School Dayz

We are beginning our third full week of school already! It is going so fast. I'm happy to report it has been a pleasantly smooth, first two weeks! (though, Aaron has only just gotten his first homework packet so we'll see if that continues) Generally it is really nice that the boys get a homework packet on Friday and we have a week to complete it (though Nate does have nightly, due by the next day math homework).

Let's begin with the first day!

Definitely not the easiest to see, but the bags spell out "Back to School". I had this ready for their first day morning and ran out early to collect donuts, their breakfast choice.

Daddy stayed long enough to drop the boys off with me, then it was time for a business trip

First to drop off

I kept my fingers crossed that Aaron would adjust to needing to use the potty at school all day and that he could figure out how to get his lunch equipment open/closed, remember all of his supplies at the end of the day...all that stuff he normally wasn't having to do! He did perfect. He must have been ready :(

Coming out the gate the first day

Success!

We were able to walk the boys to their classroom the first day, but starting the following day they just had to find their own class lines outside. I'm lucky in that Aaron finds comfort in being with big brother, so Nathan has been walking Aaron to his line first everyday before he then goes to his. I'm very grateful that I have not had a single day of any tears, or any begging kids to attend school.

It has been weird to not have any kiddos at home during the day (for now!) Balancing doing housework mixed with "me" time fun. Trying to milk all the time I have to do so before it disappears rather soon!

Also trying to take advantage of volunteering at the boys' school while I can, since I'm not sure how much I'll be there later. Last week I took Aaron lunch one day.

His new BFF, Ethan

With classmate friend Eowyn, after school one day

This is Nate's first year having TWO teachers (one comes MT, the other WTH, and they alternate Fridays). So far so good.I wasn't really worried about him adjusting. His good friend, Ben, is also in his class and happens to also sit right across from him. Nate isn't the biggest fan of writing so I'm holding my breath as to when his first book report arrives.... :p

Just super pleased how the first few weeks have gone and the teachers we have this year.

California Vacation + Last Week of Summer Break!

Though not for too long, we had a great little getaway to California for a few days! The boys excitedly went to bed the night before and excitedly woke up the morning of :)

At 6AM Aaron woke up announcing he was ready to go - apparently all he needed was his blanket and coloring material!

Uneventful drive there. On our way to Anaheim, we decided to stop at Huntington Beach so we could enjoy some ocean waves a bit.

So excited - he got knocked down a few times!

The weather was so refreshing for third trimester me!

After six hours on the road it was good for us to stop and stretch out our bodies a bit - plus, this was the coolest point in the trip. Anaheim, while cooler than hot AZ, proved to be warm for CA standards. We had lunch as soon as we arrived and it was just so wonderful to sit next to an open window on the beach! Nothing like that ocean air/breeze...

Our first full day in Anaheim we spent at Disneyland (but of course!) I just have to say already - I was so happy and proud of our boys - with two full days at theme parks, they never once complained about lines, about the amount of walking or how warm it was (and it was!) I was so impressed that I kept my third trimester complaints to myself too! :p Just thank goodness for endless drinks, Nathan's squirt bottle/fan we let him buy, comfy shoes and my back brace. By the end of the day though I had to untie my shoes to allow for my feet to breathe a bit.

A handful of people were concerned and surprised I think that we would be going to theme parks with me as heavily pregnant as I am, but it worked out well actually - even though Aaron was tall enough for some bigger rides, he's still a bit nervous and timid. So, while daddy took Nate on all the "big rides", I hung with Aaron and did whatever he wanted to do (some small rides, but otherwise he wanted to just browse/shop and play with a toy we let him get). We connected to do a few rides and meals together.

The first time to Disney that Aaron will remember

His toy he got to pick out - some Star Wars figurines

One-on-one time with littles

Lunch at the restaurant inside the Pirates of Caribbean ride - tradition!

Mommy's fancy mint julep, light up drink (we got to keep the cube)

Happy with a basket of bread

A successful day for Nathan going on all the major rides, and Aaron happily getting to do whatever he wanted to. We left early that night so the boys could rest up for another busy Disney day, this time at California Adventure.

Radiator Springs

Aaron loves the movie Cars, so he just loved Cars Land then!

I'd like some Mickey bread mama!

Drinking out of a motor oil cup

You'll notice how there's more pictures of Aaron - Nathan has become a bit anti-camera these days!

Again, we had another good, full day. Nate did all the big rides with Josh while I had Aaron for the most part again. But they each had fun, so that's all that mattered!

The next day was unfortunately time to go home. We decided to just go straight home as to miss traffic everywhere, and the boys seemed pretty pleased with our trip that we didn't feel like we needed to do anything else. It was good, we got home by late afternoon so they had time to play before it was time for bed.

We had such fun that the boys are already looking forward to our next visit!

Summer Series : Week 7

Perhaps not so coincidentally, and probably because I'm starting to poop out, our last week of summer break before a few days of vacation was more of a low key week.

The boys had their last week of Sports Camp in the mornings - they were tuckered out at the end of the day. Basketball, going to the park (for a little bit), hockey, soccer, football, scooters, games, volleyball and probably more I'm missing...they were active fellows!

One day I took them to my gym to play in the splash pad and pool, something I realized we hadn't done this summer yet!

Splash pad

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Cooling off with mommy's ice cold, yummy smelling gym towels afterwards

Something else we hadn't done yet this summer - partake in our favorite cupcake shop's Tuesday events (each Tuesday there is a different theme, usually that you have to dress up as to get a free cupcake).
This year we headed in on beach day, so naturally we were suppose to dress up as if we were heading swimming.

We also did Back-to-School shopping with Aunt Kristen and Nana ! Aaron needed new tennis shoes, which we bought that came with tattoos -

I think it worries me that my son already wants a tattoo on his neck!

We headed to the mall for Back-to-School clothes shopping, and since we were there we had to show Aunt Kristen what the "snuggle time with doggies" was all about!

Carver- a 1 year old dog, as calm as could be!

He just collected rubs and pets

On Saturdays this month the boys have continued with swim lessons.

Nate practicing strokes with the kick board

More than likely after their last Saturday session this month I think we'll be done. It has been good, but with August looming there's much to be done around here, we haven't even started to get Preston's room or gear organized yet! Not to mention, again, I think mama is getting tired of sitting outside in warm temperatures for an hour. We do swim pretty much everyday yet so they're still practicing in some degree!

The weekend found us just relaxing to prepare for our busy vacation days ahead!