Back-to-School Busy-ness! (Watch out-picture intensive!)

So it has been back-to-school here for the last week or so & life has been hectic but GREAT! All of the kids are LOVING their classes/teachers & I am so thankful it has been a smooth transition. I think it has been a more difficult transition for Mommy to get back into the routine of signing forms, packing lunches, laying out clothes, and on & on...so while we have had MANY blog worthy happenings I haven't quite squeezed in the time to blog about them. Oh, did I mention I am REALLY trying hard to go to bed earlier this year (i.e. by midnight at least!) So please forgive the really long catch-up post & the backwards chronology again! Is it only me or does everyone have the problem with blogger uploading the pictures in the reverse order? I keep forgetting to upload them backwards...and it just gets too time intensive to move everything around! Sorry!!

This is the adorable face that now greets us when Jack smiles (which is often!) I just left him with Drew in the family room, down on the floor playing with & reading to Drew. Drew has started rolling both ways now & Jack is his biggest supporter & fan; always cheering him on & so excited when Drew learns a new skill! Last Wednesday when he came home from the 2nd day of school, Jack's remaining top front tooth was barely hanging on by a thread. The mom we carpool with suggested looping a thread of dental floss around the tooth & then pulling both ends quickly, so we gave it a try when we came home. Sure enough, out popped the tooth! Quick, easy & best of all painless! Unfortunately, Jack's lost tooth really got lost! After he washed it I believe he placed it beside him either on the floor or ottoman where he was doing Legos...a little while later, after much searching, we could not find it anywhere...I actually think the dog probably ate it! If she sees anything on the floor she gobbles it up...especially if it smells like food & Jack had just eaten a Popsicle right before we pulled the tooth! We have a very understanding Tooth Fairy around here & so Jack still got a little $$ even with no tooth under his pillow!

Here's the last photo of Jack before the tooth came out.
Earlier on Wednesday, I took Darcy & Drew to the local theme park & met some friends there. If you will remember back to the spring when we first went, Darcy was terrified of the rides! She did much better this time, but did point to the first ride from the last time (the super fast balloon ride) and said, "No like that one. Make me sick! Scares me!" The girl has a long memory!
Here she is riding the airplane ride by herself. She pushed the buzzer button which all the kids love to push for the duration of the ride...Darcy did not like the loud noise & made the cutest face!

Stop the buzzing!

The girls after Darcy's first day of school, Sophie's 2nd day. Everyone had a great day!

Darcy & her teacher agree, it's going to be a wonderful year!

Darcy & the lovely & sweet, Ms. Amy!

Darcy ready to go to school!

The girls walking in on Sophie's first day.

Jack & Sophie on Sophie's first day of school.

The weekend before school started we went to 2 school Open Houses on Saturday & then enjoyed a bit of down time on Sunday afternoon. Darcy & Drew playing. Drew is really interested in the apron on Darcy's dress.

Jack reading to Sophie.

Darcy at her Open House, lounging in her new room!

Is this a vision of the teen-age years or what...kicked back, talkin' on the phone!

Of course they found the babies right away & were feeding them...I guess clothing will come later!

Sophie's new classroom. We were a bit late to Sophie's class Open House because the one at Jack's school was at the same time. But Sophie's teachers were so kind to let the kids do the activity they had prepared...it involved graham crackers, frosting & sprinkles...

Of course, our kids were big fans!

Sophie's ready to start TK!

Sophie spreading the frosting on her graham crackers.

Drew did great being carted around to all of the open houses!

Darcy is serious about her food!

Sophie working on the craft at her open house.

Decorating her birthday crown for her next birthday.

Jack in his new 2nd grade room!

Drew looking up to his big brother!

Jack & his sweet friend Liesel.

And that's all folks! Thanks for riding on our back-to-school bus! We are so thankful for wonderful schools and teachers & we continually pray for the Lord's blessing upon them. We pray that this will be a year of learning & growth both in & out of the classroom. Most of all we pray that each of us might be a light for Jesus at school, at work or where ever we go!