Boo-hoo's for Mom!

Well, it is official! I have a child in elementary school. I am not sure where the past six years have gone and I know it is only going to fly by even faster in the years to come. This past week has been both sad and exciting. Jackson had to say goodbye to all of his friends and teachers at Southgate. That has been his "school" for the past 3 and a half years. But he was so excited about going to "big boy school".

Jackson and Ms. Kathy, his teacher for the past two years. She was so sweet and loved Jackson so much. She chose him to be the line leader on his last day at preschool.


On the Sunday before the Kindergartener's start school, they each get a purple balloon tied to their mailbox by a family at Winstead. This was very exciting! We had to drive around the neighborhood to see where we saw purple balloons. We counted 15 just in our section of the neighborhood!

Jackson went to school for half a day on Wednesday and then a full day on Thurs. Well, Tues night he was so giddy and talkative. He took his shower (which is a new thing in and of itself!). Then he decided he needed to shave. He had a few small hairs he had to get rid of so his new friends wouldn't see them.

Shaving the night before school.

Don't we all remember getting to pick out a Trapper Keeper for school? Well, luckily times haven't changed too much in that sense. It took us a while, but Jackson finally decided on the StarWars backpack and lunchbox. Can you tell he loves it??














Remember....he loves to pose. Especially before going to school for the first time. I took him for his first half day. I did fine until I was walking out of school. Then it hit me...he was in a school with 5th graders and I wasn't going to be around to help him. I know he will be fine, but I still cried!

Jackson in his new classroom. He is getting to
decorate the string on his nametag.

Jackson and his new teacher, Mrs. Dorsten. He loves her already. She is so organized and seems to be so great with the kids. I think we are going to love her!

Coming out of school on Wed. Mimi and I picked him up and
he talked non-stop and was so animated about all he did that day.
Remember, he was only there for half a day. I can't wait to hear
about his first full day.

Our first official day of Kindergarten! Taylor and I took him today and it was so much fun. Can you tell by that twinkle in his eyes that he is thrilled? I was of course sad again, but it is so hard to cry when he was so excited. If he was the least bit anxious, he didn't tell me or let it show. He was so grown up.









Jackson and his bear nametag on the
first full day of Kindergarten.

Jackson and Mom on his first day of school!






Jackson and Dad on his first day of school.

Chattanooga Fun with the Deweese Family!

The kids and I went to Chattanooga to visit family. The Deweese gang were great hosts. We had so much fun going to the Aquarium, Discovery Museum and the Zoo. We kept those kids busy and they were so tired at the end of the day. Shelby wasn't there and we missed her!!

Shari and Story took lots of pictures and sent them to me. I just have to get them saved to my computer and will post them soon!







The view from the Aquarium.















A beautiful butterfly in the butterfly garden.

Hanging out in the Aquarium. Notice Ainsleigh's bare feet. She REFUSED

to keep her shoes on so we took them off before we lost them.









One of the noisy penguins.

















Jackson's reaction to feeling the cold water
that the penguins swim in. It was very cold!

Just a couple of the very colorful

fish at the Aquarium.







A baby jellyfish.















A very cool jellyfish.

I don't remember what they were trying to see,

but it must have been good!




Story and Jackson

















This was so much fun. Jackson ran up and down the "ramp" a gazillion times.

Sliding down the "ramp" as Jackson calls it.

Two tired little babies!

Jackson and Story striking a pose at the Aquarium.

Ainsleigh actually sitting still for a moment.

Mowing the carpet at the Discovery Museum!

Cooper really wanted that ball. He would roll it under the plexiglass and then practically lay down to see it.

Ainsleigh had to clear out this box, but

once she did, it was the perfect seat for her.

The bubbles were a huge hit with my crew!

Cooper playing in the water at the Discovery Museum

Jackson the Tiger and Story the Koala Bear

Cooper trying to get a closer look!

Jackson took this picture of the monkey.

Jackson was hoping that that the peacock would spread

his wings and show us all of his beautiful colors.

Mr. Duck
























Story, Cooper, Jackson and Ainsleigh

posing with the monkey at the zoo.

Story and Jackson cheesing!

Cooper looking cool in Ainsleigh's pink sunglasses!

Fun Pictures of the kids

Ainsleigh is ready for bed (notice the shoes!). She is relaxing watching a video before bedtime!

Just Jackson! He has gotten so tall lately.

Ainsleigh LOVES ketchup. She uses french fries, green beans, chicken, etc as the vehicle to eat ketchup. When those run out, she just uses her hands.

They love for us to pull up the blinds so they can see outside. Notice where they are sitting /standing.

I guess Ainsleigh couldn't see well enough so she climbed over

the couch. Her feet are in the window sill. She is a mess!

The Irish Festival with Gaga

We went with Gaga to the Irish festival in McEwen TN. It is the "Worlds Largest Barbeque" and dates back to 1854. It was small, but we had fun walking around.







Part of the reinactment of the Civil War.

Jackson thought this was fun to watch, but it was loud!

Here they come!

It was so hot. I am not sure how they

wore these costumes.

Ainsleigh was cool in her shades!

Jackson won lots of prizes fishing and playing other games.