School celebration

Theo's teacher sent me these pictures from his birthday treat at school. I love, love this cute group picture of the class (minus one friend). How cute are these kids???

Notice the apple in the background of one of the pictures. It's the behavior chart and all of the kids have a worm with their name on it. I love hearing who had to move their worm to a different apple each day from Theo. Jack's class assigns numbers and the kids flip cards to different colors. Funny how he can tell me "#2 and #13 flipped the color today". Makes me laugh!

After school celebrating

I spotted Theo and his big birthday crown when I came through carline this afternoon. It made my heart just delight! I knew he felt special and had an enjoyable birthday :) His teacher, Mrs. Hoover, just showered him with things today! He had his crown, a birthday sticker and a birthday certificate! She said the class LOVED the krispie treats and got the biggest kick at eating off Mickey's ears ;) I posed him outside by his birthday balloon on our mailbox in all of his regalia. Notice Pluto is in the picture. He's in heaven and loves his birthday present :)

We met Betsy and her crew at church for Wednesday Night Dinner. I hadn't been in a good two years and tonight I was reminded why I stopped going! Ha. We joked that we'd revisit the dinner once Theo turns 10. Five kids to 2 adults is not a good ratio in that kind of environment (self-serve everything). I don't think Betsy or I sat for longer than 2 minutes the entire meal. She did bring him cupcakes and the kids sang him "Happy Birthday" before devouring their cupcakes.

On our way home we stopped in at Alyssa's house since it's her birthday today as well! Theresa had a pinata set up for the kids and everyone had a nice time just playing. It's so special that Alyssa, Theo and my cousin, Cody, all share a birthday today. Happy birthday, y'all!!!

Theo is 4!!!

Theo turns 4 today at 11:16 am. He'll be eating lunch with his friends and will get to enjoy his Mickey rice krispie treats as they sing him "Happy Birthday". His sweet teacher promised to snap a picture for me on her phone (LOVE that).

It was hard to shift into birthday mode almost immediately upon returning from our Europe trip, but I think I managed to swing it. Theo still LOVES Mickey Mouse so that is his birthday theme this year. Mimi sent me some great ideas for decorations and favors and I copied the treat bag for Theo to take to his classmates this morning. Since his birthday is so early in the school year, I just know not many class friends will turn out for his party. I wanted him to be able to celebrate with them and that's why I sent in a treat bag. My poor August baby!!

We got a move on it early this morning to allow time to get free birthday donuts at Donut King up the road from us. Theo got to go behind the counter and tell Mr. George which donuts he wanted (chocolate and regular donut holes, glazed donuts for Jack). Donut King really bends over backwards to make the birthday children feel special and Theo did!! Jack can't wait for his turn behind the counter in March :)

Scouting tradition

Jack is official a Tiger Scout now and attended his first pack meeting last night with Dave. Dave went all the way up to Eagle Scouts so I think both guys are pretty excited, to say the least :) We go pick up his uniform this week and he's selling popcorn if anyone is interest in helping out the Scouts. Ha ha!

Party weekend

Saturday was filled with celebration. We helped Alyssa celebrate turning 7 with a waterslide party at her house. The boys loved played with all of the toys over at her house as much as the waterslide and trampoline :) She had a beautiful castle cake that everyone enjoyed as well.

One of Theo's classmates had a party yesterday afternoon at the sports complex that we've used a bunch for parties. I was relieved to not be the first one to send out invitations! August birthdays are hard, y'all! The birthday boy's mom and I worked carline during the first week of school together so I at least knew someone there. Always nice to know one person :)

Next we gear up for Theo's birthday on Wednesday! The birthday banner has been hung :)

Pictures from Memphis

Dave just got back from Memphis where he was filling it at work for his brother this week. He took our good camera with him and captured tons of pictures. Here are the proud mom and dad, along with Dada and baby Rowan.

Rowan Meriwether

Jack and Theo have a new cousin! Uncle Miller and Aunt Sarah had their first baby last night and here he is. All 9 lbs 1.5 oz of him. Can't wait to hold him soon :)

Getting back in the swing of things

Jack began his first full week of 1st grade and is getting back in to the groove of homework! It doesn't take long, despite how it looks, and he LOVES to read now that he got placed in the highest reading group. He tells me all the time now how he's glad he worked so hard over the summer on his phonics and even called me "Tiger Mom" today ;) Ha!!!

I played a round of Scrabble with him this weekend and really I only helped him make up his words for maximum points value (my specialty!). He totally created his own 4-5 letter words. We've been playing a lot of hangman too, though that is mostly at restaurants ;)

Theo has even been sent home with really basic homework (just tracing letters and coloring stuff). I LOVE LOVE LOVE that his class is working on the same pre-writing skills that I had him doing over the summer. So proud of Theo and Jack!

P'sghetti

Theo discovered the parmesan cheese tonight. He said it was "snowing" in his bowl. Um, blizzard is more like it!! Ha :)

Hodgepodge

We're getting back in the swing of things around here. The boys finished up their first week back to school and did great! Jack's hard phonics work (made him do lessons daily) really paid off as he was placed in his class's highest reading group!! He was PROUD of himself and truly has a love of reading now.

Dave made homemade pizza crust with the boys last night. Cheese pizza for Theo and pepperoni for Jack. Jack put together a model of a Ferrari from Italy that Mimi and Papa brought back for him. He loves it and it's safely displayed in his room :)

We've also been making Theo wear gloves pretty much 24/7 here. He's still picking his lip and sucking his finger and we want to break both habits! It's HARD. School pictures are this coming Wednesday and we don't want a scabbed upper lip. Ugh.

We are also on Baby Watch around here for Jack and Theo's new cousin!!! Uncle Miller and Aunt Sarah are due to have their baby any minute (due date was yesterday!). The boys made cards for their cousin and will send them up to Memphis with Dave, who will be working up there this week. Can't wait to meet our new nephew and cousin :)