We Made It To The Zoo!!!

We finally made it to Niabi Zoo this month with the kiddos. This was the boys' first visit to a zoo, and Madison had been asking all summer...and our crazy schedule and the weather finally cooperated!

We had a wonderful day!

The boys loved looking at the animals. That is a sloth up there.

We all went on the train. I couldn't believe how big the boys looked. They are growing up TOOOOOO fast!

I tried to take a selfie of all of us. :)

Madison, Carter, and Me.

Mommy and Madison!

Madison LOVES riding the ponies.

The boys enjoyed watching her and the ponies.

Hungry sheep.

I always think the goats are kinda scary...

The boys were intrigued.

Josh took both Carter and Cooper into the bird area. This picture if of Cooper. Tucker went with M and me to feed the giraffe.

Zebras.

The carousel.

Ice-cream at the end of our day.

It was a long day...but we had to take the expected picture on the lion on our way out!

I hope we can maybe make it back one more time this fall!!!

Foto Friday - Shopping Pics with the Kiddos

Shopping is very different for me than it was 5 years ago...

My first trip with the cool cart at Target. We love these carts at Target.

On our way into the mall!

Target...again...

After Target - water sippy cups keeps them happy.

At Hy-Vee Josh and I can take all 4

M's Last Day of PreK and First Days of Kindergarten

Thought I'd post this on her first day of Kindergarten for fun.

Here she is on her last day of PreK. The boys and I were dropping her off.

Here she on her way to her Open House that was last night. She loves her TMNT backpack. We met her teacher and she was able to see her classroom and drop off her supplies.

And...she now has a LOCKER. I was doing so well...I wanted to cry when the teacher told me we should go try out her locker though. She's too little for a locker...right?!?!?!?

She was so excited she got mad when we had to leave!

This morning, we headed to her first official day of Kindergarten!

We almost forgot to snap a picture with her Scooby Doo lunch box.

I wasn't too emotional about sending her to Kindergarten in part because she attended full-day PreK at the same school...so I knew we were both somewhat comfortable with the building (lunch room, recess, gym, etc.) and staff. I think it also helps that is a smaller school and she knew several of her classmates from last year.

There was a brief meeting for the parents. It was fun hearing about all the things they will be learning this year. Madison is really anxious to learn to read, and I can't wait to watch her discover how the letters and sounds makes words. I know she will be thrilled as she learns to read! They will have homework a couple times a week, too.

I may or may not have shed a tiny tear when I read this poem her teacher included in our packet of information.

Overall though...while it's definitely heart-wrenching watching your babies grow into children...it's also such a fun adventure to watch them learn and develop their independence as an individual. I am so excited to hear all her stories about her school days. She's a talkative little girl...and I know she's going to have a lot of fun and learn SO much.

Today she attended school with half of her classmates. The other half attends tomorrow (so she has the day off), and then she will be back with her whole class Friday.

She told me today she had fun. That she didn't have enough time to eat her Goldfish crackers at lunch. That her favorite part of the day was recess.

My Dad also asked her if she needed help with something this afternoon. Her reponse, "I can do it myself. I'm a Kindergartner now!"

A few of my random thoughts to end this:
1) I'm still kind of in denial that someone won't be walking her to her room and picking her up and signing her in and out every day. The teachers are meeting the children at the door...but eventually as the year goes on, they will be allowed to walk to their room alone. ALONE.
2) She's in Kindergarten. KINDERGARTEN
3) Did I mention I have a Kindergartner (is that word) now???!!!???
4) Ok, seriously...isn't she too young for a locker?

Foto Friday - Madison's First Posters

Earlier this year, Madison was in my childhood bedroom at my Dad's house, and she came home with a couple of my old posters for her room.

I used to really like cats.
I can't help but smile every time I see them in her room.

Fun at Our (Current) Favorite Park!

So...I finally remembered that we had a park about 5 minutes from home with a FENCED IN toddler area!!! The boys LOVE it. Madison is the best big sister and loves helping the boys.

We've been there are few times now. We all play in the toddler area, and then I load the boys in their wagon and they eat a snack and go watch Madison play in the big kids area.

Here are some fun pictures from the first two times we went. We have plans to go back tomorrow, and meet some friends there, so I'm excited! I love watching the boys explore, and I love watching the bond between Madison and boys grow. They are all so lucky to have each other.

Enjoy the photos. :)

And...they're off!

Sister was quick to show them to the top of the stairs.

They all love going up and down the stairs and holding onto the railing. They do not have a need to go up/down stairs at our house - so it was a new experience for them to have the freedom on stairs, and they loved it.

Madison took them down the slide. M with Cooper.

They loved the tunnel.

Carter's turn with sister.

 

M with Tucker.

Tucker loves going down the slides on his belly.

The best big sister.

Second trip to the park.

Carter!

Tucker loved sitting on the bench like a big boy.

Cooper stayed at the top of the stairs for quite a while.

Carter's turn on the bench. (Cooper wouldn't cooperate and kept wanting to return to his stairs.)

Cooper did discover the wheel this time, though.

LOVE HER!

It's hard to explain - but I finally felt a sense of freedom because I could take my kids to a park - on a whim even, and do it all on my own without feeling like I had to rely on others.

I am also so thankful that Madison is so patient and understanding about her brother's. She's so great with them! We will all certainly miss her once she starts kindergarten next week!