Olivia is Red Hot

Or is a Red Hot! Olivia decided she wanted to try soccer this year and was placed on the Red Hots team! I was really surprised when she decided on soccer over gymnastics, especially since she would not know anyone on the team! But I am so proud of her for branching out and trying something new! Last week they had their first practice and Denny said it went great! Olivia loved it and was quite proud of herself! ;) We eagerly await their first game in a few weeks!

She said the socks were "so itchy"! She couldn't wait to get them off!

GOAL!!!!!

Olivia's Elementary School Debut

As most know school started here on Monday which means my little baby started Kindergarten! Last week I was pretty much a mess, crying at the mere mention of school, and ready to keep Olivia home and try again next year! ;) I am just so sad that she has left behind so many good, sweet friends that go to other schools this year or are not in school yet! I selfishly want her to just have those kids as friends forever! But thankfully Olivia did not share my anxiety! The more I asked her to stay home with me one more year the more determined and excited she became to go! That is a true blessing because it made Monday that much easier on her mommy! When I went in to wake her up at 6:45 she was already awake and very excited to start her day!

My big girl

(Who in this picture desparately needs highlights????)

Can you see the anticipation in her eyes?

I'm surprised she didn't fall backwards with that big ole backpack on!

We were thrilled to find out that Olivia has 3 familiar faces in her class! Two from pre-school last year and one who lives right down the street, Nina. Here are Olivia and Nina doing their "First Kindergarten Drawing"

Jack was ready to stay with his sister! He would have had a great time eating crayons and pulling things off the walls! I'm sure Mrs. Mars would have loved having him in her class!

After leaving Olivia behind, I had a date, which I had really been looking forward to, with 3 great friends! We had our own Boohoo Yahoo breakfast at Breadwinners, mimosas and all! It was so much fun to sit and talk about how each of our girls went off to school for their first time that morning! I will really miss all of those girls being in school together, there is such a comfort with old friends... for Olivia and for myself!

All in all Olivia's first day was a great success and she has loved every minute of it! I just pray her enthusiasm continues!

Rise and Shine

I have really struggled with the fact that Olivia was starting kindergarten this year! As much as I look forward to all of the fun that "real" school entails, I am very sad to leave behind our pre-school way of life.... Not to mention the fact that this means my baby girl is really growing up... fast! From now until Olivia leaves for college our lives will be dictated by the school calendar and tardy bell! Not a fun thought! So, to help me get in the mood, last Friday we had a back to school Rise and Shine party here at our house! We invited all of our friends over for an 8:00 a.m. party of donuts and juice to get us back in gear for the school season! I cannot, by any means, take credit for this super cute party idea! My good friend Summer threw one last year for her daughter and friends and it just looked like so much fun and such a cute idea, I had to steal it! I got permission first of course! :)

Another Graney party where pajamas were the attire of choice! And I promise Olivia does have more than one pair of pj's! (In case some of you didn't notice these are the same pj's she wore at her birthday party! Must be her party pj's!)

It was an all outdoor event, and I was really worried that with all the rain we had Thursday night, and even Friday morning, that we might have to cancel, but we decided to plow on, weather be darned! So, after some rearranging in the garage, we moved the party from the back yard to the front driveway and garage, white trash style! ;) Which explains why there are no pictures of the table or decorations... not as cute butted up against the tool bench in the garage! But it turned out so good it may be in the same location next year, but figure out how to hide the "garage"!

Olivia and Kennedy

I love this picture of them! Olivia will certainly miss her now that school has started, they have been inseparable this summer!

Ally who also started K this year!

Jake, Maci's big bro giving Liv a push! How sweet is he?!

Cambry, Kennedy's lil sis

Jacob and Ethan and Keeley and Luken

Precious Emma

Nicholas, Nina (friend down the street AND in Liv's class!!!), and Olivia

I'm not sure what was going on here, some swinging and screaming... Obviously the sugar has kicked in!

Jake and Tatum (Sawyer's big sis) - both starting 3rd grade!

Stacy, Carey and Sheryl

That was one tiring party!

Sawyer, Olivia, Kennedy, Maci

It was so much fun, despite the weather and plan B, and all us moms and kids being tired at first! We really look forward to making this a tradition for back to school every year! That is until the kids deem it is too uncool! ;)

Well Visits

Last Friday we went in for both Olivia and Jack's well visits. One plus of having the kid's birthdays so close, we get to knock them out together! It would have been great but we have already been back to the dr. because Jack is sick again, and we'll have to go back as soon as he is well (if that ever happens) to get his immunizations since he couldn't get them last Friday because he was sick. Can you tell I'm frustrated!? :)

But back to the post! The kids developmentally are doing great and there were no concerns. They are also both long and lean, lucky kids!

Jack's stats:

22 lbs. 7 oz. - 50th%

32" long - off the charts

Olivia's stats:

40 lbs. - 50th%

44 3/4" - 90th%

I've uploaded some pics that have nothing to do with my post, but who wants to read a post with no pictures!?

Jack's first tantrum! All because I took him out of his crib when he wanted to stand-up in it after his nap!

Jack has started mimicing our actions and it's so cute! The other day he picked up Olivia's walkie-talkie and said "hi" right into the speaker! Here he is stirring his cup and feeding Olivia, then himself!

These things just make him seem so big, it doesn't seem possible he is entering toddlerhood! It is fun and sad all in the same breath! I am not ready for either of my babies to grow up!

Frisco Fire Safety Town

The City of Frisco has this awesome miniature town called Safety Town. It is like a small scale Frisco complete with businesses, streets, stoplights, Jeeps for the kids to ride, etc... It is right next to their main fire station downtown so there are fire trucks to explore as well! They are not usually open to the public, but this summer they have been open every Friday night. So a few weeks ago we headed up there with our good friends, The Smiths! They had just been the weekend before so Kennedy was able to show Liv the ropes! It was so cute and totally made me wish I could get in one of those Jeeps and drive around! It is really a little kids dream!

On their way...

Their first stop was a drive-thru.

They placed their drink orders and got their receipt.

And were off again!

What miniature town would be complete without the Tollway and a tollbooth! Luckily this is the one free tollbooth in this city! The NTTA hasn't made it here yet to collect their dues I guess!


My favorite News station, WFAA! Complete with my favorite meteorologist cutout standing inside, Pete Delkus!
And of course there is a Wal-Mart!

After their drive around town, and many stops for pretend drinks, the girls checked out the fire truck.

And you can always count on Denny to join in on the fun as well!

We had so much fun it may be worth going back before Summer's end. I guess we had better hurry!

Bumper or Pillow?

Ever since Jack has become mobile he has really had a hard time getting to sleep at naptime. Every day at nap he's like a caged lion, pacing on all fours, raring up on his knees and pulling up! A few weeks ago he was up to his normal tricks and once he finally got quiet I went to look at him on the monitor and saw him sitting up but still as a mouse! I was thinking, there is no way this child is sleeping sitting up, so off I trotted upstairs with my camera in tow! And here is what I found...

I guess he was playing and just fell over asleep! He does this occasionally now, but often than not, he will be sitting up and just fall forward, so that his head is on the mattress. Ouch! That just cannot be comfortable, I don't care how young and limber you are! Which would explain why after 45 minutes he is up... and more importantly unhappy! Hopefully this stage will pass quickly!

Thankfully at nightime he is still sleeping like a champ, at least until 6:00 a.m.! I mean really, couldn't I have gotten at least one late sleeper????

Jack's Birthday Party

On Saturday we had a small party to celebrate Jack's birthday! We went with the construction theme and it turned out pretty cute!

The gift/favor table in the dining room near the front door.
Every child had their own hard hat with their names on them.

And there were cookie party favors!

The real reason for a party - the food! We had a 6 foot long sub, a dump truck full of chips, a wagon full of brownies, cheerios, water, juice and brown bag lunches for the kids.

The fam

Jack playing at the party - he had so much fun!

A crew of sweet girls!

The cake

Jack's smash cake

Jack was really trying to touch that flame on his candle!

It was so cute, Jack clapped for us after we sang him Happy Birthday!

Then went immediately into "SO big!" -- this is his patented move! (clap then SO big)

Getting started....

A little dirty and not sure what to make of it! Great timing for a family photo!

Oh, more clapping, he's happy once again!

And that is it! He's done!

He was happy again once he got out of his highchair and back to playing!

Jack had such a great birthday party and we thank everyone who was a part of this sweet boys first birthday, whether in person, or in spirit! You are all so sweet!

I am still in disbelief that his first year has come to a close! I will keep the tissue out as Olivia's first day of Kindergarten is right around the corner... this is a tough month for this mommy!