Bailey Family

Orange and Black for Halloween

We were all pretty tired (and most were grumpy) for a week or two of school, but we're getting into the swing of things now that school's been going on for a few weeks. And all the extracurricular (they get 1 thing each outside of school & church) - are all in full swing now too. And now it's Alee's turn for "school" - at least preschool. We have a preschool group (last year we were 4 big - this year we've got about a dozen kids!) ... And Alee is really excited about going Well, maybe not about the boys being there part of it...rats - "I don't like boys to be there." The computers at the library for kids games are now touch screen - yea!  And shopping with just 1 (well, 2 if you include the doll) is SO much easier than with 5! Ahh, Friday Night Movie Night! pizza and a family movie (Epic) a much needed break at the end of a school week. And this week Alee starts a "ready by 5" pro...

It's August 20th and it's the first day of school. The kids are ready (that is, prepared)...some are not quite so interested in beginning!  and some don't have to go yet...  We dropped them off one (or two!) at a time. (The twins share a classroom/teacher this year - I'm really excited about that - and about the teacher they got.) Seth's not really excited about anything. Maybe strings? he elected to sign up for a strings class this year. We'll have to see how he likes it. And Carolyn is excited about Everything! She loves school because school = friends and social time! (She's also very good at school in general - so it's "easy" for her - so far at least! Third grade is when it got harder for Seth.) Time to go home and leave them here...

It's the first day of school. I was more happy than sad this year -  not because I was ready to get 'rid' of them, but I think the twins' first year is over, so it's easier. I'm happy to be back to our 'normal' schedule. And it's nice to clean the house by myself (it's faster that way) and to have it stay clean until 3:00 when the hurricane returns home. :) I'm also glad to spend 1-on-1 time with Alee - her behavior has been asking for it. But before first day of school pics, let me finish out our summer -  We tried out 'chalk hair color' (you just drench chalk - we're cheap, so we used sidewalk chalk, not artists' chalk) and you rub it down the hair. It washes out at the next washing. (Assuming you wash your hair well - Alee's got washed by a sister, so not a thorough job and it stayed a little longer. Same for Carolyn - could have been the blond though. Either way, there was no trace of it 2 days later.) ...

We traced We cut We arranged We sewed (some for the first time) We worked together Stitching, cutting, tying Rob and Seth pulled out a pair of pliers - haha (those yarn needles are a pain)  And most of us enjoyed it Where's Alee? Our {first} family quilt It made a mess and took some time... But we finished!!!!  (Alee watching me write this post from her favorite spot - my lap - just asked, "Can we have some more kids when we move to the next house?")