3 Little Monkeys Going Off to School

The night before the first day of school (for Caleb) we had a family home evening about growing, not just older but as a person.  So we talked about planting seeds of the person we want to be and then how we have to work on making them grow so we can be that person.  We talked about being a good friend, being honest, kind, confident and yes, Caleb our intelligence will grow also.  So then we planted grass seeds in our little monkey pot, watered it and set it in the sun.  We watched it over the next week and it grew so much! 

We filled out our back to school interviews and had stroganoff, our signature back to school meal.

Here's Caleb at his meet the teacher night! 

Caleb's first day of 2nd Grade!

He insisted on having two water bottles because "it's important to stay hydrated" but then his backpack was HEAVY! He had a great day at school and his favorite thing was lunch.

Crue's first day of preschool was the next day. He climbed in my bed that morning and was all smiles!

He wanted to go right away but had to wait a couple hours.

He picked out his white shorts and Austin Moon shoes.

We're so glad his best friend Jett is in his class!

Thumbs up for his awesome Despicable Me backpack.

Crue looked super overwhelmed when I left him on his first day but he came home and the first thing he said was, "Today was the great day and the best ever."

Kellan had to wait a week longer than his brothers but he got to spend some one on one with Mama! He's going to a new preschool but he loves it and is so lucky that one of his best friends from church is in his class.

It was hard to get a good picture of these two but they are buddies! Kellan and Jade! Kellan just looked at this picture and said, "Do you think that's so cute? Because I do." Aww.

Here are the boys back to school interviews.  They are pretty entertaining!

 Yeah Caleb wants to be a physicist.... a medical one who invents the machines and tools they use in hospitals.

 Kellan has already been working hard on his goals!

 Our rockstar Crue is also a ladies man.  I wrote exactly what he said and his second goal still has been both laughing hysterically and biting my nails nervously. Where did this kid come from? And the whole thing about kissing the girl in the blue shirt! Oh my... He got candy on his first day of school and aside from kissing girls that was the only thing he talked about.... oh and apples?

We're off to a good start this school year.  I can't believe how big these boys are getting!

End of Summer!

Slowly but surely I am catching up on things... so here's looking back on summer... Uncle Jojo came to visit in July and we loved spending time with him! 

We had a fun Fathers day with sushi, shave ice and the How to Train your Dragon 2 movie!

Crue got at least 3-4 haircuts this summer.  He always models in the mirror and for camera afterwards.

Crue loved having Caleb home all summer.

We took A LOT of trips to Sonic! I mean A LOT!

Our awesome friends, the Chock's came to visit from California!  The boys weren't shy!

We're loving having Emerson so close! The boys love to play with their cousin.

Caleb played with his best friend Maci a lot.  We had a donut date...

... swimming dates where they practiced tricks...

... and music dates... 

... which led to dancing dates...

... because of the dancing dates they had to plan a Lego date.  These two are hilarious and cute together.  Her mom and I are already kind of, but seriously, planning their wedding.

We discovered this summer that Crue is insanely scared of storms.  He would go into panic mode if too many clouds were in the sky. Rain is supposed to be fun but he will not dance in it like his bros.

Kellan tries to protect him and encourage him to sing in the rain... no thank you.

I forgot some cute swimming and splashing pictures. Several times this summer the boys found they had the community pool all to themselves!

Crue doesn't last too long in the pool so I try to take pictures of his eyes while we wait for his brothers.

Then his brothers make fun of his close ups.

Crue, for whatever reason (nightmares, growing, just being Crue) has started waking up several times in the night and ending up on the futon next to our bed.  It's a battle but then again he sleeps better and he's not in my bed... right?!?  No Daddy's a snuggler and now randomly we'll get Crue AND Kellan in our bed with me sleeping on the futon.

Nana got the boys some snorkeling gear and their new backpacks for school.  The boys modeled it... Crue is crazy.  They have loved their backpacks and snorkels!!! 

Last month Grandma and Grandpa came to visit! We had so much fun!  These boys sure love them!!!

We went to Joes Crab Shack while they were here

I always get my full lobster!

We went to the aquarium after lunch with them and Nana, Nelly, Ben and Emerson.

We also took Grandma and Grandpa to the science center and this time went in the Lost Egypt exhibit!

Caleb was impressed with the Rosetta stone.

The other two just really loved this camel.

I love this picture! Grandma's a good sport playing with these crazies! Crue was cooking all kinds of food in the playhouse. 

We took a lunch break at Pizzeria Bianco!!  Chris and I have been wanting to eat there for years!!  It was delicious!!! We had such a fun time visiting with Grandma and Grandpa!  We wish we got to spend more time and see them more often!

Right before school started we had our dental check ups... in the waiting room I read a Parenting article that said kids who lie at a young age, 4 years and younger, are much more cognitively advanced than other children.  Well then, Crue is a genius!  Haha this kid is soooooooo cute and so so mischievous.  He gets away with all that lying because of that cuteness. 

Well it was a fun summer.  We loved our stay cations and vacations and visitors!!! Now I can post about SCHOOL!