Awesome Playground

 The boys and I enjoyed an awesome new (to us) playground in a nearby town.

Wooly Bear

I never knew about the Wooly Bear Caterpillar before the kids found this poor guy in the driveway.  I guess he positioned himself with my tire.  Oops.  That didn't stop the boys and Ella from going on a Wooly Bear adventure (after looking up what kind of caterpillar it is).  Did you know that according to legend, the wider the middle brown section is the milder the winter will be?  Conversely, a narrow brown band is said to predict a harsh winter.    

I hearby predict a very mild winter!

 The kids carried around the dead Wooly Bear for quite some time before finding two living friends for dead Wooly Bear.

 An adorable toddler hand complete with marker and a beautiful (all orange?) Wooly Bear.  Love.

 The kids went inside and found a home for all of their new friends.  Yes, dead Wooly Bear is still hanging out on our front porch.  It's all good.

Don't run out and buy snow boots!  Happy Mild Winter.

Quarry

I had no idea we had such an amazing place right down the street from our house.  Our friends asked us to meet them at 'the quarry' one Sunday afternoon, so we did.  Boy am I glad we did!  It was beautiful.  The kids all handled the 10 minute "hike" to the quarry with ease.

 After trekking through the path in the woods this is what we saw...

 It reminded the kids of Jockey's Ridge in the Outer Banks!  These stones were surprisingly difficult to climb!

 Lukey found some quicksand...

 The kids had a great time capturing toads.  This is a teeny tiny one.  So cute!

 Andy and Thomas decided to try to climb a cliff on the way back. I believe they ended up taking the trail in the end.  But Andy gets an A for effort!

Sometimes the most beautiful things are right before your eyes.

Cape May Zoo

 Before the kids started school we made a few fun day trips to make sure we sucked the marrow out of the last days of summer.

I had never been to the Cape May Zoo and what a treat!  It's free and it's fabulous.  We had a great day.

 The boys and Ella chose a train ride while Lilly chose a carousel ride.

 The exhibits were so nice and all of the animals were out.  I just can't get over the fact that they run on donations alone.

 The highlight of the day for the boys was seeing this police officer on a horse as we left.  Haha!

We had a great day and we'll definitely be returning again!

First Day of 2nd Grade!!

Yesterday was Lilly's first day of 2nd grade!  I can't believe she's in the grade I taught and in the same school; same hallway!  It blows my mind that I taught in that school with her in my belly and now she's a student right next to my old room. 

She wanted me to take a picture from each angle.  I bought her new tennis shoes the night before at 9:30 p.m. at Target since that's when I realized her foot grew a half size since June.

She picked out her new backpack at Justice.  It's full of sparkles and glam.

So exciting!!

 Posing with her other half...

On the first day we get to walk them to an outside line-up and wait until they go inside.  Lilly was totally fine and didn't need me there (sniff sniff) but I waited on the sidelines with the littles.  They were troopers because it was hot, crowded, and a long wait.

 "Hi Lilly!!!!  We love you!!!"

 I waited until she walked into class with her friends and new teacher Miss Vurgason.  Watch the video to see how she could hardly contain her excitement over me filming the occasion...

Yesterday was a half day so we picked Lilly up at 1:00.  The littles were eager to see her.  It was lonely at home without her.

 Here they come!

Hot but happy.

Today Lilly is in school a full day.  We ran errands, got hair cuts, and stopped to play at the preschool playground.  I thought this might help Gabe get in the spirit of preschool since they start next week!  The boys will be in school Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9-11:30 a.m. and Ella will be in school Monday through Thursday from the same time.  Gabe is announcing he's not going.  I'm sure he'll be fine once he sees the toys.

Princess Ella leads the way to the playground at Trinity.

Luke is looking so grown up to me these days.  I can't believe my baby is old enough for preschool.

Peek-a-boo!

I'm enjoying the structure and routine that comes with school though I miss the lazy days of summer and having Lilly at home.  She's become such a little helper and I'm really feeling it without her!!