School Days!

 

It was a big week in the Eddins household!  Mike started his full fall semester on Monday and Lila started preschool on Thursday!  We were able to attend a "get acquainted" hour on Tuesday, so we packed up her backpack with all her supplies and Mom and Lila headed off to All Saints to begin the process of our little girl heading to school! 



 

Preschool Princess!

 

 

She trotted right into school with her backpack!  She was so excited to be there and couldn't wait to play with all the toys, meet her teachers and get to know her classmates!  We spent about 40 minutes in her preschool room and then made our way to the childcare area.  We have her in the 2 day preschool program which means she will do childcare in the morning and afternoon with preschool mid-morning.  The other three days she will be at our in-home provider, this way she truly gets the best of both worlds!

 

After checking out school we loaded up in the car and headed towards daycare.  Lila and I were talking about how much fun she had and she then told me she didn't want to do a 1/2 day on Thursday as we originally planned, she wanted to go and spend all day there.  I couldn't believe it!  I thought for sure she would be more inclined to ease into all of this much more slowly!  I told her I was fine with that, but was fully expecting her to tell me on Thursday that she wanted me to pick her up before lunch and take her back to her in-home daycare...I was wrong!

 

Thursday morning we woke up and got all ready to go and she was beaming with excitement!  Mom was a bit nervous, but also very excited for her!  We sent Daddy off with hugs and kisses and we headed towards school!  We got there and got her backpack situated and we were headed across the parking lot towards school.  All the while a voice inside my head was asking, "How did we get here?!  Wasn't she just born?!"  She strolled into the childcare door, placed her backpack on her special hook and as she looked up there was one of her good friends, Dylan!  He stopped by quickly to say, "hi" and welcome Lila to his school!  It was super sweet!  They gave each other a hug and then Lila started to walk away from me to go play with everyone and the toys...um, wait!!!  I said, "Lila!  Can you give me a hug and a kiss goodbye?!"  "Oh, okay," she said!  She gave me a hug and a kiss and off she went.  That was it.  No tears, there wasn't any pleading to have me stay, nothing!  As nervous as I was about all of it, my fears melted away as I saw her walk across the room taking the whole thing in stride!  I won't lie and tell you that as I got to my car I didn't have some tears welled up in my eyes, but all in all it was a much different experience than I could have ever imagined!  As heavy as my heart was that she was growing up and entering this stage in her life...I was SO PROUD!  What an amazing little girl that we have and how amazing that everything has just fallen into place?!  It was a long day anticipating how everything with, but it was finally time to pick her up and she couldn't wait to tell us about her day and share her artwork with Mike and I when we got home! 



 

Scholars!

This is just the beginning of so many things for both Mike and Lila, and for me as I go along on this journey with both of them, all three of us are excited to see where it leads! 

Time Away

It has only taken me 8 years in the working world and 3 years of being a Mom to finally take some time off that actually included being at home!  We had it planned to go to the cabin in Guttenberg for a long weekend and it worked out that it was the weekend before Mike's week off between summer classes and his fall semester.  So, it was decided that I would take a few extra days after we got back to spend some time together, just the three of us!

We headed to the cabin on Thursday afternoon and arrived to an overcast day, but still had good enough weather that we could get some jumping in on the trampoline!  There are so many fun things to do at the cabin, but the trampoline ranks right up there with one of the most fun!  We grilled dinner and all settled in for the evening, watching some of the Olympic games on TV and enjoying each other's company!





We weren't going to have any success keeping the kids at bay on Friday!  They were ready to go for a boat ride!  After a nice relaxing morning we hopped on the boat for a ride to McGregor and some shopping at Paper Moon.  Grandpa gave each of the girls $20.00 to spend on a souvenier, boy was it a hard decision!!!  Lila settled on an adorable bracelet with a boat charm on it (how ironic) and a porcupine that lights up that she affectionately named, "Melissa."  My Grandma and both of my great aunts were there for awhile to visit.  Grandma celebrated her birthday on Monday, so it was nice to see her and sing 'Happy Birthday' to her before the big day!  Laura made a delicious meal for dinner, it was a replica of a buffalo chicken wrap that we all love from a restaurant in Iowa City called Atlas.  YUM!!!  It was then off to bed as we were bound and determined to spend more time on the water on Saturday!

Saturday morning we woke up and didn't waste much time putting our life jackets on and heading out!  It also didn't take us long to realize it was a bit chilly that morning!  The breeze on the boat was cold and so was the water, but it didn't stop everyone from doing the first round of skiing and tubing for the day!

If you will recall, Lila tubed a few weeks ago when we were up at the cabin and it didn't end all that smoothly, so she was a bit apprehensive about tubing...that is until she saw Celia and Jason go.  After that we couldn't get her off of it!  A new tube was purchased that allows you to literally sit on it like you would a chair and it was a hit with everyone! 

Back on the saddle!

Woo hoo!!!

Lila couldn't love her cousins more that she does and she proudly walks around talking about "her cousins!"  They all get along so well and the bigger girls are so sweet and patient with our littler girl that it melts my heart!

Loving her time with her cousin!

We pulled back in to the cabin in time for lunch!  The guys then decided it was time to finish the swing set they started last year.  There wasn't much left to complete, but there was still some work to be done, so they got after it.  Once the swing set was complete, it was time for a few games of volleyball.  The whole family got involved!  It was so much fun!  I am proud to say that the team Mike and I were on was the winning team, both times! 

After the games it was back out on the water for a little while so everyone could get some more skiing and tubing in!  Once again, Lila couldn't be held down, she was back out on the tube and was begging for more!!!

Celia and Ruby are just beginning to learn how to water ski and they have the neatest ski trainer!  It is similar to a tube, but it has holes in it for their feet so they can stand up in it as if they were skiing on double skis.  Then you can see in the picture that an adult actually holds the other end of the device, much like you would a ski rope, so that way if needed they can let go and it won't drag the child down quickly, it will allow them to float.  It was the neatest thing!  It sure as heck beat trying time after time on two skis immediately, when I was a kid that was hard work and it was hard to stay motivated after drinking gallons of river water each time!

Celia stood right up!  She is ready for the next level!

This was a breeze for Ruby!

After we finished up on the water it was back to the cabin where the kids continued playing and everyone began making dinner.  Another delicious meal was served and we were thoroughly stuffed! 

Action shot!

Dinner was followed up by a mean karaoke show put on by Celia, Ruby & Lila.  We did have a bit of a problem...all the girls wanted so badly to participate that only two of the microphones actually ran through the speaker on the karaoke machine, no one was all that happy to use one of the unplugged mics.  I sense a girl band in their future!



"Here's my number, so call me maybe!"

On Sunday we loaded up the family roadster and headed back home.  We had such a nice time up at the cabin with everyone!  It was some much needed, much welcomed family time together at the cabin!

Monday and Tuesday were devoted to just the three of us and I couldn't have been more excited for that time!  We woke up on Monday and Mike headed out to Kirkwood to get all his books for class while Lila and I got cleaned up.  We met up with Mike to take Lila to her very first movie in the theater!  We took her to see the movie, "Brave!"  It was so cute!  Lila likes Princess Merida because she has curly hair, "just like me, Mom!"  How sweet! 

Ready for the movie to start!

Tuesday morning came and we took Lila to her very first dentist appointment.  She had been to one of my appointments before just to observe what was going on, but she had never sat in the chair completely alone and had her teeth cleaned.  I assumed she would do okay, but you never really do know until you are actually faced with the situation.  My Aunt Beth is the hygenist, so we knew that was going to at least make things a bit more comfortable!  We are so happy to report that Lila went through her dentist visit like a champ!  She opened when asked, she bit down when asked, she let the doctor come in and count her teeth, it was quite remarkable!  We were so proud!

Lookin' good!

After our dentist appointment we went to the store to get all of Lila's school supplies.  It was almost surreal walking down the aisle grabbing crayons, glue sticks and kleenex that she will soon take into her classroom.  How did this happen?  How is she so big?!  It is wild! 

After our errands in town we decided to head to Iowa City to get some new Hawkeye gear!  You know, Hawkeye football starts in 17 days!  Not that anyone in this house is counting!  We seemed to be really successful at Scheels!  Lila made out with some new fancy shades, a new hat, a water bottle and a skirt!  She thought she was big stuff with all her Herky gear!  There was a very large Herky in the store that she kept saying, "hi" to and "let's go Hawks!"  She cracks us up!

One of the last things on her list for this fall was a new pair of tennis shoes.  I swear her feet haven't grown in quite some time and now all of the sudden none of her shoes fit her anymore.  She is practically falling off the back of her flip flops, I am kind of ashamed!  She helped pick out her brand new tennies and she couldn't be more proud of them!  They are her favorite color afterall!



As pink as it gets!

This time away was so good for me.  I have told Mike a handful of times how I need to be sure to allow myself to take more time off just because.  I don't have to take time off just because we have a trip planned.  In fact, I can't remember a time that I took off and actually felt rested like I did this week. 

It was so sweet...this morning when Lila woke up and asked if she was going to Connie's I told her that she was and she looked up and me and said, "I am going to miss you, Mom!"  Could it get any sweeter than that?!  I don't believe that it can!  I can't believe how fast our little girl is growing up.  Next week she starts preschool and I am facing it with such mixed emotions!  I know she is ready, but it is a major step in a lifetime of learning and in a way it means she isn't my "baby" anymore.  I am so happy that we took a break and spent this time enjoying each other before we embark on this next phase for our family!

30 times 2

Our past two weekends have been in the planning stages for a long time!  We started planning a girls trip to Chicago late 2011 for Racquel's 30th birthday.  She was pregnant in January during her actual birthday, but considering it was a milestone we wanted to be sure to do something once she was all the way ready for the celebration!  We purchased tickets to Cirque du Soleil's Immortal Tour which is the tribute show to Michael Jackson.  The weekend seemed so far away when we surprised her with the tickets in January, but the time flew and we were all looking forward to a fun weekend just us girls!

We had a wonderful weekend full of entertainment, good food, shopping, great conversation and laughter!  I am truly blessed to have a handful of amazing women in my life that are much more than just my friends...they are my sisters!  Happy (belated) Birthday, Quel!  We love you and hope your 30th year is your best yet!!!  (I tried to upload a picture of the birthday girl, but it wasn't cooperating -- probably best that it didn't!)

This past weekend we had another special birthday to celebrate!  Monica's 30th!!!  We had been planning a cabin weekend in honor of her birthday since March!  We loaded up our families and a group of 13 of us went to the cabin! 

I've got my bucket and shovel, now all I need is sand!

We pulled into Guttenberg just in time for lunch.  We stopped at the Riverview Cafe for a bite to eat.  The view of the river was great and a hole in the wall spot was a perfect way to kick off the weekend!

The Three Amigos!

Friday afternoon was spent getting settled in at the cabin, putting groceries away, kiddos napping and welcoming Scott, Racquel and Sloan!  Then it was off to McGregor to Old Man River for Monica's special birthday dinner!  If you haven't been to Old Man River it is worth the trip!  It is a neat restaurant downtown McGregor with good food and a nice atmosphere!

Make a wish!

Lila is pretty proud of her grandpa's cabin!

It was back to the cabin for the evening to put the kiddos to bed and enjoy some adult time.  The weather this weekend was absolutley perfect for time spent outdoors.  It has been so hot that I worried a fair amount about not being able to tolerate being outside for very long.  We were all excited to use the deck, light some citronella candles, and enjoy each others company!

The next morning we woke up to beautiful sunshine!  The kids were chomping at the bit to get on the boat and get to the sandbar!  After breakfast and a little playtime we got ourselves around and off we went!

The kids couldn't have enjoyed themselves more on the boat!  They all earned their boating stripes as you saw lots of smiles as we cruised around on the river before finding the perfect spot for building sand castles and splashing around!

 



Sloan's first boat ride!



The birthday girl and her sweetie!

Captain Eddins!

Here we go!

Splish Splash!

Sloan enjoying the shade!  She is a natural beach baby!

Quite the project!

Brandon & Henley

Dig, dig, dig!

Soaking up the sun!

A castle is in the making!

Family Pic!

Little Miss Lila took some time adjusting to the water this time.  She had a spill of the tube the last time we were at the cabin and I think it rattled her a bit more than I anticipated.  She eventually settled down and allowed herself to enjoy the time spent in the water and at the sandbar! 

We had an amazing weekend with the little kids and the "big kids!"  It was so nice to have some time together where we didn't have a schedule to keep, it was relaxed and all about enjoying each other and the beautiful weather!  We are blessed with the greatest friends and we are so lucky to have our kids grow up with each other and form friendships that will be long lasting!

Buddies!

Happy Birthday, Monica!  We love you and wish you nothing but happiness during your 30th year!