Short Trips and Pretty Skies

We've had a few major birthday milestones this year.  A couple of weeks ago, we went up to Charlotte for my Grandpa Davidson's 80th birthday party and we also celebrated my dad's 60th birthday as well!

Before the party, we went over to Nana's house and visited for a little while.  Of course Jackson just wanted to make faces, that's his go-to thing when a camera comes out these days.  But they still turned out pretty cute!

It was a short visit, but still good.  After that, we headed to the party.

I was on camera duty that night and I took a lot of pictures of the people there, but not so many of our family - which I should have done.  Here are some of the ones we did get though.

We were hanging out before the party, waiting on the guest of honor to arrive.

"Playing" cornhole...

Grandpa coming in!

Of course Jackson didn't want to be seen in the picture with his cousins and Grandpa. 

The next morning we had breakfast with my dad for his birthday.  Here he is with the grandkids - minus one - Anna Grace had run back inside for a few minutes. 

The boys...

This past weekend, Rachel and I went back up by ourselves.  This trip was even shorter than the first one.  We went up after her soccer game last Saturday for a family reunion.  It was so good to see family that I haven't seen in 10+ years...

We were very close to Gardner-Webb University, where I went to college.  After the reunion, we went by there and I showed Rachel where I went to school.  She really enjoyed seeing the campus!

The water tower in Boiling Springs.

These were the only pictures I took of the whole trip - except for pictures of the clouds/sunset.  Which was gorgeous!

I love looking at clouds and the sky and sunset/sunrises.  I can't get enough of them!

Here are two I took the other morning on my way to work...

This Past Month...

I feel like a lot has happened since my last post.  Here are more pictures I've taken on my phone along the way...

 

June, July, and August we were in birthday season for Jackson's class... Almost every weekend there was another birthday party.  Here's Jackson at one at Catch Air - and to his surprise, the character that came out was Olaf!  He was so excited!

 

 

Here was an evening just playing outside for a while... the kids were being silly.

 

 

 

Also this month, we've been dealing with strep throat.  Well, Jackson has.  He's had it three times in the past month.  He's been more sick this month than he has his whole life!  Every time he goes off the medicine, he gets it again in a few days.  He's currently on his third antibiotic now, and we're instructed to take him back five days after he gets off of this one - if we make it that long (we haven't yet!) - and they will check to see if it's completely gone or not.  The other aspect is that his tonsils are HUGE... so they may end up referring us to an ENT to see about having his tonsils removed.  I really don't want to go that route, but we'll do what we need to do.  This was during his second bout with it - he fell asleep on me while watching a movie at home.  

 

 

The neighborhood pool stayed open a little longer this year so this is Rachel on our last night there  - just over a week ago.  It was freezing through - Jackson wouldn't stay in the water.  I don't blame him, I wasn't getting in either!

 

 

We went to a different fair this year also...not the big one, but this one was closer to us and a little smaller, but perfect for our kids.  They got to ride as much as they wanted and really enjoyed themselves.

 

 

The above picture is Rachel waiting to ride this fast ride with me...it was an older ride, but she was excited.  Below is right before it started - and before she freaked out.  It just went around in circles, but it was very fast and very jerky...and she didn't care for that. 

 

 

They both went up to the top of the fun slide and Rachel made it down, but Jackson got scared and didn't... Michael had to walk up and get him.  He usually loves this slide...

 

 

 

 

Waiting to get on the ferris wheel...

 

 

My camera has a thing where you can see both ways - I was trying to get myself in their picture...ha ha.  They are up in that orange bucket...  I don't do ferris wheels...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another trip to the playground... They love to climb that thing!

 

 

I told the kids they needed to spend 30 minutes in their rooms last Saturday afternoon - we just all needed a little time to ourselves at that point.  Well, I go in to get Jackson and this is what I found...sound asleep on the floor. 

 

 

I took the kids to get ice cream the other night and it was beside a Ted's Montana Grill.. We saw this from far away and Jackson kept saying it was an elephant...so we walked down to see it up close.  And it wasn't an elephant.  They liked seeing it though!

 

 

Rachel and I painted initial paintings last weekend. 

 

 

One of her fall break days, we went to the concert in the park at lunchtime.  She wanted to go because her friend, Bella, was going to be there.  Such sweet girls! 

 

 

These last few pictures are from last weekend when Michael was gone to Law Academy and away from home for four days.  We were all glad when he got home Sunday afternoon!

Playing Soccer

Both kids are now playing soccer through our church's Upward Soccer league.  We signed Jackson up on our own - knowing he's really good at kicking balls and this is the first time he's been old enough to play on an actual team - thought he would love it.  We gave Rachel the choice to see if she wanted to try it.  Honestly, I was more concerned about Rachel enjoying it than Jackson.  They practice once a week - both at the same time so that's nice.  And their games are on Saturdays.  So far they've practiced twice and had their first games today - which just so happened to both be at the same time today.  So, Michael and I had to split up and each watch one half of each game.  

Rachel has done really well so far.  She is enjoying it, trying hard and doing her best.  

Very proud of her so far.  

Jackson on the other hand...it depends on his mood - which changes oh so easily.  The first practice, I was over there with him and he started out fine... Then his shoe started hurting him and it all went downhill from there.  The second practice, he did much better!  Today at his game, he initially didn't want to go out, but he did and he played really well the first half.  Then that was about it for him - didn't want to be out there at all the second half.  So, we'll take it week by week and see how it goes.  Hopefully he will continue to get better - even if it's just being better at being on a team and staying out there - I'll be happy with that.  

Before the games.

Rachel's team warming up.

Devotion at half time.

Rachel was a cheerleader on the side when she wasn't playing.  She taught the other girls several cheers and made them fit her new team.  She also got the sportsmanship sticker for today.  

Rachel throwing it in.

 Jackson's team before his game started.

He's number 4.

Hot and tired boys eating their snacks afterwards.

Keep your fingers crossed that we have more of the better days than the not-so-great ones! 

First Days

Monday was the first day of school for the new year.  Rachel started second grade and Jackson started Pre-K.  They were both up and ready early and we had plenty of time to wait on the school bus (which was late by the way). 

 

 

 

 

Silly faces!

 

 

 

This is a picture of Rachel and her new teacher at the Meet-and-Greet last week.  So far, she really likes her. 

 

 

 

They both had great first days.  Jackson's teacher said he had a "perfect first day - using his manners and listening very well".  This is Jackson's last year at Kids R Kids.  He's doing their private pre-k program, the same one that Rachel did.  I can't believe that next year, he will get on the bus and go to school with Rachel.  I may have a hard time with that...