37?!

On September 14th, my hubby and best friend turned old.  Ok, with Kyle's youthful, energetic outlook on life I don't believe he'll ever be "old".  But, my friends, my husband is truly pushing 40!  At least I'll always be 5.5 years younger ;)  Kyle is a HUGE UofM{ichigan} fan, so the week before his birthday, we sort of celebrated with an unexpected trip to The Big House for the first game of the season.  We had the best time!  It was the day where the newly renovated stadium was rededicated so there was all kinds of hoopla, including jets flying overhead which Maguire thought was the coolest thing ever.  Kyle, Jim (Kyle's dad), Maguire and I were incredibly blessed by tickets in the brand-spanking-new club seats.  They were perfect!  Plenty of room for Maguire to literally RUN and DANCE circles around us :)  It was an absolute blast of a day!

3 generations of Warmington UofM fans

Love this picture!

While waiting for the marching band to come out of the stadium, Maguire turned his popcorn tub and program into a base drum and drumsticks.  Always drumming, that boy!

You know he was lovin' those drums!  {and don't judge me for letting him still have that dumb binky!}

That's one tired boy!  And I love the chocolate milk mustache :)

On Kyle's actual birthday, the kids and I spent the entire day at Chuck E. Cheese's {we LOVE that place!}.  I had planned to make Kyle's choice (steak & chicken fajitas) for dinner, but since we were gone all day, I gave myself a gift and just ordered fajitas from Chili's :)

Ashlyn made this candle at Mom & Kids Camp this summer and wanted to save it for Daddy's birthday--she was so proud!  {and check out that YUMMY peanut butter pie I made with my Once A Month Cooking Club!}

Happy birthday, Daddy!  We love you!!

I'm so grateful for another year of Kyle's life and I pray often that God will allow us to spend many more birthdays together.  I love you, Babe!

Mac Attack: 3s Preschool Edition

Today Maguire had his first day of 3s preschool.  He wasn't excited at all ;)

First day!

Cute bro and sis

Maguire sadly watching the school bus carry Ashlyn away...without him.  Just a couple more years, Buddy!

Buddies Brady and Maguire - little lady killers!

Such a big boy!

I love our preschool!  Maguire does too.  He's so comfortable there.  See how he's pulling Kyle down the hall? :)

Maguire finally gets to have Mrs. Stoufer!  We've been using being in her class as a bribe all summer :)  He thinks it's pretty cool that he gets to have the same teacher Ashlyn had for her 3s year at preschool

Can't tell he's excited, can ya?!

Sammy and "Baguire" (apparently more than one little girl in his class calls him this--too cute!)

Silly monkey!

I enjoyed my first morning of freedom of the school year.  Each Monday and Wednesday morning I'll have a few hours when both kids are in school.  I'm sure it'll fly by, but I'll enjoy what I get!  Today I chatted with Cindy (my friend and Brady's/Grace's mom)went to Meijer and just wandered around for a bit, then did a little thrifting before heading back to pick Maguire up.  I'm hoping Wednesday is a little more productive, but it was nice to just hang without a plan for a few hours!

This year one of the{MANY} things that Maguire and I are both most excited about is that he gets to go to chapel this year.  Every Wednesday the kids go to chapel during the last part of the morning.  Pastor Love teaches a Bible lesson and leads the kids in songs.  Today Maguire was concerned about why he didn't have chapel.  He was excited to hear that he'd get to go on Wednesday.  He's most excited to sing songs.  I can't wait to hear about what he learns and I thank God for the spiritual guidance St. Peter's provides these young, impressionable children.

Week one: Take 2

Of course I had to take pics of Ashlyn's second day of Kindergarten :)

BFFs!  Ash and Elizabeth

 

In an outfit she picked out all on her own--great job, Ash!

She cried before getting on the bus today. She said she missed me already.  I had to physically pick her up and put her on the bus steps.  It broke this mama's heart a little bit to see her so sad!  Kyle came up with a very viable theory - Ashlyn's been a bit more clingy ever since my Aunt Marty passed away this past spring.  I think he's right on.  She's constantly praying for my cousins Lisa (age 5) and Nathan (age 4); that they'll be ok without their mom.  It's painful to think that she might be worried about me not being there when she gets back, but I love my sweet, compassionate prayer warrior.  Talk about a child-like faith!  I have so much to learn from her.

Tutu much fun!

The girls started back to ballet this week and they couldn't have been more excited.  After watching Ashlyn and Elizabeth in their spring recital, Grace has decided to join them.  Between ballet and school (and church), these 3 amigas are going to be spending a lot of QT together!

Ash and Elizabeth

Ashlyn, Grace, Elizabeth

Such a poser :)

I'm too young to have a Kindergartener!

Ok, so maybe I'm not too young, but these last 5 years have just zoomed past me!  Ashlyn had her first day of Kindergarten yesterday.  She absolutely loved it!  

The day began with my waking Ashlyn up WAY before she's used to waking up--7am.  Luckily she was so excited that she got right up.  We had laid out her outfit the night before (good thing, too, since she changed her mind about her previously decided on outfit) so she got dressed right away.  We quietly headed downstairs for breakfast and last minute lunch-packing.  After doing her hair we went outside to meet up with Elizabeth for our traditional first-day-of-school pictures.  Oddly, Ashlyn got a nervous tummy and got a little weepy.  SO not like her!  Once the bus arrived at 7:50, though, it was impossible to wipe the gigantic grin off her face! 

She wanted to eat at her own little "table"

My big kindergartener!

They found this little next in our landscaping and wanted it in all the photos!

Love her!

BFFs heading off to Kindergarten

Running to the bus stop

waiting... {her backpack was "too heavy!"}

Our baby, getting so old!

The Ripley St. Gang - Peyton, Elizabeth, Dane, Ashlyn

Not even a look back!

Look how well we did!

After the bus left, Kyle, Maguire and I had a quick breakfast and then headed up to the school to take some more pics.  We made it in time to see the girls in their line out on the playground, waiting to be led inside.  They were SO excited!  I could tell that it really meant a lot to the girls (Ashlyn, Elizabeth, Grace) that their families came to the school.  I would've loved nothing more than to stay in the classroom, a photobug on the wall, taking pictures along each step of the way, but we were politely encouraged to leave our babies behind. 

She can't wait to get inside!

Brady and Maguire--bummed that they can't go to kindergarten with the girls

Mrs. Andrews getting ready to lead them inside

Here she goes!

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Without our girl

I half expected to get a little teary when Ash got on the bus, but actually, it all happened so quickly that I didn't have a chance to get emotional...at first.  After leaving the school I dropped Kyle and Maguire off at home so I could go to the parent round-up meeting at Maguire's preschool.  On the way there I prayed for Ashlyn, her year, her teacher, making new friends, being a new friend, that she would keep and share her faith in this public school...and right about then I started getting choked up.  It hit me how little control I have over much of her day.  With Maguire--and Ashlyn the last two years--I can stop in the Christian preschool any time I want and hang out in the classroom.  I was, and will be, in close contact with the teachers there and I know most of them quite well, this being my 3rd year there and being very involved in the PTO.  I know I'll have to be intentional about getting involved in Ashlyn's school.  I've already volunteered to be on a few committees. And most of all, I know I'll have to stay on my knees for my sweet girl as she makes her way through her school years.   

At 4:00 all the neighbors waited for the kids at the bus stop.  Our kids are the first on in the morning and the last off in the afternoon, so the bus was a little late bring them home.  When it finally came around the corner and pulled up to the stop, right away we saw Ashlyn and Elizabeth with their faces pressed against a window, huge smiles on their faces, waving out the window.  The bounded off the bus, complete joy all over their faces!  Ashlyn was so excited she actually forgot her backpack.  Luckily, Bus Driver Roger reminded her :)  After they posed for a few pictures, all the kids ran immediately to the neighbors' trampoline to play for a bit.  What a great first day! 

Getting off the bus

Now with her backpack :)

Pure joy!

Daddy!!!

Jump around, jump around!

When I asked if she was excited to go back on Friday, she made this face and said, "YESSSS!!!!"  I'm thinkin' she had a good first day ;)

For dinner, Ashlyn got one of our "You are special today" plates.  No worries, Maguire will get his on Monday :)