S's of SEPTEMBER

In looking back at some of the photos from September, I noticed that many of them could be captioned with an "S" word.  So, to tickle the funny bone of the former Language Arts teacher in me, I decided to run with it.

Sharks

Clare and Isaac enjoyed another fishing outing with Daddy, and their one wish was to catch a shark.  Wish granted, shark caught, and happy kiddos.  Success!  I'm really going to go nuts with this "S" theme...so reader beware.  ;)

Shirtlessness 

It is September, and it is still ridiculously HOT.  Our pool is still in the 80's, the temperature is still in the 90's, and we are ready for "fall."  The only semblance of fall in Florida is Brach's candy corn satisfying my sweet tooth and fresh apples finally hitting the produce department again.  Other than that, we are still in the thick of our extended hot and humid summer.

Saddling Up

Isaac was invited to his first birthday party of the new school year,  

and it was at a little farm in the area.

The kids enjoyed pony rides, animal petting, and silly party favors.

They also did "pony painting." 

 I'm not sure if it was PETA approved, but the kids loved it!

Shoeless Myles

Myles is in the stage of protesting his shoes and socks.  We never put them on before arriving at our destination because we know they will be strewn about the van before we're even out of driveway. 

I am almost confident that he will outgrow this.

Surgery

Myles had his tonsils (notice the enormity of them in the picture below) and adenoids removed this month.  The poor little peanut had sleep apnea, and that was an immediate ticket for removal.

He handled the surgery really well...much better than expected.

They originally told us that he would have to stay overnight for monitoring and guaranteed hydration.  After they observed his disposition (eating, drinking, chatting, running around, etc.), they released us at 4:30 PM.

Scooter

This little scooter was Myles' favorite part about spending the day in the hospital.  They let him ride around our wing, and that he did.  Over and over and over.  He had more energy than all of the nurses and parents combined.  So much for the "limp noodle" that they told us to expect.

Smoothies

We've been doing a lot of smoothies lately, and this one from the hospital cafeteria turned out to be one of the best I've ever had.  I don't consider that to be extremely noteworthy, but I realized that this is one of the only pictures (in a long time) of just the two of us together.  Awe...Sweet!

Smiles

Other than the stint with surgery, it has been a month full of health and happiness.  The kids are enjoying school, we are in a good routine, and there have been a lot of smiles.

Snakes

There have also been a lot of snakes.  

I just don't know where the kids get such a fascination with them.

Snakes and Smiles

Soccer

Isaac started soccer this month, and today was his first game.

The outcome looked bleak when his team was down 0-3 in the first two minutes, but they somehow pulled out a win.  Isaac scored a goal, and it was a fun morning for our Little Middle.

Knowing my track record with this blog as of late, I should probably say,

"So Long September!"

First Day of School

The house was all a flutter this morning.  I thought I was completely prepared for the first day of school, yet I still woke up at 4:45 this morning.  After 17 years of "first days" as a student, and five years of "first days" as a teacher, the first day jitters still flow through my blood.  Thankfully, my little loves were EXCITED and READY for school!

Clare started first grade at Seffner Elementary.  Her teacher, Miss Camilliti, was named teacher of the year last year.  There are 17 students in her class, and she gets to start specials this year.  She had her first day of P.E. TODAY in a dress and sandals.  We'll be better prepared next time.

 Isaac started VPK (4's pre-Kindergarten) at First United Methodist of Brandon.  His teacher, Mrs. Mahan, is a veteran teacher...full of grace and tenderness for these newbies.  There are 9 children in his class, and he was definitely the MOST EXCITED person I know about school starting.

They miss each other during the day, 

and it will be fun when they are in the same school next year.

In order to get a few decent pictures, I had to oblige and let them take an equal number of ridiculous pictures.

This little honey came home with pink cheeks and a hungry belly.  Here are his repsonses (verbatim) to my after-school questions:

- What was your favorite part of the day?

"Going to the playground and seeing Tessa."

- Was there anything you didn't like about the day?

"Just one thing...I got all sweaty."

- What did you do in your classroom?

"Ummm...we did some puzzles and books, and I have something to tell you...can we go to Chuck E. Cheese tonight?"

It's amazing watching our children morph into little people...full of their own personalities, wit, and senses of humor.  We can see certain traits that come from certain people.  Thankfully, Clare's sense of style is different than that of mine in first grade. 

                            Corrie in 1st grade - 1988                                                            Clare in 1st grade - 2015

Clare's first day of school was "so much fun!"  The only bummer of the day was that car line was so backed up (SHOCKER!) that I couldn't get to where I pick her up as a walker.  I had to park almost a half a mile from the YMCA (where we pick her up) and walk to meet her.  I had Myles in my arms, and I literally dragged Isaac by the arm.  My car thermometer read 101 degrees, so we were all rosy cheeked and peachy when we finally got to her ten minutes late.  Sorry, Clare.

Clare's highlights:

- Making "Jitter Juice" in her classroom.

- Making a "new best friend."

- Finding a $5 bill while walking over to the YMCA.

 They LOVE their new backpacks, and they were wearing them around the house for days before school actually started.

And this...

One of my favorite little moments of the day!

Isaac and Clare were talking to each other outside,
and I captured their silhouettes in the rising sun.  

And now...

The sun has set on the first day of school.  It was a success.  All is well.  Everyone is happy.  No tears were shed.  To many more...

Golden 7

Our sweet and spunky Clare turned 7 last week.  

SEVEN!!!

I can distinctly remember Clare's first birthday.   

 Knowing that the next six years are likely to go by even faster than the last six...we will have a TEENAGER before we know it.

In the past week, a number of people have remarked on how seven is the "best year" or "golden age."  While every age seems to come with its own challenges and joys, we can see Clare's personality really developing into something special and beautiful.

 She continues to LOVE nature, water, animals, and being outside.
Genetics are remarkable. 

She is fearless, adventurous, spirited, and social.  She doesn't want to miss a beat.  She carefully weighs all options to ensure that she is right in the middle of the most fun.

She loves her brothers, and she ADORES Myles.  She always wants to get him out of bed in the morning, and she acts as his second mama.  However, she maintains that she is fine with just two brothers.  According to her, "that's more than enough."

She LOVES fishing...especially with Daddy (let's be honest, she's never really gone fishing with Mommy)...and especially on "the big water."

One of Clare's natural gifts is drawing.  She has an amazing eye, and she can freehand almost anything.  I love watching her in art mode.  Her focus, precision, and attention to detail tickle her first-born button.

Clare's eyes through her eyes.

She used chalk to create this Egyptian portrait.

 Clare weighed in at 53 pounds and 49.5 inches at her 7-year well visit.  She is down three teeth...although she hasn't lost any of them on her own.  This little honey has had the worst dental trauma of anyone I've ever known, and it turns out that it is likely from an adverse reaction she had to an antibiotic when she was just a baby.  Go figure.

Clare LOVES:

- Art and Gymnastics

- Swimming and Fishing

- Helping with projects

- Cotton Candy Blizzards from DQ

- Fruit...ALL kinds

- Her brothers

- Michigan

- Frozen bananas with cream

- School (at least 80% of the time)

Clare DISLIKES:

- The Dentist

- Trying new food

- Independent reading

- Natural disasters

- Wasps and bees

This is ME, Corrie, on my 7th birthday.

And this, my beautiful daughter...

I am so thankful that Clare is my daughter.  She challenges me to try new things, to love without conditions, to not take things too seriously, to laugh throughout the day, and to grow in patience, grace, and understanding.  I look forward to our years ahead, and I trust that we will continue to shape one another in beautiful ways. 
Happy 7th Birthday, Clare Bear!

These Three

On a Sunday afternoon, at the end of May,
I have only the time to record a few quick thoughts.

Myles is 19 months old and full of vim and vigor.  His eyes express reluctance and hesitation until you are in his inner circle.  Once you're in, you are blessed by his amazing sparkle and charm.  His favorite places are outside and in Papa's arms.  He detests his car seat.  He eats an embarrassing number of "pouches" every day (the little fruit puree push-up genius inventions).  He knows how to open the cupboard and get them out, and he would gladly eat them for every meal and every snack of the day.  I still want him to be my baby, but I also want him to start talking and using the toilet.  If I had to choose, I would go with the latter.

One of the other mothers from Isaac's class told me the other day that Isaac is "so charismatic." I wish that I could see what he is like in school because I get the sense that he has multiple personalities.

 He is certainly a ham, but he has the sweetest little spirit.  He is thoughtful, generous, giving, goofy, and tender.  He is pretty proud of his recent accomplishment of diving to the bottom of our pool's deep end (8.5 feet) and collecting multiple rings.  His has become our second little fish and spends hours in the pool.  He just finished his first year of "school," and he literally LOVED EVERY MINUTE.  He had the most incredible teacher, and he wanted to go 7 days a week.  He is very sad about summer vacation, and I already anticipate the countless times he is going to ask when he gets to go back to school.

Clare...

She has changed a lot in the past few months.  It seems like she's really grown up, and her desire is always to please others.  Rather than always being first, best, fastest, and victorious, she now defers to her brothers and delights in their successes.  She loves being our little helper, and she doesn't want to miss a beat.  She is the last one asleep at night and the first one awake in the morning.  She wants to make her own pancakes every morning...start to finish...except for the clean-up part.  She's gotten very good, and she has yet to get sick from the copious amounts of batter that she's eaten.

She is definitely Daddy's girl when it comes to loving animals.  Phil brought home a hornbill that needed round-the-clock care, and Clare was always on feeding duty.  She and Phil share an innate connection with animals that is fascinating to watch.  Regarding nature vs. nurture, it is definitely in her nature because Isaac is seemingly as uninterested as she is interested.

We have a pair of hawks that hang around our house, and Clare spots them before anyone else.  She is incredibly observant, and she notices things that I completely overlook.  The other day, she saw her "little buddy" on the fence, and she kept saying, "Birds are just so beautiful."  Only the daughter of an ornithologist. 

  So much more to say, but this has to do for now.

All is well.  Very well!