Is Brennan excited about Kindergarten?

Brennan recited this for Sean today after school, and luckily I was able to capture this precious version at dinner tonight.  This is a pledge that all the kids at Grand Ridge Elementary school must learn.....their mascot is the Grizzly.  I love this so much.....I keep watching it over and over. 

btw, his hair is all messed up from his bike helmet.  I think it actually adds to the cute factor in this video.   

Random September 2012

Would we have ever considered doing this ‘style’ of potty training when Brennan was this age - putting the potty IN THE KITCHEN & on top of our BAR STOOLS?  No way
…..BUT, she has successfully pooped in the potty 3 times using this method!  We stay very close by, and usually her seat is in the middle chair, so she wouldn't fall far. 

We’re not pushing it…..if she wakes up and she hasn’t pooped yet – we know its coming……so, if she wants to sit on the potty while she eats, we set her up. 

Brennan cracks me up in the picture below.  He is usually so resistant to getting his picture taken….but for this one he cocks his head, sticks it in my shot and smiles a ‘cool’ smile…..

On Saturday I looked in the living room and caught Caelan setting up her puppy and taking ‘pictures’ of it (with an old non-working radio).  Like mother like daughter….Awesome…..

On Sunday, we went to a birthday party for Austin, who is the son of an old co-worker of Sean’s.  Brennan LOVED the playset – perhaps inspired by the recent Olympics. 

This slide was very fast…….

and, the landing was a little ‘rough”……but she kept going back for more, each time landing hard and whimpering a little…..

I love my camera for being able to capture great shots like the ones below.  I took these while she was swinging….

Brennan’s First Day of Kindergarten

 

Brennan’s first day of Kindergarten was today – and believe it or not, there were no tears shed – by any of us!  Brennan has never really had separation anxiety, so I knew he would have no problem leaving us to go off with his class.   But, I was surprised that I was able to keep myself together. 

I scoped out a lot of cute ideas for ‘first day of school pictures’ on Pinterest…..I absolutely LOVE how these turned out!

In the pictures below, he is holding a picture from his First Day of Preschool last year. 

Of course, we had to get a picture with Cassidy.  She and Brennan’s other friend, Alexander, are in another class, unfortunately.  But, they will have fun biking to school and back every day that is nice. 

You could see the nerves settle on his face a little bit once he got lined up with his class.  He didn’t know anybody in his class and he was standing by all the girls. 

Papa and Caelan continued down the hill after dropping off B to go workout.  He’s going to take advantage of the nice days while he can.  This is Caelan waving goodbye to her brother. 

This is at noon when we went to pick him up from school.  He’s been cramming his fingers in his mouth ever since we restricted his ‘teddy’ time to the nighttime.   I also wonder if it isn’t a sign that he’s going to start getting some loose teeth. 

Love this look of pure excitement and joy!  Such a handsome boy!

Brennan and his good friend Alexander, reunited after school. 

Brennan and his new teacher, Mrs Chen. 

Grandma & Grandpa Young Visit–Summer 2012–Part 3

On Labor Day, we did something that we don’t every remember actually doing (although I’m sure we did) – we went to the circus.  My parents didn’t want to go, and enjoyed a lazy day at home…..so we headed to Kent to go to the Ringling Bros Circus. 

The picture below is the goofy hat and cotton candy we bought – want to know how much that set us back?  I’m sure you’d never guess.  $12!  Holy Cow! 

Grandpa got Caelan up from her nap, and boy, did she have CRAZY HAIR!   Monday night we went to our favorite Thai food place, Similan….it is so good, and has become a tradition for Mom & Dad.  After dinner, Mom asked why I made her wait until their last day here to go there. 

Grandpa sharing his breakfast with Caelan on Tuesday morning.  We left that morning to go to Kindergarten Parent orientation – my parents watched the kids while we were gone, and then they left shortly after we got home to head to Leavenworth. 

 

We took our ‘goodbye’ pictures in front of my beautiful hydrangea bush. 

Grandma & Grandpa Young Visit–Summer 2012–Part 2

 

On Saturday morning, we hit the farmers market in Issaquah.   After the market, while Caelan napped, Mom and I took Brennan to Toys R Us to pick out a lego set (using a combo of money from Grandma and a giftcard he got from his dentist).   He was very decisive – I was shocked by how quickly we were able to get out of the store.  He knew which set he wanted – and it was in his price range and his age group – BONUS. 

 

Grandma even got a cute picture of him with it all put together.  It’s Star Wars, of course.   

Grandma Carol got some great snuggling time in with Caelan this trip.  She would look at Grandma and say “sit” and point to this chair, and bring her stool over and climb up with a book.   

Love this great action shot of Brennan throwing Grandpa a baseball! 

I also love these pictures of Caelan playing at her water table with Grandpa.  She thinks he’s pretty funny. 

On Sunday, we headed to church for the ‘Blessing of the Backpacks’.  We laughed at the fact that Brennan has a Darth Vader backpack and needed to bring it to church to turn it from the dark side. 

After church, we headed to Ikea for lunch and shopping – although none of us actually bought anything.  We had a good time wandering, and then having a vanilla frozen yogurt cone at the end. 

 

That night we had Jenny Pastore and Jen, Cassidy, & Ewan over for dinner. 

Here are Brennan and Cassidy practicing their dance moves.  Yes, these will be used for Bribery someday….

Here is the kid table….

Love, love, love the picture below…..

 

Caelan and Ewan playing in the water table.  Ewan got his hand a little too close to the veggie steamer I had sitting on the back porch, so he had burned his poor little hand a little bit.  He was pretty grumpy until we gave him the hose to play with….

He thought it was pretty darn funny to blast Caelan with the hose….fortunately, she thought it was funny too – after the initial shock, of course. 

 

Ewan is always trying to give Caelan kisses……they are best buds, just like the older kids. 

Feeding Grandpa some chocolate. 

Jenny Pastore reading to the babies…..