Parade

We actually had a little bit of a quieter weekend! We had movie night, went to a birthday party and then church. Monday we had some great entertainment at the dinner table.


These pictures are from this summer when Jessie babysat. There are a bunch more but I thought they were too funny!





We went to the parade Monday night and Cody and Jacob volunteered for the United Way float.





Natalie looked beautiful!





I think this was the first parade I have taken the kids to.


Britton loved it! Especially all the candy!











We had a great time!

Time with Family

 

Friday - After the busy week, the kids passed out early and so Brandon headed to the church for the 5th quarter.

We had 27 youth come!

It was an awesome turnout and Brandon said everything went great.

 

 

Saturday - We got a call this morning that our house was going to show so after cleaning up, the kids and I headed to Rivergate to waste some time. Paityn fell asleep so Britton and I enjoyed a picnic in our trunk.

We came back home and went over to my parents for swimming. Reed was able to come with us and the boys had an amazing time!

Sunday - Crazy kids!

 

Monday - This morning we enjoyed some Panera breakfast with Alannah and Mrs Jacque. What a blessing these two are.

Then I headed to the zoo with the kids. It was a beautiful day!

My parents are out of town so we went to go and take care of the fish and this is what I walked into. How sweet! They were watching a movie together :)

 Wednesday - Britton started school with his entire class today and he did great! He got the best behavior and said he made some new friends.

Tonight in youth we had a lot of fun with lots of laughs!

 

Thursday - This morning Paityn and I were able to spend a little time together and then got ready for school. She wanted to wear her hair just like Miss Natalie.

The First Day

 Since our boys were first born, they have been inseparable. This is the first year that they are not going to be going to school together. We did still manage to get a first day picture of them!

 School is way too early! He has to be there at 7:20 with the late bell at 7:35. That is earlier than he is used to getting up! So we have been up earlier all week. This morning he requested bacon and waffles.

 I fully expected a morning full of tears but I think I had time to really process everything before.

 He was so excited!

 McLain said he has the Batson grin down already.

 And yes, he's wearing Toms. He has wanted them and we promised we would get him some. We found these in Canada!

 I have always thought of his first day of school and now it is here!

 Mrs Sharpton has been wonderful so far and I'm looking forward to getting to know her better!

 And it begins....Lexi and Hailey were two girls in his preK class that are in his class this year! So although I expected a morning of tears, I walked out of there so proud of my little boy. Brandon on the other hand had some tears in his eyes. The man I married, who did not cry when we got married, when I almost died, when our kids were born, who has only cried a handful of times, shed a few tears this morning.

 I headed home to get my little girl ready for her school and then went and enjoyed some time at Target walking around. It's amazing what you find fun once you have kids!

 My eyes did fill up with tears when I pulled up and he ran out to my car. Seeing this smile made my day. I missed him and wanted to hear about every single moment. He said he had fun, met a new friend who is named Hunter, ate some great lunch, read a book about a gingerbread man and that was about it. Throughout the afternoon I did get a little more about the fact he had fallen on the playground and busted his knee, he got to lay down for a minute on his towel he brought and that he really liked his teacher. Love my little boy.

 These were cookies we had made for Britton! My little girly girl posing.

 We went over to my parents for some swimming with Michael, Alannah, Bethany and Leena. What a great way to end the day!

After baths, we headed to church for Coffee House and the Not a Fan study. Then it was time for an early bed! Blessed beyond measure.

A New Chapter Will Begin

After work I picked the kids up and then headed to church. I love our youth kids, the smile they bring to my face and then laughter to my heart. Every night is such an adventure with them. We headed home after and I bathed the kids, put on pajamas and then read the book, "Look out kindergarten, here I come." Off to bed my little boy went! Then it was time to pack the lunch, finish some forms and ponder what changes are coming.

Tonight marks the end of a chapter in our lives and tomorrow begins a new one. Our little boy is going to kindergarten. When I see that word, I have such a mixture of emotions. All week when people would ask me about it, tears would well up in my eyes. Part of it is such excitement but then there is the uncertainity that surrounds change. We have been through so much change this past year with church and my job that more change overwhelms me just a little. I'm so excited to see what Britton will learn, the friends he will make, and just watching him grow and change. I know he's ready.... But then there's a part of me that also knows that this is the beginning, the beginning of him finding his own way, of meeting new people, experiencing new things and then coming home to tell me about it. I think about not being able to spend my days off with him and it makes me a little sad. I think about the past 5 years and wish that I would have spent more  time in the moment with him. Could I have stopped cleaning or working and gotten down on the floor and played with him more? I know I can't live life with any regrets but where has the time gone? Didn't I just look over in the hospital at my baby boy, my little miracle boy? Didn't he just go to mother's day out for the first time, play soccer, go to the beach, say his first word and kiss his baby sister goodnight for the first time?

My sweet firstborn son is going to school. I am so unbelievably proud of him. For who he is, the decisions he has made, how smart he is, the compassion he shows and who he is becoming. I look forward with anticipation at the coming year.

I'm blessed that I have an amazing son who is looking foward to his first day of school. Who left kindergarten testing excited about Coopertown, who loves his teacher, Mrs. Sharpton, already and who can't wait to meet new friends.
I'm blessed that his teacher loves the Lord.
I'm blessed to have family and friends who will support us as we go through these changes.
I'm blessed to serve a loving God who knows my weaknesses and will support me through change.
I'm so incredibly blessed.

So as I go to sleep tonight I'm basking in the knowledge that he is going to be okay. That change is okay. That God always provides. That tomorrow will be a new day full of new experiences. That God loves me. That it's okay to  cry (just don't want him to see it! ) That tomorrow will be full of precious memories.

I love you Britton so incredibly much and am so proud of you! I can't wait to hear the excitement in your voice as you tell me about your day. Can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring....

Kindergarten Testing

 Today was kindergarten testing. We headed out this morning not really understanding what would all happen.We got to Coopertown and headed to his classroom. Mrs. Sharpton called him in the room and started the testing while I filled out a bunch of paperwork. When he was finished she called me into the room and went over all his testing. I know I'm bragging on my little boy but I'm so proud! He was a super star!  He came out of the room excited about kindergarten and looking forward to having Mrs. Sharpton as his teacher.

 We had planned on swimming but of course it rained. We stopped by Oma and Papa's and had lunch and hung out with Michael, Alannah and Bethany.

 Britton decided to "shake his booty" on the girls! We laughed until tears were streaming down our faces.

Tonight I went on a nice walk with the kids. I love these two!