Beautiful Weather and Apple Picking

We have had the most beautiful week and the weather this weekend has been amazing.  Today's forecast was for a high of 76.  There were no clouds.  It was perfect.  We have been outside non stop for the past two days.  The kids have been playing tag, looking for frogs, catching bugs, playing water balloons, washing cars.  We have had two bonfires.  It has been busy.  It has been awesome.

At Snider Creek looking for Frogs 

They had been asking to wash the car all summer.  I figured this might be their last chance for awhile.  Cheap labor.  All I had to give them were popsicles.  

Two nights of bonfires.   Two nights of mosquito bites and smores.  

We decided it would be a great day to go to the apple orchard.  I love this tradition.  I hope it lasts forever.  I love the kids excitement.  They love running from tree to tree.  Picking apples.  Taking a few bites.  Throwing the apple down.  Repeat.  

This year we asked the Snider Family if they wanted to go with us.  We had a good time, but the kids are starting to outgrow it.  Boo.  I hope that doesn't happen to us.  

It is so nice to have a low key weekend where we can just play and spend time together. 

Excited to be picking apples.  

Two fisted apple eater.  

I remember when we had to lift him to reach the apples.  No Mom needed, only tippy toes.  

So excited to find the biggest apple ever!  He wanted to know if it was as big as his head!

Helping Daddy push.  

Beautiful girl.  She wore her apple jeans for the occasion.  

I'm not sure how many apples this kid ate.  Last week he was "getting way too sick of apples"

I really believe that it is impossible to have 4 people look at the camera and smile.  

First Day of Preschool

I made it through the first week of kindergarten.  It was tough, but we made it through.  Then, today...Leah started preschool.  She seemed excited to go.  She has been saying that she was going to go to school in the Fall.  She kept asking me if it was Fall yet.  We put Ryan on the bus, took our obligatory first day picture and were off.

She was excited to walk into the building, but clammed up a bit when Ms. Michelle (the teacher she doesn't know), started talking to her.  I quickly gave her a hug and handed her to Ms. Sherry and left.  It was hard, I wanted to cry, but I didn't look back.  I heard from another mom that she was doing well.

I went home to an empty house.  It was very strange.  I cleaned like a mad woman while waiting to go pick her up.  I was so anxious.  I had a lot of flashbacks while I was waiting for her.  I kept thinking about Ryan starting there.  He was 3.  She was 1.  I can't believe how fast time has gone.  

Anyway, her teacher said that she did great.  She was so happy when she came out.  Talking a mile a minute.  I heard that she made a new friend, Grace.  She had a snack...pretzels and apple juice.  She drew a picture for Daddy.  She sang songs.  She played with blocks and on the teeter totter.  I am so glad she loves it.  Now I just need the next two years to drag ;)  I am now the mom of a kindergartner and a preschooler.  Weird.  

Kindergarten

It is here.  Tomorrow is the first day of Kindergarten.  I really don't know how it is possible.  I look back at the past 5 1/2 years and it has flown by.  In the beginning, the days were long and I "wished" time away...when he is 4 months he won't be colicky, when he can crawl he will be happy, once he can talk I will know what he wants...  I would do so much to have that time back, it is hard to remember it sometimes.  Already.   But, for the past few years, I have been very cognizant of how fleeting our time is.  How special our days together our.  How lucky I am to be a stay at home mom.  The days have flown by.  I have known this day was coming, but I am not ready.  I hope I have done a good job of preparing him for the "real world".  I love my little buddy so very much and I hope he knows it.  I hope he knows how proud I am of him and that I will always be here for him no matter what. Today marked the end of an era and tomorrow marks the start of a new one.  I am excited, happy, nervous...so many emotions.  I am trying to keep it together.  Good luck tomorrow, buddy!  Mommy loves you!!

Note:  If I have to send him off to Kindergarten, I am glad that he will be spending the day with a friend. Someone who cares for him and will take great care of him.  Someone I already feel comfortable with and trust.