Friday Night Lights

The Mt. Zion JFL/Flag football teams were invited to the Mt. Zion high school football home opener.  The JFL teams paraded around the track and then made the tunnel for the high school team to run through and onto the field.  Ethan was pretty excited.  We stayed for the first half of the game and he was really into it.  It was so cute!

Walking the track

Ethan and Zach watching the game

Nora had a blast too!

Cute kid :)

At one point I told Nora to watch the cheerleaders and do what they do.  She REALLY got into it.  It was one of the cutest things I've ever seen!

Go Braves!

Ethan with some of his teammates

Some handsome boys!

11 Months

Atley Jane is 11 months old today!  We're in the final stretch to 1 with this girl.  Watching her grow and develop over the last 11 months has been pure joy!  She is (and has been) such a sweet natured baby.  Atley, we love you and can not image  our lives without you.  You are the perfect #3 for our family!

• She smiles and laughs all the time.  She certainly makes noise and talks, but she also likes to take in her surroundings and watch.
• She loves to eat all by herself.  Her favorite foods include: cheese, crackers, pasta/mac&cheese, peanut butter sandwiches, steamed carrots.
• She's down to nursing twice a day and drinks water very well from a cup.
• She usually takes 1 nap a day- after lunch.
• She goes to bed between 8-8:30pm and sleeps until 7-8am.  
• She claps, waves, nods her head yes and no, raises her eyebrows (mimicking) and points.
• She's working hard on walking behind her push toy.
• She has perfected pulling up and cruising down the furniture.
• She has 3 teeth!  The upper left central incisor finally popped through.  And the right one is close.
• She has the most adorable curls on the back of her head.  I hope they last!

We went out to the backyard for some 11 month photos this afternoon.  She just wants to crawl everywhere!

Off she goes!

She points a lot too!

Grass in the face

Look at those curls...can you see them?!

Big girl!

Atley at 11 months :)

Here's Atley a week or so ago trying to walk behind her push toy.

Lately...

We've been getting back into the school routine lately.  It's going really well.  Ethan is loving first grade!  He's also started flag football and is loving that too.  He's had 2 games so far and I have to say, I'm really enjoying watching.  I'm a football mom!

Ethan- hiking the ball!

Cutest cheerleaders ever!

After his first game

Getting his game face on!

Atley keeping busy at the game

Here's a video of Ethan running the ball.  Too bad they pulled his flag!

Our children's museum just got a couple new exhibits, so last weekend we got the chance to check it out.  We are so lucky to have such great facilities so close!

Nora and Liz preforming

Doing some crafts

Atley has been busy lately too!  She always want to be on her feet.  She crawls over to anything she can pull up on.  She's really working on walking behind her toy.

It's tough being a baby :).  She fell asleep  during lunch.

First Day of 1st Grade!

Today was Ethan's first day of 1st grade!  It was a half day, so after Ethan got off the bus, we met Jared for lunch at Culvers!  Ethan said he had a good day and knew several of the kids in his class.

So handsome and ready for his first day of school!

Last year and today.  He's grown so much!

Nora wanted in some pictures too!

Atley too!

Heading into 1st grade!

Ethan and his friend, Case

Finished with his first day!

And now he's running :)

This evening was his 1st grade orientation.  We met his teacher (who he didn't want a picture with) and got some papers, forms and schedules to look through.  It was nice seeing his classroom and some of his classmates.

Sitting at his desk

Final Days of Summer- Part 2

We've been busy I guess...I needed to make 2 parts to the "Final Days of Summer" :).

August 14- The kids and I decided we needed to get out of the house for a while.  So we headed to the zoo!  

Feeding the goats!

I love these 2!  (The humans, not the goats)

Nora loves to have her photo taken in these things :)

And Ethan loves monkey bars.  This was the first time he did these particular monkey bars all by himself.  They are higher than other ones.  He was so excited!

Carousel fun!

Cute girls!
(Disclaimer: Atley did not ride the carousel with only Nora holding her.  In fact,  she rode on a completely different one with me holding on to her the whole time)

We also went for a night swim that day when Jared got home!  And basically had the whole pool to ourselves!  Jared, Ethan, Nora AND I jumped off the diving board.  So much fun!!

Family swimming selfie!

August 15- Jared and Ethan went to the barbershop for back to school haircuts!  Mt. Zion just got a new barbershop- like a real one.  Jared's favorite part is the hot lather and neck shave...with a straight razor!  

Getting started

He's always so serious

Final product from the side!

My 2 favorite guys looking so handsome with their new styles!

August 17- Today, we decided to do one last pool day before the start of school.  It wasn't the best day, weather wise, but we got enough sunshine and pool time in before the thunder. 

Waiting out the thunder for a little more swimming time.
These 3 are my world! 

Final Days of Summer- Part 1

We've been trying to make the most of the final days of summer break.  School starts tomorrow for Ethan.  Here's a little of what we've been up to for the last week or so!

August 8- We went to the Decatur Celebration parade in downtown Decatur.

Enjoying the parade

They were holding hands!  So, of course, I had to take a picture.

Checking out the Air Force jet.

Pizza slices as big as your head...

She chose grilled cheese and chips :)

Grilled cheese for this one too!

Topped off with Italian ice in baseball helmets

Nora, Atley and Ethan by the Transfer House and Central Park Fountain

August 9- We headed to O'Fallon, IL (a last minute decision) to go to Katie Sue's 4th birthday party!

Nora put Minnie's bow in just the right spot! (Maybe with a little help)

Ethan didn't...

Birthday Girl, Kaite

Opening presents!

August 10- We had a fun playdate at the Koskinen's house!

The big kids jumping on their new trampoline.  And yes, that's a sprinkler under it.  They had a BLAST!

Atley enjoyed the dry, big kid-less trampoline :)

August 12- We went to Fletcher Park in Mt. Zion for a little fun!

Atley loves to swing!

So does her sister!  And she's good at it too!

Ethan- in between monkey bars and swings stopped and smiled.

August 13- We went to Mt. Zion's Pony Express Days (it's basically a town fair).  The kids loved the rides!

Nora and our neighbor Liz on the potato sack slide (it was FUN! I went down once with Nora)

Ethan and Zach

I loved riding the ferris wheel with Nora.