First Field trip...

Yesterday, Shaelyn had her first field trip! We went to the Kackle Orchard in Greenville and she loved every minute of it. I have to admit that I felt OLD, being a mom on a field trip, but it was fun to see Shaelyn participating in her class and meet some of the kids I'm beginning to hear about. It was fun to see what type of "student" Shaelyn is. She was like I expected- sitting right in the front, paying attention the whole time, followed directions, answered questions and could tell me all they had learned on the way home. :) I take it!! She loves to learn. It was also interesting to watch her and Sophia interact in that setting. They pretty much just stayed together the entire time, but if one of them joined in with other kids the other one just tagged along. They really get along amazingly well. Here's a few pictures from our big outing!!

The girls were so excited about wearing their school shirts, but it was the first really cold day of the fall- so we had to bundle up!! They looked cute :).

Listening to the lesson on how apples grow.

Class time.

Showing off the apples...and pumpkins they picked...

Everyone got to enjoy an apple :)

Sweet boy...

I'm so in love with my sweet boy! He is such a good, happy baby...he makes it very easy to love him :). We are in this great "middle" age - where he is no longer a newborn but not yet moving! I love these months! He smiles all day long and is so great about going along with what ever crazy schedule we have that day! Here's a few of my favorite pictures of him from the past week... I was having a hard time choosing, so you get a lot :). McLleyton will be 4 months old this Friday!

Busting out the fall clothes :)

Kisses from daddy...he is so funny :)

Hanging out in the bumbo...I can't believe he's already so big!!!

Please pray...

My Uncle Ron is in the hospital and is very, very sick. It's one of those sudden and so unexpected situations that just makes your heart ache. If you think of them please pray for complete healing, wisdom for the doctor and peace for the family.

They started a website to keep everyone updated...

www.caringbridge.org/visit/ronvanzee

First day of Preschool...

Shaelyn has finished her first week of Preschool and she loved every minute of it! She's been great at reporting home the details of her day and it's fun to see her so excited! She loves having Sophia with her and it's fun to pick them up and listen to them tell me stories together. What a blessing it is to have a built in friend! Here's a few pictures from the first day...more stories soon!

Salon Day...

We had such a great summer, but it had a side effect...green hair!!! The girls spent SO many hours swimming and it left a mark on their awesome white blond hair! Even my niece Sophia had green streaks in her hair, so I told the girls before school started I'd do a "salon day" and do a treatment on their hair to take it out. They were all excited about this and I had it all set up this morning like they were going to the real salon- they loved it! We are now green free around here...the blond is back :).

This picture doesn't even really show how green it truly was!

The before...

during....

and after!!

1st day of Preschool is tomorrow! Shaelyn is so excited...she could hardly fall asleep tonight! Her backpack is packed and she set out the dress she wanted to wear without me even asking her! :) I am truly amazed that she is so grown up and that it has happened so quickly! I am so proud of the sweet girl that she is!!! Tonight at dinner when Matt was asking her about going to school she looked across the table and said "I'm going to miss you Monreau"...Monreau hesitated and said "me miss you to Shae Shae." Got to love those moments!

New adventures...

I am loving the three different stages we are in! Shaelyn will start preschool next week, Monreau is my wild child and McLleyton is learning new things each day!

This week they all had a few firsts...
Shaelyn had preschool orientation and got to meet her teachers and see her classroom. She was SO excited about it and can't wait for her first day. One funny, little story from the night happened when one of her teachers came up and apologized to me for "confusing Shaelyn." She thought that Shaelyn was the older sibling of one of the kids in the class (because she is so tall), so she asked her if she was with her little brother or sister- to which Shaelyn answered she had both, but they had to stay home that night. The teacher then realized that she was a student :).
Shaelyn also got to do her first Lemonade stand! She had been asking to do one all summer, so with a few friends we had one out at the cottage! She loved it :).

Monreau...oh, sweet Monreau! She is an amazing 2 year old swimmer! She has always been crazy in the water, but this past week I finally took off her swim tube and let her go! She is doing great! She will "dive" off the step and kick and pull to me. She tries so hard and has no fear! The more she can be under the water the better. Shaelyn loves swimming under water through my legs, so after Monreau watched her a few times she decided she would like to do it too. So, sure enough she did! I would dunk her under and she would swim through and I'd turn around and catch her on the other side. She did it over and over again and loved every minute of it! I love her crazy spirit :).

McLleyton...the list is long! He still rolling over. Getting good with his hands. Sleeping through the night. Eating 7:30,11,2,5,7:30 and to bed :). Some nights he'll get up at 4am, but some nights he'll go right through. He loves to smile and is giggling! He really likes Shaelyn now and in the morning she'll lay on the floor with him and he'll talk and talk to her! This weekend he took his first swim (LOVED it!) and played in the exasaucer! He has moved into 6-12 month clothes and just keeps growing up way too quickly! He is such a good, happy baby...I'm so madly in love!!!

Pretty in Pink...

Some friends of ours were having their pictures taken by my friend Laura (see link under favorite blogs :)), so Shaelyn decieded to get dressed up and let me take a few pictures of her too. Monreau even joined in on the fun!

I love these sweet girls!

We miss Uncle John...

My brother John left to play basketball in Sweden a few weeks ago and my girls are really missing him! He's a pretty great Uncle and they got to spend a lot of time with him at the cottage this summer, so they definitely know that he is missing! Monreau will tell people "my uncle john in Sweden." They both know that he plays basketball for his job and any time we see someone playing Shaelyn will comment about how they are like him. I'm secretly hoping it sparks a little fire in them to want to play some day :).

So, Uncle John these are for you...because they really miss you!!!


(oh...and once we started making these videos and they could watch them back, they wanted to make them over and over again, so if you need more I have more, but the messages are about the same! :) )

First Hair Cut...

The girls got their hair cut this week. It was Monreau's first time and Shaelyn's "back to school" hair cut! They were both very excited about it and you could tell Monreau felt very grown up :). We cut quite a bit off of Shaelyn's, after all her swimming it was in desperate need of it! We just trimmed off Monreau's baby ends- she has the best hair and these amazing natural highlights- I think I'll let hers grow really long!

McLleyton is doing great and 3 months old today. He is so happy and amazing at going along with what ever we do! He does very well at taking naps in his stroller, so that is a blessing! He is rolling over on random occasions :). He has rolled both from his tummy to his back and from his back on to his tummy! This seems young to me, since my girls were 4 months, but maybe it's a boy thing :). He adds so much joy to my day- I honestly look forward to him waking up and getting his smiles!

I love his smiles....he loves his baths!

Finished cut...Monreau paying close attention!

Ms Cricket did a great job :)