Soccer Time Again

Owen and Ashleigh had their first soccer games this past Saturday.  We had forgotten how busy soccer makes us!  Thank goodness there are two of us because Saturday is fencing lessons too, so it takes us both to get everyone to and from.

 

Owen scored his team's only goal at this first game.  It is more competitive this year with goalies, which he seems to like.  He is so happy when he's out running around after the ball.  He seems to more concerned about keeping ahead of the ball than actually taking the ball away, but I am sure that Borders' competitiveness will kick in soon.  I didn't get any pictures of Ashleigh's game this week because I went on to fencing lessons during her game...stay tuned.

Kindergarten is finally here!!

 Owen was SO excited to start kindergarten today.  He could not fall asleep last night because he was "so excited" and he had his backpack on an hour before it was time to go today.  You would have thought it was Christmas by how excited he was.  I am very happy for him, but anxious at the same time.  We have worked so hard with him over the past two years to get where we are today, and I kind of feel like today is the "test".  How will he handle school?  Will he be able to keep his emotions under control?  He is going to be great I am confident, but it is still an anxious time for me :)  He is so super bright, probably the most intellectually prepared of all the kids because with the third time around I knew what he needed to know to have a great headstart.  Can't wait to see him in just a couple hours!

 On the way to the bus stop with his Angry Bird backpack 25 minutes before our designated pick-up time because he couldn't wait another minute! 

 The bus stop!

 

 There is another little boy at our stop and they were instant friends.  They will be sitting together each day on the bus.  The bus driver was explaining to them about the "safe spot" where they have to stand each day for pick-up.

Not the best picture, but I didn't feel it was fair to tie up the bus driver so I could get the right smile.  Plus, Owen was ready to find his seat!  Now it's just me and Dallin for an hour until the older two get home.  (Owen has afternoon kindergarten, so he doesn't go to school until 1:00 and Trenton comes home at 2:00, followed by Ashleigh at 3:00.  Having three kids at three different schools is quite the juggling act.) 

Report on Owen's first day of school:  He loved it, but thought the bus ride home was really long.  He was starving and in fact ate about as much food right after school than he does in a whole day!  He also wasn't thrilled about having to sing "baby songs" like Itsy Bitsy Spider, but he said his teacher is the best kindergarten teacher he's ever had :)  Love that boy!

Our Summer at Kings Island

This was our first year with Kings Island season passes.  We got our money's worth, but we didn't go every week.  It is a little tricky with each of the kids wanting to ride different rides.  Dallin can only do the small rides while Trenton is happy doing roller coaster after roller coaster.  Owen and Ashleigh have become more brave as the summer has progressed.  They are now both riding small roller coasters, which makes things a little easier.  They all love the park.  Even Dallin cheers and squeals as we drive into the parking lot and he spots the tall roller coasters. 

Dallin's favorite thing to do in the park is hug all of the Snoopy characters who walk around. He has to hug each one he sees.

 The Scrambler - one of Owen's favorite rides

 The Great Pumpkin Coaster - this was Owen's first roller coaster and one of his favorite rides until he graduated up to a bigger roller coaster this week

 The Red Baron ride

 Nathan took off an afternoon from work to go with us to the park.  He took the middle two on this boat ride for the first time.  Ashleigh and Owen rode on it at least 4 times by themselves afterwards because the line was very short and they loved getting wet.

 Inside the Snoopy Helicopters.  This is one of the few rides Dallin can do.

 Dallin is sitting next to Owen in the green hat.  This is one of Dallin's favorite rides.

Riding a little train

 

It's been a fun filled summer!  Can't wait until the next one!

 

(Disclaimer - all of these pictures were taken on my phone, so they are not all the best quality)

EnterTrainment Museum

 We visited the train museum near our house last week since little Dallin LOVES trains these days.  Owen's best friend joined us for the fun.  It is hard to believe this amazing place is just around the corner from our house.  There are hundreds of model train displays set up inside with search and find games for the kids to play while they look at the trains.  There is also a Thomas playground inside.

Train rides are given at certain times during the day.  Dallin did a great job staying in the car without me or a seatbelt :) 

 This was a fun little workout for the kids.  By the end of the track, they had to really give it everything they had to make it back to the station. 

1st Day of School

 Today was the first day of school for Trenton and Ashleigh.  Trenton left at 7:00 for 7th grade (yes, middle school!!!) and Ashleigh left at 8:00 for 4th grade.  Owen was very disappointed that he didn't get to go today.  He starts in kindergarten in 4 days, so he has a few more days home with Dallin and I.  I-Spy game:  Can you spot Nathan in the picture above?

Green is Ashleigh's new favorite color, so her outfit for the first day of school was green of course!  Poor Ashleigh injured her toe last week on her bike, so she wasn't able to wear the cute flats we planned to go with her outfit.  She is more comfortable in tennis shoes anyway :) 

Junior High for Trenton means...having a locker, advanced classes, study hall, band, no more recess, 4 minutes to open his locker and get to each class, caring about what clothes he wears, and much more to come we are sure...

Cincinnati Nature Center

After hearing about the Cincinnati Nature Center for a few years, we finally checked it out last week as our summer vacation was coming to an end.  We had a great time hiking through the woods.  The highlight of our trip was hiking the "turtle trail" because we saw lots of turtles swimming in a small lake. 

Along the "turtle trail"

"Matt's Pond" 

This pond was interesting because it was filled with hundreds of fish that followed us as we walked the boardwalk.  I think they must get fed by visitors, but sadly I didn't think to bring any food along.

Inside the kid "playscape" where there were lots of natural outdoor areas for the kids to play in.

We found this little cabin along one of the trails.  We had a good time imagining how different our life would be if this was our house.

I think this picture is so hilarious!  I don't know why he was slumped over like this, but doesn't he look like a little old man?  So funny!

To Grandma's House We Go...

 We headed to Iowa and Illinois last week to spend some time with our Grandmas and cousins before school started.  We had a great trip that was probably one of our easiest trips yet, much to Mom's surprise!

 Owen didn't seem to mind at all that the car was pink.  During our time with Grandma Borders, we went bowling, ate ice cream, played at an indoor playland, fed the ducks, learned how to play solitaire on the computer, ate at Taco John's, and played with Cousin Ella a lot!

 After a quick rainstorm one evening, we discovered a double rainbow outside Grandma's house.  Dallin was super impressed by it and talked about it for days!

 We had a couple of great visits with Great-Grandma while we were in Illinois.  It had been a long time since all of the kids had seen her.  The weather was beautiful while we were visiting so we spent lots of time outside with her.  (Owen is frowning in this picture because I made him get in the picture when he didn't want to...he is moody about pictures sometimes :)

 Our handsome boy!

 The bunch!  I am so grateful they were so good to me while we traveled.  They were all a huge help!

 Our two smiley faces!

 While in Illinois, we visited the Bloomington Children's Museum with Grandma Carol.  It is such a great museum!  The kids could have stayed all day if we would have had the time.  We will definitely be going back the next time we are in town!

 Dallin was a little nervous in this climbing contraption, but he will go anywhere with Ashleigh at his side.  The rest of the kids loved it so much that they spent half the time we were in the museum inside it!

 Owen made a cute dentist!

A giant chess board...Trenton was in love!

Trenton loved this ball machine so much that he is saving up to buy one for his room someday.

 

Since we were in Illinois, it wasn't too surprising to see a combine in the museum.  Dallin enjoyed driving it while everyone else buzzed onto other exhibits.

 I think this picture of the three boys painting together is adorable!  It is neat that this was an activity they could all do together since there are not many things that they can.

 This was another activity they all did together...assembling pizzas for delivery.  A timer kept track of how fast they assembled pizzas together.  Very cute!

As we were leaving the museum, we saw this exciting scene in the parking garage across the street.  At first we thought something was wrong, but after watching for a while we realized the firemen were practicing there.  The kids were impressed by all the commotion.