August 16th

So after our first week of school, we were very proud of how the boys were adjusting to our new life. If you have boys you know how much they love temporary tattoos. So as a "prize" for their transition and good behavior we put tattoos on this morning. The boys were so excited they wanted to show them off.

August 13th

Can you believe it? We actually have school aged children now. Today was a huge day in the Knecht household - it was the first day of kindergarten. So we started the day off right with a healthy breakfast - waffles and yogurt smoothies. Then Grandmom and Mom headed off to take the boys to school. Their school is less than a mile from our house so it is quite a change from 40 min drive we used to take to their preschool. We did leave Nicholas and Cameron crying just a bit but the smiles came out soon after we left. This afternoon Grandmom and Mom were back at the school to pick up the smiling kindergarteners. I am sure through this school year we will be having some cute stories - but the story of today is: Charlie told me that his teacher did not know his name. She told him his name did not have an "i" but has a "s" and she kept calling Charles all day long. We had hardly called him Charles his whole life so he was really confused.

Breakfast of Champions!

Grandmom and the kindergarteners.

Mom and the boys.

Heading to the classrooms

Nicholas and Ms. Logan

Dropping Nicholas off at his class.

Charlie and Ms. Burgess

Cameron at his table and yes the picture is horrible but the only one I got :(

Ms. Beck , Cameron's teacher

July 29th

So the weather has been so warm in the evenings we packed up our stuff and went to visit some friends with a pool. The boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves and then we steamed some shrimp and all devoured them. I would LOVE to have a pool in the backyard..

The boys jumped straight in!
Nicholas - look no water wings

Cameron swimming wingless

Charlie learning to play marco polo

Rob and Jennifer - our hosts

July 29th

Alright I had a very nostalgic day today. Can you believe we are officially parents of school aged children? I actually spent the afternoon registering the boys for kindergarten. And when I say I spent the afternoon it is not an understatement. I left work early and drove down to the elementary school and when I got there the line was unbelievable. After 2 hours in line I finally was up there - with my birth certificates, social security cards, immunization cards, proof of residency and of course our "donation" of $95.00 .

Not believing that I would ever be sad to see my boys start kindergarten - I think I might be choking on those words on August 13th as just registering them in this big school stirred some emotions in me. I guess I might end up as one of those moms watching their kids go off to kindergarten through the tears in their eyes.

So what does it take to get three kindergarteners started for school? Here is what I purchased just for the school supplies requested by the teacher:
36 #2 pencils
3 packs of colored pencils
12 - 8ct CRAYOLA crayons
12 - 24ct CRAYOLA crayons
6 packs of CRAYOLA classic thick washable markers
12 black dry erase markers
6 pair of Fiskars 5" sharp scissors
6 bottles of Elmers School Glue
30 Elmers glue sticks
6 greg ruled steno books
6 plastic pockets GREEN folders
6 pencil pouches
90 sheet protectors top loading
144 gallon ziploc bags
144 quart ziploc bags
6 waterless hand sanitizers
6 rolls of paper towels
6 containers of Clorox Wipes
6 containers of baby wipes
6 kleenex tissues

And I am sure there will be much more to buy plus any homework supplies.. talk about a cart full. When I checked out at Walmart - the lady asked me if I was buying for a classroom because I could get tax free - I said no just starting 3 kids to school.

July 19th

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS!! Today was Ella's 1st birthday. Is she not the cutest thing? She has such a great personality. She was really tired and not quite sure about the cake but she did get her hands a little dirty. She really is at one of those fun stages when they are still such happy children. We love her so much and the boys adore playing with their cousin.

Ella in the adorable dress that her Aunt Kristi made for her :)

July 9th

I honestly am beginning to love this age of my boys. Today was Daddy's (Richard) birthday. Can you believe he is now 34? So the boys and I went shopping on our way home from school. I told them that they could each pick out something for Daddy for his birthday but it had to be within reason on cost and something he would like not a new toy that they wanted.

So off we went - walking through the men's section Charlie took off running and grabbed a pair of super hero pajama pants. They were perfect in his eyes - it had every imaginable hero on the pants- the only problem were they were about 2 sizes too big. But I just could not bring myself to tell him as he was so pleased with his choice.

Then Nicholas found a pair of Batman boxers. There is a huge Bat symbol right over the center of the boxers - of course exactly what Richard wanted. But these too were what Nicholas fell in love with for his present to his Daddy.

So then Cameron was walking around shopping - he was a little harder to find something for his Daddy. But he came across a t-shirt he liked. It was a navy shirt but then I saw the picture - it had a man with a air cloud coming from behind and the words "Free Gas". I started laughing and he said per Cameron - "It is a pooty shirt". So seeing it was not THAT bad I let him get it.

For the first time they picked out their own gifts for their Daddy. Such a big step in our household. Wonder if Daddy will take them shopping for my birthday next year???

July 5th

During the Holiday weekend the boys were able to experience something they had never done before - they were able to go tubing!! They were so excited to be able to be on the raft. Richard rode with each one individually - knowing that I told him that he had to fall off the raft if any of the boys fell off. They sped through the water behind the boat with big smiles on their faces and never fell off!!

All the boys and Baylee in the raft - Richard looking on

And here we go!!

Riding behind the boat.

Laying down on the raft - holding on tightly

Cameron and Daddy waving at Mommy