Mementos

~Some are tragic and some are just fun!!

First, we have Nathan with his memento of this really old farmhouse that's near our house. There used to be some people living in it up to about eight years or so ago (that's a total guess, but I do remember people living in the house)! Anyway, they moved and it has been abandoned for many years, so we've been watching the house (and yard) slowly decay. We even went up to check it out in person a couple of times. So one day, we saw that the house was burnt to a crisp!! It was so sad! Nathan said "Well, we knew this day would come, that something would happen to the house. But it's still sad." Such wisdom for one so young!! Then one day the house was just gone, so of course we had to go check it out! Sure enough, the house had collapsed in on itself. Nate was so sad. So I suggested he pick up a memento--so he starts to grab this huge charred brick! I grabbed the smaller piece and suggested that a smaller piece might be easier to carry! So we may need to build a shrine to "the house"--or maybe not!

Second, we have Scott showing off the baseball he got signed by Billy Hamilton, a short-stop for the Dayton Dragons, the single A farm team for the Cincinnati Reds. They waited for players near the dug out after one of the games with no luck! Scott was devastated! So they started walking towards the car, which happens to take them past the back of the stadium, where the players come out. So low and behold who should come out just as they're walking by....you guessed it...Billy Hamilton!! Scott was so excited!!! So here he is with Billy and the ball!

 Third, we have Alan....Poor kid lost his nearly new (got it for Christmas) 32 GB ipod. OK so it was only a 3rd gen (not a 4th)--but 32 gigs!!! Anyway, he lost it at the beginning of the summer~~lesson here kids is put your toys away when you're not using them!!! Anyway, I swear it was the self-induced stress that Alan experienced every day over the summer that caused  a white spot to appear on his eyebrow!!!! WOW--now that's some stress! 

On a happier note for Alan, he set a personal record (PR) for the 2 mile Cross Country course at a meet in Cedarville on 9/17/11. YEA Alan!!!! We're so proud of his hard work and pleased for him and his accomplishment!!

First Day(s) of School

So what fun would it have been for all my kids to start school on the same day?

Not nearly as fun as stretching it out for two weeks....

with my school starting the third week!! *sigh*

Anyway, here are Scott and Alan on their first day of school, August 23rd..... (oh how I wish Alan could figure out how to fake smile!) Oh well, he's still handsome--and still shorter than me!! : )

YUP, I totally had Scott stop for a picture as he was getting on the bus....and he DID!!! : )

 And then on August 29th, we had Nathan's first day of school!! He was so excited!

He was way excited about his new cool, flame backpack

(that ended up going back to the store because it was too small--so sad!)

 Here he is on the way to the bus stop with big brother Scott!! Not sure who's happier here, Nate or Scott. Scott was almost as excited about Nathan riding the bus as Nathan was!!! Cuties!!

For weeks, all Nathan talked about was riding the bus with his best bud, and neighbor, Nick!!

 

Here's my sweet boy posing for his "getting on the bus for the first time" picture!!!!

Bitter sweet!! 

sniff, sniff--little tear

 Last, it's my turn (again). You'd think I'd be a little more excited about my new adventure, but alas, I'm not; I'm dreading it!!! One of those things you have to do to get to the other side. But my adorable sister made it easier for me by sending me a back to school care package....

Ha! Ha! She cracks me up....

my favorite items in the box.....

~Red Vine licorice (already gone!! YUM!)

~the huge erase "for big mistakes"

~post-its--'cause I love post-its!!

~popcorn, or course

~the huge magnifying glass to help me read my assignments (that was funny!!)

~the Addition and Subtraction workbook to help me with my complicated math (thank you very much)

~the funny glasses with a big nose (to scare my teachers with apparently--I think someone's going to claim them for Halloween this year)

~finally the Hello Kitty Pez dispenser, because how on Earth can a grown woman go back to school for a second Master's degree without one of those?!?!?

(Can you see my eyes rolling up in my head????!!!)

Seriously though, thanks Carol!!!! : )