Two Hundred and Fifty Five...

She has stopped collecting flower bouquets and switched to leaf bouquets.

Two Hundred and Fifty Four...

She finally got to wear her pumpkin shirt that sparkles. It was a gift from my Mom. It has a pair of really super cute stripped pants that matches but they are kind of long for Avery right now. Fall is definately here! I couldn't wait until I am caught up with September to post these because she looked just too cute!

Two Hundred and Fifty Three...

There have been so many firsts that we have celebrated in his seven years of life. I love that when you are watching your children grow up these moments don't stop. What you are seeing here is Rowdy James Shinkle, number 7, in for Black Attack at Quarterback throwing his very first pass ever in a game. Yes, yes, that is my son out there!

Two Hundred and Fifty Two...

Can I just say, my son is a little stud muffin! Hey, they all can't be like the first one.
I love when I go outside and Ron has brought home a "new" truck.

Bodie and I were having a good time up to this point. Then something happened that hasn't happened before. Bodie, being 2, very clearly in his very limited vocabulary told me....

"No! -ma!!!!" (translation: No, camera!)

The bonus about a two year old is that their moods shift quickly. After I let him sit on the tailgate and throw rocks, he was fine. And when I introduce, Smoke, our newest little kitty, he was in heaven.

Two Hundred and Fifty One...

Avery's first day of school was super exciting. But her second was more exciting because she got to ride the bus. We headed outside to catch the bus and we played in the little grove of trees that is near our pond. She collected the little pods that fall off the oak trees to show her teacher.

Somehow, we started calling these things "knuckleheads".

Two Hundred and Fifty...

The first day of Kindergarten could not get here fast enough for Miss Avery Girl. She told me that she wanted to wear a shirt that said "I love school!". When we were school clothes shopping this was the best I could do. I am thrilled that she is so excited about being in school.

She is all about Hello Kitty right now too!

Two Hundred and Forty Nine...

Rowdy is a second grader this year. He has several friends in his class that were in his first grade class, which is good. He wasn't nervous at all. Or he didn't let on to be. I am always just a little bit envious of the kids getting to go to school. Even though I used to get painfully nervous on the first day...I was a total nerd bomber and I loved school. I even loved busy work assignments. I know I am weird. Sometimes, when I help Rowdy with his homework it is all I can do not to swipe his paper from him and start filling in answers.

Two Hundred and Forty Eight...

How strange it is to have a camera pointed at me for a change. Rowdy had some birthday money and he wanted a real camera. I think I have mentioned before that he has shown an interest in what I am doing with my camera. Well, I have decided that I will teach him some basic principles about photography and see where it takes us. He likes to learn about it and it is something fun we can do together. Who knows maybe he can be my assistant when he gets older or shot second with me.
He said, "I like this one".
When he and Avery discovered that his camera had video capabilities they spent about 5 hours (no joke) recording little movies and watching them over and over. They laughed so hard at themselves doing funny things on video, you know side splitting laughter!!! It was great! Why didn't I buy a video recorder for them along time ago?

Two Hundred and Forty Seven...

Honestly, look how much she has changed in a year. These were both taken on the first day of dance class one year apart. It is really amazing to me how time doesn't stop. She is five. And she is in such a hurry to be six. And to say she is six years old doesn't sound correct to me. Motherhood is filled with so many little chores, tasks and to do lists that sometimes I feel as though I am focused on the wrong thing. I really wish I could bottle up how small they are. I wish I could push a botton and hear her two year old voice. She is reading and doing math now. I just need to slow down for a little bit...is that possible?

Two Hundred and Forty Six...

Just practicing some leading lines in my photography and killing time during Rowdy's football practice. I like the way this one turned out!

Two Hundred and Forty Five...

The kids made a fort one day after I had trimmed a bunch of branches off a tree that had been affected by the ice storm in December. It is unlike me to go out and do any kind of yardwork...I hate it. But, it was both unexpected and fun to see that after trimming the tree the kids had a blast making this little fort.
Rowdy being the spokesmodel for the fort.
The fort.A little wild child in her play clothes using her imagination to it's fullest...
making music with a stick and tin can...
and a wooden block. What a great afternoon we had.

Two Hundred and Forty four...

Getting the kids back in school is just a big long list of "to do" items. Haircuts, Open Houses, school supply shopping, school clothes shopping and paperwork. Somehow, we got it all done and we made it through the last few weeks of Avery asking everyday when school was going to start. We are thrilled about the teacher she got. We requested her because we had heard great things about her. The day of the Open House, Avery made her teacher a card. When she gave it to her she said, "In all my 20 years, I have never received a card from a student before school has even started"....ahhhh so sweet. Avery was waiting for her turn to give Mrs. Gordon her card.

I love how fresh and new and organized everything is at the start of the year.
Of course she found a book to look at right away.
Avery was thrilled to find a book she recognized from Preschool. Our super great preschool teacher is so awesome. She read this book to the kids at the end of the year in preperation for Kindergarten. What a smart lady!

Two Hundred and Forty Three...

Look who got a haircut for Kindergarten. I think that she looks so dang cute and grown up. It is a little bit more work to style it, but sooo worth the result. She absolutely loves it too!

Two Hundred and forty two...

I've had this post waiting in the wings until I was caught up on August. Well, I finally got caught up. This little boy loves to play outside and I have to offer him a treat or something special to get him to come inside sometimes. I wish I had a place to let him play outside that didn't require my constant supervision. There are too many things that he could get into around here that are big no, no's. His favorite things to do outside are slide, collect rocks and "ginegones" (pinecones) and point out the moon and air planes to me in the sky. He loves to feed the pets too. It is really wonderful to see him loving the world around him.

Two Hundred and Forty One...

Summer is hanging on by a thread and we are trying to drag it out a bit longer. I love September and all that it brings!