Today I feel like...

THIS!

Yup, the chest cold I have been fighting off for some time now...WON! 

I don't feel bad enough to stay in bed.

Just rotten enough that I WISH I could...know what I mean.

Unfortunately, you mommy's know all too well, that when sickness strikes, you just got to keep on keeping on.

I'm draggin', but I'm keeping ON!

I've taken a few of these...

and downed a few cups of this...

And just when I thought I could sit down and rest for a moment...

 I came upon THIS...

Yeah...my kids, who I mistakenly thought were playing nicely in the next room, were actually in the garage having a food fight with the DOGS FOOD!!! 

Like I said...

No rest for the weary;)

Our Labor Day of L-O-V-E

Oh how I L-O-V-E weekends like these. Three FULL days of nothin' but food, friends, family, and FUN! Who could ask for anything more-right?!?!? 

And even though I'm sure we will still have a few 100 degrees days here and there, Labor Day Weekend also marks the end of a fun-filled summer. 

As we headed to the pool on Saturday, I reminded the kids that this was probably our last visit of the year.  

Our pool doesn't officially close for a few more weeks, but because of our full fall schedule, I don't think we'll have much time to swim anymore! 

Saturday afternoon, our pool hosted an "End of Summer Celebration"

 

where we chowed down on pizza and snow cones!

The kids had a BLAST swimming, hanging out with their friends, and enjoying our one last pool-side hurrah!

 Sophie and her sweet friend Elise certainly enjoyed their little selves!

You should have seen these two boogie and jive to the music!

Oh.My.Goodness!!!! I've never seen anything quite like it! 

 These two sure know how to "ROCK THE HOUSE"!!!

Not only did we "cut-a-rug" at the pool this weekend, but we also enjoyed a cook-out in the cul-de-sac with neighbors, movie and popcorn with friends, and a nice long bike ride through our neighborhood!

And as our fun-filled weekend came to an end...

 a nice, "relaxing" bubble bath was needed

 to help us unwind 

and get ready for the BUSY week ahead;)

Another First...

 This week has been a little CRAZY! With many of our fall activities beginning, we are working hard to find our groove. It always takes me a while to transition from our lazy summer days of NO schedule, to our kick-things-into-high-gear fall schedule! We'll get it, but it just takes time! 

And speaking of transitions...one of the biggest transitions EVER took place this week! 

My sweet Riley started Kindergarten!

 Can you believe it? Kindergarten???? Tuesday was his very first day and he was VERY excited. 

 I think after three years of visiting Corban at school, he seriously could.not.wait to join him! 

He woke me up around 2am on Tuesday morning, wanting to know how many more minutes he had left until school began;)

Bless his heart!

Thankfully, he went back to sleep for a few more hours, but when the alarm did finally sound...

 Riley was up, dressed and ready to go in less than three minutes;)

That's a definite record and I'm SURE that by next week I'll be begging him to get out of bed;)

Like Corban, Riley requested homemade cinnamon rolls for his "back to school" breakfast! 

He gobbled them up in no time flat and was encouraging everyone else to hurry up and finish too!

 Soon we were all heading out the door and on our way to the start of my Ri's big day!

 His teacher is just as sweet as sweet can be...

and I know Riley LOVES her already!!!

And the verse Shane and I chose for Riley this year is...

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father!

It's gonna be a GREAT year and I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for my precious little man!

Sophia the Ballerina!

Today I watched as my little girl DANCED!

Sophie has been anticipating the beginning of ballet for weeks now. She knew I signed her up and seriously COULD NOT WAIT to attend her first class. Last week, during a trip to T@rget, she picked out her PINK leotard, PINK tights, and PINK ballet slippers! I think since then she's gone to bed every night wearing her ballet slippers!! 

This morning, during breakfast, I announced that today was THE day!!! 

Today was ballet. 

This sweet girl bolted up stairs, grabbed her pink leotard off her shelf and found her tights in her drawer. She didn't need to worry about her slippers because, of course, she already had those on;) 

We got dressed and I pulled her hair up in a sweet little bun.

 Then it was off to class!

Her room was filled with the sweetest, tiniest, daintiest group of little ballerina's I had ever seen!  

It was a sea of BIG pink hair bows and precious pink tutu's!  

I sat back and watched in pure delight as my little girl spun, bounced, twirled, and wiggled her way around that room!

Miss Nicolette--Sophie's oh-so-kind and oh-so-patient ballet teacher!

After class, Sophie came running up to me and said... "I was a good listener mom! I obeyed my teacher like you said!!!" 

She was RIGHT! She DID do a great job and I was very impressed with the way she listened and followed directions! 

(Not always something that comes easy for her to do at times, but we're working on it! )

And because she did do so... well, we celebrated over a  Pink Sprinkled Doughnut! 

A perfect treat for our sweet little princess:)

Third Grade and a Fresh Start!

Today my sweet Corban walked out of the house a Third Grader!

I don't know why, but third grade seems so BIG to me! Like at the beginning of anything new, I could tell Corban was nervous. We've talked and prayed over this upcoming school year so much, but as morning dawned, Corban's stomach was filled with butterflies. I know he's going to have a GREAT year and once we find our groove, it will all be good! 

Corban requested cinnamon rolls for his "back to school" breakfast and so that's exactly what we had.

  Shane was working from home today, so he could walk Cor to school in the morning, AND was able to see him get off the bus this afternoon! 

 This morning, our street was a sea of people, as everyone eagerly made their way to the start of a new year.

 

Our cool Gator mascot was on hand to welcome students as they made there way into the school building. 

Corban was excited to show his daddy his classroom and introduce him to his new teacher.  

After quick introductions, Corban found his seat and began his work. 

I was biting my lip and trying hard to hold back the tears as we waved goodbye! I don't know why, but it's always so hard for me to let go! 

At the beginning of every school year, the boys and I pick out a new devotional to read before they head out the door each morning. 

This year we chose the One Year Devotional for BOYS! 

I really liked this one because the lay out was simple, short, and applicable for their day ahead.  

Shane and I also chose a verse for Corban to meditate on this year too. 

 

During our devotions this morning, we shared that verse with him. 

 Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

I am so... proud of my little BIG guy and trust the Lord to use Corban mightily for HIS glory this year!

It's gonna be a SUPER year!!

(Y'all can start praying for me now...Riley starts kindergarten on Tuesday!)