First Day of School

They say time flies when you're having fun, but I think it's more accurate that the older you are the quicker time passes. I don't know where this past year went. It seems like just yesterday that Korbyn and Kaci started school in Crockett, TX.

The previous two photos were taken this morning on their first day of school. Look how much they've grown compared to their first day of school last year! I woke up this morning and asked Greg if it had hit him yet that we have a 1st grader. He didn't appreciate the reminder and asked Korbyn to quit growing. She explained, as if to a simpleton, that she had to grow up--whether he liked it or not! She's never been one to mince words.
Korbyn's classroom is super-cute! She has a first-year teacher for her first grade year. The teacher's name? Mrs. First. Honestly! How funny is that? She seems like a sweet lady, and her room is inviting and fun. I know Korybn's going to love it. Kaci's already been through Pre-K once, but she's not old enough to start Kindergarten. She's one of those kids with a late September birthday, so she'll always be the oldest among her classmates. I don't think she'll mind. She's a natural born ring leader.

I couldn't get the kids to go to bed last night. Kaci finally told me she was just too excited to sleep. You'd think today was Christmas--not the first day of school! I can't tell you how happy it makes me that my kids love school so much, though. I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

Meanwhile, baby sister was completely oblivious to all the excitement. . .
So the kids are at school, the baby's asleep, and I'm left wondering . . . is it 3:30 p.m. yet?

Visit From Grandpa Ken

My dad and his middle child, Jake, were down from Minnesota visiting this past weekend. Klaire got to meet her Grandpa Ken for the first time, and they bonded over their mutual love of napping. Ok, I jest. Only Klaire napped. Here's a picture of her after listening to one too many of my dad's corny jokes. I do come by the punsanity honestly! As you can see here, Grandpa Ken and Klaire approved of one another, and, as usual, the fun weekend came to an end much too quickly. Come back soon, Dad--with updated comedic material, preferably. :) :) :) I kid! I kid!

Sisterly Love

I swear I didn't prompt these pictures of my two oldest showing the love. They instructed me to get the camera and take a few pics of them, and these were their chosen poses. It's ironic that these photos came on the heels of yet another knock-down-dragout argument between the pair. How can siblings argue that much yet throw a fit if I tell them they can't play together if they can't quit bickering? Best friends and mortal enemies...all rolled into one. The girls got to meet their teachers and drop off school supplies yesterday. They each have a class pet, and the teachers seemed really nice, so the girls are pumped! I think they're in for a great school year! It's hard to believe we'll have a 1st grader and a pre-ker this year. Time flies much too fast. Regardless, we're all ready for school to start--mama and the kiddos!

Oh, Oh, Zoo Pals!

This weekend we took Klaire to the zoo for the first time. Her sisters couldn't wait to show her all the sights. Here's our daddy bear, Greg, with an up-close-and-personal grizzly. What an amazing thing to see an animal of that magnitude only inches away. These silly chimps enjoyed checking out our little monkeys.


An aggressive, white peacock . . . I took this picture while running in the other direction. Don't let those pretty, white feathers fool you. This bird had ill intent and a menacing look in its beady, little eyes.
Korbyn hitching a ride on dad's back. . .
Three of my four kiddos riding the carousel. . .

Here's our little zoo baby after a long, fun day . . .

Don't Rock the Boat

Now that I've recovered my Blogger password I'm ready to get back on the blogging boat. Hopefully my attempts to post more often won't be all washed up. I'm sure I'll do better this time. I don't think I could handle the crashing waves of guilt otherwise. I have a sinking feeling I just lost readers with this post. Buoy, that would be bad. Ok, I'm done. No, wait...one more... I'm sure there's a sea of people out there looking for insightful, funny blogs to frequent. Those people should probably look elsewhere.

I'm going to get better at posting more, but for now, I just wanted to give a quick shout-out to the general voting public. I waited nearly 45 minutes in line this morning to vote--which is awesome! Driving up and seeing the line out the door at the polling station literally brought tears to my eyes. Granted, I'm totally hormonal and cry at the sight of roadkill, but still . . . This is the most excitement I've seen about voting, well, since I was old enough to vote! Great job, Oklahoma. Make your voices heard!

Happy Trick or Treat!

As Kaci would say, "Happy Trick or Treat!" I figured since today is Halloween, it was as good a day as any to cross over to the dark side--and enter into the world of blogging. Our little cowgirl (Korbyn) and princess (Kaci) had a blast trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. They literally RAN from door to door, yelling at each other the entire way about who's turn it was to knock on and/or ring the doorbell at the next house. The supper of candy corn and chocolate bars might have fueled the sprint running, come to think of it. At least they had good manners, though. They always said, "Thank you!", and when Kaci was really feeling it, she yelled, "Happy Trick-or-treat!"

Before we terrorized...er...I mean...trick-or-treated the neighborhood, we headed to Trinity Baptist Church Yukon's Trunk or Treat, where we met up with Super Mario and a cute-as-skunk-stripes-on-a-baby, Halloween-themed cheerleader. Real identities: niece Lakin and nephew Jayce. What? We saw the CUTEST little baby in a skunk costume tonight. Of course skunk stripes are cute on a baby!

At the little, blue train, our pretty princess ran into a lovely, lady mushroom! None other than Maggie Louise who was the life of the party . . . truly! She was one fun guy! Get it? One fun-gi? Fungi? Mushroom?... I think I'm about to go into a sugar coma.

We happened upon a sight you don't see every day . . . a Shakesperean witch with a hat nearly as tall as her, and FIERCE pointy shoes. Darn. I wish I would have taken a picture of her shoes. Anyway, you can see the witch, er, Robin (hello, sister!) below. Worth one more mention, though, is my nephew, whose Super Mario totally rocked!!! Here's a close up . . . Take a bow, Jayce. :)
So there you have it. My first post has come to a close, and it only took two hours (for me to write, hopefully not for you to read)! Hey, you asked for it!

Thanks for reading, ya'll.