First Day of Kindergarten

The big day finally arrived!  We had his backpack packed, clothes out and ready (including new shoes) and alarms set!  Last night we went to his school for kindergarten orientation.  His school doesn't allow parents in the classroom on the first day, so I was really happy to get to meet his teacher and see his classroom with him ahead of time.  Jared went into work late this morning so he could see Ethan before school and take him to school with us!  It was great having him here for all that!
Here are a couple pictures from last night at orientation...

Sitting at his spot at the table!

Ethan and Mrs. Warren- his new teacher

This morning was actually pretty calm around here.  We had enough time to get ready and take plenty of pictures before loading up and heading off to school.  I was under the impression that when we get in the drop off line at school, we just pulled up to the sidewalk, said good bye and out he got (I think that's how it's supposed to be).  Anyway, we got in the line and there were parents getting out of their cars everywhere and parents walking kids to the door and parents walking kids inside...I asked Ethan if he wanted me to walk him to the door and he said yes.  So, I did, gave him his hug and told him to have a great day.  There was a teacher at the door to tell him exactly where to go and before I knew it, he had disappeared into the school.  Didn't even look back :)!  And, no tears...until I got back into the car.  And even then, I did pretty well for my first kindergarten experience, I think!  On to the pictures!

Oh, if you remember from his first days at preschool (prek1, prek2), I wrote on his chalk board what he wanted to be when he grew up... I didn't make room for it this year, but this is what he told me: "I want to be a construction worker that builds roads, because they drive cool, big trucks!"

So proud of this boy!

Nora had to get in on the pictures.  Both kids squeezing me!  I love this picture and them! :)

Ethan and Daddy

My 2 favorite kids...ever!!

Heading into the school.  Looking so grown up!

He will ride the bus home.  So today, Nora and I walked to the bus stop to see him get off the bus and walk home with him.

Nora and our neighbor Henry, waiting for the bus to come

Bus #3 is here!

All smiles coming off the bus!

Ethan/Mama Question and Answer Session after school ;):
M:  How did you like your first day of school?
E:  Good
M: What was your favorite part of school today?
E:  I don't really know...Um...
M:  What did you do today?
E:  I played on the playground 3 times.  Um, and I colored a smiley face yellow and wrote my name.
M:  Did you get your pencil box out of your cubby?
E:  Yeah.
M:  What did you do use from it?
E:  The yellow crayon and 1 pencil.
M: Sounds like you had a good day!  Are you excited to go back tomorrow?
E:  Yeah! To do more fun stuff and lots of other things, like math and reading and eat lunch!  And I would like not having to take any money to get milk because you already paid for it!

Sounds like a successful first day of school to me!  We are so proud of him and can't wait to see how much he learns and grows this year!

Last Day of Summer

With today being the day before school starts for Ethan, we decided to go to the zoo.  Actually, Ethan got to pick where we went.  His options were the park, zoo or pool and he chose the zoo!  It was just the 3 of us and it was a lot of fun!

Selfie by the penguins

Nora, loving on the wooden penguin.

They always want their pictures taken with these things...

We got sno-cones on our way out.  They enjoyed them and stopping to see the wolf one more time before leaving!

Have to ride the train!!

What a fun way to spend our last full day of summer vacation!

Mini-Golf

Decatur recently opened up a new mini golf course.  Ethan has been begging to go since before it was actually opened.   Dustin and Amanda come up for a visit today, and we decided it would be a fun outing for the afternoon.  It was a great time and the course was really fun.  It was specifically designed for Decatur and our little zoo.  There were a lot of fun references to the animals in our zoo from the snakes to penguins to the meerkats.

Nora was efficient...she usually started with her ball in this spot :)

Ethan loved it!

Dustin and Ethan got a hole in 1 on the penguin hole!!  And Nora joined in the fun!

So excited about his hole in 1!

Hanging out on the penguin

This was my favorite hole.  Golfing meerkats and water!

This was not my favorite hole...hit the ball in the snakes mouth.

She looks so sweet ;).  And she usually is!

Waiting patiently to let another couple "play through".

Nora is getting some help from Daddy

The last hole was a Cubs/Cardinals theme.  So cute!  

It was a fun time and I'm glad Amanda and Dustin came up and were able to go with us.

Some Kindergarten Prep

The big day is Tuesday.   The day every little kid is so excited about and every mama dreads.  Or at least that's the case in this household.  I'm so excited for him and I know he will absolutely LOVE kindergarten.  It's just a change, and I'm not the best with change.  And I'll miss him like crazy!  Anyway, we've been getting ready for kindergarten for months now.  Doctor appointments, shots and sore legs, dentist check-up with Pop.  More recently, school supply shopping and trying on his loaded backpack.  He's so ready!

Ibuprofen and and ice pack after his shot :(

1st, ever, eye appointment

He did everything just like they asked him to!  (And he passed...no glasses needed)

School supply shopping with such a big boy!

Excited about his packed backpack

We go on Monday evening to meet his teacher and see his classroom.  And stay tuned for first day of school pics.  He won't get out of here without a few (or a lot).

Illinois State Fair

We ventured to the State Fair today.  It was a fun day!  And I'm pretty sure this might become an annual thing.  We decided that we live close enough to make this a fun summer memory for our kids each year.  We started off with the giant potato sack slide!  Since I'm quite pregnant with #3, I couldn't do any of the fun stuff :(.  Jared was the lucky one who got to go twice :)!

Check out that slide!

Ethan was the first to go.  He loved it!

Favorite picture of Jared!!

Next up...Nora.  In case you were curious, she wasn't at all scared.

Skidding to a stop :)!

After sliding, we moved on to look at some animals.  

We found some bees first.  They loved watching the bees move all over the honeycomb! And finding the queen honey bee.

Cow stalls. 

Next, we stood in line to milk a cow :).  I've never done it before and it was pretty cool.  The kids even did it (with a little help).  After milking the cow, everyone got a ticket for a free carton of milk.  Both kids chose chocolate...no surprise there!

Nora, Ethan and I getting ready

Very intense ;).

Enjoying some ice cold milk on the curb.

Now to the sheep.

I think the liked the goats the best.

Ethan having a conversation with a goat.

After the main animal barns, we headed to get some homemade ice cream!  And pictures with a cardboard cow ;).

Chocolate...as always!

And pink for the pink girl!

While making our way back towards the main gate to head home, we found a few other places to stop.

Piglets in the FFA barn.

Petting the bunny

IL State Police tent.  Ethan liked the police motorcycle.

Pig-eared kids and a 12-row combine!

1 last ride before we left.  The "Berry-Go-Round"!

As we were leaving, Ethan said "I can't wait until we can come again!!"  We will be back...next year.  I don't know if I have it in me to go again this year ;).