Meet the Teacher

Tonight we attended 'Meet the Teacher' at Lansberry Elementary.  I may or may not have shed tears on the way there.  Emma was uncharacteristically reserved at first but warmed up quickly.  The Kindergarten hallway is decorated in a safari theme and her classroom is decorated with owls, vibrant colors and all sorts of learning posters.  Her favorite part was the upstairs play center. 

According to the schedule below, her days will start bright and early.  This will definitely be an adjustment for all of us but it looks like her school time will be full of fun and learning!  She has PE three times each week and on the other two days she will have fine arts and computer lab.

Ms. Thornton seems wonderful!  She was highly recommended by others and has been teaching Kindergarten in Trinity for 25 years.  She was very welcoming and I know Emma will love her :)  I'm sure it was pretty clear that this was my first time at this.  Most mamas probably don't have a prepared list of questions and a packet of tissues ready for backup.  Obviously I needed to know where to pick her up, where the nearest potty is, if I can be the room mom, whether or not to label her supplies and how to go about paying for cafeteria lunches.  

She looks forward to making at least fourteen new best friends on Monday!! 

She enjoyed some refreshments at the cafeteria table with daddy.  She can't wait to try the cafeteria food!

Although it is overwhelmingly bittersweet to watch her grow up, we are thrilled for Emma as she embarks on this new adventure!  We look forward to watching her learn, grow and excel in new ways.  Let's just hope that the next thirteen years don't fly by near as quickly as the last five-and-a-half have!

Tiger Spirit

The Smith family showed up bright and early for football picture day.  We were decked out from head to toe in our best orange, black and white!

I thought it might be a good idea to get these kids comfortable with the mascot before the season got underway.  The only few times they had seen him before they were quite petrified!!  After a sneak peek and secret hand shake they were best friends forever :)

They sure LOVE their daddy!!  

Only TEN days until kickoff!!  Check out TIGER TALES to follow our athletic adventures!!

Lazy Summer days

We are doing our very best to soak up what little there is left of these lazy Summer days.  Life as we have known it is about to change completely.

Only 17 bedtimes 'til the first day of Kindergarten. *Sigh*  Owen starts MDO the very next day and Jarrod's first football game as Trinity AD/head coach is that Friday.  What a week it will be!

Big Boy Bed

Between church and nap time today we converted Owen's crib into a toddler bed.  He even got to try out his brand new big boy bedding (a Target steal, sports themed of course)!  When daddy grabbed his necessary tools Owen did the same :)

His big sister jumped out of her crib long before her second birthday (and naps completely stopped)....so I was planning on keeping him in it as long as possible.  He seemed perfectly content there.  However, his daddy made a good point.....there is no way to fully potty train and to expect his body to learn his signs if we don't follow through all the way.  This means no more diapers....even at sleep time (gasp!)

I was rather reluctant since mama this boy needs his daily three hour nap.  I went along with it and prayed for the best.  He came out several times needing to potty.  Once it got quiet I peeked in to find that he had pulled his curtain rod out of the wall.  Lovely.  After that he really impressed me and took a long nap!  

Just another step in growing up.  I sure wish I could find some way to keep these little ones little forever!

Sea World 2012

On our last day in San Antonio we visited Sea World!  We were thrilled that our good friends, the Webbs, joined us.  Our last adventure there was in 2009 so this was Owen's first time.  

Emma with one of her besties, Bailey (another fellow coach's kid from Cameron!)

We enjoyed a few shows, including One Ocean, the newest Shamu show.  I am always so amazed at how skilled the beautiful sea creatures are!

Emma loved the kiddy roller coaster (see her hands up in the air in the far left corner)!  Little brother wasn't quite tall enough to ride.

One highlight of our visit was feeding the dolphins.  Owen immediately took to it while his sister wasn't so sure.

Luckily she warmed up to the idea :)  Those dolphins sure were happy she did!

Penguin hugs!

This is the area where Jarrod proposed almost a decade ago!  We quickly realized I was wearing the same visor :)

Owen skipped nap time and was literally snoring before we left the park grounds.  We got home close to midnight and Emma never fell asleep.  Despite the raging heat we enjoyed our time there.  I welcome Fall temps anytime now!

THSCA Coaching School 2012

We spent the past several days in downtown San Antonio for the 80th annual THSCA coaching school.  Coaches definitely overtook the town with an astounding 12,600 in attendance.  Jarrod's coaching staff stayed at the Emily Morgan hotel which was very close to the Alamo.  We walked by it countless times and Emma even wanted to walk inside.  Jarrod is quite the tour guide :)

{Our last time there ~ Spring 2009}

{This visit ~ Summer 2012}

{Outside the Alamo with Emma's photog skills!}

The kids love staying at hotels.  Only on vacation to they get to have powdered donuts for breakfast and stay up (a lot!) later than usual.  They were definitely sleepy heads each morning...especially this guy :)

While daddy was busy with sessions we ventured over to a nearby hotel so that I could participate in a few of the THSCWA (wives) activities.

This is the new association t shirt!  I was also very honored to be nominated and voted in as the assistant to our regional director.  I look forward to becoming more involved and enjoyed visiting with other coaches' wives.

The kids were super excited to reunite with the Rhoades girls (fellow coach's kids from Cameron).  They loved riding the glass elevator up and down :)

We took a walk through the huge exhibit hall and Emma wanted to take a pic beside RGIII (that's my girl)!

The kids enjoyed the Riverwalk, mall attractions and Ice Age in the theater.  

They also loved the River boat ride!

This was our final trip of the Summer.  Football season is now in full swing.  Only 28 days until kickoff!

caNINE

Happy 9th Birthday to our sweet Roxie Louise!!

“He (she) taught us the art of unqualified love. How to give it, how to accept it. Where there is that, most other pieces fall into place.”  ~John Grogan, Marley & Me