Thomas Tidbits...: 3 1/2 & 5 1/2

So clique, but I can't believe my babies aren't babies anymore. Eleanor's baby ship sailed long ago, but it seemed like just yesterday that Fisher was a needy little toddler.

Eleanor Tidbits:

: We have a VERY proud kindergartener! She is in love with her school, her class, and her teacher. Socially and emotionally it was a very easy transition for her. Physically, the first month was a tough transition from a sleep aspect. She's been doing a half day school program since she was 2 years old, and the full day was a big leap. Eleanor came home on the second day of school, looking pretty beat up. She asked for dinner at 4:30, and as she ate her dinner, struggling to keep here eyes open, she asked to go to bed!

: Sister has become even more independent than she already was. The first week of school, we walked her into school and to the cafeteria where the students gather before school. The second week, she requested that we drop her off at the school's front door. The third week, she insisted that she didn't need us to hug her at the front door. Of course, we still hug her regardless of the requests;)

: Eleanor continues to love arts and crafts and drawing, and now spelling and reading. She's more confident in her reading and guessing less and less, and sounding out letter combinations more and mo

: Ellie is going to perform in an Annie play in November. She goes to rehearsal every Saturday from 10-12. I was nervous that this would be an overload for her new school schedule, but she absolutely loves it. We thought this activity would help her nurture her voice talents. She's super shy and doesn't like to perform, even for us. But since there were several girls from her former school in the play, I thought this would help bring her out of her shell.

She went to rehearsal for 3 weeks and was given her part last week. She is in the chorus of orphans, but also has 2 real parts! Kate and the Police Officer. Stage Mom is kicking in, already hi-lighting her lines in the script and practicing at family dinners.

: Eleanor lost her first tooth over Labor Day weekend! She noticed her bottom right tooth was loose while we were at Horseshoe Bay over the holiday weekend, and she was determined to lose that tooth quickly. After incessantly wiggling for a day and a half, it came out. She was BEAMING, so adorable. The Tooth Fairy brought her $2.

Fisher Tidbits:

: This kid is OBSESSED with his "pedal bike." He graduated from his balance bike a couple of months ago, with no training wheels ever. He started by mastering the pedaling, then the breaks, and now is full on doing tricks where he puts his feet up on the handle bars. This kid will test my patience daily with his daredevil antics... I'm sure this is only the beginning.

: Fisher took school well too. I was worried because he was used having sister in his class. He also got two new teachers which I thought would be a challenge because Fisher hasn't been great with school transitions in the past. He embraced the new teachers and his role as a big kid like a champ. He plays HARD and school and is dripping with sweat when I pick him up.

: Even though Fisher is no longer a baby, I'm still holding on (very tightly) to some of his toddler tendencies. For example, he still loves to snuggle with me and says, "Mom, I love you" (unprompted) on a daily basis. Today while we were snuggling, he says, "Mom, you are a sweet gurl." Heart melting.

I also embrace his mis-pronunciations, keeps just a little baby in him:

Adocado = avocado
Be-side = decide
Al-noe = Eleanor
Be-mem-buh = remember
Tweet = treat
Squirreler = squirrel
Bamama = banana
Wace-caw = racecar

First Day of School!

We love being close enough to walk Eleanor to school!

This was one excited kindergartener.

Ms. King is the BEST!

Buddy all smiles going back to Athena.

We were supposed to go to Crystal Beach with The Hacks for Labor Day weekend, but Harvey put a kink in those plans. Our backup was 2 nights at Horseshoe Bay Resort in Marble Falls, TX. This place was amazing, and we can't wait to go back!

Chillest baby ever - Louie Hack.

First lost tooth!

Harvey Relief Benefit at Waterloo - front row seats. Isreal Nash performed and gave the kids instruments to play during the show.

Love the new smile

Kids pretending to be pregnant, like Laura.

Homemade pizza night.

Eleanor got to attend her first baby shower. She had so much fun. Seen here is a photo when E was 18 months old, then another almost exactly 4 years later. These two have a very special bond;)

Henna tattoos at the baby shower.

Every day when I drop off Fisher, he asks to sit in my lap in the driver's seat and listen to a song of his choosing. Soaking in every snuggle I can get.