Firsts...

I feel like so much of September has been filled with firsts...and I think this momma is a bit overwhelmed!
Jake started first grade which means the first time he is gone all day...ALL DAY!!!!

He loves it...I feel a little bit of me is missing. Jake is the ring leader around here. Lizzy has adapted well to being an only child from 8am to 2:30. But momma is still feeling like something is missing.
This also came with another first for Jake, staying for lunch and recess everyday. And the chance to buy lunch...it still cracks me up that this is something so special to  him. I think it makes him feel like a big kid!

Lizzy started pre-school...

 

this may be the biggest change for me. For the past 6 years I have not been without a child. I have always had someone to get out of the car when running errands or going to the food store. Now I have two mornings alone :-(
I am learning to be :-) about this
I was expecting that I would be a mess the morning of Lizzy's first day...but surprisingly I was kept it together through the morning and drop off. I even went to the parent meeting our preschool hosts and kept it together. It wasn't until I pulled up to Target, Lizzy's favorite store, I finally lost it. I sat for a solid 10 minutes in the Jeep, sunglasses on, music up, tears flowing....i missed my girl. To be honest, I am having a heard time just typing this...stupid I know, but there you have it. A softy, that's me!

On the lighter side, both Lizzy and Jake have taken up some more outside activities...Jake has taken to gymnastics like nothing else he has done. So he is now attending twice a week. He will also start participating in a chess club this month at his school.
Lizzy is also continuing gymnastics and she is two weeks into her first ballet class.

I have never seen her face light up like it has when talking about ballet, watching ballet, going to ballet class. She has such joy in everything she does!
So this has been a lot for this momma...my babies are getting bigger. They are becoming the people God is molding them to be. I am so thankful for who they are and who they are becoming, but it's still hard to see them grow so fast!

Owls, toads, and deer...Oh my!

Today Jake's class took their last kindergarten field trip {tear} to Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in Medford. 
We had a wonderful time checking out the Pinelands and all the rescued animals.
It was a bit on the hot side...ok...it was pretty brutal but we had a great time.
Here are a few shots from our trip!

 I just adored her hat!!!

 A snake skeleton.

Kind of gross but I had to share.

 Boy did I wish there was ice!

 Fox

 Barred Owl

 Swan...who was very cranky.

He went after anyone and anything who went in "his lake"

 Checking out a box turtle

 Huge White Tailed Deer

 This toad decided to strut his stuff

 Can you see the lizard???

We had a great day!!!

KINDERGARTEN

Could it really be June in just a few days??
Can this school year be almost over??
Can kindergarten be almost over??
I honestly can not believe how fast this year has gone and how so many prayers have been answered.
And it is completely emotional for me.
School never came easy for me {and yes I know I'm a teacher but that's how I roll...when i struggle with something it becomes my goal to overcome it!} and I worried that my faults may have been passed on to my little guy.

I have seen more growth in my boy over the last 9 months than I ever thought I would, and I couldn't be happier with his experience.
...but really we have all had this experience.
From the time Lizzy and I spend in the classroom volunteering or just dropping off and picking up Jake, to the field trips...I am a room mom after all!
I have met some pretty great families too....I couldn't be more thankful for the families we have met and the friends we have created!
I can't wait to see what the next few weeks will hold as we wrap up our first kindergarten experience!