Naughty or Good List?

On Christmas Eve, Matt and the kids have a tradition where they open the emails from Santa to see if they are on Santa’s good or bad list. This year was a real nail bitter for each of the kids, so when the email arrived and they watched the video of Santa letting them know they made the good list, all were pleased.  Unfortunately for Matt, he did not make the good list and the children were a little upset about that. The good news however was that Santa did let him know he still had time to make the good list before Christmas. 

The next morning Santa came and left lots of gifts for everyone including Matt.  We had breakfast the kids opened up the presents from family and played with the books and toys the rest of the day. All in all it was a great day!   We hope you all had a great Christmas also.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!!! 

Home for the Holidays

We are getting ready for the holidays again. This time of year is always exciting for the kids and for the parents.  The kids knew Christmas was getting close because our special Elf on the Shelf “Jess” came to start his daily reporting to Santa.  Carter had his first school concert where he sang Rudolph the Red nose reindeer, Rudolph had a cold in his nose and the Twelve Days of Christmas. Although we though he would just stand there and be quiet when he saw so many unfamiliar faces we were pleasantly surprised that we were wrong. He belted out most of the words and was having a great time singing.  Ella Catherine's Christmas concert was also the same night. Her class sang    and they joined Carter's class signing the Twelve days of Christmas.   Being a veteran of the school plays she was ready to go the minute the music started.   Cassidy is ready for Santa and has really enjoyed making Christmas projects at school with her other friends. Amy is still going strong with running and making great friends in the Nolensville Running Club. She is getting ready to go to Huntsville this upcoming weekend and cheer on some friends as they run in Huntsville Rocket City Marathon.

Cassidy is 2

 

How can it be that Cassidy is already 2?  With our spunky little girl there is never a dull moment.  We should have known that would be the case when she decided to make her debut on Thanksgiving morning 2 years ago.  We Love you Cassidy and can't imagine our lives without you.

 

 A few things that Matt and I would like to remember about this time in her life and document for her to read for years to come.  She has a little Tag blanket that is a bear and has a pink body and she positively can not sleep without it.  Believe me we learned this the hard way.  As a result, we now have 2 Mrs. Bears.  When you ask her what her name is she says "Sassy".  I believe this nickname will stick because it is just oh too appropriate.  She knows the majority of her colors but purple is her favorite.  She loves our dog Elway and has started requesting him in her room when she goes to bed at night.  As the 3rd child she began watching TV well before the others and probably than she should have.  Her favorite is Minnie Mouse and the movie "Frozen".  She has been known to walk around daycare and the house singing let it go.  She loves to be chased and tickled and when she wants you to do something again she says " one more time" in a very southern accent.

 

We celebrated our sweet little girl with a fun family day.  We started off with her favorite breakfast foods, pancakes and yogurt.  This was followed by opening her presents.  She had no clue but it killed Ella Catherine and Carter to wait so long.  We ended the day by having Matt's cousin Amy join us for a little family celebration of hotdogs, hamburgers, fries and of course cupcakes.

 

Opening her first gift

Big sister can't control herself and wants to help

Love that sweet face

Its her Birthday shirt!  Design was a mini mouse with a purple bow and her name in purple

More presents.  Don't mind her clothes please, she picked out her clothes

Meticulously getting every piece of paper off the box

Almost there

Big Smile for Minnie Mouse

Loving Minnie Mouse.  Later that day she told us "I lub (love) Minnie mouse".  So precious!

Daisy to Brownie

We are so lucky that we happened upon such a great Daisy troop last year.  The girls and moms were so sweet and welcoming.  Ella Catherine loved every meeting and every event.  Sad to say that last year was her only year of being a daisy.  So to kick start off the new year of being a brownie, she had a bridging ceremony.  After the ceremony was over, her amazing troop leader hosted a spa party at her house for the girls.  The troop had some leftover money from their cookie sales last year.  She bought each girl a spa robe and had them monogrammed.  In addition, she had it all set up so the girls would enjoy manicures, pedicures, a facial and a mini massage.  Ella Catherine was in heaven.  We love troop 2916!  

Each girl had a cute gift bag with their name on it (robe inside) and then a loofah, cup and nail file

The girls looking at Ms. Christina's brownie jacket, waiting on their bridging ceremony

Ms. Christina telling Ella Catherine how proud she is of her and her hard work to learn the girl scout pledge

Off with the Daisy smock

On with the brownie vest

Big Smiles

So proud of her

Brownie toast with sparkling lemonade

Sparkling lemonade and cheese pizza.  These girls were in heaven

Ella Catherine with her surprise

All the girls with their name gift bags

Loving her new robe

All the girls ready for their spa party

Ms. Erica doing Ella Catherine's nails

Ella Catherine and her friend Sophie loving their facial mask

To top off the fabulous party... well brownies with ice cream of course

Flag football

Carter told us about 3-4 months ago that he wanted to play football.  So when we saw the sign up for flag football, we thought this would be the perfect way to introduce him to organized sports.  Matt signed Carter up but also volunteered to be an assistant coach.  Turns out a lot of dads offered to be assistant coaches but none offered to coach.  All it took was an e-mail stating they needed someone to step up or they would have to cancel the season for Matt to volunteer. Twist his arm.  Enter Coach Matt/ Dad.  Turns out they had enough boys sign up that they have 2 teams.  Nolensville Panthers red team and the Nolensville Panthers camo team.  Matt and Carter are on the Red team.

Sunday August 10th was the official draft.  All the kids came out and ran drills and then were placed on teams.  As expected Carter was a little shy to participate but finally toward the end warmed up..just in time for the tryouts to be over. :)  Matt held practice Tuesday and Thursday night and Carter did GREAT!  No shyness and he LOVED every minute!  YAY!!!  Here are a few not so great pictures I took from practice on Thursday night.  The boys are playing sharks and minnows.  The sharks are trying to pull the flags off the minnows and the minnows are trying not to lose their flags.  The boys loved the game.

Carter raising his hand that he is on his spot for the game to begin

Getting ready to start, but wrangling 16 boys is work for these daddies

Carter running from the shark

I took the picture a second too late, wish you could see him trying to keep his mouth guard in with the huge smile on his face

Safe on base

Waiting for the next round to begin

Mimi's turn

Matt and I are so lucky to have parents that are so willing and happy to help out when we need them.  After Nana left, Mimi came to help out.  She took off work so that Matt and I wouldn't have to.  How lucky are we?!  I'm so glad that Carter was able to have some one on one time with Mimi too.  Monday he originally decided that he wanted another day at home but when Mimi asked if he wanted to go to the Aquarium restaurant to eat lunch he was quick to change his mind.  He was mesmerized by the fish but it didn't stop him from inhaling his lunch of popcorn shrimp.  He and Mimi played and shopped at Opry Mills and then they went and picked up Cassidy a little early on her first day of her new school and then Ella Catherine from YMCA funco.  I had open house at the school for Carter and Matt had to work a little late.  So Mimi held down the fort with a lot of playing outside and then bath time. Tuesday was Carter's first day of school.  Unfortunately, the YMCA Funco school aftercare program for kindergartners doesn't start until Thursday.  Mimi to the rescue.  She stayed in town and picked all the kids up from their respective schools for us again. YAY!  Tuesday nights Ella Catherine has piano lessons and Carter has just started flag football practice too.  We like to call it divide and conquer night.  Matt is coaching Carter's team so he takes Carter.  I usually take Ella Catherine to piano and little miss (Cassidy) and I wait in the car until she is done.  Last night, Mimi took Carter to meet Matt at the football field and then went to Ella Catherine's piano lesson.  Then she and Ella Catherine went back to watch the end of football practice.  Meanwhile, I was at home with Cassidy.  It was nice to have some one on one time with Cassidy and get a jump start on lunches etc for the next day.  We have enjoyed Mimi's visit and are sad to see her go today.  

Carter at the Aquarium

Carter and Mimi Selfie

Blurry picture but happy to see he was ALL SMILES when she picked him up from his first day

Ella Catherine was happy too

First Days

It has been a busy few days in the Lynch house.  We have been doing lots of school supply shopping, registrations and open houses all leading up to the start of a new school year. On August 8th, Ella Catherine had her first day of Second Grade, Carter had his kindergarten evaluation and Cassidy had her last day at Vanderbilt Child and Family Center.  A very emotional day for this mom and dad.  Ella Catherine had already met her new teacher, Ms. Watson, and was very eager to start the new school year.  Carter was excited but nervous about his kindergarten evaluation.  Our little shy guy did great!  We were so proud that he warmed up really quickly and participated without any problems.  As for Cassidy, she really had no idea it was her last day at VCFC.  She loves her teachers and friends, so it was a very difficult decision to move her.  This transition was especially hard on me.  As a family we have been at the VCFC for over 5 years.  I know all the staff very well and I have been the co-leader of the PTO for the last 3 years. However, a spot opened up in a really fantastic center closer to home and the kids elementary school.  We just couldn't pass it up.  Having all the kids in the same general location will be so much easier on Matt and I for drop off and pick up.   On August 11th, Cassidy started Ms. Nicholes Inc.  I had taken her by a few times the week before on our way home from VCFC to play a little and get more acclimated to her new school.  I think it helped.  She did beautifully her first day.  Her teachers were very impressed.  They said she had no problems at all.  She was very talkative, sang "Frozen" (thank you big sister) and she ate and napped well.  Day 2 went just as smoothly.  We are so thankful!  August 12th was Carter's day!!  His first day of Kindergarten Readiness.  How can he be old enough for elementary school?  He was so excited and so cute.  As we waited in the hallway for the bell to ring and for him to go to his classroom, he told me he was a little excited, a little nervous and a little scared.  However, when the bell rang he took off walking down the hallway without reservation and didn't hesitate a second when we came to his classroom.  He found his cubby and helped me put his supplies up.  I took his picture with his teacher and then he went and sat down at a table with the other boys and began playing.  What a huge RELIEF that all the kids transitioned so well to their new classes.  Finally this mom and dad can get a good nights sleep.

Ella Catherine and her teacher Ms. Watson

First day of second grade

Look how tall she is

Showing off her new backpack and lunch box

Hamming it up for the camera 

Cassidy's first day at Ms. Nicholes.  Hope they are ready for this sweet, spunky little girl.

Big girl 20 months old and starting a new school

Hard to get a 20mo to stand still for a picture. :)

Carter's first day of Kindergarten Readiness.  

LOVE LOVE LOVE this pic

Mom, Carter and Dad on his first day.  Picture courtesy of Ella Catherine 

First day of Kindergarten Readiness and third day of 2nd grade

Matt with his big kids.  He will now be dropping 2 kids off at school in the mornings.

Carter and his teacher Ms. Davis

Making new friends.  He did great!  No problems with drop off at all.