September

by Heather | 2 Comments

The kids started school the day after Labor Day! Cassidy is in K and Ben is in 2nd, so both kiddos are in full time school this year! It has been a weird (and I’ll admit wonderful) two weeks from my end :) I’m working MWF and have Tues/Thurs to volunteer, do errands, get chores done and tackle “the list.” I even signed up for an online ecology course offered through Cornell! I wasn’t planning on adding more to my plate but it sounded so interesting and right up my alley, I couldn’t resist.

I did have a moment while grocery shopping, when I saw the cute chubby toddlers and tiny little babies with their mama’s. Deep sigh. And then the moment passed. Haha, seriously though a lot of reflection and figuring out what this next chapter looks like. It’s good!

I don’t even know where she learned to pose like that!

It’s’ too much! Too much sweetness.

Smiley and ready for 2nd grade.

Ready to rock Kindergarten!

With all her confidence and spunk I sometimes forget she is just a little kindergartener.

Waiting for the bus. I was so excited this year that the kids don’t have to cross the road to get picked up! We never had any issues, but it still made me nervous especially when the weather was crummy.

Butts!

Andy had just finished fixing our mailbox (it was barely in the ground and leaning way over). So he waited for the bus with us too and stuck number stickers on the kids before they left for school…

The bus, the bus! The kids did great the first week of school. Once Monday of the second week rolled around I don’t know if Cassidy was just exhausted, but she had a few grumpy days of refusing to get on the bus. I had to carry her on, plop her in her seat, give her a hug and tell her I’d see her after school. I think we’ve recovered, but we’ll see how this Monday goes. Mondays are hard!

After school we headed to The Creamery for an ice cream dinner! Ben picked mint chocolate chip and Cassidy went with cotton candy. Andy had a milk shake and I had a “dirt cup” with gummy worms :)

They had a pair of ride on horses the kids loved!

Happy September!

Magical

by Heather | 0 comments

We’re enjoying every last bit of summer so the kids and I visited the Cumming Nature Center in Naples. It’s 25 minutes south of us but feels like another world entirely (the lack of cell service being proof). I think the best way to describe it is simply, magical.

We enjoyed some of the inside exhibits and play areas first.

The kids loved these bins, full of different hands on learning pieces. Their particular favorite was the rubberized scat samples that varied from animal to animal. I’m so proud.

Next we headed to the outside play area. I was really impressed with all the different open play structures…teepees, bridges, logs and stumps to climb on. So fun! Cassidy wiped out a couple of times (the logs were still pretty wet) but managed to get right back up and keep going.

Afterwards we headed out on a trail to explore.

Ben spotted a chipmunk! Where’s Waldo?

He was enamored with this little one :)

We also almost walked face first into this guy!

It was like the blind leading the blind! Kidding :) Ben took the initiative to lead and did end up taking us the wrong way, but with a little help he realized what he’d done and we headed the correct direction to the beaver pond.

Cassidy found some acorns along the way.

And then decided she was done. She grumpily proclaimed “I’m tired. My legs are broken. I don’t want to walk anymore.” I was able to get her going again with a bit of cajoling and a lovely rendition of The Ants Go Marching. I’m sure the entire woods appreciated our singing.

We made it to the pond!

No beavers to be found, but Ben spotted a little dam off in the distance.

The kids refused to get in a picture with me, but hey, I’m in a picture! Bonus points for always behind the camera mom.

We met a little friend along the way, Ivy from Texas! Hope you and your mom are enjoying your time up here! Ben called this one the portal.

We adventured for around 4 hours, had a picnic lunch and played some more. I feel like we barely scratched the surface of all the center has to offer though, there are so many more trails and things to see. I’d especially love to come back during different seasons to see how the landscape changes! Magic indeed!

Bus Safety and PreK wrapup

by Heather | 0 comments

Cassidy had the chance to do a practice bus ride as her last PreK field trip. We learned about bus safety and visited the Victor early childhood building. Before we left school the kids worked on a bus project and did their centers.

I’m so thankful for her teachers this year, Mrs. Power and Mrs. O.

Cassidy’s friend Miranda wanted to get in on the pictures too.

Cassidy and Miranda are two peas in a pod. I’m so bummed they won’t be going to the same school in the fall, but we’ve definitely been meeting up over the summer to keep them together.

More friends wanted to do pictures too :)

Cassidy was so excited to ride the school bus. It picked us up at St. John’s preschool and traveled the 10 minutes to the Victor early childhood building.

We learned about walking safely in front of the bus and watching for the bus driver’s signals. Ben had to cross the street to get on the bus last year and while we never had any incidents it did make me nervous. I got a text from our bus driver a few weeks ago that said they rearranged the route a bit and the kids won’t have to cross the road this year!

We headed into the school auditorium and met Buster the school bus who taught us more about how to be safe around his “big brothers and sisters”

After the presentation we walked around and got to see some of the classrooms. Even though she won’t be going to school there it was neat to see the gym, cafeteria and the art and music rooms.

(S)he was a beautiful butterfly.

Oh Cassidy I’m so excited for you! A little sad for myself that the baby and preschool chapter is ending but just bursting with anticipation over how much you’ll grow in Kindergarten. There’s good stuff ahead baby girl!

Pumpkin Hook Field Trip

by Heather | 0 comments

One of the last field trips of the school year for Cassidy was the Pumpkin Hook Fire Station. The kids had been learning about fire safety, making safe choices and that firemen and policemen are helpers and we shouldn’t be afraid of them. Especially if we ever encounter a fireman in his suit, he’s not scary, he’s there to help us.

We started the school day out like usual, with circle time and a project. Next was snack and then we walked over to the fire station (which happened to be right around the corner).

The kids had the chance to watch a fireman get in and out of his gear, climb in the firetruck and learn more about how firemen keep us safe.

Mother’s Day Tea

by Heather | 0 comments

So, yeah, I’m a lot behind with sharing photos and posting! But bear with me as I backtrack a few months.

The kids go to daycare one day a week and I use it as my long work day. Cassidy’s (then) preschool class held a Mother’s Day Tea party in May. The kids decorated place mats, sang songs and helped make some of the goodies.

Cassidy was so surprised to see me :)

Cassidy and her friend Josie.

A super cute spread.

Cheers is our favorite.

Flower cupcakes for dessert.

The kids sang Little Teapot and a few other songs. I giggle at this picture though, everyone and their cell phones ;-)

Happy birthday Gabby

by Heather | 1 Comment

This past weekend Leslie put together a surprise birthday party for Gabby. I was able to come in with the kids to help celebrate and we even spent the night at my dad and Leslie’s new house. It’s so nice having them back on the East coast (even though they do split their time between Western NY and Pittsburgh).

It rained on the drive in (which is only about 1.5 hours) but turned into a beautiful evening. The gardens at their new house are gorgeous!