Mum Fest 2013

Mums are pretty
Mums smell sweet
Mums look awesome under my feet

I think I missed my poetry-writing calling!  :-P

Does anything scream FALL more than mums?  Okay...maybe the pumpkin roll, pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin cake, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin muffins we've been partaking in scream fall more than mums....but they sure aren't as pretty!

For the 23rd year, the City of Barberton held a Mum Fest to celebrate the beauty of mums. No joke, there was no shortage of beauty this year!  Each year there is a different theme.  This year's was a Native American theme, complete with teepees, drumming, and dancing.

Native American items featured in the flowers were the serpent mound, ancient zia sun, the New Mexico state flag, a Navajo blanket pattern, mother earth symbol and a quarter moon.

Seriously so pretty!

Serpent's tail

New Mexico state flag

Serpent's head

Symbol for earth. Marin said it looked like pizza. :-)

Quarter moon

Navajo blanket pattern...before chevron was in!

Gazing globes were scattered near the moon

My favorite section---such pretty colors!

Marin was so ready to have her pictures taken by the flowers!  The night before she told me, "I want to look pretty for the Mum Fest," and decided that she would wear a dress (which is a feat these days...shorts, shorts, shorts for this girl!).

The boys were interested in looking for bees...well, Evander was looking out of fascination, Emory was looking so as not to get stung!

No trip anywhere would be complete without some tree climbing!

Every picture I snapped of the brothers here, Evander's eyes were closed. I made mention of that so silly Emory thought it'd be funny to close his eyes. Of course...the only picture Evander's eyes are open and Emory's eyes are shut...

Our family under the official mum arch. :-)  Yay, fall!

Little Preschooler: Take Two

With all the hub-bub about kindergarten around here...we can't forget that Marin had her first day of preschool today, too!

She will be back for another year in the three-year-old class (take two!) since our school district changed the kindergarten age cut off date.  That's okay...I'll keep her for another year for sure! :-)  She's kind of been mad about it, though, since she is FOUR now. :-P There are two other children who miss the kindergarten cut-off date now that are back in class with her, along with another girlfriend...so I think it will be a great year.


Someone is all too familiar with the routine:

She's been traveling to and attending the preschool her entire life!  She walked right in today, did her thing, gave me a hug goodbye, and went into the play room. Easy peasy lemon squeezie!

Have a great school year, Marin!

Kindergarten, Here He Comes!

Oh, boy...sending the second one off to kindergarten...but Emory is sooooo excited, so it is hard to stay sad for long. :-)

Can you feel the excitement? :-D Aw, I love him.

Emory did not get up with Evander's alarm, but we still managed to get up early and have plenty of time to get dressed and eat...and take pictures!!!

Kitty's been had!:

Momma and Emmer and Evander's finger:

Love my sweet and passionate boy

And finally the bus arrived:

At open house, Emory loved his room and teacher so much that we had to go back and visit a second time. :-)

Here is Emory's seat:

And this is his cubby:

You gotta love that his favorite stuffed animal "Cutest Lilo" got a classroom tour as well.

Emory at his classroom door:

Doesn't he just look so sweet and tiny next to that big sign?  Pretty sure he's one of the biggest in his class, though.

New this year---brothers at school together! Evander has said he will help Emory get to his classroom if he needs it, and keep track of him on the bus. :-)

Earlier this year, Emory attended his kindergarten screening all decked out in his cowboy hat, vest and Sheriff's badge. I couldn't help but think how much school will squash his creativity. I know there is potential for it to be encouraged...but...frankly, there doesn't seem to be much time for that anymore in class. :-( I am thankful for teachers who bring those characteristics that aren't covered in the Common Core to their classes.

So, I am sad...I cried when I hugged Emory goodbye and tears were rolling down my face when he got on the bus.  BUT Emory is so ready for this, and I think that, along with him being our second child to school, has made this easier.

I know I will miss Emory during the day (just like I still miss Evander...that hasn't gone away, yet!), but it will make our moments together all the more sweeter and our time together will be spent more wisely. I like that and the structure our days are now provided and I definitely LOVE being a part of a community that is school. :-)

Have an awesome year in kindergarten, Emory boy!  I love you.

My Little Four Year Old

(To the tune of My Little Pony)

My little four year old...my little four year old... :-)

The first thing Marin said to me this morning was, "It's my birthday!" I sang happy birthday to her, and she was so pleased. My niece had spent the night, and we met up with my cousins and their kids at a beautiful park in the morning. Marin was met with many happy birthdays and song and enjoyed it. By the end of our time there and after several more "happy birthday" mentions, she asked me, "Where's my pony cake?" It was no longer cutting it to mention her birthday...she wanted her party!!!

She chose My Little Pony for her party theme, of course! :-)

Marin and her pony cake :-)

Marin showed off her gymnastics...

...And thought making this face for pictures was just hilarious...

She had a blast being the center of attention, and opening her presents...when her brothers would finally stop "helping" her. :-P

Swimming Dora!!!

Loving her Rainbow Dash from Cousin Anna

Cousins <3

Momma and not-so-baby girl anymore 

For decorations, I drew and painted the Mane Six ponies on poster board. I used a grid method on the original computer print out, and on the poster board.  I remember kids in high school art class doing drawings like this (big regret of mine from high school---not taking art class!  Always took band, choir and French...no time for art).

I was sooooo thrilled that they turned out and actually look like the characters!  Oh, and I really love painting. :-) These will hang on Marin's wall now that the party is over.

Rarity

Pinkie Pie

Fluttershy

Rainbow Dash

Applejack

Twilight Sparkle

We have no pony shirts in this house. I know, it's sad. So, I found a picture of Pinkie Pie smiling real big, and appliqued it to a shirt of hers that was stained. Hello, wearable shirt again!

Unfortunately, this was post-party, so it is dirty

It's hard to believe she is four...and it is also very believable that she is four. :-P Time passes so quickly, but, these are also very trying years with young children.  I feel so blessed to be able to experience a girl child---she is so very different from her brothers---I love experiencing both!

I love that Marin loves to sing...and loves playing ponies...she loves to cook with me and eat my kind of food!  :-) She is nurturing and thoughtful, noticing when someone is sad and bringing blankies to help. :-) I love her willingness to assist around the house and with her brothers when needed. Lately, she's gotten into a whiney mode of operation, but she's also always been loud to be heard over her brothers.

Marin, I love you!!!!

BIRTHDAY QUESTIONNAIRE (I put her answers in quotations...mine are not)

Marin, Age 4

Nicknames: 

Sissy, Leelee looloo (only because she calls me "Meemee moomoo" or however you might spell it!)

How old are you? 

"Four"

What is your favorite color? 

"Blue"  It's been purple up until this very moment.

What is your favorite animal? 

"Elephant"  What?!?!?  There's not even an elephant in the room right now.

What is your favorite book? 

"Animal" Pinkalicious

What is your favorite TV show? 

"My Little Pony"  No comments needed! 

What is your favorite movie? 

"My Little Pony"  Apparently when we watch episode after episode, it feels like a movie. :-)

What is your favorite song? 

"My Little Pony"  Of course!

What is your favorite food? 

"Cupcakes"  Pizza!!!

What is your favorite drink? 

"Lemonade"  We had lemonade at her party today. ;-)

What is your favorite breakfast food? 

"Dinosaur sandwich"  That's a peanut butter and jelly cut with the dinosaur cutter.

What is your favorite snack? 

"Chocolate"  Bam!  Honesty. 

What is your favorite outfit? 

"Shorts"  Too true. :-(

What is your favorite game? 

"Bike trails"  Biking on the Wii

What is your favorite toy? 

"My Little Pony"  Duh!

Who is your best friend?

"Anna"

What is your favorite thing to do?  

"Get a snack"  Yup. This is pretty popular at all hours with all the children.

What is your favorite thing to do outside?

"Play basketball"  Are we sure?  "There was a Dorito coming out of my butt. It was in my butt the whole time.  And it was in the potty."  A birthday party leftover? Or was it *really* there the whole time?

What is your favorite holiday? 

"Christmas"

What do you like to take to bed with you at night? 

"Deerie...and mouse." What????!!!???  She doesn't have a mouse. "Mousie. That's my pet and she died. That's all!"

Where is your favorite place to go? 

"To Maumee Bay"

What is your favorite restaurant? 

"McDonald's"

Where do you want to go on vacation? 

"Vacation Bible School"

What do you want to be when you grow up? 

"A football girl"

What did you do on your birthday? 

"Eat cake, play with balloons, went to a park okay bye!"

To see Marin's answers from her third birthday click here.

A Second Grader!

Evander's first day of second grade was yesterday...and here are the pictures today! :-)

Evander at his desk

Big second grader!

Evander by his tree, ready to get on the bus

Evander wanted Minecraft everything this year for school...the only thing is, there are no Minecraft bookbags and lunch boxes!  There are shirts available, but I added the creeper face to his first-day-of-school shirt since I already had the green shirt from the first grade musical last spring.

I painted a creeper and a cat on Evander's bookbag and sprayed it with Krylon UV-Resistant Acrylic Coating to protect it from the rain and sun.  My acrylic paints wouldn't stick well on the canvas until I used primer first.

For his lunchbox, he chose what he calls "Kitty Guy," a skin that someone who makes Minecraft You Tube videos uses. I totally played around with this one.  Minecraft is pixelated, so I cut lots of one inch squares to put the kitty guy's face together.  The plastic picture on Evander's lunch box from last year was tearing off, so I cut it the rest of the way off, and sewed kitty guy's face on. It was difficult to sew because of the shape of the box, and you can see it looks messy...but Evander loves it!

Except...the zipper broke yesterday morning when I packed his first lunch for the year.  Go figure.  It's still usable, but probably won't last the year. Eh well.

Kitty Guy

After open house Monday night, Evander still had just one more journal article to write for the summer...I tell you, I ruined his summer...because he told me so.

One more journal for the summer, Evander!

Waiting for the bus

Where's the boy?

Second grade already feels different than first---there seems to be a stronger push towards independence. :-)

Evander has a locker in the hall way.  Parents were instructed to let their children do their homework by themselves, and then go over it and help with corrections.  Evander even has a planner this year...goodness!  :-P  He is excited that he has three friends from Cub Scouts in his class and a handful of other classmates he knows.  I am not excited at the news of a bully in his class.  Something more to pray about, I guess.

I love you, Evander!  Have a spectacular year!

Oh, and Marin wanted her picture taken out front of the school since I was taking the boys' pics...imagine her singing a My Little Pony song! :-)