Vienna's First Day of Kindergarten!

The day finally came! Our little lady was anxiously awaiting day after day. She did well, even when Lincoln started school, but it finally came, on Sept 15th, 2 weeks late. Yeah! I asked her if it would be ok for me to drive her to school on the first day and she wanted to take the bus, but agreed to let me take her. (she's my first and well its all day kinder...) In the morning she kept saying she how much she wanted to ride the bus and so I finally gave in. It about killed me, and I wanted to follow the bus all the way to the school, but luckily It was picture day for Lincoln at preschool and I had to go there, but after that I stopped at the school, went to her class just to make sure she got there and was doing ok. She was doing better than ok and has been ever since. She was made for school and social interaction.

Getting onto the bus...she barely even looked back and just before we left the house she said to me, "Mom, you don't even have to worry about me, I'll be gone all day." (Um thanks kidding, even though I'll be thinking about you all day.)

She waited for 2 weeks to wear this skirt...she picked the whole outfit.

(well I made sure she had leggings for the playground)

The boys wanted to be in pictures so bad.

Can this little lady get any more adorable...seriously.

Can't see her that well, but its a cute pic.

Here is what she had to say...

We are all thriving on the school routine. Yay!

Lincoln's First Day, Our Anniversary and A Party for G-pa!

Luckily for our little Linc's man he got to go to preschool before Vienna got to go to kindergarten (not so lucky for her. She was very good about it, especially it was with her same teacher from last year. Lincoln was also very excited to go to Vienna's preschool so that was helpful. He was very good about leaving snuggles at home (even though I put him in his backpack w/o him knowing, just in case). He didn't need it or ask for it at all. Trying to get his first day of school picture was kinda tricky as you can see. He is the sweetest, spunkiest, particular little boy out there, and we love him bundles.

For some reason they all had to get in on the picture at first.

This is all, but most of my attempts to get a good photo. Who am I kidding.

This was at preschool itself. He is going to have a great year!

The next day, on the 9th Mike and I celebrated our 9th year on the 9th day of the 9th Month, so that was pretty fun! We went out to I-hop for dinner (no cooking for me - and f-a-n-c-y - I know you're all jealous) and that night, Mike continued on our Marathon of  dates with one more...

This was my clue...

It ended up being a strobe light dance party (just him and I) with a sweet playlist from our Jr. High days and we had a blast. We got tired after about 30mins, but still  - the worm, running man, Space Jam - "The World's Greatest", Celine Dion - "My heart will go on" and so much more! So glad he is mine in this life and the next and that we are sealed together for eternity. Nothing makes me happier. 

That weekend we celebrated Grandpa's Birthday with a yummy patio at dinner. 

There was always something magical for me as a child growing up going to my Grandparents every Sunday for dinner, us cousins lived for it. We loved the card games, hanging out, great conversation and relationship strengthening. I can already see that my children love going to Grandma and Grandpa's and playing with their cousins. They feel that magic like I did and I love it. 

I sure hope I live close to my children and their children, so I can have them over for Sunday dinner, sleepovers and take them on dates often. Nothing is more important than family relationships and time spent together, even if it makes life busy, takes time to prep and stressful at times, its all a labor of love. 

Here are some cute pics with some of his Grandkids...

GRANDPARENTS ARE SPECIAL!!!

Labor Day Weekend, A Memorable One!

The Kogan's invited us over for a S'mores night. We had such a nice time visiting, playing badminton, digging in the dirt, visiting the chickens and eating Reese Peanut butter cup smores. I'm sure everyone else has tried these, but this was our first time. Thanks so much for having us and our little crazies over!

Mike's office had him have a 1 day weekend the week before labor day so he could have the Friday off as well and so Mike decided to be his very sweet, charming, romantic, thoughtful, devoted husband he is and on Thursday morning, I woke up to this...

We had a very nice long weekend, even though we're not jet setters or anything, hanging around locally has it benefits as well.

Then in the bathroom was this clue...

We ended up taking Blue Thunder (Our Big blue truck) and driving up to a mountain with a path and took a late night stroll that over looked the city, then we got comfy in the back of the truck, looked at constellations and played a "how well do you know your spouse game" He even brought bubbly and chocolate!"

I woke up to this clue for Friday.

At 3:40 I took Vienna to her first ballet class (pics below) which she loved and made a new friend Lyla, quite quickly. We ran a quick errand afterward and when we returned, Mike had parked Blue Thunder in the back, with the tailgate down and There was an amazing smell. H had planned a tailgating date! This was a family date, he even invited our friend over too.

He made ALL the food...even a watermelon football helmit, football deviled eggs and these yummy oven meat and cheese melted sliders, we had a great play list and just tailgated. It was amazing.

My boys loving the party!

For the game that night, he had made a very simplified version of fantasy football for him and I and we got to watch it and keep track of our points. I was so into at the beginning, but I cuddled up to my man and drifted into sweet dreams. He kept track and kicked my trash, something like 17-6. It was a blast and now I understand a bit more about fantasy football. 

I woke up to this clue Saturday...

I came downstairs after tucking the kids in bed to see Apron's laid out and our own "Davis Chopped Kitchen" We both love to watch chopped and cut throat kitchen when/if we get a chance.

Appetizer: Mystery Ingredients...Fruit juice, spam, arugula and MRE cheese

The results, mine on L: A spam-cheese sandwich with an arugula salad and fruit juice vinaigrette

 Mike's on the R: A spam-cheese soup with an arugula salad and fruit juice vinaigrette

Dessert (the pics got swtiched)

Mystery Ingredients: lucky charms, rice pudding, Nori (seaweed) and white peach

The results

mine on L: dessert sushi with a caramel drizzle and a chocolate dipping sauce

Mike's on R: lucky charm sugar cookie with a white peace shaved ice and a seaweed chocolate dip.

Entree:

Mystery Ingredients: canned potatoes, candy pumpkins, mushrooms & steaks

The Results:

Mike on the R: BBQ steak with sauteed onions & mushrooms with "candied potatoes" (like yams??)

Mine on L: foreman grilled candied steak, a potato/mushroom hash with salad.

Here we are!

It was SO much fun and SO much work to clean up after each round and we got 30mins/round. It was so fun to work and cook and get our creativity flowing. Mike totally won on dessert, he says my appy won and we were tied on our entree. 

I woke up to this Sunday...

We played a few of Mike's favorite games as a kid, which included marshmallow shooters that took us outside for a full on battle in the yard and marshmallows everywhere, then cowboys and indians, but the real way. It took a really long time to knock down all the guys. Then we played some hilarious old school games on the Wii (like pool, darts, curling, basketball shoot)

I woke up to this...

Our day drastically changed because we welcomed a new member of the Davis clan, totally spur of the moment and not planned...

 WELCOME.....

Gelapi (pronounced Jalopi)

She is our 1979 Dodge Fireball Class C motorhome and we LOVE her!

We got a call about 10am saying that he was interested in trading blue thunder for her, which is what had been holding us back from getting one, we needed to sell him. Luckily we had used Blue Thunder all weekend and got to feel the love. We left him in a great home, on an acreage to a teenage boy and a mechanic for a Grandpa, so he was happy and we couldn't be more excited about Gelapi. the memories will be many and the kids just love her! The rest of the entire day was spent getting her, cleaning her out etc. Here are some pics of the inside...

Bathroom door

King Bed above cab

cab

Dinette (dont worry, Im changing the curtains for sure and might recover the benches too)

Fridge and closet

Jack knife couch bed

kitchen

stove

Vienna wanted to eat lunch in there as soon as they got back. 

Because Monday took a flip and we were working on Gelapi all day, which has tons of DIY stuff, we passed on our Monday night date and spent more time working on her. We have lots of great plans for her, but she has seen the RV doctor and he says she is in great condition. YAY!!!

It was a successful Labor Day Weekend for sure! We are incredibly blessed!

Back to School Dinner...

This is a Tradition I'd like to have. I was inspired by a remarkable person I knew in Cleveland and I Love it. Not only to have a Back to School dinner but also to have a back to school Family Home Evening where each child is given a Father's blessing and we introduce our "school" theme for the year. This year our Theme is from the Bible...Matthew 5:14-16, which is "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid, neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." I have a picture with images that will help the kids to memorize this and several of our family home evening lessons. Our children have loved this. Vienna has asked on 2 or 3 occasions about next years dinner and what grade she will be in and Lincoln. The "theme" (scripture) for the year has been fun for them as well to see the images and try to figure out and remember what they symbolize. Having a family is so special, powerful and absolutely critical to our Nation and when I sit down and take a moment to contemplate this, I am SO grateful to have a belief that families can be and are eternal. I am very blessed to have that Faith and Hope!

We made our own school bus placemats...it was a blast.

We are going to have a very fulfilling 2015-2016 School Year!

INCREDIBLY BEHIND...Lanae and Mason come for a Visit!!!

Before I post anything from September and Back to School stuff I want to play catch-up. 

The latter part of August, I was able to take a trip up to BC (alone) for a wedding that included both my sisters and my parents. It was so relaxing to just be on my own for 3.5 days, I almost didn't know what to do with myself and yet I was still working away on the wedding prep and watching my nephews, but still, it was marvelous. The people we met were incredible, especially the group of Re-con marines (the groom being one of them) and there indredible stories fighting the war first hand over in the middle east. These men have seen and experienced so many horrific things, one of which, being the medic on their team being blown up by a land mine and having to tell his buddies how to save himself and to this day he lost all of his limbs except his right arm, that has 3 fingers on it. It was so neat to talk to them about their experiences and to hear first hand how real the terror is. I'm so grateful for all of those who have sacrificed so much to protect the freedoms, rights and peace we are able to have here.

The best part was that we were able to bring my sister Lanae and her sweet baby boy Mason back with us for a week long visit! My kids l-o-v-e-d having Mason around. Vienna would even "babysit" (in the other room) for us. She is going to be the BEST babysitter for all her younger boy cousins. Although Sarah and Dane are expecting another baby so hopefully we can get a girl for little V. (fingers crossed)

Unfortunately it wasn't as quiet of a week or as warm as we were hoping. With 2 photo shoots, lots of kiddos and some necessary US items to get, it was a bit busy. We did get to chill and I watched more movies with her than I have in the last year. We cherish having company and just being able to hang out, spend time together and make memories.

 Costco Fun!

 I think this little lady needs a baby around the house...don't ya think???

 Our roadtrip down from BC went really well. Mason was a trooper!

 Out for a stroll..

 Auntie Lanae in the back is so fun for everyone!

 Lincoln also liked Mason lots and we're not totally sure, but we think he might have helped him roll off the bed, but we don't know for sure. 

Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule and for toughing out a 5.5hr road trip and a flight home to come see us! We sure hope we can stay close to our Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.