First Day of School 2014

The first day of school was a big deal this year. Caden started half day kindergarten at Hollywood Hill Elementary and Sadie started Rainbow Montessori School (her first preschool experience with out her big brother by her side). They were both super excited and just a little anxious about the unknown. 

Fortunately, Caden had lots of events to help get him comfortable before school started. First we went to a Kindergarten meet and greet on the Kindergarten play ground where he gets to play at recess - he was very impressed with the two sandboxes and large fireman pole. 

I also met several nice moms, one in particular who convinced me to sign him up for the 1/2 day Kindergarten bus in the afternoon. I'm so glad she did - Caden loves it and walking to the bus stop with Mason to wait for him is one of my favorite parts of the day.

Coincidentally, Caden became super tight with that Mom's little boy, Evan, a few weeks after school starts. He only lives one street down from our neighborhood and Caden loves riding the bus home with him and hanging out together at school.

Casey and I laughed a lot that for the first few weeks that Evan and Caden were friends, Caden kept calling him Kevin (apparently Evan didn't mind).

Next we had, see your classroom/meet the teacher day.

Caden and I left Sadie and Mason with Tina for the morning....

We got to unload his school supplies and check out his desk (same row as future best friend, Evan).

Then it was time for everybody's first day of school!

The whole family dropped Caden off in line for school in the morning.

Then we got to spend all of Sadie's first day with her at Rainbow Montessori School.

Sadie took this picture of Caden after he got of the bus (which was pretty late on the first day and made us a little nervous!)

End of Summer 2014

This month was all about the Mason Man becoming mobile.  At the beginning of the month he had just learned to roll both directions and by the end of the month, you'd put him down in one spot and there was no telling where he would end up!

Here are a few other cute tidbits from this month:

(Caden and Sadie in the backyard hanging out when they think Mom and Dad aren't watching.)

Sadie (while watching TV suddenly turns to Caden and says): I'm going to dream about you tonight.

20 minutes into driving home from a playdate, both kids are quiet and I think they might even fall asleep. And then...

Caden: Sadie
Sadie: What?
Caden: I love you.

The end of our summer was also spent...

Enjoying our very last swaddle before sleep training.

Putting on impromptu performances with our friends.

Setting off rockets in the park.

Growing pumpkins and other fruit in the backyard. (Update: the pumpkins have some sort of blight and deer ate ALL of the plums on our trees in one afternoon - whaa whaa.)

Taking up a new hobby.

Coloring (lots and lots of coloring).

Cooking with Mom and with Tina.

Putting the finishing touches on the backyard excavation site.

Building at the LEGO table.

Celebrating with Daddy.

Buying ice cream with allowance money.

Making a jumbo slip-n-slide.

Visiting with Aunt Sarah.

And learning new tricks from her.

Riding bikes.

Turning into monkeys.

Doing chores to earn more money for ice cream.

Narrowly avoiding stitches (took a knee to the face jumping off the top of the jungle gym).

Backsliding on the sleep training and totally getting away with making your way back into Mommy and Daddy's bed every morning because you're the baby of the family and Mommy and Daddy are weak.

More Photo's From Sadie's 4th Birthday Bash