Nate's first day of Kindergarten

We started the day with pancakes & eggs, reading Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, and having a dance party to Party Rock Anthem - the kids' current favorite song. Then we took a few pictures and were on our way to the first day of school! Nate was very excied and we put on brave faces (well Ramesh did anyway...Gramps and I are the cryin' type), as the whole family took him to his first day.

When we arrived at school, Nate got right in Ms. Cooks' line and turned around and made friends with the boy behind him. Mesh and I squeezed each others hands in relief and mouthed "He's okay-he made a friend!". After about a minute, Nate motioned for me to come closer and I gave him a big hug and a kissing hand (it's from a book of the same name) and then a little while later he motioned me closer again and said, "When are we going to go inside already?". Our boy was ready to get this Kindergarten thing stared!

And then, those precious kinders went marching right along in a straight little line. Parents were crying, stumbling over each other as they tried to capture the moment on video and through photos, and then crowded around the window to catch one last glimpse of our kids walking away. Those big Kindergarteners just kept on walking-confident, excited, ready! And as soon as Nate was out of sight, Riley looked and me and said, "Can I sit in Nate's carseat while he's at Kindergarten?" Ha! Thanks for the comic relief Rileybel, and yes-you can.

Letting your children go/grow is both beautiful and difficult. We let go a little bit today, but we are also holding on tight. We are the ones who get to tuck him in tonight, hear his sweet little confident voice read stories, indluge him in "one last true story" about a president or the solar system, read his current favorite book -Horton Hears a Who, talk to him about his day, and say our prayers. Today was a big reminder that time flies-so we will cherish every moment with our Nate, Riley and Ben.

Walk for Wishes

For Gramps' birthday we formed a team called "Walking with Gramps" and raised funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation's fundraiser Walking for Wishes. Today was the event! Our family and great friends walked a 5k and enjoyed a fun after party complete with a band, bounce houses, a firetruck and a police swat car for the kids to explore.

Thank you to the Meissners, Hoseas, and Arnolds for Walking with Gramps!

Riley, mom and Ben walking...well Ben being carried!

Peace, bagels, and rock & roll!

What a beautiful day!

Photo Shoot!

The whole family went to a friend's wedding today - so we had a good ol' time forcing our kiddos to take a bunch of pictures before we left for a beautiful afternoon/evening on Anderson Island. Enjoy our hard work trying to get a shot of the energetic Iyer Trio!

Here Nate is following my direction to sit up taller. Lol!

(Benny needed to take a little break to move around.)

Summer Camps

This past week Riley and Nate were both in half day camps. This was Riley's first camp and it was an art camp at the preschool she will start at in September. Last year she went to a program for 2 1/2 year-olds but this year she will move to Nate's old preschool-ya know, because he's practically a Kindergartener now! Nate went to his third and final camp of the summer-a sports camp including soccer, baseball and basketball. Not to be forgotten-baby Ben recently started Little Gym and Mom and Dad went for a hike this weekend. Fun times all around!

Nate at sports camp w/ his buddy Ryan.

Please note that Mesh dressed Ben on this day. ;)

Nate leading Riley into his old school/her soon-to-be school. He was so excited to introduce his little sister and let everyone know he wasn't staying because he was almost in Kindergarten.

Simone and Riley on the last day of camp in the shirts they made!

Ben loves having his own little class! I get to have mommy-son dates with him on Saturday mornings-Little Gym followed by pumpkin bread at Starbucks.

The start of this trail is only 15 minutes from our house.