Oh Connor..how you make me laugh every day.  You are definitely a bright spot in my life, probably because of moments like these.  Caroline had her first "sick day" yesterday.  She was complaining of a sore throat and a hurting tummy so we decided to let her stay home and rest.   Connor came down after getting dressed with the oral thermometer in hand and told me that he took his own temperature and boy  was I ever so thankful that the thermometer still worked!!  This is the conversation that followed between the two of us.

Connor: Caroline, lets put this in your ear and see if you have a fever!. 
Me: This isn't an ear thermometer.....
Connor: (stops dead in his tracks and looks me square in the eyes) Oh....should I wash this then?
Me: Ummm, that would be a good idea.
Connor: With soap?????

Oh how I wish I would have seen you with the thermometer sticking out of your ear!!!  I love that you remind me that life is funny and to enjoy the little moments. I love you so much buddy!

A is also for a job well done!

Connor had his first test of the year on Thursday and of course it had to be a math test~drats!

We made a deal....if he got a B on his test he would get a McDonald's dinner.  If he got

an A he would get McDonalds and an ice cream. (bribery works in our house!)  I could not have been prouder about the way my guy prepared for this test.  He put in a solid 2 hours of study time each night for the three days we had prior to test day.  On Wednesday night Connor told me, "I'm so gonna ace this test Mom." And guess what?  He sure did.

Before dinner I had to run and pick up some shoes at Parisian so we made a quick trip

to Partridge Creek.  My men weren't too thrilled about the idea of the mall until

they spotted the Apple store :)  I never thought that I would get Connor out of there!

So many fun gadgets but I have to admit that Caroline and I had WAY more fun at

the jewelry store. 

Some fun pictures from the ice cream parlor.  Connor got

his favorite cookie dough.

Caroline clearly enjoying her ice cream!  Minty mint for this funny gal.

And Papa this was taken just for you!  

A is for Apple

The kids and I spent the afternoon at the orchard while Daddy spent the day

in Frankenmuth at Oktoberfest. 

Madyson came with us today.  Here are all three kids on the hunt for the

perfect tree.  For some reason the orchard didn't have the ladders out today so we needed

to find a tree with lots of apples that the kids could reach themselves.

The girls showing off their "donut faces." I guess Caroline thought that

this needed to be a serious face???

HUGE pumpkins. 

My favorite photographer wanted to take a picture of Caroline

and me.  Note to self: don't leave home without lipstick. 

I almost forgot to post these pictures!  Last weekend we celebrated Harold's

76th birthday.  I sent Chris out to pick up a cake....anyone suprised that we ended

up with carrot cake?  No, me neither.

We don't have too many pictures of Grandpa with the

kids so I was very excited to get this one.  Connor and Caroline

picked out a card that came with that buttom on Harold's shirt.  They were thrilled

that he wore it!  It says #1 Grandpa :)

First Day of School

My loves went to school today.  Connor starts the 5th grade and Caroline is officially

a kindergartener...I can't believe it.  This is Connor's last year of elementary school, where did

the time go?  Wasn't he just off to kindergarten?

I took this picture last night after they were all packed up.

Lots of stuff to go with them on the first day!

I love this picture! Both kiddos were excited for their first day.  Connor always

amazes me with his confidence and Caroline seems to be following in his footsteps.

Makes me proud to be raising such independent kids!

Here he is..the top dog of Atwood..next year... middle school! Connor, I love you buddy.  I am so proud of you and can't wait to see what you accomplish this year. 

Oh Caroline....I love you so.  I can't believe that you are big enough

to be in school all day.  You have been my sweet sidekick for so long I don't know

what to do without you!  I will miss you so much!

All the kids at the bus stop!  We are blessed to be in a neighborhood

with wonderful kids.  What you don't see in this picture is

the parents of these wonderful kids smiling just as big :)

And, they're off!  Caroline didn't look back, just hopped on that bus like she had been

doing this for years.  She sat in the first row with her friend Lily and immediately started

smiling and laughing!  (I was waving like a maniac trying to get her attention...thank goodness I caught her eye as the bus was rolling away...I needed that!!! ha ha!) And I was happy that Connor gave me a wave goodby as well; I hope her never gets too old to acknowledge his crazy mamma!

I mentioned to Caroline that I was slipping a love note into their lunchboxes last night and guess

what I found next to the coffee pot??  A little note just for me....

A bit confusing, but makes complete sense to me.  I (heart) you mom. Caroline (in a circle because she ran out of room!) 

And a picture to go with it.  That's me and her with the sun and a flower.  Just what I

needed on a day like today.

I am hoping that they both have a great day!  Can't wait to hear all about it when they get

off the bus today at 4:17!  Until then, I have a date with my handsome hunny...yay me!

The Party's Over

Twas the night before school started, when all through the town, the parents were cheering... It was a riotous sound! By 8, kids were washed and tucked into bed... Where memories of homework filled them with dread! New pencils, new folders, new notebooks too! New teachers, new friends...Their anxiety grew! The parents just giggled when they learned of this fright- and shouted upstairs: Go To Bed! It's A School Night!!

First day of school tomorrow!  Caroline is so excited and Connor keeps saying that he can't wait to go back to school...praying for a good year! 

Be back tomorrow with pictures!