Pre-Kindergarten

With her teacher, Ms. Brown

Doesn't she look so small standing outside her school?

Laurel started her new school. She has been there 3 days now, and her teacher told me today that she is very popular! The other children save her a seat and want to do what she is doing most of the time. She has 7 little boys and girls in her class, and they are all too cute! I have gone and eaten lunch with her so I have gotten to know some of them. It is really neat that I get to go eat with her.

Landon is settling into 1st grade. We had Back-to-School Night tonight. We got to go see his classroom, meet his teacher, and see some of his school work so far. He wrote us a note saying that 'School was great'! His soccer coach called tonight, and we have practice on Monday. I guess games will be starting soon. Also, we signed him up for Flag Football. He is really anxious to start the football games.

I am enjoying my new job. I think I am going to have a lot of flexibility, but a lot of responsibility too!

These are some pics of Laurel's first day of school. I dont' know if I said in an earlier post, but her school is located on the old Joseph Bettendorf property (who Bettendorf is named after). It is a whole campus located on 25acres. The 'mansion' was built in 1914. It is huge! It has some really cool features especially for a home built in that time. First of all, the ceilings and wood work are amazing. It is almost like the places in Europe. The basement was the 'family entertainment' area. It had a 2 lane bowling alley (in 1914!!), a card room, and a physical fitness room. The guest house had the billiard room. The 3rd floor was the Ballroom! Along with housing for the 'Help'. My office is located in what was the Sunporch while the Bettendorfs lived there. Anyway, just a tidbit about her school.

First Day of 1st Grade and other News!

Packing the backpack.

Watching for the bus...

Last hugs before getting on the bus.

It's official!

Kyle and I now have a 1st grader! Landon started school on the 15th. He was really excited. His teacher is Mrs. Schroeder. He says she is nice. She is a little older, but seems really sweet. He has already brought home homework. Every night, he has brought home 2 small books to read. He will read them to me, then I will read them to him. It is a little time consuming, but it is really fun to hear him sounding out his words. He is doing really well.

Laurel starts Pre-K on Monday. She will be going 5 mornings a week. She is excited, and didn't understand why Landon started and she didn't. We went to buy her school supplies, and she had fun packing them into her backpack. I hope her teacher is ready for what is about to walk in her door!!!!!!!

In other news, I got a new job! For those of you who didn't know, I quit my last one in May because...pretty much I hated it. I said that I was not going to get another one, but this one kind of fell into my lap. I was called and asked to interview for the Acc. Mgr position at an independent school about 3 miles down the road. So I interviewed, and got the job. I went in a few half days this past week while Landon was in school. Laurel is actually going to be going to Pre-K at the school. So I can take her with me to work. We can get Landon on the bus, then head there to get her in class by 8:30. They have an afternoon program that she will do too...which includes napping and playground time among other things, but she will be in the same building with me, and I can go eat lunch with her, and go play for a few minutes in the afternoon with her...as long as she doesn't get upset when I leave. So I think it will be good. I hope anyway!

Also, Jennifer has been trying to talk me into running a 5k with her. I am still trying to figure out her motives for trying to kill me, but I think I will give it a try. It is in 4 weeks, and I don't know how I am going to be able to run 3 miles!...At first, I thought no big deal..three miles isn't that bad! But then I got this new job, and I clocked the mileage the other day, and did I mention that my new work is 3 miles away...it is a lot further than the 3 miles I had in my head. Anyway, it should be interesting.

Kyle has not been travelling much lately. Which is really good considering all of the changes that have taken place recently! He does start his classes again this fall. But it is just one night a week...much better than the 2 nights a week for his summer class.

Enjoy the pics of Landon's 1st day!

Grown -Up Vacation

Well, Landon and Laurel went to Mississippi to the Neshoba County Fair with BigPop and MeMe and then to visit Nonna and Pop in Bay Springs so Kyle and I decided that we would take a GROWN-UP Vacation...Do any of you remember those?
We had lots of fun just doing not much of anything. We went to Key West then to Miami Beach. We wanted to try to go somewhere that we wouldn't want to take the kids...and also we had to be able to fly back through Memphis, TN so that I could get to Jackson easily to pick up Landon and Laurel from my parents. Neither of us had been to the Keys so we decided it was a good time to go. We flew to Miami and rented a red Mustang convertible and drove the 3hrs to Key West. We stayed in a little bed/breakfast there. And had a really good time relaxing. We had almost forgotten how yuk humidity feels. (These Midwesterners only like to complain that they have humidity, but they don't have a clue!) The first night we watched the sunset from Mallory Square. They boast that they have the best Sunset in the US. Then we spent a day kayaking and snorkeling, and a day of sightseeing. We ate entirely too much, but the food was so good. We don't get much seafood in the Midwest! We drove back to Miami Beach on Friday, and ate at Gloria Estevan's (sp??) restaurant Friday night, and then spent most of Saturday on the Beach and shopping. Sunday, we had a late flight so we got up and went back to the beach that morning ate lunch then left for the airport. We had a really good time, but I was ready to see the kids.

I got into Bay Springs at about 10:30pm on Sunday night, and the kids were waiting up for me...I was shocked, but really glad to see them. Monday I went visiting. I got to go to Chris/Michelle's house and Johnny/Marybeth's house. For those of you who don't know, those are my brothers...and both are expecting their first child in October. So it was good to get to see their nurseries. I also got down to see my Aunt Nita and my Uncle Billy and uncle Hollis.....it is good to see family!
We drove back to Iowa yesterday, and Kyle was really glad to see the kids! ...and they were really glad to see him too. He had to head back to work so he didn't make the trip to MS with me.
Anyway, we are back and ready to settle back into some sort of routine. I am including a few pics from mine and Kyle's vacation.............

Check out my Slide Show!

Camping and Wisconsin Dells

Grandmother and Landon playing Jacks


At the beach at Coralville Lake

Bucket bath at the campsite!


Happy 4th Birthday Norah!

Jacuzzi tub in the Family room at Wisconsin Dells.

Oh yeah! The kids at VBS.

Wisconsin Dells fun

4th of July fireworks


Hello! It's been a while since my last post, but we have been busy! Big Pop, MeMe, and Grandmother have been to Iowa...and are already back home! We had a good visit with them. The kids really enjoyed camping with them. Grandmother split her time between our house and Lance/Jen's house, and I think she may have been overloaded with John Deere! We also took them to Wisconsin Dells with Lance, Jennifer and their girls where we had a birthday party for Norah! I think we kept them very busy during their visit. I know I am still tired!
Also, on July 11th, Kyle and I celebrated our 9th Anniversary! Almost a decade. It is hard to believe.
Gotta run...Kyle is rushing me. Enjoy the pics.