First Day(s) of School

This is such a big school year for us--Dane started kindergarten, so it's our first year ever where we are actually following the school schedule. I have stewed over this transition for YEARS, wondering how it would go and if it would be hard for us to get out the door on time (we have to leave at 7:20) and how naptime will be when I have to wake up kids to go pick up Dane. 

But guess what--it has been AWESOME. Dane is so, so, so, SO SO happy with school. Every day he says he LOVED it and every day he is so happy to be there. He has not acted tired at all, or bored, or had a hard time with anything. He was so excited on his first day, and we were so excited for him. I didn't actually cry or feel sad at all when dropping him off--it felt like it was time. We were both ready, most especially him. It could not be going any better.

Our big kindergartener!

His school is called Bright Academy, and he is loving it so much. 

Looking so cute coloring pages when he first got to his class. He loves his teacher and loves all his new friends and loves every single little thing about school. 

This was his face when we picked him up the first day. 

But let's not leave Graham out! This cutie is doing Joy School this year. He absolutely, 110% loves it too. He does not like to gush about things or act like he's super excited about things (especially if he knows I'm excited and want him to be excited too). But the look in his eyes when we talk about Joy School, or when I start singing some of the Joy School songs, is one of total excitement. I got to teach this week (our second week) and he was so cute and so happy with his little friends. There are five of them, and it works out so great for all of the kids and for the moms, to only have to teach one out of five weeks. 

And little Lucy gets Mom to herself for a few hours each week (unless I'm teaching Joy School!). We've gone on a walk each day, since she always begs to ride in her car, read lots of books, and play with her baby dolls. I love getting some one-on-one time with this little girl. 

Summer Visitors, Part 2

We took Troy and Sarah and Axel swimming about four or five times at different places--because what else can you do when it's 109 outside? We went to the outdoor water park at the Athletic Center and had a great time. Troy and Sarah had their GoPro so we got some good pictures with that. 

And I love how amazing Sarah's camera is taking pictures of us. Not that this is the best picture ever, but the quality is good!

And everyone's favorite day we had was going to swim at Little Elm Beach. It is only about 25 minutes away from us, and it's a cute little lake beach that has perfect sand and perfect water for little people. Our kids were sooooo happy there and could have been there all day (except Lucy, who kept trying to wander back to the parking lot.) But man! It was such a nice day and such a fun thing to do with all of us.

Lucy moping about something.

Happy with a muffin to eat.

This picture is maybe my favorite of the year.

Lucy is the Queen of everyting and she knows it.

Such a great summer's day.

Summer Visitors Part 1

We were so happy to have Tommy's brother Troy and his wife Sarah and their baby Axel come to visit us for a week, all the way from Denmark. It was the worst week of the summer for them to be here--the temperatures were over 100 every day, and several days it was 109! But we still had a great time and loved, loved spending so much time with them. Axel was the major favorite around here, and Troy is probably my boys' favorite person alive outside of their dad. He got Lucy to be in love with him too, so everyone was happy while they were here.

Troy was so nice to always acquiesce to the boys' demands for playtime.

Uncle Kurt was up a lot for the week too!

LOTS of eating out with them--we needed to get Texas BBQ, Tex-Mex, tacos, etc. They are going back to Denmark where they don't have these things, so it was very important.

Graham was always sharing his blankies with Axel. 

Dane especially loved Axel so much.

Lucy loved seeing "the baby"!

Troy was such a good sport with the crazies.

We went with them to the National Videogame Museum, new here in Frisco, and actually had a great time!

A huge game of Pong.

They had a cheap arcade at the end where we could play all sorts of 80s arcade games for a quarter each. That was the biggest hit.

We got a babysitter for one night and did an escape room. We were awesome!

We took Troy and Sarah down to a little aquarium and butterfly house in downtown Dallas one day.

Graham loved touching the stingrays.

They were so cute and serious trying to be so still, hoping the butterflies would come land on their fingers...

The three brothers!

And then, I had to keep every single one of these pictures we got trying to get a good picture of the kids with Axel. Graham's face in each of them is the funniest thing ever. The best part is that he was really trying to smile nicely; we bribed him with extra games with Troy before they left and he really wanted to play more with him. Poor kid doesn't know how to smile very well.