One Cute Kindergartener

After A LOT of anticipation and excitement, Kellan started kindergarten today!

When I went into his room to wake him up this morning, the first thing he said was "Today is my big day!" He could hardly wait to go to school! When we arrived at Jim Darcy, Megan found her friends while Kellan and I wandered inside to hang up his backpack. He even remembered how to find his classroom! I took Kellan back outside to play for a bit before the bell rang. We found Megan, who took his hand like a good big sister. As I walked across the playground to the parking lot, a couple little boys ran past me screaming their heads off...one of them was Kellan. Nope...I didn't even shed a tear....but it was close!

Tomorrow is another big day for Kellan....his first day riding the bus to school! I expect the excitment of that adventure to last exactly one day....long enough for him to find out it's a long, boring ride that starts at 7:05 am!

Second Grade

Well, Miss Megan started second grade today!

She was really excited to see all of her friends and had a great day in her new classroom. She started her day by happily getting out of bed, putting on a new outfit, eating some toast and yogurt and feeding her bunny. After dropping Jacksen off at daycare, Megan and Kellan and I headed off to Jim Darcy. Megan immediately found her friends while Kellan and I completed Kindergarten check-in. Kellan doesn't start school until tomorrow. I hope I don't totally embarass myself by crying....like I did on Megan's first day of Kindergarten. I'm not normally an overly emotional person, but the idea of sending my kids off into the big world on their own brings tears to my eyes. I'm not sure if it's because I'm sad to see them growing up....or just kind of relieved that they're growing up....

Swan Lake 2010

We spent Monday through Thursday at lounging in the sun at Swan Lake with Grandpa and Grandma McCauley. We couldn't have asked for better weather!


One of Kellan's favorite things to do is canoe or paddle boat over to an island across the lake where he and Grandpa McCauley have been working on a fort:

The fort is hidden behind these trees and brush

While spending time by the lake Tuesday afternoon, Marc and Jacksen found a small snake. Jacksen just picked it up - he wasn't the least bit afraid...unlike his mother!

In addition to sunbathing and water-splashing, we strolled through downtown Bigfork, enjoyed some delicious meals, watched movies, and took a few naps. All in all, it was perfect little get-away before school starts next week!

Kinda Funny

So, Megan got a Webkin for her birthday, but because we took a little trip to Swan Lake for a few days (I'll post about that later!), she hasn't had a chance to check out the website with the code that came with her blue puppy. Well, she asked about it this morning, and we had this little conversation:

Megan: Mom, you know what I named my Webkin?
Me: What, honey?
Megan: Wed. It's short for Wednesday.
Me: Okaaaaay.
Megan: Or do you think I should just call her Wen?
Me: Whichever.

Megan Turns 8

Miss Megan turned 8 yesterday! We started our her big day with french toast for breakfast and then we baked cupcakes for her afternoon pool party. Though the weather has been quite rainy and Fall-like in Helena lately, the clouds parted and the sun warmed the air just for our girl!

Speaking of our girl, she is growing up to be such an amazing person. Megan is unfailingly kind, loves unconditionally, and is wise beyond her years. She is impressively responsible for her age. So responsible, in fact, that Marc and I gave in to her to her endless campaigning and got her a bunny for her birthday! (I'll introduce you to Fluffy in a later post.)

Anyway, after the wet and wild birthday party, we joined Grandpa and Grandma McCauley for dinner at Applebee's. Megan loved being sung to by the wait staff and thoroughly enjoyed her complimentary birthday dessert! AND, if cupcakes at the pool party and dessert at Applebee's wasn't enough, we then went to Grandpa and Grandma McCauley's for birthday cake and ice cream. Megan's birthday was an all-day affair this year!

40 Years

Happy 40th Anniversary to Grandpa and Grandma McCauley!

Not Me! Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to www.mckmama.net to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.


Yes....Not Me! Monday! is back! So....what have I NOT been doing lately? Now that I think about it, there is plenty of stuff I haven't done lately.

For starters, I didn't spend the last...oh...I don't know....several Sundays lounging around my Grandparents' pool drinking an ice cold Mountain Dew while watching my children splash around. Not while my husband worked his hiney off delivering hay and constructing a playground for our kids. That just wouldn't be right! (And I don't have the best tan of my life right now either...woohoo!)

And I didn't turn....um....29....well, okay, 37, this last week. There is no way I'm old enough to remember the first day of MTV programming, parachute pants, or that big hair era. Yeah...and my 20th high school reunion isn't less than a year away either.

Tonight I didn't make breakfast burritos for dinner and I didn't put a clean pair of Kellan's underwear on Jacksen because I realized I somehow forgot to do laundry this past weekend. I'm not overjoyed that it's raining tonight so Marc would stay inside and help me with the kids. And I'm NOT totally looking forward to reading the People magazine that came in today's mail today when I go to bed tonight....pssh....who reads that junk anyway?!

He ripped his pants...

....and I'm not talkin' about SpongeBob!

Marc took the kids for a horseback ride today. Megan and Kellan rode together on Smoke and Jacksen rode on Texas with Marc. Well, despite many theories provided by Megan and Kellan, I'm still not sure how it happened that Marc and Jacksen got bucked off. Lucky for Jacksen, he landed in some soft weeds. Marc was not so lucky - he landed on a rock and his tush is quite sore. For some reason, our children are very entertained by Marc's sore bottom....and the fact that he ripped his pants. They are making up songs about it and teasing him mercilessly. When I suggested that Marc maybe apply some ice to the...ahem...affected area, Jacksen laughed hysterically. I don't think Marc is ever going to live this down....and it may be awhile before he gets back on his horse...unless he straps a pillow to his saddle...