First Day/Week of School

The girls started back to school last week. Meredith attends a full day preschool in town. This is her second year there and she is excited to be a part of the "older kids". It has been quite an adjustment getting up earlier and not having a nap during the day. She has been falling asleep on the way home from school and bed time cannot come soon enough most nights for her.


Hannah is in 3rd grade this year. It is the first time she has been in the same building as me. She was very hesitant at first, but I think she has come to realize it is not such a bad thing, especially when she needs something. Hannah really likes school and loves her teacher. She has been so lucky in her school experience to always get a teacher she likes. I have never had to deal with her not wanting to go to school, which is such a blessing. We are going through a stage where athletic clothes are pretty much the only thing she will wear. I try to just pick my battles with this as I can remember fighting with my mom about clothes (except I was probably 15). Some days I just look at her and wonder where my little girl has gone.




Hannah had braces put on this summer, as well as a palette expander. She was quite miserable at first, but is adjusting. Her speech is much better and she is eating more variety of foods. The palette expander doesn't allow her to bite down all of the way, so she struggles with some foods and gum and hard/sticky candy are forbidden. She will wear a retainer for two years following this treatment and then will have a full set of braces put on. She has a long road ahead of her and I keep reminding her that her smile will be beautiful.

We bought a new car this summer also (Suburban). It is so nice to be able to separate the kids when we are going places. There is less fighting and they can watch their own movies. I like that the middle seats are split, although Hannah may tire of picking up everything her brother and sister drop.

Happy 1st Birthday Lake!

Lake turned one year old on August 19. He celebrated his birthday with his cousin Carley and his Aunt Jamie who all have birthdays within the same week. Lake is still a sweet, sweet baby, but he is slowly becoming all boy. This has to be a nature thing, because it certainly isn't due to nurturing. He is all over the place, likes to be rough and has decided that yelling at the top of his lungs is fun. Lake has seven teeth, lots of curls and bright blue eyes. He isn't walking yet, but will stand on his own for a few seconds at a time. He has developed some type of crawl with one leg out in order to go faster. I'll have to add a video clip sometime. It makes him look a little on the special side. He continues to love his sisters, although he enjoys beating up on Meredith. She literally may start developing bald spots. Hannah is like a little mom to him. He often will reach out for her and she tries to hide the fact that this makes her feel special. Lake sleeps through the night, is using a sippy cup throughout the day and attempting to use a spoon when eating. He is a healthy eater and eats pretty much whatever we are having. All in all, he has been the perfect blessing to our family and all I could have ever wished for in a boy. He has made our lives a little more frazzled, but it feels more complete since the day he was born. I continue to thank God for such a blessing!

Lake enjoying his birthday cake.

The girls thought Lake needed a Cardinal's cake.

Check out these pictures for proof that this kid is always happy. I hope he continues to be this laid back and happy with whatever life brings his way.

New Pony

One of grandpa and grandma's ponies recently
had a baby. This was one of the first days that
Josh was able to get it away from its mother.
The kids love going out to their house to
see it and riding the other horse and ponies.
Hannah thought she would love horse back riding
and I even looked into getting her lessons, but
her confidence quickly went by the wayside.
Meredith and Lake enjoy it though.

Lake liked riding on the pony. He got braver

throughout the evening.

Hannah hanging out on the hay bale.

Lake thinks he is pretty cool. Look mom, no

hands.

Lake Trip

We spent a couple of days at the Lake of the Ozarks with the Silvernail side of the family. My sisters Jodi and Jamie, their spouses, my brother Jeff, my Aunt and Uncle and their children and great grandchildren were all there. It was such a fun time. It was great because my cousins have children my kids ages, so everyone got along really well. We enjoyed good food, hanging out at the pool, tubing and boat rides. I even went out on the wave runner by myself!


Meredith loved the wave runner. Here she is riding with her Great Uncle Jim and her cousin K. They never wanted to get off. My poor uncle was on the wave runner for almost four hours straight giving the kids rides.

Hannah, Meredith and S. getting ready for take-off.
(I don't like using kid's names on my blog without parent permission).