Halloween

Click here to view these pictures larger

OCTOBER 2009

Click here to view these pictures larger

October 2009-Family Photos

Click here to view these pictures larger

So cool

I just found out my pictures that I upload to shutterfly can be moved over to here and facebook like in a matter of seconds! Silly me why did I not know this before! This will make my life so much easier! Now you can see more of us...you are all so lucky:)

October 2009-Family Photos

Click here to view these pictures larger

Firefighter Day at preschool

Cute

Playing doctor after dad left

All dressed up, trying to show the kids that even though they look scary they are not! He took the helmet on and off to show them that he was still just Kin's dad

McKinley and Dad
I have a picture of Justin and McKinley from fire day when Coleton was in preschool where she is only one month old and she looks so small! And here we are with her class! Time flies!

McKinley's class! Kin's "boyfriend" is on the right and Kin's best friend is the one holding hand with the girl in the pink! How dare she:) Just kidding! So sweet

Talking to the kids

Today was firefighter day at Kin's school. She said that she was so excited last night that she couldn't even sleep not even a wink! I hope that she is always so excited to have us at her school. Justin showed them all of his gear and talked fire safety with them. We talked about having a meeting place and even though McKinley knows where we are to meet she acted like she had no idea what we were talking about. Looks great coming from the firefighter daughter! She was full of comments and questions which were really only more comments! We were doing really well with not scaring the kids until it was time for the class to get a picture taken with Justin and then we had one kids start wimpering in the back and backing away very quickly so she was no in the picture! All in all a fun day!

Dress up

Joe and Coleton

Hummm, the camera is over here:)

Lori and Dad with the Nancy Grace book Lori bought him

Nice, brother love

Dad, really does not like pictures

Anna, Uncle Mike and McKinley

Aunt Lori and Anna

Anna

McKinley and Aunt Lori

McKinley in her outfit

Kin, Aunt Lori and Anna

Anna and McKinley

So, a few weeks ago we had everyone over for Pam and Joe's birthdays. They are a week apart so we often do them together. Anyhow Aunt Lori thought of the great idea to play dress up with some girls that love to be together but get a little fussy with each other some times just like all girls right...:) Anyhow she dressed them up is great style and had them do a little show! They looked so cute and by the way Lori you looked great too! They loved having everyone looks at them:) Then on to birthdays and it was extra special because Pam and Vince announced that they are going to have a baby in April so of course I was so happy because I love having babies around! We are so excited for them. Anna will be a wonderful big sister. McKinley is already picking out names for the baby or if you ask her babies (there is only one) but she is sure that Aunt Pam can handle two at a time so she is picking names two at a time as well! Trace and Kayleigh are the names this week we shall see what she comes up with next! Congrats Pam and Vince we are so happy for you guys:)

RIP Leafy

McKinley's message to Leafy

I can't really read the name on the stone

An overview

Ok, so Grandma Ann and McKinley caught a walking stick and McKinley decided that it needed to come home...(a few weeks back the same thing happened and it died) So, I wasn't really all that thrilled to bring home another one but she wanted to so I let her. Anyhow today the thing died again or so we thought. McKinley decided that it needed a new home since it was dead. So, she decided to dig a grave. Jenna from across the street was over as well. I was mowing. Anyhow I saw shovels, and hammers and such going to the back and wondered what was happening. I looked over and saw them all working hard on this grave. After about a good half hour I was called back to look at leafy new home. McKinley was so excited about it. I went back there and this was what I saw a grave complete with head stones...eat your heart out Abel vault monument:) I asked them it they said a prayer before putting poor leafy in the ground and they said
"well he wasn't really dead"

"what...."I said

"he was missing his two legs and he is a walking stick so we killed him"

at this point I wasn't quite sure what to say to them! They went though all this hard work making a grave for a poor animal who wasn't really dead just disabled so I just said nothing!

"It's a great grave"

Wonderful, now we have a grave yard for walking stick just below our bedroom window! Next time Grandma is getting to keep the walking stick:)

McKinley's First Day of School

All ready to go:)

Justin and McKinley on Friday, he missed the first day because he was at work

Inside before school

So grown up...I teared up a little

So sweet

Before we left

Outside at the sign

Getting our picture taken before meeting her teacher

McKinley with her teacher

Playing at the park after school

So, this Wed. was Kin's first day back at Eureka Community Preschool! She was so excited to get back and see her friends even though her bestest friend Anna was not in her class. We were happy to see some old faces when we got there and even Bri her other bestest friend was there! I knew that she would be but didn't tell Kin just in case something would happen and they weren't in the same class!

So, Kin put on her greatest show for everyone! We had some good laughs at her. She was so willing to do anything and for that I am so thankful! I have never had to peel her off on of my leg to get her to go with someone or had her cry when I have left her! She is such a colorful happy and easy going kid! We love her so much!

Anyhow, we got to stay in the classroom for a little while and listen to her teacher read them a story and hear everyone tell their names and while the story was being read she saw her favorite police officer Officer Lucky (yes, that's his real name) Just a little background on her past with him. He came to the school last year and she was really taken by him! She told him all about our guns (which we don't have, only nerf guns) me getting pulled over (which never happened, that she would remember) and lots of other stuff. Anyhow, she is just taken by him she LOVES him every officer she see's is officer Lucky, every car is officer Lucky etc! Anyhow his daughter is in Kin's class...oh the joy she had when he walked in, all dressed in his police outfit! As soon as I saw him I knew we were in trouble! She yelled out "oh Officer Lucky, I remember you, you let me wear you hat, oh I missed you....blah blah blah! And then since everyone was laughing she had to do her dolphin laugh which only gets more laughter!

Oh, my word my hards are going to be full with her:) When we were walking out I had another mom tell me that she hoped some of McKinley rubs off on her daughter because she is so shy! I hope she is still saying that by the end of the year!

After a while the parents went to fill out papers and Coleton's old preschool teacher was there to stay in the room with the kids! When I got back she said "ohhh my how different they are" isn't that the truth!

So, it was a great day overall! She has made friends with everyone already! I'll keep ya posted I am sure it will be an interesting year:)

Finally done!
Anna

Before they startedMcKinley working with dots:) Again, yes you just saw this one Anna getting started

McKinley getting Started

Ok, so I am not getting any smarted about uploading pictures on here! Please forgive the crazy order!

So two weeks ago McKinley wanted to have her best friend Anna come over for a play date. The went to pre-school together and if you have ever talked to McKinley you know just who I am talking about because she is always telling everyone about her bestest friend.... So we had her over and decided that we should go to the Discovery Museum but on the way over I remembered that the area was all under construction so I had the great idea to take the girls to go paint pottery! It was a blast...I didn't really know if they would enjoy it but as soon as I suggested it they were all for it! We got there a bit early so we had to drive around for a while and wait for it to open. Finally it opened and the girls were so excited! We had a long talk about being good, no running, screaming etc...that we had to be ladies. They nodded over and over and finally asked it we could please go in. For a second I thought what in the world ever made me think to take them to do this and then that thought faded and we went in!

The first thing you need to do is pick out your pottery. They decided on the very first plate that they saw and I encouraged them to keep looking. After a while they decided on a princess bank and an elephant bank!

Then we needed paint. This was fun. There were tons of choices and they just couldn't decide. So we started with gray and purple. Anna was really careful when she was painting and picked the littlest paint brush and painted very gently making sure that every spot was covered! McKinley picked the biggest paint brush and painted the elephant many different colors. Kin was so cute when she asked the lady
"what if I get paint on the table?"
"no big deal we'll just wipe it off"
"really"
"really"
Then Kin and Anna just looked at each other with big eyes and they both said
"really, fun"

Then when they both thought they were done the lady asked them it they wanted to make poke-a-dots...and of course they did!

It was so cute watching them and listening to there conversations. There was a lots of "mine is going to look great" "oh this is so pretty" etc....and then some "i love you, I'm gonna miss you" "your my best friend" so cute. They have grown up so much since the last time Anna came over.
It was so much fun! Then from there we went to McDonald's where the girls decided to sit up on the tall bar stools. They both got happy meals and proudly sat up on the stools with there feet dangling and eat away. There was more "i love you talk" and so on. They were the only kids there so there we many older people listening in on the talking. Then when they were done I got up to clean the tray and the old lady that was sitting behind me said "thanks so much for letting me in on the conversation, I really made my day!" how sweet is that! Sometimes you forget about how sweet it is to hear a child's voice when you hear it every day!

Then we came back to our house and played for a little bit and then brought her home! It was such a fun day with "just the girls" as Kin would say! I would recommend doing this with your kids! It's just fun:)

And just a few more:)

Coleton and McKinley~August 2009

Justin and Coleton~August 2009

Me and Coleton~August 2009


Waiting for the bus~August 2009

First Week of School!

Though the school years!

September 2004

Three year old preschool

September 2005

Four year old pre-school
August 2006

Kindergarden

Coleton-August 2007

First Grade
Coleton- August 2008

Second Grade
Coleton-August 2009
Third Grade

Well, this week we started back to school! Coleton went back on Tuesday for his first half day. He was really excited to go back and has been talking about it FOREVER but as we were waiting for the bus he told me "mom I am kinda getting butterflies, I think I am gonna miss you..." oh how sweet is that! Much better than two years ago when he was in tears getting on the bus begging me not to send him! That was terrible! So, we made it though with no tears this year. The bus driver who might I add is always on time always looks so happy when I sit there with my camera trying to get a picture. I have learned that I have to be quick, like so quick you would never ever know I took it quick! Coleton always thinks it's a bit much as well but what do you do! So, he is in third grade this year, where did the time go! Third grade is suppose to be the rough year at Congerville so we shall see what happens. I am sure he will do fine! The only big mess up so far was today when he came walking into the living room at 2:15 (an hour early) hmmm....did someone forget to send out that note that they got out early for Eureka's 150 year celebration or did I miss it? Since I always check all read notes all the way though it couldn't of been me:) Oh well at least we were home:)

Kin doesn't start pre-school until the 8th of September so we have a few weeks yet. She is also so excited to go back and can't quite understand why Coleton gets to go back before her! She is going to have Mrs. Fergerson this year who was out most of last year with some health issues. We are hoping and praying that this year will be better for her and that she will be able to teach all year long! Kin is super excited that she is going to be a BIG kid this year, in the fours class:) It has been fun hanging out with just her this week. She is such a sweet little girl who is full of energy and personality! You just never know what a day will be like when she is around! She spends the days telling me how much she loves me and saying "just the girls" its so sweet!


And for the first time in four years Justin is not starting school with the kids:) He is working in the ER at OSF on day shift which is really taking some getting use to. I am use to getting phone calls from him thoughout the day checking in and such but there is not more of that...to busy! And I am use to going to bed by myself and now that isn't happening which I am glad but as soon as I get use to having him around at night his shift will change to nights which will be in a few weeks! He really likes it down there. It is just something that is going to take a lot of getting use to and feeling comfortable with what he's doing! It's not like you do the same thing every day or even every hour like on the floors. He see's something new and different every day, every hour! I know that it wouldn't be a good place for me! I would always be wondering what happened to the patient when they left the er! Too personal I guess for me...but for him it is great! We are so enjoying this new phase of live and all that goes with it...day shift, night shift and every mood in between:) Just kidding!

Well, here are some pictures from the first day of school! I thought it would be fun to see all of Coleton's first day photos so here they are! I can figure out how to type first and pictures second so you have already seen them when you are reading this! Enjoy:)