Remembering...

Nine years ago today Husband's amazing, wonderful, charismatic, strong mom passed away...I have a picture of her in my office and I thought of her today as I went about my work.  I'm not sure a family ever really recovers from losing someone like her; we've just learned to adapt to a new normal and try and find ways to incorporate her memory into our lives. 

I know she'd be so proud of Husband and Stephanie, along with her five gorgeous grandchildren she never got to know.  I feel like we've all done her proud and I try not to let myself think of what life would be like if she were with us because it just makes me cry....so we just go on with life remembering her amazing spirit, humor, and all the wonderful memories of our time with her.

This is one of my FAVORITE pictures of Grammy Georgia and TJ...it was Halloween and we were living with them as we waited to move into our new house....she got all dressed up just to answer the door with baby Spider man!  Just an example of the cool stuff she did!  We miss you everyday and know you are watching over us!

First Day of School

Yesterday was a day of firsts.....

TJ's first day of 5th grade!

Beau's first day of 1st grade!

Husband's first day in his new job teaching math!

My first day as a school counselor!

When Beau got off the bus at my school he was in a great mood...though I did hear he was a bit chatty (I wonder who he learned that from?), and TJ said his day was super!  Husband and I both had easy first days, though I did miss (a teensy bit) having my own classroom...as I walked through the halls of my building I heard all the wonderful first day of school activities, lessons, and conversations taking place...and I was a little lonely....but I'm already finding my new job to be pretty exciting!

My baby is growing up so quickly!

I just about had a fit he was actually going to wear this on his first day, but all the staff wore school colors....so I allowed it.

 

Mommy and her boys...notice the white knee socks are still around...sigh.

My boy's!

I haven't had a first day solo shot in about...hmmm....20 years, but apparently husband thought since I took one of him....

 Ready to go!

TJ's teacher Mrs. Darley...she's AMAZE at teaching science and does so many creative, cool things (her class runs a huge school garden)!  He's already having so much fun!

Beau's teacher Mrs. Schneider.  She's very sweet and a nice calming presence for him.

Beau and Halle-trying to hide their first day jitters...thankfully they sit next to each other!

 

First Grade!

Yesterday Beau's teacher, Mrs. S., had an open house so she could meet her students and families, and let them familiarize themselves with the room before the first day...I LOVE HER ALREADY!  Small details like this really show the type of educator she is...for those working parents who don't have the ability to be there on the first day at 8am, this three hour open house was perfect! 

We were the first ones to arrive so the spotlight was on Beau for a few minutes...and he clammed up and was suddenly very shy.  We walked all around the room looking for his desk tag, noticing all sorts of names we recognized from kindergarten and Montessori.  We finally found his desk and it was right next to....Halle Bug!  Who would have guessed? 

Mrs. S. asked if we knew Halle and Beau told her, "Yes, she's my best friend!" and I genuinely don't think Mrs. S. knew they were buds...or she very cleverly pretended not to know.  H & B sat next to each other almost all year in kindergarten so clearly it doesn't cause a problem and it gives them both some comfort in this new situation. 

Beau did express concern over...recess!   They didn't have recess last year except on Friday's, because the learning day was so short and they had to cram as much in as possible.  He was really anxious about going to recess with 2nd graders-it was very cute.  Mrs. S. explained they won't be at recess with any other children except fellow first graders and that seemed to rest his worried head. I chuckled to myself reflecting back on when TJ started first...I was still working part time and spent a lot...probably too much...time in his room.  I was absolutely mortified when I found out 1st and 2nd graders went to afternoon recess together...my baby was so young and those older 2nd graders were more advanced both socially and physically...and I didn't want it rubbing off on my sweet angel....

With Beau I don't even worry about that...chalk it up to second child, but I think it's all based on his personality.  Beau can handle himself in a way Tanner couldn't. He's self assured and very confident...something TJ didn't come into until about 3rd grade.  Beau may look like me, but he's all Husband!

So the first day is next Tuesday and it works out nicely because Finny doesn't start school until after Labor Day and I've been in TJ's room and know his teacher so well...since we work in the same building...which means I can spend the morning in Beau's room getting him situated for...FIRST GRADE!  Sigh.

Checking out his name tag on his new "desk" no tables for this kid anymore!

August!

Husband helping Coley waterski!

TJ and CJ playing horshoes on the river trip

Beau enjoying an evening floatila

Beau and Halle on the river

 BFF's

Coley the waterskier! 

This was a proud moment for Husband who has helped all our friends kids' try to learn to ski this summer...even Ms. Fin!  Hubs loves to ski and learned at a really young age; I know that's why he really loves getting kids up on skis for the first time...that and kid's always listen better to adults besides their parents...especially a 6'4" man bellowing at them, "ARMS STRAIGHT, KNEES BENT, HOLD ON TO THE ROPE LIKE IT'S YOUR FAVORITE TOY..."  as he's holding them by the top of their life jacket!  It's very entertaining.

  

 Stampede Kid's Parade...Oh the Places You'll Go!  Finny and Natty

A whole bunch of Cindy Lou Who's

 Thing 1 and Thing 2

Who is that blonde boy? 

Stampede Kid's Float

 First place in the large float category...pretty good considering we were the only entry in our category!

Finny Lou Who

 Sunday of Stampede preparing to float the Okanogan River in time to watch the Suicide Race come down the hill...it was so much fun we decided this will become an annual tradition!  Five families, 20+floats, coolers, and hot sun...can't beat that!

The end of summer is here...7 days until school starts and the rest is history! It's been a fabulous summer and we've squeezed more into the past 2 1/2 months than most people do in an entire year.  I'm tan, rested, and ready to tackle my new job.  Husband is busy with double days {football}, while he's also setting up his new classroom...the cool part is I can see his classroom windows from our living room and it was the room his dad taught in during the last few years of his teaching career!

More...

We returned from Lake Coeur d'Alene tan, relaxed, and a bit exhausted from having been gone for most of the summer thus far...and one day later Husband had a youth football camp for players in grades 3-8.  He did a great job organizing and planning this week long event and I know his hopes for putting such a large amount of effort into such activities is that these boys will eventually be strong football players for his HS team.  Beau was technically too young to attend, however he went everyday and participated in all the drills and stations.  It was really hot outside and the boys were pooped by the time it was over.

The really cool part about this camp was that TJ and Beau would ride their bikes to the field each day...Husband always went down around 6:30am to prepare and the boys would jump on their bikes about an hour later and take off.  I could see them riding all the way to the field so I felt totally fine with it; it was just strange to know they are both grown up enough to do this.  Now riding home was a different story...95 degree temps after 4hrs of working out...the bikes ended up in the back of Husbands truck a few times. 

This is one tough kid...he amazes me with his stamina and sheer will to keep up with the big boys!

High Knees Beau!

Running with Coach Sunder

He's very speedy!

Go TJ!

The long knee socks first appeared around basketball season and I thought it was a phase...apparently they are here to stay.  Even when it was REALLY HOT outside he wore them?????  TJ loves football and it's been really cool to see his dedication to it this summer!

Camp ended and we headed to the waterslides in Chelan and have been home hanging out since then.  We've been to Omak Lake almost everyday and I've (Finally) learned to wakeboard. I have a long way to go...like actually crossing the wake...but I can now get up and go for more than 2 seconds...like almost 10 seconds! Yeah for me...except my ten year old is quick to remind me that he learned on his 3 try and is already better than me....pipe down boy!

Summer Heaven!

Summer is GREAT!

Friday we head to Banks Lake for our annual River Trip campout with a bunch of families...tent camping is not exactly what I feel like doing but this is the last official adventure of the summer and we are going to enjoy ourselves!