Ella's First Day of Pre-School

Ella has been waiting for this day for a long time! We've picked out her backpack and lunchbox together, talked about it all, met with her teachers last week, and she couldn't have been more excited this morning to get the show on the road! 

She asked me last night to paint her nails..... how could I tell her no?! Yellow for the first day of school! 

 

 Carter was really excited for Ella too. Over breakfast this morning he was telling her all about how her day would go. "You'll get to have a snack and you'll get to do centers, then you'll have lunch and play outside, and Mommy will come and get you after rest time!" He's an old, seasoned vet when it comes to preschool, and I thought it was so sweet that he was showing her the ropes and genuinely excited for her. I was a little sad that Carter wouldn't be around for 1st day pics like Ella always has been with him, but I was able to snap one after breakfast. Ella had already half-stripped down, and Carter was headed out the door, but we got one!

 Here are the rest I took of Ella a little later. 

She just looks so big!!

 Happy, happy!

 And there's my silly girl......

 She requested silly faces.

 So big waiting outside her classroom

 She went right in, sat down and got started playing. I snapped a few pictures, said my goodbyes to her, and slowly wandered out. She didn't even bat an eye, just sat and played and waited for the rest of the kids to come in. If there was ever a little girl ready for school, it was her!! She did flawless.

I told Eric I wasn't sure which was harder -- having your child cry for you not to leave (like Carter has), or having them be so big and confident and sure of themselves that they don't. I choked up a little walking to the car, and shed a few tears once I got there. It just hit me how big she has gotten. I guess it's a good thing I have another one coming soon, ha!! 

I've been thinking about her all morning, and can't wait to pick her up. I know she'll have a great day and love every minute, and can't wait to hear what kind of stuff she has to tell me later. In the mean time, I'm going to enjoy my day to myself, get a few things done, then rest and relax knowing both my babies are in great hands. :)

Carter's First Soccer Game

Carter is playing his first season of soccer this fall. His team is the Green Monsters, and so far he loves it! He played his first game this weekend. It was a hot one, but I think he had fun. 

Such a cute little soccer player! 

 Sis snuck in for a picture.

  Carter was team captain this game, and went to center field for the coin toss.

They play 4 on 4 and rotate kids each quarter, so Carter watched the first and third quarters and played the second and forth.

He and his teammates waiting and watching the game.

 Carter played good defense, and almost scored a goal! There were a lot of "almost" goals shot by each team, but I'm sure the boys will get better as the weeks go on.

Great game! I think he's going to have a lot of fun this season!

It's Baby Month!

The weeks and days of being a family of 4 are winding down, we are officially into baby month! Ella just finished her final week of summer, so we have also made it to everyone's official school year, and I'm exhausted..... ha! But we are in the home stretch, for sure! Here is an update and pictures from last week! 

Ella met Elizabeth this week and got to hold her! She loved it and is very excited to soon have a baby of her own to love on!  

We met some MOPS friends at a new play space, The Coop, and Ella had a ball! She played hard for 2 1/2 hours straight!

 After school movie!

I got Ella and Elsa and an Anna dress, and she's been in one or the other non stop this week. We've been playing a lot of Frozen around here. 

Meet the Teacher went great! Ella was happy to be there and settled right in. She's going to love school! 

It's sad that I don't have as many pictures of Carter the last few weeks because he's at school all day! But I've been trying to make a point to be sure to take some of him later in the day. Here he is drawing Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. He's pretty obsessed with Star Wars lately since he and Eric watched the whole series. He tells me that he and his friend Jackson play Star Wars everyday at recess, too.  

My handsome boy

 And he's started soccer for the fall. We've got his first game later today. He's pretty excited! 

Soccer cutie

 

 

 Ella as Anna, braids and all! 

 Happy to be picking up Carter from school, yay Friday!!

We enjoyed some cooler temps and low humidity this morning at the park near our house. Great preview of fall.... which I am SO looking forward to!

 Loved these 3 swinging together.

Getting Into a New Routine

We finished up Carter's first week of elementary school, and were happy to welcome the 3 day weekend after getting into a new routine. It definitely feels different having to set an alarm and wake kiddos up in the mornings for the first time ever, but the first week went smooth and we're all pretty well adjusted at this point. Ella is napping earlier so she can be up in time to get Carter from school. I was nervous about how that would go, but it's worked out great. Carter's days at school got better and better as the week went on. He's already talking about his new friends in class, and he's coming home telling me all about the different things they are up to. On Wednesday, he came home with a special little toy that he got to chose for being a good listener. And then on Thursday he got a "golden ticket" for good behavior and being a good helper. We attended popsicles in the park at the playground that evening with other kindergarteners and their parents, as well as all their teachers. It was a good way to get to meet some of the other families at the school. Then on Friday, Ella and I attended their weekly Friday assembly in the cafeteria to see what it was all about, and it was so cute, and well put together. We feel lucky to be a part of such a great, family-oriented school!

Ella has one more week home with me, then she starts preschool on the 9th. I found out last week what class she'll be in and who her teachers are, and she gets to meet them next week. She's excited and ready to go to school too! With her in on Tuesdays and Thursdays, that will be our new normal. Add in a baby in the next few weeks, and our routine will be rocked again for a little while, I'm sure, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there! For now, things are going good for everyone!

Didn't take too many pictures this week, but here are a few.

She's been playing in our room non stop with her baby and all the baby gear. Too cute!

 Ella and Lucy doing some shopping at H&M.

One evening I was sitting on my bed folding laundry while the kids were playing in the living room, and they got a little crazy with Ella's toy stroller. I couldn't help but laugh! 

And, at just shy of age 3, Ella is already a huge Taylor Swift fan. I have determined that this is an unavoidable phenomenon with little girls.... her music is just too catchy!! Here is a funny video of Ella lip syncing in the car on the way home from dinner this weekend. 

We spent Labor Day at the pool with some neighborhood friends. It was nothing fancy, just kiddos playing and parents visiting, but a fun day for all!

 

 

It's back to the grind today. I have my weekly doctors appointment, and with all the contractions I've been having the last few weeks, we're pretty much prepared for anything at any moment!
Here I am at 37.5 weeks