a blessed September...

family photo taken by our favorite photographer (and s.i.l), c.e.b.

OK, ok, technically this photo was taken on the last day of August, but it really started September off for us so you get to see them here. We asked our lovely s.i.l, C, for a photo shoot in honor of our 10th anniversary this year. We did one with her for our 5th anniversary, and I would like to do this at least every 5 years. (I stole this idea from my Aunt K and Uncle H! =) Although mild obstacles occurred - a little confusion between a boat dock and a boat launch gave us a late start (the two gals who have no boat or lake knowledge should not have been the ones talking =), and then with 90+ degree weather and 90% humidity we were all a little sweaty and the kids were fussy and crabby. As you can see though, we got some nice pictures and had so much fun. Thanks again, C!!

September was busy with starting school for G and getting used to that schedule for all of us, and also it was the start of church programs and Sunday school. I am teaching W's class this year - six 3-4 year old boys! We also got our first taste of fall weather - 4 days after the 90+ weather on the first of the month, it was 60 degrees and we were scrambling to find jeans and long sleeve shirts that fit.

G notes:

• Oh this girl loves school! And that is so wonderful for S and I. It is great to have her excited to go every day. She also loves telling us about school too when she gets home (one of the things I was worried about was the typical answer "fine." to the "how was your day?" question.). After her first full day at school, she sat with me and told me all the details...then we went over to our neighbors house and she told Mrs. L all of the details...then she talked to Aahma and Boppa R on the phone and told them all the details...so by the time S got home at 7 that night, she didn't want to tell him ANYTHING - "I am tired of telling everyone the same story!" So I had to fill him in.
• For the month of September, they worked on colors and shapes...pretty basic for starting kindergarten! Each day they had to wear a specific assigned color for the day - this was a challenge being that this girl only wears pink, but really fun for G to help look for different colors in her clothes to wear. When they finished all the colors and shapes, they took a class field trip to the Walker Art Center and spent time in the sculpture gardens as well as the museum. G's favorite part was riding the bus! We do not get bus pick-up where we live which is very disappointing to her - she actually asked us if we could move so she could ride the bus.
  
• Other highlights for her have been being the milk helper and class leader, painting, library and storytime, singing, and playing with new friends at recess of course.
• Things that we are having to work on are being distracted and taking a long time with bathroom breaks, eating lunch and different projects. She is doing well in everything other than that though, and some of those things are just going to get better the more days she is in school (I have a feeling the novelty will wear off sometime).
• As usual with our kids, life and schedule changes don't really affect them too much during the day, but it comes out at night when they sleep. All the kids have been waking up more frequently, having nightmares, and of course wanting to all sleep in our bed since school started. Just takes time to work itself through...
  

W notes

• It took W a while to get used to G being in school 3 days a week. Not only did he miss his sister, but play is just different for him depending on whether she is here or not. Not much competition for toys when she is at school, a lot more when she is home...just hard for him to figure out his place again.
• He is enjoying some more attention from mom on school days though, and his relationship with C is growing too. That has been really fun for me to see!
  
• W was a little slow warming up to Sunday School this year, but by the end of the month, he was more excited about going and didn't cling to me the whole time. We are hoping he grows a little more in this area this year as he really has a hard time being apart from S and I yet.
• Storytime has started again at the library and continues to be a favorite activity of W's. He loves to listen to the stories and of course getting to pick out new stories to bring home and read.
  

C notes

• C has been just a lot more clingy since school started - I am sure it affects him too, although not as easily seen as with W and G.
• He really has been playing with toys by himself a lot lately. He of course is interested in the big kids toys and art supplies that W and G play with.
• We finally made the jump from C screaming to get what he wants to him yelling for "Mumma!" or "Dadda!" There are more times where he will ask with a please, too, without being prompted. My baby keeps growing up!!!
  
• Seemed to us that C was teething most of the month as he was fussier and had a finger in his mouth all the time. We didn't think much of it until we caught a glimpse of his upper teeth and they didn't look right. Took him into the dentist at the end of the month, and it turns out his molars are full of cavities and he will need to go into Children's hospital again the beginning of November to get them all crowned. This mostly comes from genetics as we are so careful with the sugar that our kids eat - no juice or soda, no hard candy or really candy at all, and limited other sugary treats. And we brush their teeth all the time! This means though that October could be an interesting month as you can tell that his teeth hurt him.