Thoughts for today, August 18, 2010

Today is the first day of school. It is such a bittersweet day for me. The kids are always excited, which is a good thing, but they are getting so big and learning so much, they aren't my babies anymore...Well, they'll always be that, but you know what I mean.

Emily is starting Middle School this year...Carter is going into 3rd grade with only one recess and Casey is starting Preschool!! Whew!

This morning Carter was up and dressed and in his backpack by 7:15 a.m. He laid on the couch yawning and saying...I don't want to wait for school to start!! Amazing. He also told me he had "Belly Beans" a mixture of excitement, happiness, worry, and unsureness all together.

Emily wanted to set her own alarm and get up in time to "get ready" for school , doing her hair, putting on her pretty outfit, etc. girl stuff! When she got home, she said, "Oh Mom it is sooo Cool!!"" Love to hear those words out of my girl's mouth!!

If you ask Casey about school he will tell you that he is a "New schooler." We had a meeting today with his new teacher and he will actually start Preschool Monday. My littlest one is getting big right in front of my very eyes....Sniff.. sniff..

Here's our traditional 1st day of school pic where we show off how big and heavy the backpacks are..Don't you love the look on Carter's face?

We got Casey in there too, because we always have. Monday, it'll be his 1st day of school and pictures again....

Bye Bye Summer!! Hello New School Year and all the adventure and changes that await!!

Wall Drug, SD

Wall, South Dakota: home of Wall Drug, one of our favorite stops heading out west! The ice water is free and coffee is 5cents! You can get everything from taffy to sudafed to black hills gold jewelry to clothing to cowboy boots  here! There are tons of statues and places to rest yourself. There's a roaring dinosaur that transfixes and terrifies at the same time. A statue of a jackalope sits out back that I sat on as a child and a new water area is a huge draw for our children!! Our trip just wouldn't be complete without a visit to Wall Drug...

Mountains in Iowa

We went camping with my parents and their new camper in Northeast Iowa this last weekend. We got up and started making breakfast Saturday morning and Emily says, "Look Mom. Mountains in Iowa" (Bless that girl! She knows how mountains are one of my favorite views!)

And it does kinda look like mountains....Mountains in Iowa.