First Day of 2nd and 5th Grades

 5th grade starts today for McKenzie!  I have spent all summer trying to get used to the idea. 

 Parker is starting 2nd grade, which also seems totally bizarre.  He was dressed and had his new R2-D2 backpack on by 7:45 this morning (school doesn't start until 8:45!).  He told me, "Mom, I'm actually really excited to go to school!"  I made chocolate muffins as a fun breakfast, and Parker gave me a hug.  He took a few bites and asked, "Are there chocolate chips in here?"  When I said yes, he bolted out of his chair and declared, "That deserves another hug!" 

 Cameron wasn't entirely sure what Kenzie and Parker were up to, but he was excited to get in the stroller and go for a walk to the school.  He was mostly upset we didn't stop to play at the school's playground, and as soon as we got home he ran and claimed the toys he usually has to fight Parker for!  He's no dummy.

Here's to a good school year!

Last Day of Summer Vacation

This is a strange game that involves tapping the sensors when they light up.  The kids always love it.  I had to include the video because of Cameron's cute dancing, and for the time he tries to hit the button way above his head.  We headed to the park this evening after dinner, just for one last thing to do before starting school tomorrow!  (I hoped it would wear everyone out enough to sleep, and it appeared to work, too!)

 Parker still loves a good slide.  (I'm the dorky mom taking pictures at the park like it's an amazing event, but dang it, they're growing up too quickly and I like to try to remember it all.)

Cameron only stopped running around to say, "Here you go," after typing on the little keyboard.  Cutest ticket agent ever.

 

This made me laugh.  Yes, Kenzie read her book in the middle of the playground!  (She did play quite a bit, too, and rode her scooter around, but it was still funny.) 

Wheeler Farm

 As summer vacation draws to a close, we always like to stop by Wheeler Farm for one last (free) thing to do.  We liked this picture of the kiddos, because it was so fitting - Cameron hogging all the levers, Parker whining about it, and Kenzie bossing them both around!  I insisted they eat their snacks after this, which helped a bit.

 Cameron was playing peek-a-boo with me in this tractor.

I say this every year, but how did they get so big?  I'm still not sure.  It was a pretty low key summer for us, but the kids still said they had fun.  Here's to 5th grade, 2nd grade, and the last year Cameron's home all the time!

Cameron and Daddy's Birthday

 

This little man is 3 today!  He is a busy, goofy kid.  He was beyond excited for his birthday.

(He is waving, that's the big blur!)  Cameron loves to be a "Fix it man" lately, so he was thrilled with his work bench.  He has carefully placed the tools back on the pegs when he's done playing, too! 

 

He likes to build with "Wegos" (legos) like Kenzie and Parker, so he was happy with his new set of Duplos.

 Daddy got some presents, too, but first he had to help his birthday buddy set up his new race track!  Cameron eagerly handed him pieces to speed things along.

 It's almost as tall as he is, and he's been loving racing the cars.  (Parker and Kenzie have both been playing with it, too!)

Daddy's treat for his birthday was to go to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner.  

 Cameron ate mostly french fries, and only ate about half of a popcorn shrimp.  Kenzie tried most of everything, from crab to crawfish to shrimp (she passed the shrimp back, saying, "I don't want the legs!" not realizing it just needed to be peeled!).  Parker ate half a bucket of popcorn shrimp. 

I told Grandma and Grandpa I would document their bib-wearing for posterity.   I probably make that joke every time, but they're good sports.  I wound up taking the kiddos to the playground while everyone else finished their giant buckets of seafood.  I told Chris later I was glad his parents could keep him company while I was outside with the kids, and he said, "There wasn't a lot of talking going on!" They were busy with their buckets. (I am obviously not a seafood fan.  I had a chicken sandwich this year!)

 

Back home, Cameron was really looking forward to his cake.  As his birthday approached, he kept telling me, "Birthday cake fun!"  (He would only say he wanted a "purple."  I couldn't tell if he meant a color or flavor or what.  Finally I held up some cake pans I had, and he picked the Spider-Man one, and when asked to choose between chocolate and vanilla, he yelled, "Chocolate!")  We lit his candle and sang to him, and he had a bashful smile on his face.  When he blew out his candle, he yelled, "I did it!" 

 

I enjoyed this face.  We made homemade ice cream for Daddy, but Cameron was mostly excited for some cake. 

He skewered his entire piece of cake with his fork and ate the cake like that.   (He's almost done in this picture, but the piece was much bigger!) 

August

 I haven't had anything to post about lately, so here's some random photos from August.  I enjoyed the tuft of hair sticking up over Iron Man's mask!  Cameron loves superheros lately.

 He also thinks he doesn't need a nap, but most days he can't help falling asleep somewhere.

 Last week Kenzie and Parker got to build a kangaroo at the Lego Store.

They turned out pretty cute, and they were excited to take it home!  (Kenzie named her kangaroo Boingo and the little joey Boingetta.  I enjoyed that.)

 

 Something that cracked me up: Parker has been going through a growth spurt, and has been hungry more often than usual.  He's been putting on his apron and helping with dinner.  The other day, he said, "Mom, do you know why I'm helping you?  Because I'm a good kid, because I love my Mom, and because I want dinner to be ready faster!" 

And finally, here's a good one - Spiderman claimed he was ready to go to church!