We are - - Walton Raiders!

Handley woke me up this morning asking if she could go to her cheerleading game.  It was 7:45 AM.   It was not time to go yet, but she was so excited that she couldn't wait to go cheer.  All morning long I heard her practicing cheers and yelling "We are - - Walton Raiders!!!"

The games are all over town, but their home games are played in the high school stadium.  It was so fun to see the high school she will be attending and think about the fact that if she decides to stick with cheerleading she could end up cheering at that very same stadium as a high schooler.

They do it up right...they have the big scoreboard going, the girls cheer on the track, the announcer calls plays and the works.  The little football players were so cute, too...just like little bobble heads with their giant helmets on.

It was really hot today and their game was really long, but Handley did awesome and had so much fun.  She cheered her little heart out and gave it 100% the whole game.   They got to do a few cheers on the field at half-time and she had been practicing really hard all week to get her motions sharp and just right.  I was so proud of her!

Their coaches keep reminding the girls they had to be really loud during the games so the fans and the football players could hear them cheering and Handley takes that very seriously.  :-)

Sadly, I was the only one that got to go to her game because Harper is playing soccer this season and today was her first practice at the same time as Handley's game.  I hated to miss it, but Robby took her to the practice (along with Hudson so he could run around and play) and it sounds like she had a lot of fun. Thankfully there are only a few weekends that their games will over lap so most of the time we will all get to go to both games.

School Successes!!!

All three kids have had big weeks at school this week and I feel like it was just the weekend, but yet again, this week has passed by in a flash.

Harper was the start student this week which meant she had to make a poster with pictures about herself to share with her class and also got special privileges all week at school (including sitting on a magic carpet during circle time, sitting with the class mascot, and wearing the star crown).  She was super excited about this week and has been so incredibly happy each day.

Handley has her first ever spelling test tomorrow.  We did a practice test tonight and she seems very ready.  I'll tell you something though...being on the parent side of first grade almost seems like more work than when I was on the teacher side of things.  First grade here is no joke and she is working hard to stay on task, complete all of her work on time during the day, use neat handwriting, and finish all the homework each day as well as fitting in her reading time.  Thankfully the homework goes home on Friday and is due back the next Friday so we can squeeze things in when we have more time at home and not stress about it on the days we don't get back here until after dinner time.

The biggest success of the week has got to be Hudson's improvements at school.  He is still crying at drop-off, but both days this week his teachers said he was fantastic and did great.  No paci, no lambie, and no stroller at all!  He's been participating in the activities, playing on the playground, doing his artwork, eating snack, and best of all...having FUN!!!  I feel so relived that he is going to make it and I know the day can't be too far away that he will walk right into his class with no tears.  When I pick him up each day he is very proud to show off the art work he has made and so happy to tell me about school.  I'm so proud of him!

This was his first artwork that was hanging outside his class.  Each week they put up something they did and he has been too busy crying to do any art...when I saw this up on the wall when I picked him on on Tuesday I was so excited and happy to know that he must have had a good day.  Plus, getting to paint with the wheels of a truck was probably really exciting for him.  :-)

Today his class had spirit day and wore their school t-shirts.  

NASCAR

Yesterday I got to experience my first NASCAR race. I really wasn't sure what to expect, but it was every bit as entertaining as I thought it might be.  RT was co-sponsoring a car, so a group of people Robby works with all got to go to the race.  We had pit passes which got us up-close and personal.  We got to tour the hauler, see the final tweaks being made to the cars before the race, meet the driver, and learn all about the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on.  It really was interesting to learn about something I knew very little about.  Seeing and hearing the cars up close was the coolest part and I couldn't get over how LOUD they were.

It was a very hot day, but we had a few rain showers that cooled things off.  We spent the rest of the day hanging out in the in-field waiting for the race to begin and thankfully there was a big RV complete with air conditioning and a bathroom.  When it was time for the race to start we stayed on top of the RV to get a good view.  Robby and a few of the others had passes to stay in the pits while the race was going on so they spent some time there, too.  It was a really fun and interesting experience and I'm so happy we got to go.

Robby and the driver of our car, David Ragan. 

Football season is here!

Our Friday started off awesome with our commute time cut in half!  It was such a pleasant surprise.  Harper and Hudson were really happy to be sporting their red and black in preparation for the UGA game on Saturday.  Handley had Pajama Day at her school, but she changed into her UGA shirt as soon as we got home.

Hudson had his first gymnastics class on Friday morning.  He was really excited when we were looking in the room and kept asking to go play.  The mom's sit out and watch through the window, so I really wasn't sure how he would do with this set-up...especially since he is having such a hard time at pre-school. However, he walked right in and I think having his best buddy, Parker, in there with him helped.  He had fun most of the class and got a little upset right at the end, but besides that he did great and I think he will be happy to go back next week.

Saturday we layed low part of the day and did things around here that we never have time to do (like laundry).  Then we toured a few model homes to get ideas for our house.  The kids weren't the least bit interested in this idea...until we actually got there.  They discovered all of the FUN to be had in some of the homes and took full advantage of using it like their own personal play house.  One house even had a slide going from the main floor to the basement. I couldn't believe it and neither could they!  They each took turns sliding down and then had fun playing skee ball, pretending to play cards (AKA messing up the display) and "swinging" out back.  I had to make us leave because they would have liked to stay there all day.

Next up we went to Jen and Justen's house to have dinner and watch the GA/Clemson game.  Kickoff wasn't until 8 PM, but we had promised the girls they could stay up until half-time.  All 4 kids were loving it and having fun cheering for our Bulldawgs!  The boys were acting out the football they saw taking place on TV and had so much fun running, jumping, throwing the balls and literally slamming themselves into the walls.  They all put up a fight when it was time to go home, but as soon as the car started moving they were all sound asleep.

Too bad our team couldn't pull out a win over Clemson, but we are happy that football season is finally underway and hopeful that our season only gets better.

Harper's Homework and Babysteps for Hudson's

Hudson started pouting at breakfast when he was telling me he wanted to stay at Gigi's house instead of going in the car to go to school.  Then, when it really was time to get his shoes on and go he started crying.  He was upset and knew exactly where we were going.  He was fine once we got in the car.  We dropped Harper off in the carpool line and then I parked to walk Hudson in. He kept saying, "no school" and "mommy's car" but he did walk in while he was crying. I've found that if I drag it out he just gets more upset, so a matter-of-fact "it's time to have fun at school" works better with him.  He really took it up a notch when we reached his class, but after a quick hug and a kiss I handed him over to his teachers.  I had to take something to Harper's class that she had forgotten so on my way out I walked near Hudson's room and listened for crying, but it was quiet so I hoped he would be OK.

I couldn't wait to pick him up and hear how his day went.  His teachers reported that he did even better today than on Tuesday.  He still felt most comfortable sitting in the stroller a lot of the day, but he participated in several activities today and these little baby steps are going to get him used to being there and being happy to participate all day!  Today he climbed out of the stroller to join in with their creative movement class and then ran right back to the stroller when the class was over.  I also was told that he did the craft project and was a big fan of the glue sticks.  He was really proud to show everyone what he made when we got home and kept telling me school was fun.

Harper is still doing awesome and just loves school.  She even has some optional homework once a week (practice letter writing sheets) and she takes it very seriously.  Tonight while she was working, Hudson sat with her and colored, which is a new favorite activity for him!

Boosterthon

Today was the day that Handley had been looking forward to for two weeks now.  The Boosterthon fun-run at her school is their largest fundraiser throughout the year.  The kids get pledges for every lap they will run and with each pledge they earn prizes leading up to their run.  Handley's class also won a popcorn/movie party, game day, stuffed animal day, and stinky feet day (they got to keep their shoes off in the classroom).  Along with all of the fun stuff they also had a "pep-rally" or "huddle" each day with their team to talk about important character and friendship traits.  

Everyday for the past week the Boosterthon leaders have been out during arrival and dismissal to interact with the kids and keep everyone excited about the run.  This is a BIG deal and last year the school raised closed to $80,000 with this fundraiser.  

Her grade was running first thing this morning so Hudson, Harper and I left the house early to get there in time to watch them.  I wasn't expecting an hour and 1/2 of traffic and for Harper to get car sick (something that happens to her often) or for Hudson to gag himself and get sick, too.  It was quite the morning. By the time we arrived the run was already underway, but Handley didn't even seem to notice and was so happy to see us there cheering for her.  

The run was upbeat and high energy the whole time. They had a DJ playing music and the Boosterthon leaders were out there running with the kids and announcing all sorts of fun ways to make their laps around (high five lap, limbo lap, air guitar lap, etc.)  All of the kids were loving it!  As they came around each time the teachers were there to mark off each lap on their shirts.  Handley ran 35 laps (their max) and was so proud.  

Harper started crying when it was time for us to go because she said she wanted to see Handley more.  I think she thought the Boosterthon looked like lots of fun and I assured her that next year she would get to be out there running, too! 

Stroller at School

We had such a wonderful weekend and the week has just flow by since we've been back.  We were at the lake for the weekend and had perfect weather!

The kids had a blast swimming, trying to paddle board, dancing to fun music on the boat and the girls even wake-boarded. Harper was tired after one try, but Handley did awesome this time and got up on her first try!  We were so proud of her and she was so proud of herself.  I even gave it a whirl since I haven't done it all summer.

We had the best company and loved hanging out with Jen, Justen and Parker all weekend.  The best last minute surprise was Trey, Stefanie, and Sophia deciding to join us for Saturday night and Sunday on the water.  This was Sophia's first boat ride and she seemed to love it.  She was SO good all day and even got a little tube ride in!

Monday was back to the grind with early morning wake-ups and school.  Gigi offered to keep Hudson though so he wouldn't have to be dragged around in the car all day and it turned out to be a great plan. Since we had gotten home late on Sunday night he was exhausted from the weekend and sleeping in on Monday was just what he needed.  Harper has been thrilled to go to school this week because she is the snack helper or the "snacker" as she likes to call it.  She gets to bring the snacks for her whole class all week long.  She has loved picking out the snacks and helping me get it all counted and packed up to take in.

Today was a school for Hudson and as soon as he realized it was his day to go he in the parking lot he kept saying, "Mommy's car, Mommy's car!!!"  He was not interested in going to school at all and just wanted to be back safe in my car.  Poor baby was crying harder than I've ever seen him when I handed him off to his teacher.  I came back around 11 AM (when they had told me to come) and when I got to the school his class was on the playground.  I was confused to see him sitting in a stroller, but he wasn't crying, so because he didn't see me I snuck back to the car. After calling the office and having someone check with the teachers about how he was doing I got a report that he was fine so that I should just come back at pick-up time.  I took advantage of the extra hour to go running (which felt so good because it has been so long) and then was back to pick the kids up.  When I got to his class he was still sitting in the stroller holding all of his things and apparently he spent the majority of the day there. His teachers said he wasn't really interested in getting out and playing, but he didn't cry except for drop-off and he made it the whole day!!!  That was a HUGE improvement and a BIG step in the right direction. Ms. Janet said she thought he was feeling safe and secure in the stroller and I'm sure as soon as he gets even more comfortable and used to the idea of school and his classroom he will be ready to jump out of the stroller and join in the fun.  They had Mother Goose come today and read some nursery rhymes to the classes.  Ms. Janet sent a few pictures tonight of this and I laughed when I saw Hudson sitting in the stroller with his paci, lambie and his red school bag (which is supposed to be hanging up on the hooks, but he loves it so much that he always wants to hold onto it).

Of course I would rather him to be sitting and interacting with the other kids, but he is always slow to warm up to new people and new situations, so I am thrilled with how he did today and the fact he didn't cry all day long.  Harper and I made a BIG deal about him staying all day and not crying when we picked him up and he seemed embarrassed by the attention (which is normal for him) but proud to call and tell Mimi and Gigi the good news.  We celebrated with frozen yogurt!

He was also proud to show us his "Jack be Nimble" candle stick he made.  I got the impression he didn't want to do any jumping over the candle stick at school, but was obviously watching how much fun the other kids were having doing it because he put it right down and started jumping over it when we were at home.

Dance and cheerleading were also big hits today!  The girls are loving their activities and I'm happy to report that Handley did AWESOME at cheerleading tonight. I think she was just having an off day last week and winning the cheer motions Simon Says game today got her back on track and gave her the boost of confidence she was missing last week. :-)