Life Lately - Starting School and Labor Day Lake Weekend

Monday

School started back! 

Caleb and his poster - He wants to be the president when he grows up!

Ella and her poster - She wants to be a vet when she grows up! 

She wanted a picture with her book bag and lunchbox. 

At school!  Caleb was saying "Hurry up, I see my friends"  He didn't want to be walked to his class. 

Ella found her school best buddies in the cafeteria 

At her desk 

She was sitting next to her buddy Seth from K.  She was such a big girl - she hugged me bye and I left with her smiling. 

I ran to Caleb's class to drop off some supplies and grabbed a quick picture. 

Ice Cream to celebrate after a successful first day 

Ella rocked 1st grade! 

First HW assignment - He had to bring 3 things to describe him.  He picked a tool because he likes helping daddy in his shop, a soccer whistle because soccer is his favorite sport and a green car cause green is his favorite color. 

Ella's teacher sent me this picture from her 1st day.

Ella is loving her teacher and keeps saying she is "super sweet" 

Games and Family Night before bed

Tuesday 

How I like to do car line with a French vanilla coffee (extra cream and sugar) and 3 cinnamon munchkins - I don't get it much but when I do it's a treat! 

We had dinner with Pastor Ben and wife.  They are special to us because they helped distributed the crosses for Crosses for Christmas last year.

Caleb is famous!  (or so he thinks)  His picture was on My Fish Friday on WRAL (thanks to Mammy!)

Wednesday 

Water Night at church was a lot of fun

Water balloon toss 

Getting ready for the water balloon fight 

Ella about to get Mr. Doug  

Slip and slide time 

The kids had fun slipping and sliding in the suds 

We had to hose them off before we sent them home

Thursday 

Ella's 1st night of Tumbling at Hunters - she was so glad Liza was in her class 

We had a Sip and See at Olive Garden to celebrate Kelly and Carter 

Love all these ladies and baby Carter!

Friday 

We headed to the lake one last time this summer 

Rhett kept wanting to eat Caleb's cereal 

Golf cart ride with MeMa 

Taylor Cousins all love Rhett 

They love going to Goat Island 

Logan bought a pontoon - we can't wait til next year! 

The girls went fishing and caught a bunch of fish 

Can you see Ella with her thumbs up - she was loving it!

Checking out all the fish they caught 

Paddle Boat riding - crazy they are big enough to do this by themselves now 

Showing Rhett the fish and throwing them back 

Caleb driving the girls around the yard 

We saw so many geese! 

Fishing off the back of Logan's new pontoon boat 

Caleb skiing 

Ella wanted to try... 

Look at this girl 

She got right up but didn't stay up too long.  We are so proud of her for trying! 

Homemade Ice Cream and brownies 

Ended the weekend playing Black 7s

Life Lately - Last Week of Summer and Raynor Lake Trip

Monday

We took Ella's sponge rollers out to see how curly her hair was 

Playing with water beads first thing 

Ready for the day and excited about her curls 

We made a quick grocery run for some eclipse supplies before heading to church so I could work 

Back home and watching the eclipse 

Party with the Stones - Sun Drop and Moon Pies 

The boys were interested in the moon - unlike the girls who said it wasn't "their thing" 

Me and Staci thought it was pretty cool 

Thanks to Mammy for getting our glasses in last minute and rushing around to make sure we all had them! 

Pierce stayed to play and the water beads kept them busy 

We made some pom poms - another birthday gift 

Caleb and I snuck away for a late bike ride - Ella can't hang!

Tuesday 

Kids came down and fell back asleep in my bed and slept late! 

What do they want to play with?  Water beads - they can't get enough! 

Donuts for breakfast 

We made a quick Target run and this made us think of Crawford so we sent him a quick picture "Squad Goals".  He calls them his squad.

I told them they could pick to do whatever they wanted - after I said no to Disney and Great Wolf Lodge, they settled on Chuck E Cheese! 

Ella loved the riding ones 

Trying to win tickets 

With their prizes - sucker, bracelets and cotton candy 

We took dinner to the Hutchens and Ella was so excited to hold Carter 

Snapping a picture with the baby hog! 

Now there are 5 little friends!

Wednesday 

 Ella asked to use her birthday gift card so we headed to Panera for lunch for her fav - broccoli soup in a bread bowl

Movie and some ice cream that afternoon

That night we headed to Mini Putt in Rocky Mount with church friends 

Silly girls flew thru putt putt 

Trying to get it in the hole 

Daddy came too!  Caleb was excited because he has been working alot 

Group picture 

This boy hit the jackpot on tickets 

Game time with Leah 

Tickets kept coming 

More riding for Ella 

Leah hit the jackpot

This place was a lot more affordable and had way better prizes than Chuck E Cheese!

Thursday

We spent the morning at home cleaning the upstairs - including toys and clothes

We made a quick Chickfila run in our PJs for breakfast 

That afternoon the kids had well check ups - both are growing great!

Dr. Buck said if Caleb kept growing like he is now he could be 6'3" or 6'4" when he is full grown.

Then we headed to School Open House to meet the teachers

Grayson, Caleb and Connor were glad to see they were all together this year 

Ella at her desk - she was excited her teacher had bags of gumballs for everyone! 

With her friend Madysen from last year 

Her teacher Mrs. Deans, Ella kept saying how sweet she was 

Caleb was pumped to have Mrs. Hunt again (He had her for 1st grade too!)

Thursday night we headed to the lake for some Raynor Family Fun

We ended the night with some cards 

Sweet little babies asleep in the bed together

Friday 

These 3 were up bright and early 

They had to go wake Mammy up! 

Ready for a boat ride 

Watching Caleb kneeboard and ski 

We stopped to explore Goat Island 

Mammy and her sweet darlings 

On the dock 

Swimming and Caleb relaxing

Fishing - we did a lot of that this weekend!  Granddaddy would be proud!

Owen loved the water! 

Sweet little cousins - these two are best buddies lately! 

Feeding the fish bread and watching them swim to the surface

Relaxing in the hammock 

We came in for lunch and Owen crashed like this 

More fishing! 

Caleb caught a bunch! 

Ella got one! 

Owen was excited to catch some too! 

Dinner on the porch - pork, potatoes and peas 

Cousins enjoying their dinner too 

A little more fishing - these two were reeling them in 

Enjoying their smores 

Kent and Owen by the campfire!

Saturday

Caleb and Corey took the boat out fishing that morning 

Then we all rode to see the big catfish 

and feed the ducks 

We all got ice cream! 

This gazebo had sprinklers all around it and the kids enjoyed running in and out 

Hanging out on the back of the boat 

Ready to ride back 

Relaxing 

Caleb caught a huge catfish off the end of the pier 

We spend the afternoon swimming - this boy had a good time - can you tell? 

Jumping in the water together 

Silly cousins

Sunday

We got prepared for back to school - can't believe the summer is over!