Back to School

Livi has been back to school for 2 weeks now and Colson started pre-school last week!  That leaves me with just Miss Kendall three mornings a week :)  Livi started on August 15th-it seemed so early!  We found out her teacher was Mrs. Duckworth the week before school started and Livi was so happy.  She keeps getting the teacher she wants, which makes the start of the school year so much easier :)

The littler kids and I had some errands to do in Peoria that day so we had lunch together :)

Livi has been loving school so far!  She has homework every night, so that is something for us to get used to!  She's doing so good though and I can tell how much she has matured since last year :)
Colson started school last Tuesday, August 26th.  He is going to Punkin' Patch at Princeville United Methodist Church, just like Livi did.  Miss Chris and Miss Kayli are his teachers.  He was ready to go!

Colson did so great his first couple days of school!  Thursday morning came around though and the poor kid was coughing up a lung.  He sounds TERRIBLE when he catches a cough and I hated to send him "sick" the first week.  So we kept him home and he's getting over it now-poor guy.  I blame grade school-Livi caught it her first full week of school but since she's in 'real' school, she has to go as long as she doesn't have a fever!
This is what our "sick day" looked like-ha!

 I hope both kids have a great school year, it would take a lot of worry out of my life :)  In 2 short years, Baby K will be joining them too :(

Kendall @ 16 months

Miss Kendall is getting so big lately!  She turned 16 months old on the 6th, barely our baby anymore.  Whenever I get asked how old she is, it strikes me that soon I'll have to say her age in years and not in months :(  She got her first big girl haircut from Aunt Kelly on the 4th....we knew she wouldn't be too thrilled!

But her sweet little curls came out after the trim <3  Her mullet no longer has a tail coming out the bottom!  The next big milestone was to get rid of bottles.  She was waking up in the middle of the night and the only way she would go back to sleep was with a bottle.....sometimes.  We decided that it was time to let our bottles go! 

bye bye ba-bas!

So far, we have done okay without our bottles....although she still seems to be getting up in the middle of the night :(  Hopefully it's just teeth and that will quit soon. 

We love our baby girl so much and it makes us all a little sad to watch her grow.  We love to see her personality grow though and she has lots of it!

LOVES her doggies <3

Colson's First Day of MDO

Colson is starting "school" this year!  He's actually going to a Mother's Day Out program at First Federated Church in Peoria.  He goes on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.  Today he and I went together (only for 1 hour) for his first day.

He did really good!  He talked to all the teachers, said hi to the other kids (when prompted) and played really nice.....for about 30 minutes :)  Then he was done and "ready to go home".  He begrudgingly sat through a story and song while whining a bit.  BUT, I consider it a success.  He was such a nice little boy and his teachers loved him already :)  Next week is his first real day, all by himself.  Say a little prayer for him if you remember <3

He's so cute with his little backpack!

Ready to go!

He did so good at school, we went to McDonalds for lunch :)  Always a good treat!

Baby's first McDonalds meal-Fruit N Yogurt parfait and apple juice :)

April Happenings

Where did this month go and what have we been up to? Plenty!  At the beginning of the month, Kendall had her first visit to the zoo.  During spring break, we took a day and met Kristin & Lizzie at Glen Oak Zoo.  We had a picnic first and then visited the animals.  Although a little chilly at first, it ended up a beautiful afternoon!

Mommy left Daddy and the kids at home and headed to Chicago for my cousin Shannon's bachelorette party!  Lindsey and I left Saturday afternoon and drove up to the city.  After a short detour through the city, we finally found the Hard Rock Hotel and we're ready for some fun!

We had food and drinks at the hotel and then headed out to The Baton Club-it was eye opening to say the least!

The next weekend, Alan and I had a date night and went to a wedding!

This past weekend we met some new neighbors.  A mommy, daddy and some kits :)

On Sunday we were finally all able to be at Mamaw and Papaw's house to celebrate Easter with the kids.  They got to do another Easter egg hunt and each got another Easter basket!

Kendall, Reagan & Brenner

Alyvia, Rylie, Colson, Kinsley, Reagan, Brenner

That night Alan and I got to go on another date night...I know, we're getting spoiled!  We went to see The Band Perry at Bradley.  It was a good show and fun to get out by ourselves again!  We've had a busy, busy month, filled with fun.  Hopefully it gets warmer now so we can do more outside next month!

First Smiles

She decided that the week of Christmas makes her happy :)  They are still few and far between, but she's figuring it out.  We love this sweet babe <3

First smile

Ahhh, a full belly and a first smile :)  She melts my heart...

Family Time

On Sunday Andy and Carol had lunch at their house.  We were all feeling pretty good, so we decided to go.  Kendall got to meet the rest of her Cowser Family and the cousins all got to play!

Kinsley & Kendall

Grandma Alice & Kendall

That evening we went to Nana's house to see her, Un Cha & Aunt Anne.  Then we went home and Kendall finally got to try out her crib for the first time :)

Good family day!

First Bath

Kendall got her 1st bath at home on Saturday night, she was a dirty little birdie!  It wasn't her favorite thing we've done so far :)

Poor girl...she has to be sweet and clean though!

First Day of School

Today Alyvia started Kindergarten.

She was so excited for school to start, I could hardly be sad :)  We packed her snack and picked her outfit last night and she was ready to go this morning!  Here's a brief view of how excited she was to start her school year...and a little Colson too :)

I am glad that both Alan and I dropped her off because it was so CHAOTIC!  She walked right into her classroom when the bell rang though :)

I know a lot of moms that are very emotional about their kids starting school.  I was more nervous for her than sad....and then I was irritated because drop off was so confusing :)  I feel more disbelief that she is old enough for all day school!  It's crazy that she's 5!  I will miss her during the day, but she's so excited to go to school, I can't hardly wish she was at home :)  I hope she has a GREAT year in kindergarten and makes some really good friends.  Good luck baby girl, I know you'll do great!!