Back to School Time WHAT? Where did summer go?

I seriously cannot believe that in just a few days my kiddos will be back in school. Summer is one of my fav times of the year (love the warm sunshine, tanning my skin), so it is sad that school time is here again.

Last night we went to buy all the supplies for the kids' new year, still cannot comprehend that I had to get the lists for a 1st and 3rd grader. I CANNOT comprehend how little Clay is ready for 1st grade. He is so ready to go, he has already completed 1 year of full day school, so what is the big deal about 1st grade? Not sure, but I can feel my heart strings being tugged. I am not exactly sad, just a little sentimental. Clay is such a cuddle bug! He wants to sit with you, lay with you, hug you, kiss you, etc. I, on the otherhand, am not the most affectionate person on this planet. I LOVE that he loves me, so I will take those hugs and kisses now because he is growing up so fast!

Britt on the other hand, the girl that is already counting down to when she will be driving and when she will be headed off to college. No joke, walking in Menards last night she told me she will be driving in 8 years!!! I look at her and see such a pretty young lady standing before me. Her heart is filled with compassion and kindness. She shares with me the need to talk about Nana (my mom). I have always felt the need to keep her alive in my children's memories. I would hate for them to forget her. Britt talks about her ALOT, which I love because that keeps Mom alive in me as well.

Sorry about the sappy post, but the heart strings feel better!

Kennedy hanging out with Papa Miller

We got a chance to see Kennedy on Saturday. Kenny and Mary let her play with Dad's stack of old newspapers. She had a BLAST! Kenny said she loves to play and shred the papers but the second the pacifier pops out be ready, the paper finds its way to her mouth. PRECIOUS!

Dad's new toy

Dad, as a farmer, gets to get new toys. Clay and Brayden think that Papa's new toy is VERY cool, so Dad's coolness factor was moved up a couple notches over the weekend.

Visit with Baby Lincoln 7.31.09

With our summer flying by, I feel like I haven't seen Lincoln very much! Here are some pics from our visit on Friday evening. The little guy now weighs close to 9 lbs!!! Aunt Deanna feeding Lincoln.

Clay loves babies and he was just laying on the floor with Lincoln. It was too cute that Lincoln was staring right back at him!

Britt wants to be a "little mommy" she wanted to hold Lincoln, feed Lincoln, etc. Anything that we would let her do!?!!?! Very sweet!

I grew up with a Dad hating his picture taken. Now that the grandkids have arrived Dad is getting pretty used to the camera flashing!

Brittany FINALLY lost her 1st tooth 7.29.09

Brittany has desperately wanted her teeth to start falling out!! EVERYONE (according to Miss Britt) in her grade and some younger kids have lost at least one tooth except her. I guess she does have a point, she is going into 3rd grade! Sorry about the bloody close up, but we were very excited for her! The tooth-losing event was actually encouraged by her lack of ability to eat corn on the cob!

the little "Tooth Fairy" sack that Britt put under her pillow

Madi said the corn was making one of her teeth lose and low and behold she pulled it on the way to Dad's on Friday. This makes Madi's 2nd tooth she has lost. So, here is a pic of the girls together! The silly girls wanted the pic below. The bent fingers are supposed to be pirate hooks and they were saying, "Arrrggghhh!". Not sure why they thought of themselves as pirates but whatever!?!??!?

Madi & Brayden Sleepovers July 2009

Madi has stayed with us for a week each of the last 2 summers, so we had Madi again this past week to make it 3 summers in a row! Although I had to work, I think the girls had a good time. Madi LOVES our hot tub so that was a nightly event. Mike, my dear father-in-law retired this week, so with a little of my help the girls made him a sign. We didn't get there before he left for his last day of work, but Sandi hung it on the back door so Mike saw it when he got home. I was told that he LOVED it!

With Madi staying at our house, Clay went and stayed with Brayden at Deanna/Chris' house. Clay has never stayed away from home, especially not from Sunday night until Thursday night! He did great though! A few tears here and there but Deanna said for the most part he handled it well. I met Deanna on Thursday night and since we were headed to Rville on Friday night, Brayden wanted to come to my house, so Britt went to Deanna's. Are you all keeping up??? Anyway on the way down to Rville, Coco loved sitting on top of Brayden!!! He loved that!

Softball Tournament 7/24-7/25/09

We won! We won! The girls' record for All Stars ended up as 12-2; we won 2 tournaments-that we were undefeated in(!?!!?) and came in 4th in one tournament. Overall, All Stars made our summer disappear very quickly, BUT Britt is a much better softball player!

Clay found a good friend in Connor (a brother of one of Britt's teammates). They played ALOT of football!