Jesse's turn to shine....

 Well, we've had a few posts lately about Claire and all of her firsts....1st day of Kindergarten, 1st Soccer game.....Well, Jesse too had a first this weekend...his 1st football game!!!  He decided to start out with a flag football league, and move up to tackle in a year or so.  I agree!  He had only had a few practices before the first game, but the team looked great, and won!  Jesse played receiver and tailback (I believe...?)  He also won an award after the game for best sportsmanship.  That alone made Lance & I so proud.  He has lots of games coming up, so I promise to post again soon!

Love, Gretchen

 That's Jesse at #81.

Way to go Seahawks!

Claire and the Small Fry Tri

 Well, Claire competed in her second Bartlett Small Fry Tri this weekend and did great.  Poor Claire was tripped a bit at the start of the run portion, but made up for some lost time in the bike and run through the sprinkler portion.  That girl laughed the entire race! She had a blast and want to do the big kid one next year....we'll see about that. one.....

Claire getting her little medal.  Way to go little Claire!!

Claire's First Soccer Game!

 Well, Claire was so excited about her first game she could hardly stand it!  Aunt Cathie came to watch, along with Nana, PawPaw, Keri, Jenny, and Gracie.  She had a blast running after that ball and getting hold of it.  She had a blast and giggled all the way through....She looks forward to her next game, which will be Monday!

 Go Claire go!

 The Blue Team warming up before the game.....

Striking a pose with Aunt Cathie and Jesse right before the game.

Backyard Mayhem

 Well, anyone who has ever been to our home knows we have had our share of issues with the backyard....tress, trees, trees!  As much as we loved our trees, they have caused 10 years of strife in our lives....We have laid sod 3 times.....counte em...3. We have dealt with huge limbs falling through our roof, and much more....   After much contemplation, we decided to get rid of 10 of our 16 trees....with the advice of a couple of pros along the way.  So, we are in the beginning phases of our backyard redo!  So, I thought I'd document this journey!  So yesterday the trees were removed with no problems!  They kids got home from school and just watched until dinnertime, as the men did their thing.

This morning, all the stumps were ground, and today, all the debris will be remove, fence put back up, and then it will be time to get some grass!! I'll do my best documenting all this as it occurs......for me as much as anyone else!  Enjoy the crazy journey........

School here we come!

 Well, the children were off to a brand new school this year, with Jesse entering 5th grade, and Claire beginning Kindergarten.  They are both going to love their teachers and school as well.  I must admit they were both a bit apprehensive this morning, but as they stepped into their classrooms, they were just fine!  We are so blessed to have Lance take care of us so that the kids can make this change to a great new school...a new beginning for all of us.  This also marked an important milestone for me.....the first time to be home without a child!  Im pretty sure I will have no trouble filling my time!

 Due to it being a little earlier that we're accustomed, the pictures and the people in them are a little fuzzy.......

 The kids before entering school!

 Claire getting a tour of her classroom by one of her 2 teachers. She was loving her little tour of them!

 Claire meeting all her new friends and being showed to her seat at the table.....just perfect Claire size!

Lots more coming soon!

Love, Gretchen

Celebrating the last few days of summer!!!

Well, Claire wanted to do something super special on one of her last days before starting kindergarten.  So, she and Lily went to Sweet & Sassy for haircuts, and a pedicure!  I think the mommys had as much fun as the girls!  They had a great time and Claire loves her watermelon smelling hair and sparkles.  She's also rocking a super bright hue of blue on her toenails!  Well, enjoy the photos!

After the hair salon, the girls went to The Grapevine in Arlington, where we all enjoyed our first high-tea experience.  It was a blast! The teapot made music everytime you poured from it...the girls loved that feature! There were lovely litte sandwhiches, cheddar cheese biscuits, scones, chocolate covered strawberries, and cherry purses for desert....and of course...tea!  It was just perfect!

 

 Claire thoroughly enjoying the pampering!

 You can see that blue coming from a mile away!

 Moms and daughters after getting all fancy!

 Sitting down to tea.....

If one has an aversion to flowers and doilies...this is NOT the place for you!

While we were getting all girly, Jesse was spending some one on one time with Grandma and Grandpa today, before heading off to 5th grade!  Well, big week next week, so lots coming!

Love, Gretchen

Jetting through July!

 Well, it's so hard to believe that the end of July is upon us, and in a little over a week, my children will be embarking on a new journey....Jesse and Claire to a brand new school....and Claire beginning Kindergarten.  The whole idea of the sweet little baby girl we met for the first time 4 years ago about to embark on a great journey is a bit scary to us.......she's ready!!! But are we????

Anyway, we have thoroughly enjoyed our summer and thank God every day that Lance is able to provide for us so that we can do these things for the family.  We were also blessed this summer with the presence of our neice Keri, who is a sweet little girl who loves to hang with us and just have fun!

Here's Keri making one of many desserts the kids made on their own this summer!  Here she is making Brown Sugar Pound Cake!  It turned out beautifully!

 The kids' favorite part of cooking.....

 Jesse & Keri have been teaching Claire chess this summer.....can't wait til Claire whoops Jesse fair and square!

 
 Well, we took Jesse, Claire, and Keri to St. Louis this week for a fun little trip.  We absolutely loved the City Museum and yes, that is me climbing all the contracptions and slides and so on....I felt like a kid again...complete with mud and rust stains all over my clothes after like 50 slides!

 Claire and I zooming our way to Lance.

 The biggest ball pit ever....Claire had to be lifted out by a worker the balls were so deep and large....she had a blast!

 If you ever want your child (and husband!) to have a great night's sleep, simply make them do a life sized hampster wheel for a few minutes......

Jesse waiting patiently to pet a manta ray...he did, and loved it!

 Our view from Busch Stadium.....wonderful night and the Cardinals won too!!

 Of course, we couldn't leave St.Louis without letting all 3 kids visit the arch and ride to the top...so that's just what we did.  We actually thought either Claire or Keri would see the little pods that take you to the top and bail out, but they both hopped in and rode right to the top!  Great views and the kids loved seeing the whole city and the Mississippi River from there.

Our last stop before heading back home.  As soon as we arrived in Memphis, the kids and I repacked, and headed back in the car the next morning for Murfreesboro, where we visited my aunt and uncle and cousins!  The kids had great fun swimming, eating sushi, and visiting the Murfreesboro Discovery Center.  Unfortunately, I have no photos of that because I was buzzing around Nashville with my aunt fabric shopping!  So much fun!  Well, a couple more fun things headed our way this coming week, so stay tuned for lots more pics!!!

Love, Gretchen