Kinder is kicking our rear...

Kindergarten has been far more of a challenge for the whole fam than I anticipated. (Now, I will look back on this when I have one in 5th, 2nd, and Kinder and laugh my hiney off, but for now, this has really been a challenge.) Let this serve as a warning to all of you girls who have kiddos in preschool and are enjoying that gig, that someday it will be over. I clearly just have a lot to learn on the big kid school circuit. First of all, homework...seriously, in Kinder? Apparently his teacher is pretty dang serious. LT has homework 4 nights a week, and although not difficult, it can be after he has been "schooled" all day long at his desk. Second, it seems like time has just been ripped from our hands. We have to have LT at school by 7:50, which doesn't sound early, but it is a heck of a lot earlier than 9am, which is when preschool started. We are also getting everyone in bed earlier too so that the group is well rested, which means bedtime is 7:30 pm around here lately. I don't feel like I have nearly enough time with my big man :( Third, there is all this other "stuff" that you have to figure out: buying lunch, snack time, which specials are which day, where to drop off/pick up, and the list goes on and on...below is a picture of LT on his first day, ready to get the "party" started...

Speaking of big man - he just turned 6 on Thursday. That's right folks, he is the big 6. Many of you are thinking, holy buckets, where has the time gone? My thoughts exactly! We had his birthday party recently and he was in heaven! He wanted to have a "water party" which included slip n' slide races, water gun fights/freeze tag, a pinata, and cake. After 1/2 a can of bug spray, 2 tylenol, a dose of benadryl, and a band aid, I think the group had a great time. He had a hard time going to sleep because of all the excitement! Below is a picture of LT taking a turn at hitting the pinata...

Bear also started school a few weeks ago. That transition has been much easier for all of us. He LOVES it! He has 3 friends which he knew previously and also is really enjoying his teachers, playing on the playground, and doing lunch/nap at school. There were no tears on his end when I dropped him off thus far. In fact, he barely has time to say 'goodbye' to me prior to leaving. Below is a picture of Bear with his teacher on the first day...

We are all getting very excited about the arrival of baby brother. I am measuring 2 weeks ahead, although my doctor was very quick to tell me not to get too excited about him coming early. He has been really busy in my belly and the boys are ready for him to get here. 9 months is a long time to a 2 and 5 year old! I feel HUGE - and look huge. Many people assume I am due in a week or so, when in reality my due date is 9 weeks away. Ugh.

Last weekend we headed out to the ranch and it was so nice to get away. We had a very relaxing time and I slept in BOTH mornings. Corey got in a couple of dove hunts while out at the ranch and the boys had plenty of fun in the mud. (It rained on Saturday morning...) I was thinking the rain would put a "damper" on our weekend, but it actually was a plus for my little men :) Grandpa gave LT a Daisy BB Gun for his birthday to use out at the ranch under MUCH supervision. The gun was an antique of sorts because it was actually given to me many years ago. Daddy had high hopes that I was going to be a big hunter - which, unfortunately for him, didn't work out very well. Fortunately for Grandpa, he didn't have to go out and buy a new BB Gun, right????