Sam the Soccer Stud!

Sam was the "Breakaway King" this last Saturday at his soccer game!

At the kick-off to start the game, he booted it and it rolled all the way into the goal!(unfortunately that one didn't count) But the OTHER 3 GOALS he scored DID count! He got it in his head that he could run faster than everyone else if he tried (because"Dragons" are faster than "Jets"), and he kept getting the ball and running it all the way down the field and scoring! His smiles were priceless! GO SAMMERS!!

Pumpkins

This past Saturday we went on our annual Pumpkin Patch outing.Usually we go to an actual patch where we pick our own pumpkin, but this year we went to Fall Festival at the Dallas Arboretum It was REALLY COOL! And we even had a special guest along--well a few:
These are some friends of Stephen's from Texas A&M, the one in the middle, Charite is one of his closest friends, she lives in So. Cal and was in Dallas for a Conference, so this was our chance to spend some time with her.

And now, enjoy some fun shots of the kids:

Sam is an engineer in training!

My 4 year old Sam made this:
Mostly by himself at pre-school last week.

We send our "creative trash" to school all the time and the kids get a chance to create things. He decided to make a BOAT! I love the sail and the masts. His teachers helped him tie the string, but we tried it out in the bathtub and it even floats! He was so happy.

The Difference ONE can make

Kaitlyn was challenged at school last week to see what a difference "ONE" can make.

So she did some chores around the house to earn $1:

She helped her dad install the screen door, and folded baby Matthew's laundry.

Then it was her idea to use her dollar to buy a brownie mix, and make brownies for our local firefighters. (isn't that a GREAT IDEA?!?!)

She made a THANK YOU CARD:We made the brownies:

(and service has it's rewards)
And delivered them to the firestation. They were excited to get an unexpected treat, and Kaitlyn grinned from ear to ear! Doesn't it feel good to do something kind? That is the difference ONE can make!

October is AWESOME in TEXAS

We've just been enjoying the most beautiful weather lately, we've spent LOTS of time outside on the play set and riding bikes and coloring with chalk! I LOVE playing outside with my kids and now that it's not so hot or humid, we do it a lot! It's really one of the best times of the year in TEXAS!! We've had picnic lunches under the trees in the front and then read books, we've thrown balls over our fence into our neighbors yard.....we've just had fun:So if you try and reach us, and we don't answer, we're probably just outside enjoying the day!

Sometimes I'm just feisty like that

So, those who know me well would agree that I have a fairly strong personality. Often I say things the wrong way and offend people, I can be intimidating, and when I feel passionately about something WATCH OUT!

So I've had a "CAUSE" lately that has been taking a lot of my attention (thus the lack of blogging).

THE KINDERGARTEN ROTATION

This year our district piloted a program in a handful of elementary schools where the kindergarten students would not be assigned a teacher until 2nd week of school. During which time they would rotate from classroom to classroom for different subjects while the teachers assess them and try and place them in order to create balanced classrooms.

I think it's awful for the kids who get held in limbo and have to deal with constant change in a very transitional period in life. It creates chaos when they need structure to feel safe and thrive. Most child development specialists agree with me.

I am all for assessing kids and trying to get balance in the classroom but it needs to be done prior to school starting so that they can have structure and routine from day one!

So I did some research, (thanks Mom McKneely!!) and drafted a beautiful letter, encouraged my friends to do the same--(and even some strangers too), and then spoke at the open forum at the recent School Board Meeting.

It went well, I don't know if we've made a difference, it seems the district wants to make teachers happier than they want to make kids feel safe and thrive. But we'll see, at least I've tried.

AND I've used my strong personality for good this time!=)

Matthew at 6 months!

Happy 6 months buddy!!
How I love this little guy! a SUPER EASY BABY! (a tender mercy for sure) because he has to mesh into this.......
Good grief! Sometimes I just take a step back and cannot believe that this is my life! Part of me understands the stares and comments perfect strangers say all the time about my "hands being full" but mostly I am just grateful that these 4 beautiful, wonderful, special children are MINE and I get to be their MOM first and foremost!!

Lindsey has her own style!

This is a photo taken just this morning on our walk to take Kaitlyn to school--she's so lucky to be young enough to pull this off!
I think her boots are on the wrong feet--but I just love it!

And this one seems to say: "GOOD MORNING WORLD, Here ME AM!!"
Then there was this day last week when I had a "sweedish cowgirl" for a companion!! Gotta love her for sure!

We've got our own Jack-o-lantern!

Kaitlyn has been losing a few things since school has started......4 of them to be exact!
She'd already lost her two center teeth on the bottom and the permanent ones are coming in nicely, but the other two on the bottom came out just a few weeks after school started, THEN the top two started getting lose!

Just a couple weeks ago she lost them BOTH ON THE SAME DAY! Mom pulled one out in the morning just before school and then the other just before bedtime. She has been keeping the tooth fairy busy! We've decided to carve her Halloween pumpkin to look like her mouth, AND to teach her the song, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!" Don't you love her windows?!?!?

Sam plays soccer!

Yes, we've entered the world of kids sports. The weekly practices and letting our Saturday's be dictated by the time of the game, but hey, that's what raising kids is all about!

Sam is really loving his special activity, Stephen is being the Assistant Coach and Sam has 3 other little friends from church on his team so it's a great experience for him. Here are some of our favorite shots:Sam proud after scoring one of his 3 GOALS in the FIRST GAME!!

Which way are we going guys?

Sam does well, he's learning a lot and really is a natural with sports and things with balls. This is the first year for almost all the kids on his team and he seems to really "get it" and enjoy playing!

Go Dragons, ROAR!!

A day of FIRSTS!!

It's the FIRST DAY of September.....

Sam started his FIRST day of preschool. He's going to the same wonderful school Kaitlyn went to--it's a a bit further of a drive for us now but well worth it. The school and teachers are just special, one of a kind. They LOVE my kids and are treated as individuals. Sam was a champ, went right in without an issue and is LOVING it there. Isn't this backpack HUGE?? cracks me up! When I picked him up on his first day, his teacher (who I love--Laura Crutchfield) pulled me aside when I asked her how he did. She quietly told me, that she loved him already, he was just one of mine (meaning a McKneely and from our home) and then she told me that she could always tell which children came from a "God Centered Home" and she thanked me for it--I was so touched!

AND this guy has turned 5 months and has started to wake a bit in the night which means to me that he's getting hungry so....we decided to introduce solids. How will he do????? He LOVES it and does VERY well! Hooray for FIRSTS!!