Back to school...

So we have begun a new school year, and a new sport for Riley.  This year he wanted to try football, but I was a bit discouraged when I found that most of the football options in the area were tackle.  I am not comfortable with a child so young playing tackler football, and many doctor's will caution parents that no child younger than 12 should be tackling due the damage the severe hits can cause to a growing brain.  Thankfully, Roanoke Parks and Recreation offered a flag football option.  Riley's team is The Jaguars (yes after the professional team), and even though there are only 8 kids on the team, they are still having a great time playing. I actually enjoy the smaller team because Riley is getting to play instead of sitting a bench.  I feel it helps him actually learn the game by applying the rules and strategies, instead of being expected to learn everything by watching from the sidelines (which is where little bugs like him usually get stuck).  He is really enjoying it, and is having a blast with his teammates.  His first game is going to be Sept. 7, and I could not be more proud to have him try a new interest!

Also on the homefront, Riley began his first day of third grade yesterday.  He was so excited to see his friends again, and enjoyed his new teacher Mrs. Muncey.  I was worried there was going to be an issue with transitioning, as this is time he has had a teacher, besides Mrs. Anderson, teach him.  Luckily, he did great, and had an excellent first day.  In other school news, Andre began his first day of Pre-K! Next year he will begin his journey in the "big kid" school, and this was his last year as my little toddler boy! I can't believe the time has gone so fast, it feels like the blink of an eye that he was born and first placed in my arms! He had an excellent first day in pre-K, surprisingly without a tantrum or uncomfortable incident.  He is actually behaving more in his Kinder-bear (kindergarten bear) class, than he ever did in his backpack. The extra lesson plans and increased curriculum seems to agree with his personality more, and he is now thriving at daycare! Brynn on the other hand, has had a more trying transition from the Teddy's to the Pooh's.  She normally loves going to the Pooh room, but now that she knows she will not be going back to the Teddy room, she can get very emotional.  She has become more insistent to hold my hand or have me sit with her before I leave.  I was very surprised by this as she is my laid back baby, who is never phased by a new situation.  This time she is the one struggling, so she is getting extra snuggles and lovin's to make up for the lowered confidence. I'm opitimistic that she is going to get more comfortable with her new surroundings this week, and hopefully I'm not wrong.  No matter the outcome, we are all enjoying the new schedules and the upcoming fall weather!

I will have to add the pictures later, as my computer does not want to show my latest downloads to me.  

Summer Lovin'!

In my usual fashion, I have neglected yet another blog.  I began working again right after we returned home from our Disney vacay, and have not been able to get on the computer since to update everyone on the happenings of our family.  So, this is a small run-down on some of what we have been doing:

Riley decided he wanted to try baseball again, so we signed him up with the Vinton Mudcats.  Though they only won their last game, the kids really improved their skills, and loved playing with each other over the season.  We had a great time and met many awesome parents (and Brynn and Andre made a few new friends too)!

We went to our friend Zoey's 3rd birthday Party and the other House of Mouse, Chuck E. Cheese.  The kids had a great time and it was nice to see some of the stay at home momma's I am friends with, but Andre needs to learn to be a better sport (as evidenced by him throwing a fit because Zoey was able to smack Chuck E.'s hand).

Fun times with Daddy while Riley was out of town.  As the young ones have gotten older, it has proven more difficult for them to be without their brother during his long, six week hiatus to Georgia.  We were able to keep things as fun as they could be in his absence, though they were more than happy to have him back mid-summer.

 After Disney we fell off the Paleo band-wagon, but in this instance I was so glad we did! We tried Benni Marconi's pizza in Roanoke, and it is a local treasure! The pie is larger than our oven, and it is by far the best Roanoke (and anywhere in VA in my opinion) has! Though, Mellow Mushroom is coming to Blacksburg this fall, so we shall wait and see if Benni's or Mellow is the reigning king of the New River Valley!

And of course we just tried to spend a lot of time together, now that I am back to work and our family time is much more precious.  It definitely is a different ball game to go from stay-at-home mom for the last five years to working, but we have dealt with the ups and downs pretty well (for the neurotic mess that we are)!

So that is our summer in a nut-shell.  Lots of activities, movies, sports, and hanging out with one another.  I hope everyone else's summers were just as fun, and I am now looking forward to the cooler temperatures and all the activities and holidays of the fall and winter seasons!