Third child

This is the first time I've had a three year old all day and not been pregnant or had a newborn. Norah gets the benefit of just being able to go places all day and not have to worry about naps or baby's feeding schedule. The only time constraint is to be home for the boys to get off the bus. 

She's not enjoying it at all! Ha! 

We are both enjoying our days together.  

But I do feel sorry for Joel. He's never really had me to himself so I need to plan some special things just for him and I.  Poor middle child. 

Hokies Game

We went this past weekend to a football game.  Brent actually went the previous monday night for their big Ohio State game and missed the first day of school.  I would've pushed harder for that ticket but I didn't want to miss the boys first day so Brent got the ticket! Sadly we lost the ohio game but won the Furman game.  Colin has never seen the Hokies lose so Frank Beamer I think you need to get this boy season tickets!

We left for the farm friday night.  And then went saturday to Blacksburg.  There really isn't a better way to spend a saturday in the fall (at least in my opinion)  The boys rode that morning with Grandpa, Ma-maa and Ant Ant and apparently Joel kept talking about these dog beds that he loved to eat at the restaurant we went to and finally they figured out he was talking about hush puppies.  hahaha

 We tailgated before the game

 Joel, how do you really feel about spending your afternoon at a football game?  ha!  but he did great until the 4th quarter and had fun tossing the football to Norah before the game.  He is starting to show more interest in sports and wants to do basketball this winter and wants to toss the football with Brent but his preference for a saturday afternoon would probably not be a football game!

we went to this hokie village outside the stadium where there are bounce houses and lots of things going on free for the kids.  Colin waited three games last year to do this one bungee basketball game thing and each time he would get up to the front of the line and it would close.  This year he waited in the same line and got to do it.  Just barely but he made it and was so excited.  

He wants to be an engineer which works for his momma to send him to virginia tech! 

It was supposed to rain but thankfully it didn't and was perfect weather for watching the game.  Overcast and a little cool.  Unfortunately in packing rain gear for the kids I forgot the snacks and toys I packed to keep Norah and Joel entertained at the end but they did great and watched until almost the end.  I took them in the 4th quarter to go watch the cheerleaders and then we slowly walked to the coliseum.

Joel then climbed these columns and I think he would've made it to the top but I stopped him from going higher.

Thanks Mom and Dad for the tickets and a fun weekend

House pics

I was looking back at old house pictures from when we first moved in 7 years ago to when we moved out this summer and it's fun to see how it changed. 

Our house is no where near feeling settled. But it's slowly getting there. I'm already rearranging the kitchen now that we've been here a month to better suit how we use the space.

This is the front door/foyer area. We need to get a different rug since this one won't let us open the closet door very easily but it works for now. 

This is our family room. We are looking for a swivel recliner chair to replace that rocker and another chair next to the fireplace. I'm so excited to have a fireplace. It will be fun all winter long. And I'd like to build (or mom if you are looking for another project...) a sofa table to go behind the sofa. 

 We are also looking for a different rug for this room and then plan on putting this rug in the sunroom. 

 I have no idea where to hang things with the high ceilings.  

I pretty much make Brent stand there while I take a picture and see if I like how it looks. 

He really loves doing this! Haha! 

This is our dining room. 

They added the sun room onto the house when they were building and we are so glad they did. It makes the house seem bigger and we love the extra space.

The small tv won't stay right there but works for now. The wii is hooked up to this tv so we are trying to figure out where to put it. I might move that bookshelf on the right and put the tv there. 

This is our kitchen. 

We love the island.

Flowers from the farm that the kids picked for me.

First day of school

 We have finished a day of school.  And I'm hopeful for a great year for both boys.  Besides the getting up early part.  I woke Colin up and then went to  wake up Joel.  When I walked into Joels room he was sound asleep with a big smile on his face... wonder what he was dreaming about.  But it took a few minutes for me to convince Joel it was time to wake up since it was still dark outside.  His bus comes at 6:55 so Colin and I walked him out while Norah was still sleeping. 

 First grade.  All day which seems like such a big difference but Joel didn't notice it was a longer day.  He said it was just like kindergarten except now he goes to the cafeteria. 

Unfortunately he is the first bus stop which means the last one at the end of the day.  So while he goes 15 minutes before Colin's bus he gets home after Colin.

Colin and I then walked back inside to get Colin off for the day. Our neighbors came and got Colin and I to walk to the bus stop. Their daughter is also in 4th grade and they have two middle school boys and one of them wanted to walk Colin down and he encouraged Colin the whole time until the bus came. Colin was pretty nervous so I'm really thankful for that boy. I really love our neighbors. 

And then they were off and I came home to a quiet house. Thankfully Norah likes to sleep in and I'm hoping she continues that this year.  I'm watching a friends kids Tuesday mornings so it worked out perfectly that they came over today so Norah woke up to friends and didn't even ask about her boys being gone. 

They had great days and now are out scootering with the neighbors comparing days.  And each day will get easier and easier for us all as we fall into the new routine. 

Last bit of summer

We took a quick day trip to jockeys ridge today to celebrate the end of summer. 

I love his snaggle tooth. I will be sad when that tooth comes in. 

The boys loved it. Norah didn't at first but then she had fun jumping and rolling down and then insisted on being carried back to the car saying it was too much sand. 

Brent and the kids spent a lot of time jumping off the dunes while I took slow-mo videos of them. So fun! 

I had read on a website that people bring cardboard and slide down the dunes. We have tons of cardboard so we cut up some boxes and brought them all the way up.....and they didn't work..... maybe in the winter when the ground is more frozen. Maybe? So we carried around cardboard with us the whole afternoon. That part wasn't fun. But it did make for a nice shield for Norah when the wind was strong and we were getting pelted with sand. 

We stopped at a putt-putt place on the way out. The kids were troopers and we didn't eat until 8:00pm. Which for my "I'm hungry" every 30 minute kids was amazing. And that's baby powder all over Norah. She loves covering herself after the beach and getting all the sticky sand off. 

Norah slept through dinner and they all fell asleep on the way home.