golf toitournament that Mat and his friends and all their fathers have played in for years.  Well before we met, married and had children.  It is a fun weekend for all the guys and their dads.  The kids and I usually go along.  This year Grams and I decided that we would take the kids out for a little fun while the guys were playing golf.  We initially had plans for the zoo but the day got away from us and before we knew it we really didn't have enough time to go and fully enjoy the zoo.  On to plan B, my big backyard.  I have so many friends in Memphis who rave about My big Backyard and take their kids all the time.  So, we decided it was time to check it out.  I completely understand what all the raving is about.  Such a cute place for the kids to run around and explore.  We had a great time.

And as for the guys, Matt and Grandpa came in 3rd.  Not too shabby!

Playing in the music house

 



Found a Pinecone

Me and my girl swinging on the double swing

Fun garden swing

Xylophone

Tunnel Slide

Carter's turn on the tunnel slide

Rock slide

Kids in the Dog house. :)

Running and having fun being kids

Swinging

Hungry Fish

Carter feeding the fish

Ella Catherine feeding the fish

Swim School

Ella Catherine and Carter have been loving our neighborhood pool this summer.  Ella Catherine is finally getting more comfortable in the water.  As long as she can touch she will swim and jump in etc.  Carter has never had a fear of the water.  So, to get Ella Catherine more comfortable and independent in the water and Carter more skilled so he doesn't drwon we decided to enroll them in swim school.  Classes lasted 2 weeks and both children LOVED them.  We weren't allowed to watch the lessons until the final day when they could show off their skills.  As expected, Ella Catherine was SUPER excited to show Matt and I what she had learned.  As for Carter, also not a surprise that he was very shy and reserved in front of all the other children's parents.  However, since then he has demonstrated both in the pool and in the tub what he learned.  I think both kids will be heading back again next year for more lessons.

Carter playing with his rubber ducky.  They used these as tools to get the kids to do different skills

Ella Catherine and her certificate that says she has completed Level 1 and 2 and is ready for Level 3.  In order to move to level 3 she had to be able to jump in the deep water and float on her stomach for 5 seconds, flip over and float on her back for 5 seconds and then swim off to the shallow end of the pool.

First Day of Kindergarten

 

To say Ella Catherine was excited about starting kindergarten is an understatement.  She was completely ecstatic about starting kindergarten.  The only time I saw a bit of nerves was when we were waiting in the gym for the bell to ring so we could go back to her room. 

I’ve been asked a lot how I held up and to be honest it is hard to be sad when your child is so over the moon happy.  That being said, at the Coffee and Kleenex the PTO held that morning they handed out the sweetest poem.  I’ll admit that I did get a little teary eyed reading it.  I’ve typed it below.

Wonder

 

I wonder what you're doing right now and

if everyone is treating you kind.

I hope there is a special person,

a nice friend you can find.

 

I wonder if the teacher knows

Just how special you are to me.

And if the brightness of your

heart is something they can see.

 

I wonder if you are thinking about me

and if you need a hug.

I already miss the sound of your voice

 and how you give my leg a tug.

 

I wonder if you could possibly understand

how hard it is for me to let you grow.

On this day know that my heart breaks.

For this is the first step in letting my baby go.

 

Big Girl excited about her first day of Kindergarten

Showing off her Hello Kitty backpack

Daddy and his little girl on her big day

Mommy and Ella Catherine

Daddy giving her kisses goodbye

So BIG!!!

Ella Catherine and her kindergarten teacher Ms. Matthews

Sitting at her spot

Her cubby

Mommy saying goodbye

Picking her up after her first day

Williamson County Fair

We met our friends, the Donahoes, at the Williamson County fair Friday night.  Their daughter, Taylor, is Ella Catherine’s best friend.  Her last day at Preschool was the last week in June.  Ella Catherine has missed her and was overjoyed to see her again.  The girls had a grand time giggling and running from ride to ride.  Carter was his usual shy self at first but then he set his sights on the bumper cars.  He talked only about them for about 20 minutes and so we all stood in line for the bumper cars.  Taylor and Ella Catherine were going to ride together and Matt was going to ride with Carter.  Well, we waited for about 15 minutes in line and when we reached the front, poor Carter wasn’t tall enough to ride.  He didn’t pitch a fit or cry but he was definitely upset.  The Donahoes stayed and watched the girls while Matt and I took him to go ride on the airplane ride.  He didn’t protest riding the ride but he didn’t really enjoy himself either.  His facial expression the whole ride was as if he had lost his best friend.

His mood changed drastically when we went to see the live stock.  He is such an animal lover.  He and the girls loved petting and seeing all the animals.  A little boy even let Carter hold a chicken.  They had an exhibit set up where you could be a farmer for the day by growing, harvesting and selling your products.  The kids loved it!  At the end you could trade your money you earned at the general store for animal cookies, an apple or an ice cream sandwich.  Needless to say, no one in our group opted for the apple. J

The girls ended the night on two BIG kid rides, the swings and the Ferris wheel.  The Donahoes graciously agreed to take the girls on the swings while Matt, Carter and I looked on anxiously.  Our sweet little baby girl being flung around so high in the air, it was nerve racking to say the least.  She looked so small up there.  She came off the ride just beaming with pride that she had done it and saying she loved it.  Next up was the Ferris wheel.  Poor Carter was yet again too small to ride.  So to avoid any scenes as it was getting late and he was tired, Matt took him to play a fair game.  Meanwhile,  the rest of us road the Ferris wheel.  It was a great way to end the evening.  Walking out the fire work display started and so we had a beautiful walk to our cars.  Taylor came home with us and spent the night.  It was a Great night with Great friends.  Unfortunately, We didn't get too many photos as both our phones died about half way through the evening.

Best Friends reunited and ready to ride the Dumbo ride.  First ride of the evening

Bumper cars.  Tayor at the wheel.

Looking over at the bumper cars that he was too small to ride

So Sad

Petting the goats

MUCH happier!!!!

Petting the chicken

Holding the chicken

The Olympics

I have always been Olympic obsessed.  So I was thrilled that Ella Catherine's preschool decided to teach the children about the Olympics.  In addition to learning about what the Olympics are, they have been having their own little mini Olympics with a new competition every day.  Her preschool teacher has been so creative with the events.  It has been so much fun talking with Ella Catherine every day on the ride home to see what event they had and how she did.  She informed me early on that if you were the best in more than one event that you would get to choose which one you wanted a medal for and the other event would go to the next best person.  This was everyone got a medal for something.  Today was the medal ceromony.  I hated to miss it but daddy to the rescue.  Matt went and particiated and watched as she was presented her medal.

Her medal was for being the fastest runner.

A trip to Mimi's house

It was Mimi's turn this weekend to have some one on one time with her grandchild.  Since Ella Catherine was about to start kindergarten, Mimi wanted to take her for an extended Big Girl weekend.  Ella Catherine was super excited.  Carter on the other hand well to say distraught is an understatement.  However, we have reassured him that he will get a big boy weekend with Mimi too.

In Tennessee, it was also tax free weekend.  So, Mimi so graciously took Ella Catherine school supply shopping which included buying her first school backpack.  Ella Catherine was so excited to call and tell us every night what supplies she had purchased.  In addition to shopping, they did some baking, some playing in the park and some arts and crafts.  She came back with a box full of goodies and all ready to start the school year

While Ella Catherine's away

While Ella Catherine was visiting Mimi, we mainly stuck to our normal routine of work and school.  However, Saturday we decided it was Carter's turn to have some fun.  Daddy took him to Home Depot and then they worked on projects or as Carter would say "some building" in the morning.  After naptime, I took him to the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro.  It was a fun Mommy and me afternoon.  That being said, he woke up Sunday saying "we go get Ella Catherine today?"  What can I say, he love his big sister and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

 

The River exhibit.  Learning how water is used as energy.

So excited to watch his boat go down

The building center

Very concentratred on building

The music center

The old car, I think this was his favorite as we kept coming back to drive it.

Loving being big

Learning how a train operates

Adding some more antifreeze to the car

Changing the tire

Tree house