Pumpkinville

This week we took Austin out of school 1 hour early and took him to Pumpkinville (the Leesburg Animal Park).  Now that he's in all day kindergarten, he doesn't get the opportunities he's been used to where he can go to Cox Farm, other pumpkin patches during the day.  

So we took off early and we went with our dear friends the Johnsons and had so much fun!!!!  

Austin and Cameron are in the same class and we're so glad that they're such great buddies! ( Same with Ash and Gavs!)

Ash pictures

Go Destroyers!

Last weekend we went to Leesburg outlets and bought some great stuff at the Brooks Brothers outlet at some great prices.  One included a suit for Jonathan.  Well, he wore it on Monday and that day President Bush looked at him and said, "Hey bud!  Nice suit!"  So Jonathan gave him a "good game" swat and they both slapped 5.  Only kidding.  But he did like Jonathan's suit.  Very suave.

Austin is loving his flag football team!  Thought I would post some pics of him as offensive center and defensive noseguard.  

This week he took a class trip to the Stribling Orchard in Markham, VA and picked apples with all his kindergarten classes.  When he brought home his apples, most of them were bruised, with worm holes in them.  But they were special because he picked them.  We peeled them, cut them, and ate them anyway.  In fact we made yummy caramel apples with them.

There was  a bear spotted in Haymarket this last week and one of the spottings was in Piedmont!  The bus stop was all crazy and you would have thought a mad man was on the loose!  Excitement for Haymarket!

Ashley has become such a Mama's girl and I love it.  She cuddles up and says, "Just girls.  Boys stink."  After her Little Gym super beasts gymnastics class, every friday we got to Panera and do lunch together.  We have so much fun!  It reminds me of when my mom and I would do special lunches out.  We still do!

This past week I taught preschool.  I taught Opposites and the 5 senses.  Hard concepts for 2 1/2 year olds.  It was still fun seeing the little munchkins interact.  All boys and just Ash.  In fact, she doesn't have even one girlfriend.  But she doesn't know the difference and she loves all her boyfriends. 

Ta ta for now!  Or TTFN (something my kids say as they take after Tigger on Pooh),

Angie

Corn Maize

This week we went to the Corn Maize in the Plains, VA for a Mountain View activity.  It was so fun watching Austin have a great time!  

Austin got his interim report cards this week and is doing just fine.  But the teacher noted that he has very energetic hands and that he needs to keep them to himself.  His first  

year of preschool 3 years ago his teacher told us back then that Austin has "Happy Hands."  He just doesn't outgrow 
those happy hands.  Oh dear.

Ashley cracks us up.  The latest thing is that she'll cough or run into something and announce to everyone, 
"I'm okay.  Don't worry, I'm okay."  She also found a pink dress with an attached tutu and grabbed it at the Carter's outlet and announced, "I need this dress.  It's my birthday dress!"  It's wonderful how girly she is!!!

Jonathan has been in town for over a week now and it's GREAT having Daddy home.  I'm having to cook more now and that's not as fun, but I guess he's worth it.  :)

Love to all!

Angie

HAIRCUT

Holy Toledo Batman!  I got a major haircut and I love it!  I took before and after pictures.  I'm such a nerd.

BEFORE

AFTER

PROFILE

The Day after...unwashed...but still somewhat styled. 

Grandparents Here

Happy Birthday Duane!  He turned the big 33 on October 3rd.  We're so glad we could celebrate before you left for India AND that your folks were here to celebrate with us!

This past week Grandma and Grandpa from Charleston came for a visit!  They actually saw their son too, Duane, for almost 24 hours.  When they were here we had a great time!  Visits always include 5 Guys, trips to Target and Toys R Us to spoil the grandkids.  And in turn it spoils us!

We love you Grandma and Grandpa!  We miss you guys.

Also this week, I started my first week of teaching piano lessons.  I absolutely  love it!  I have 3 students and I have so much fun.

The Princess Diaries

I LOVE HAVING A GIRL!!!

Mom Gone

Mom-Thanks for staying another week just to play, run errands, have slumber parties in my bed, bond with the kids and me.  We love the Squid soap and our special tradition Olive Garden lunch with Pumpkin Cheesecake!  You're truly the best Mom a girl could ask for.  I love you Mom!

This week Ashley has gotten more and more into her Little Gym "Super Beasts" class!  She loves tumbling.  And Austin is hiking the ball beautifully to the QB in his little football practices.  They love their activities!  Their team name are the Destroyers.  Sounds fierce.  Too bad they're so cute.

Pop and Grandma Here!

This past week has been so much fun spending time with my parents, Pop and Grandma.  A visit from Florida to Virginia always includes lots of fun, wrestling, homemade desserts by grandma, and playing ball outside with Pop.  And most importantly, going out to 5 Guys, and a double date

 to Maggianos!  We had a great time with you guys.  My mom extended another week here!  Yahoo!

IRAQ

We just found out that our next assignment is Jonathan going to IRAQ for a 1 year unaccompanied tour.  He will continue his Special Agent work there and be doing special ops  with Intelligence and will leave next June '09.

Being in the foreign service, you can stay in the States a maximum of 5 years.  We have enjoyed staying and due to the kids' medical issues, haven't felt right about going anywhere else overseas quite yet.  Although this year was the first year we felt like we could go (Brasil, Rome, etc) we also knew that it was inevitable that Jonathan would have to go to the Middle East sooner or later.  So we chose for him to leave sooner.  While the kids are still young.  If we left to go somewhere overseas for 3 years, only to come back and have him leave to do Iraq for a year then, it would be so hard as the kids would be older and understand more.  As it is now, myself, Austin and Ash are all set up in activities, school, friends, etc.   Things will be just fine.

He'll serve on the Secretary of State's detail until June, and then he'll leave.  He can come home 3 times in the year for a couple of weeks each visit.  

We have prayed about this decision we've made and we feel good about it.  The timing seems right and if it has to happen, we'd want it to happen now.  I know that the Lord will watch out over all of us while he's away.

 

Busy Week!

Ashley started her first day of preschool this week!  She loves it.  She can finally wear her backpack and put things in it!  For preschool/playgroup, we rotate around at each other's houses and this week was my turn to teach.  We did an "All About Me" day and African Safari day.  The kids loved going on a "safari" in our basement, touching and examining with binoculars different pictures and African sculptures, statues, things we have from when we lived there.  It's a lot of fun!  Did I mention the kids had a great time too?  Ash also had a great time at her Super Beasts class at Little Gym on Friday!

Unfortunately, Austin has been having terrible asthma issues (not to mention the hard time I'm having with the school nurse forgetting to administer his asthma medication at noon each day..ugh!) Although he and I ended the week on a wonderful note having a "date" lunch at his school eating McDonalds happy meals.  What a treat.  For both of us!

This week I went to my first PTO meeting.  I remember when I was young and my mom would go, and I thought that it was so far off when I would actually attend one myself, for my own kids.  So as I sat in the little chairs at the library at Mountain View Elementary School listening to the events/budget, etc a wave of  "wow" flashed over me.  I can't believe I'm sitting here now.  I loved every second of it.  Isn't being a mom, contributing to society, trying to better things that could be improved on the best?  I love where I am now in life.  

This week was also the 7th year anniversary of 9-11.  I must say that I am so thankful to live in this country.

Austin had his first flag football game on Saturday.  Go Grizzlies!  They didn't keep score, but I swear Austin's team won.  Yeah!

Austin is becoming so responsible.  Every since he went to kindergarten, it's like he's changed.  It's bittersweet.  He'll come home and if I'm busy, he'll make himself a meat and cheese sandwich and one for Ashley, complete with glasses of milk and he assigns someone to say a prayer.  She'll eat and then he'll say, "That's my girl!"  He'll make sure she has what she needs and then offers more or anything else.  I can't believe he's just started doing this.  I must say its kinda nice.  

To end this week, Jonathan and I spoke in church today about Honesty.  Can I HONESTLY say I was excited to talk? No.  But am I honestly glad I did it?  Yes.  And it's over.  Yeah!

Have a great week!

Angie

  

First Week of Kindergarten

So much has happened in one week!  School started Tuesday and this week has felt like a month.  I'm doing much better now than I was transitioning to Austin being in school.  He's so happy and loves kindergarten so much and I'm so glad!  He's such an independent little guy.  He has just the personality for school.  He's outgoing, loves to talk and make friends.  His favorite part about class is lunchtime when he can buy his own lunch in the cafeteria and swipe the "credit card"! 

The kids and I went to Target on the day that tropical storm Hannah came through VA.  They were so excited to get their umbrellas out and play!  While at Target, they saw all the Halloween decorations that were already out and they loved it!  We were in the midst of the Halloween costumes and candy for 45 minutes!  We bought Halloween marshmallows and face makeup.  Immediately upon returning home, both the kids put on their costumes from last year (they were both pirates) and put their face makeup on.  They stayed that way all day!  I love it that the holidays are upon us.

Austin has his first Gainesville Grizzly 5k walk/run this week.  

Ashley also started her Super Beasts class at the Little Gym this week.  She LOVES it!  I couldn't think of a better class for her than little beasties.

Ashley also got her first real haircut!  My friend Erin did a great job doing a slight A-line and stacked the back.  Ash loved every second of it!  She loved getting her hair blow-dryed and sprayed too!  So cute.

We're slowly getting into a schedule here.  Although I thought I'd have more time during the day while Austin was at school.  By the time I workout in the morning, there's normally a morning activity, lunch and then Ash takes a nap... we're already off to get Austin at the bus stop!

Have a Happy Week!

Angie

SCHOOL DAYS

KINDERGARTEN

Today was Austin's first day of Kindergarten.  I had a REALLY HARD time.  The past couple of days prior to today, I've been very nostalgic and thinking back upon the entire 5 1/2 years I've had Austin here at home with me.  We've cuddled more, read more stories, picked out his first day of school outfit, new lunchbox, etc.  But it hit me hard today that suddenly I'm supposed to send him out and rely upon all of the things that I've taught him so that he'll make his own correct choices.  Here I've monitored what/who has come in and out of his life so that he was raised appropriately.  And I'm so thankful that I could stay home and teach him myself and have first hand dibs on what he was exposed to/what he was taught.  Now he's out in the world.  Putting the little boy he's been molded into to use in society.  By the age of 5, Austin is who he is.  Thankfully he's a sweet boy with a huge heart.  Gosh.  Imagine the mess I'll be when he goes off to college!

I met up with my dear friend Erika at Panera to commiserate together (her first child Cameron is in Austin's class and they go to school together and so we share the sadness).  While we were there, there were other moms we knew there that were celebrating their children being gone.  I feel so far from being in that situation right now.  But it was quite funny.  

I'm so thankful for my dear friends and family that called and helped me out and laughed at me, and cried with me during Austin's first big day.  I love you guys!!!!  You helped me through this!!!

Austin, unlike me, is doing GREAT!  Austin LOVED school.  Loves the bus, loves his class, lunchtime, recess and making new friends. And of course, Ashley had to wear her backpack to the bus stops as well!