The end of the first week of school is always the Arma Homecoming. It is a challenge as everyone is TIRED but it is also a fun thing to look forward to. We learned from last year and did not go Friday evening but rather used it to rest up and went on Saturday. Parade in the AM and carnival in the PM. We started out with just Callie and Chase a wristband. But Callie wanted to do the big rides and talked Shelby into going on most of them with her. So Chase was kinda out of sorts. Until we got Cole a wristband and then he was the "big" boy helping little brother enjoy the little rides. He was good to then. Shannon followed the big girls around while I took the little boys around. All had a lot of fun!!! The weather was unbelievable beautiful for mid August!!!
Cole LOVED the rides! Chase loved indulging him!
He wasn't too sure about the roller coaster though - he didn't cry but didn't want to go again and didn't look too sure about it!
Everyone could come together for the big slide.
Then one of the first weeks of school we headed out one weekend evening to the Farlington lake beach area. We picked up food for a picnic, played in the sand and swam. The kids love it and we just do not make time to go out there often enough.
We had a few cheerleading practices before Callie decided not to participate this year. So while she practiced the boys and I played at the park. This bike ramp is Cole's favorite slide.
(Cheerleading was pretty different this year and so when the practices all conflicted with swim practice we made the decision to focus on swim and not participate in Cheerleading. It meant letting her stop something she had started but we would not have started it had we known it was going to be different this year and that practices would be on different days that would conflict with swim which she had committed to also). She had wanted to do swim during school last year but we just were not ready to commit to 2 nights a week all the way at the Y. But after this summer we could not say no. We did not do the first session so that everyone could adjust to back to school. But then she started and it has worked out absolutely fine. She loves it and really continues to improve.
This is Chase on his scooter after watching bigger boys on skateboards.
he had to watch out for little brother who was going on his slide.
You never know what Cole might be playing....
Shannon fixed up a desk area in the basement for Chase and some of the legos. He loved it.
No words. Just cheese:
Playing legos.
End of August Callie finally got up the courage to ride away on her bike. She totally had it down but was so afraid of falling. Somehow this night she wanted to try and was going too fast for me to keep up so away she went. Once she realized she could do it she was so excited and there was no stopping her. She road all over.
Her classmate from down the street came out to ride with her. She was very proud of herself for overcoming her fears.
Getting used to school was very hard for a very tired Chase. No nap meant falling asleep in the car after being picked up by Christie. Not sure if I mentioned that he was going to the babysitter after school along with his buddy so they can play/snack there and I can pick him up when I pick up Cole rather than him being bored/getting impatient waiting an hour for me at work. Callie stays but she can read/do homework/take care of herself/be quiet as she is much older. We will see next year but for this year it was definitely a good choice for all involved. Christie picks up three school kids so she was coming anyway and he has friends he loves to play with there.
Callie's first choice for her school genius hour project was how to make pottery. She had gone before with Alisha so we headed back with Alisha and the boys. They made pumpkins and the lady was so nice to allow Callie to interview her as part of her project.
The Kincaid fair was end of Sept and it was crazy cool weather but nice...
Callie and Chase had their school carnival that Saturday night (way too much for me to have a hand to take pics of) so we went to Kincaid after work on Friday, rode friday night, spent the night at mom and dads house, went to the parade Saturday, rode a little more then headed home to make it to the school carnival that evening.
Lots of cousins to ride with makes it even more fun!!!
Dennis's boys had outgrown a bike perfect for Chase to learn to ride without training wheels. We were riding a lot since Callie had just learned so off he also took riding all over too.
The empty stadium parking lot is a lot less stressful than our narrow road. We would also take them into John and Linda's to ride in Arma.
I would push Cole in his buggie unless we were in Arma where John would put him in the pull behind the bike thing he LOVES.
The last weekend in September was FESTA Italiana fundraiser for our school foundation. Once again mom came down to help me cook a dish for it. The kids stayed home with Dad while mom and I went in to serve. As always we got some good deals on the silent auction after we were done serving. This is our helpers:
Finally it was October and we decorated for fall. It had been awhile since I had done the outside decorations but it was fun and the kids loved it. But the warm weather meant the pumpkins rotted way too quickly.
Supervising crew:
Working crew:
Finished product:
Just cause he is too adorable. He says he baby.
Getting together with friends - aiming for monthly pizza on a Saturday evening. So much fun.
Posing after church while going out to eat:
Shannon grew a ton of small pumpkins/gourds. I shared some as a craft for Chase's Kindergarten halloween party craft. We would pick and Cole would haul in his wagon.
Rylan and Dylan had their 9th birthday party on the day that the mine creek battlefield had their anniversary gathering. We all attended that then went to their house for playing the rest of the day. They had a lot of fun things for the kids to see/do. My two loved making rope.
Mom wanted to try for a Christmas card picture with all the grandkids while at their party. It worked pretty well given they had to stop playing and be still for a few minutes.
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