Rachel's 6th Birthday and Back to School

 

Rachel's 6th Birthday

After returning home from our trip to California, it was on to celebrating Rachel's sixth birthday and the busy-ness of starting school!  Honestly, even in the summer there is never a dull moment around here!

Here she is on her special day, our sweet six-year-old!  It happened to fall on a Sunday, so here she's ready for church.  I am so happy to have Rachel in our family.  She brings a gentle, sweet spirit to our home.

 

 

 

 

My parents came over that evening to celebrate.

 

Rachel received clothes, a new lunch box, a Tinkerbell notebook and folder for school, and a cute Melissa & Doug wooden birthday cake playset, among assorted gifts from her siblings and grandparents.

 

Rachel's "flowerpot cake" she requested.  I baked her own individual cake in a small flowerpot, and another large one in a large pot.  It was a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkled with Oreo crumbs for dirt.  Unfortunately I forgot to get gummy worms to go in the dirt!

 

 

 

Matthew's First Day of Junior High!

 

 

Yes, it's true!  He's almost thirteen and officially a SEVENTH GRADER!  He hopped on the bus for his first time like a pro, figured out his locker and schedule without a glitch, and is growing up too fast!  Matthew was excited to be at the same school as his cousin Jordan (who is in ninth grade) and take fun classes like band and computers.  He wasn't thrilled about going back to all the homework ;)

 

 

That evening we had one last get-together at our house with Kimberly and her kids before they had back to Texas.  Mom & Dad brought up some homemade raspberry ice cream, and our friends Jake & Stacy Yarrington also came over.

 

Matthew playing a game with Jordan & Bryce

 

Jeffrey, always drawing!

 

The cousins all checking out my dad's "new" pickup truck (it's about 18 years old).  It's so fun to see their different personalities captured on camera.

 

Carter

 

Ben

 

 

 

First Day of Elementary School

The girls didn't start school until the day after Matthew.  They were so excited for their new teachers and to see all their friends again!  It's always a transition when school starts, in good and not-so-good ways.  But I think we had a great summer and were all ready.

 

Elizabeth: 5th grader

 

Emma: 3rd grader

 

Rachel: 1st grader

Ready to walk to school: (Joshua is already begging to go to preschool and will be in a playgroup this year)

 

 

One more random picture: Brent giving Joshua a "tickle haircut", as Joshua calls them.  Joshua always used to scream when Brent took out the clippers, until Brent started telling Joshua, "they tickle, they don't hurt!"  Now Joshua actually giggles his way through them and is very good.  It is so cute.  If only we could figure out how to keep him that happy at the doctor's office and bathtime!