October!

Wow I can't believe it's already October! Fall is in full swing, and we have some beautiful colors around our house. It seems early but maybe time is just flying. It certainly seems that our lives have just taken off since school started a month ago. My new favorite thing is helping at school. I love seeing Jack there and being a part of his new world. It's so weird that he has a world apart from me now but I guess that's ultimately the goal. I'm glad it's done gradually!

We went to the apple orchard last week and had a great time and a beautiful day. I have enjoyed meeting some of the other moms too.

Awana started this past Wednesday and wow! We had many first timers, some from our VBS this summer and some brought new friends and we even had a few just wander in wanting to check out our church. What a blessing and how exciting to see it grow. It's definitely the largest group since we have been involved so that is very encouraging.

I am looking forward to the MOMS group this week and hoping to see more moms!

I am still volunteering at Metro Women's Center in our store Blessingdales, and it HAS been such a blessing! We receive many donations every week from various places with most of them coming from the Kids Rack, a consignment shop in Champlin. I can pick up donations 3 times a week. It has become a part of my routine now, and it's so worth it to be able to help so many people. Being a part of Metro Women's Center and Blessingdale's is truly a blessing to me and to so many others. I love being a part of this place that is doing so much good.

So after a couple of adjustment weeks, I am into my routine and am really enjoying it. I was a little overwhelmed when school started, but now I'm getting in the groove I think. And I like to be busy! My main concern is being able to have Ava with me, and I have especially enjoyed having a little buddy with me doing these things.

Here are a few pictures of the apple orchard.

Happy Fall!

Well, the school year is in full swing and other than the first day that I felt like Eeyore, I have loved it! Jack is putting his energy towards learning and other skills, and I (after a couple of adjustment weeks) am starting to get into a routine.

School, work, Metro Women's Center, MOMS Group - all revolving around time with Ava. I love that she can come with me to everything. I had forgotten how easy it is to go with just one. And a compliant one for the most part. She's always ready for the next thing. It's nice!

Jack brought his first set of papers home yesterday and has done well. He has also learned his vowels and their sounds and has a new verse every week. "C" is this week.

The discipline system is based on what color beehive you are on. Their goal is to stay on the green beehive and away from the white one. Eek. And to ensure you stay on the green beehive, you must not lose the 7 marbles you are given at the beginning of the day. So far he has stayed on the green beehive, but has come close to losing them all a couple of times. Apparently due to a lack of focusing on what the teacher is saying. What? Yes, I know. I love that everyone points out how much he is like me when it comes to his negative points.

Last week I was able to tag along as Jack's class went to the fire station. It was great! Coming soon is Emma Crumbee's apple orchard. Can't wait! Ever since he was born, I have looked forward to this time of being involved in his class. I always enjoyed school, so have been excited for him to experience it.

The fall weather has started just in time for the first day of fall this weekend. I hope it's a looonng one! Matt is enjoying Vikings season. Sort of. So far. Here's a picture of them in their Vikings gear. And here's a bonus picture of what love looks like. Spending all afternoon trying to get a stubborn kite to fly so your kids can enjoy it. Well, they enjoyed playing while he fussed with it. We have decided not to spend any more time on kites. But happy fall anyway!

End of summer... Boohoo

We had one last hurrah at the state fair for me and Jack. I have really missed him while he is at school, so we had a great mama-son date on Labor Day while Ava played with Grandma and Grandaddy Hanks. I enjoy fall, but it's so short I really don't look forward to it. School is going great for Jack. He has entered into it and greeted it with enthusiasm. I am excited too to be able to be involved in his class. I get to be a classroom mom so that helps.

We started our moms group this past week, had a few first timers, and also had a great speaker on organizing. It was a great kickoff to this year. I'm really looking forward to it and each time have received such a blessing from both our Bible study and speaker.

So now we are just waiting for Awana to start at the end of September, and then our fall will be in full swing. Life goes on even when we want to hold onto certain things or seasons. Thank God He goes before us!

A few more pictures

I know that Shannon already posted some pictures from the beginning of school activities, but I had some more on the camera that I thought I would put up here on the blog.

On our way to school!

He's ready!

Here's his whole class.  They are ready for a great year!

School started today!

Last night was orientation, and today was the first day of school for Jack. He had a great day! My day felt a little gray until 3pm, and then I felt the sun come out-ha. Of course, he was clueless to my sad feelings of the day. It's interesting because it's the first time someone else has such a huge impact on your child. It's a good feeling when it's someone you trust. It made me so grateful to those who are willing to pour their time and talents into my children. It was fun to see mom and Bek today, too. I refrained from bribing them to spy on Jack. I kept wondering what he was doing! Even though I will miss him, I am also so excited for him. He is READY! It is the first step towards independence and making a contribution to society hopefully in many ways. So here we go!

The fair is here!

Yes, we hit most of our favorite spots but there was so much we didn't do that Matt and I are going by ourselves this weekend. Here's a couple of pictures of the kids, but I guess I didn't take too many this time. Jack got to build a tool box at the Home Depot place, and here they are at the pigs. We had a great time together!

VBS

We were recently reminded that it has been a while since our last update.  Well, we have a good reason as we have been very busy.  We just got done with Vacation Bible School at our church.  It was a fun and rewarding time, but it was very hectic around here getting ready for it.  Jack had a great time and did a great job saying his verses and bringing friends.  As a result he ended up in 2nd place for points.  Ava had a fun time in the nursery and coming up intermittently to get a cookie!

I hope to get some pictures from the last night from some of the people who attended the VBS.  Shannon and I were extremely busy on that last night and didn't have time to take any pictures.  But here are some pictures from the first few nights.

Our theme for VBS was Bug Zone.  Jack chose a mean face for his bug pics

Ava chose a not-so-mean face

A number of ladies from our church volunteered to make cookies and snacks for the kids and some showed their creative side by making special "bug" cookies.

We started out a little slow on the first night with 12 kids.  I challenged them to double their numbers and then I would take a pie to the face.  They made it to 23 the next night (I barely escaped).  They weren't going to let that happen again so they came out in force on the third night with 44 kids when I challenged them to get to 35.  Without looking at the books I told them that the one who brought the most visitors would be able to put a pie in my face.  Of course there was a tie, so I had to take 2 pies!  Daniel and Jack tied with having 5 total visitors.

Jack was a little sheepish at first, but with the cheers from the crowd he fought through it and got me pretty good.