Week Thirty-Eight: 9/15-9/21

Week 38 started off with a butt early Camp Gladiator workout with Amy. Getting it done!!

Never Miss a Monday!! We also didn't miss Wednesday! 

Thursday morning, I had to go to Charlotte for work. I was on the highway almost there and in my rear view mirror, the sunrise literally took my breath away. I tried to take a picture of my view but it just doesn't do it justice. 

Such a beautiful sunrise!! 

I finished reading this book this week...it was really good. 

Our week went really well and we're all adjusting to the school / homework routine. Thankfully the boys just have a little to do each night and it's not a battle (yet!). 

Saturday was an exciting day. We went to Safety Day at the High School. This is always such a fun event every year. Even though it's within walking distance, we ended up driving over there since we had other things to do after. 

I always love this demonstration. 

They use the jaws of life and "rescue" someone from this vehicle. 

Ladder truck - don't get to see them every day!

Cole & his buddy Will - kinda cool how this picture seems to continue the ladder truck! 

Smokey the Bear!

Fun on the inflatables

Honorary Fireman Cole

Honorary Fireman Eli

They went right up to RPD and asked if they could see his car. This should be the only way they see the back seat of a police car!! We spent quite a while talking to the officer, it's always neat to learn about them and what they do. 

Highlight of the event.....the UNC life flight copter!!

The boys got to see it one day at Y camp but I never had. Absolutely amazing! Thankful for the life saving technology. 

"I'm gonna ring it Mom"

Ding...Ding Ding....Ding Ding

This was one of those things you see that puts a lump in your throat. 

This was the Jeep Grand Cherokee the young man was driving. Heart breaking. 

The boys were excited to ride in this old military vehicle with Daddy. 

We even stayed around to watch them set this room on fire....

and let it grow....

and grow....

before putting it out. 

It was amazing to watch how the flames grew and spread. It took a little while to get going but then, oh my! 

The aftermath.....

We also saw a Sheriff (!) who drove this fancy ride. I learned a lot from him too. Never realized that the County police have jurisdiction in the ENTIRE county having to work those non-city / non-town areas especially. 

Love my little firemen!!

After Safety Day, we stopped at the library to return books and get new ones. LOVE our community library!! 

Of course, a library visit isn't complete without playing on the playground. Eli and Cole were in full Ninja mode (after watching ANW of course!) and were all over!! 

For this "obstacle", Cole jumped from the platform, grabbed the bar and would swing to the other platform. He had to make it across so he wouldn't fall in the "water". 

Back the other way

Sunday, Cole & I made a quick run to Target but we had to stop to try on and play with big foam hats!

Sunday afternoon hanging with Ms. Amy in the hammock

We need one of these Mom!! 

And closing out our week, Eli & Cole built this Lego Salmon Ladder and made their own Lego Ninja Competitors! Maybe one day we'll get to go see American Ninja Warrior in person!! 

Week Thirty-Seven: 9/8-9/14

Week 37: Busy week!! Wednesday was my last day of work at DPS and I started my new job on Thursday. I left Wednesday night at 5:30pm, ending one chapter and was on the road by 5:30am starting the next. Phew.....a break would have been nice but wasn't possible!! 

Thursday I had my orientation and all the HR stuff for my new job. I also had to bring some RFQ responses back to turn in tomorrow. I ended up with a very long day and getting home late. Thankfully on Friday I was able to go with our Business Developer to deliver the RFQ responses and head home after lunch. Maybe that counts as my break - an hour or two. =) 

New work hardhat....back on the Contractor side of the business. So happy!!

Friday night was the LES Family Back to School Night. The boys loved running around with their friends and playing on the inflatables. We're finally to the point of letting them run around and keeping a distant eye on them. Since it's Cole's school now too, he's familiar with the setup and what he can/can't do. It was great! Two happy tired boys.....two happy parents! 

Eli & Jaidee - they were in K and 1st together, but not 2nd =(

Cole and Christina - she was at Primrose with him and now she's in his Kindergarten class!

Saturday morning, the boys woke up ready to watch tv. Since they can only watch on weekends, they look forward to it. Funny this morning, they didn't ask for cartoons. Nope....they asked to watch 'American Ninja Warrior'. LOVE IT!! My little ninjas. They can watch these same episodes over and over and just love it. They also try to guess how far the contestant will make it - like it will change from the last time they watched it! 

Saturday we also got to celebrate our friend Tian Tian's birthday. He was in Eli's 1st grade class and is such a sweet boy. He apparently takes karate so he had a karate party and we got to see such a great show. Tian Tian performed and then their performance group did moves and stunts for the kids. Afterward, all the kids go to do some things as well. 

Eli and Birthday Boy Tian Tian

This was amazing, he jumped up and kicked /broke boards with BOTH feet!

Three in a row!

Getting all the kids warmed up to do some moves. 

Eli broke a board, Cole didn't want to try it. 

That's how you cut a cake!!

Cole was bummed that he missed out breaking a board so the nice instructor let him do it while the other kids were eating cake.

After that, Cole was ALL IN!! He had a blast. 

They had things for the kids to kick and punch and also did something like a stunt / obstacle course for them to do. It was a lot of fun! 

Today after church, I had a little vacation.....at Target....by myself. =) Target, sadly enough, is one of my happy places. I think second to Harris Teeter, they get a lot of our money. I probably spend less money when the boys are with me because I'm trying to get out of there. But I do enjoy going alone so I can look at everything and just roam. While there, I treated myself to this cool "e" mug. Just couldn't resist! 

"e" is for "evia" - Mommy's new mug!

And we made cookies to complete the weekend. These two LOVE some cookie dough!! They always want to "help" me which, of course, consists of eating chocolate chips until I can get the dough done and then they grab some cookie dough. The fun of being a kid!!

Week Thirty-Six: 9/1-9/7

Ahhh, the calm before the storm. Week 36 started off with the Labor Day holiday prior to school really kicking off for the boys. It was nice to have a day to chill before we get going again. 

Tuesday morning was THE day we've been waiting for for TWO long years. Eli and Cole were dropped off together again! I was so excited to have them under the same roof again (not to mention no more daycare bills!) but in a way it was anti-climatic. It's not like money came raining down from the sky or anything. But it was nice. =) 

Our little Leesville cubs

Cole's class schedule....super Big Boy now! 

Wednesday morning, Eli cracked me up with an early morning word problem.Here it goes.....There are four people in our family and three bathrooms. If one person has to poop and three have to pee all at the same time, where will they go?.....That would be a problem. So far, we haven't had this exact situation but my response was that I'm definitely getting a bathroom. After talking through it, Eli & Cole agreed that they'd use one bathroom together. Oh thank goodness we got that figured out!!!

Wednesday evening, poor little Cole had a tummy bug. He ended up missing school on Friday. I felt bad for my little guy but also, this nerd perfect attendance mom was bummed that he missed a day on his first full week of school. Thankfully it passed pretty quickly (and he enjoyed lots of tv and couch time!). 

Saturday morning the boys drug out my old floor mats to make their own Quintuple steps (American Ninja Warrior style). As you can see, Cole was feeling much better and they had fun seeing what they could do. 

Saturday was also Cole's buddy from Primrose, Ethan's birthday party. It was fun for all the kids to see each other since they've all started school. A lot of these kids Cole has been with from the beginning, or very close, so it will be an adjustment to making new friends at LES. But I'm sure Cole will have no trouble. AND he's got big brother Eli watching out for him. =) 

Birthday party bounce house fun

The Birthday Boy Ethan

His sister was so cute brushing this little pony with a dress-up brush (yes there were pony rides!). 

Cole and Luke - two crazy boys!

Sunday morning ready for church - even though he's super cute, Cole was not thrilled this morning.