Happy 2012 school year - for everyone!

Happy start of 2nd grade to Caleb!

And look who gets to start preschool this year!

A couple weeks after preschool started, their new backpacks arrived in the mail and boy, were they in love!  The first few weeks they were both trying so hard to get used to everything that was new and different.  We had some hard moments, like on the first full day (which is only three hours) on the way home, Avery fell apart because "Presley was taking up all the things I wanted to tell you "  Needless to say, I have learned to be very careful about having them take turns when reporting on their day.  They do get to do show and share on the same day, which is awesome, but each day one of the kids takes a turn being the "special critter" for the day.  That person gets to help out with things, be the line leader, etc.  Well, Avery got to do it first out of the two of them and when I picked them up that day Presley was in tears, saying "they should have had us do it TOGETHER because we're sisters and friends".  What could I say to that??

Last beach day 2012

Mom decided we'd have one last beach hurrah before school started at the end of August...well, the kids were freezing in the morning, and when it warmed up a little in the afternoon, this is what the beach looked like.  It seemed everyone wanted a last hurrah at the beach, even if it wasn't ideal weather!

So instead of spending a whole lot of time in the water, we went shell collecting,

and explored the gift shop (even splurged a little on some trinkets).  There was a fisherman just outside the shop that had caught this enormous thing earlier in the day and he let us examine it.

And of course there's always the playing in the sand that can save any less than perfect day at the beach!

Boating!

Our neighbors, the Kolinski's, invited us to go boating with them a couple times this summer.  Jordan Lake is less than 30 minutes away - the beach is okay but the boating water is lovely! Here's Caleb and Will on the tube -

It took some getting used to it, but all three kids eventually got the hang of it and liked it (well, Avery almost liked it by the end of the summer I think).

Here's what Will could do by the end of the summer -

and Dad thought he could do it too!

The girls and I never did get too crazy...

unless dad was on the other tube!

Mom and dad got to show off their  water skiing and wake boarding...sure is fun for the moment, but we pay for it for days afterward!

Meet our new piano!

We're so glad to finally have one of these!  Caleb and the girls are involved in a music program and they are learning so much and most importantly, having so much fun!  This year Caleb is learning to play the keyboard (that's what the teacher has in her home - multiple ones!) and so we decided it was time to get a piano.  It was a unique find - Aaron actually spotted it shoved up against the wall behind lots of other pianos and benches in the store.  They had acquired it as a trade and it's well over one hundred years old.  But, as you can see, it looks great and so far, it sounds wonderful too!

August days...

August can be brutal sometimes - because of the weather in NC and because it seems like school should be starting but isn't quite yet.   Mom got creative this day...I think we went to the library first and then headed over to a little old-fashioned soda counter in downtown Cary for some hotdogs (that's where the hats came from).  I was grateful for my new i-phone because after we ate it turned out we had a little adventure walking around the area.  There were quite a few things to explore - sculpture, balconies, and outdoor art.  We stopped at a local bakery for a cookie before we left and before cheeks got too pink.  We had a pretty successful morning that turned into an afternoon too - perfect!

 

 

Hmmm...how can we do an art project and have a snack?  Like this!  

Exploring the art museum inside and out is always fun...

and the new addition to the Natural History Museum is amazing!

If the morning is a little cooler than normal, a bike ride on the greenway is a must,

but don't get too hot and discouraged when the chain on your bike falls off!

Can't forget about the good old YMCA pool - good for taking care of hot afternoons!  Caleb continues to be a great swimmer and goes down the water slide on his own all the time.  The girls have achieved expert level jumping off the side of the pool and swimming to mom, and can doggy paddle and tread water quite well!