These Days

My mom got a "fancy" camera about a year and a half ago and she really just hasn't used it so she decided to give it to me. We take lots of pictures around these parts so I'm super excited about the gift!  Thanks mom!! 

One afternoon I got the new (to me) camera out just to try it out.  

I thought Abby looked precious standing against the wall like this. She's 17 months old and not looking as much like a baby as I would like for her to.    

I caught Emily reading a blog book on the couch.  Cutie! 

Then Em wanted to take my picture with the new camera. 

These two cute things were playing "house" in our bedroom.  Their hair is a mess and I love it!  

Katherine, Jacob and Ressie came over to spend a day with us in Greenville before Jacob started back to school in early August.  We met them at Falls Park when they were coming into town and enjoyed walking around and letting the kids play for awhile before heading back to our house!  

These two cuties are already big buddies!  I kind of think they look a little alike here.  

I caught the kindergartners hugging.  Too bad they live in different states and cities because it would be fun for them to be in the same class.  Fun for them, but not fun for the teacher I'm sure.  

Sophie is a 6th grade girl in our church who has come over once a week during the last two summers to help me with the girls so that I can get some stuff done around the house. For some reason it's hard to get certain things done when I'm here by myself with them! She's been such a huge help to me and the girls LOVE playing with her! 

Soph had surgery on her ear in early August so we went over to hang out with her one morning and keep her company while her mom ran some errands and Sophie was recovering from her surgery.  We're super thankful for Sophie, and Bert and I are especially thankful for the great example she sets for our girls!  

I love this picture of Abby napping holding her lovie tight.  There's not much sweeter than a curled up sleeping baby.  

We let the girls  (Emily, Hannah and Claire) have a "sleepover" one night in the room that they all three already share.  Ha!  They thought it was new and exciting and were super excited about getting to sleep on the floor in their sleeping bags.  They all 3 slept all night so no complaints here.:)  

We have a lot of playdates in a normal month but in the weeks leading up to school we had even more than usual.  We were trying to squeeze in the last little bit of summer fun before the routines and schedules started.  We enjoyed them all!  

I got a picture of the girls playing with their friend, Marly, one morning.  Marly is just a few months younger than Hannah.  

We went to the library at least weekly during the summer.  Abby was there too but I put her in the umbrella stroller so that I could actually look for some books for the kids without having to chase her all over the place.  Now that they are back in school Claire, Abby and I usually go while Emily and Hannah are in school.  They get excited about seeing the big stack of books that we bring home and read them throughout the week!  

I've said for forever that I need to know how to french braid, but have never taken the time to really learn.  One day before school started back I watched a YouTube video and practiced.  I totally need to keep practicing so that I can feel confident about doing it when we need to go somewhere, but I didn't think it was too shabby!  

Claire was a bit of a moving target and Emily's hair was a little short, so Hannah won the hair model award.:)

They have loved riding in this red car this summer.  Emily or Hannah drove it most days.  The battery is dying so it doesn't stay charged for very long, but they enjoy it while they can each day.  

We also enjoyed time at the park!  I loved this picture of all 4 of them sliding together and smiling!  Precious!  

Mimi and Papa had to bring a car to someone about 20 minutes from our house one Sunday afternoon so they stopped by and spent a few hours with us!  Bert was busy getting ready for his Sunday night sermon but the girls and I really enjoyed having them hang out with us!! 

Playing before our Wednesday night activities started!

Our church gives a Bible to each child when they start kindergarten so Hannah got hers a couple weeks ago.  She was so excited about it!

Hannah, we pray that you would study and love His word.  

I caught this picture of Hannah and Abby playing together the day before Hannah started school.  

Then I asked them to smile at me.  :)  

While I was taking their picture Emily and Claire were playing on the floor.  The two little sisters sure do love their big sisters and the two big sisters sure do love their two little sisters.  

We also had a tea party that day to celebrate the start of school the next day with real glass mugs!  

I got this picture on Claire's first day of preschool.  It was just Abby and I at home and we were reading books together. We'll have 6 hours a week with just the two of us and lots of that time will be spent running errands, grocery shopping and driving to drop off or pick up Claire, but we'll enjoy being together.  I'm going to enjoy having my little sidekick on Monday and Tuesday mornings.  

The days are getting a little cooler and we know fall is just around the corner.  We're thankful for these days!  

First Day of School - Claire

Claire has been excited about starting preschool for a very long time and this past Monday (the week after her sisters started school) was finally her day!  She's going to the same preschool that her sisters went to (we LOVE it there) and she goes Monday and Tuesday mornings for 3 hours each morning.  

I asked her the night before she started school what she wanted to be when she grows up and she right away said "a doctor."  I know that will change next week, but I love hearing their answers and how confident they are about them.  Claire can be anything she wants to be, but I'm sure she'd make an awesome doctor!  

I forgot to get a picture of Claire and her teacher during our meet the teacher the week before so we got one on the first day.  Her teacher is Mrs. Beesley and she is great!  She has two girls the exact same ages as Emily and Hannah.  I got to know her a little last year when Hannah and her 2nd daughter were in class together.  This is her first year teaching at our preschool as she's been staying at home with her girls.  I'm super excited that she'll be Claire's teacher this year!  

Claire talks about her friend Gabe to anyone that will listen.  Gabe's mom (my good friend, Mary Pat) and I do lots of playdates and we see them at church all the time so it's no wonder that they are such good buddies.  Now they're also in the same preschool class, which they were both very excited about!  

I got to take Emily and Hannah on their first day so Bert took Claire on her first day.  

Claire, we hope you have such a fun year! We are so excited for you and very proud of the smart, beautiful, precious little girl that you are! We love you!! 

First Day of School - Hannah

Starting Kindergarten is such a big deal!  I don't really get emotional when the kids start preschool, but starting Kindergarten gets me every time.  

Hannah's been ready to go for weeks!  She found out in early August that she would have Ms. Powell and Mrs. Merritt for her teachers this year.  They were Emily's teachers when she was in Kindergarten so Hannah was familiar with them and was SO excited about being in their class.  

I got this picture of Hannah and Ms. Powell at orientation.  Emily did so well in her class and we're excited about Hannah learning from her too!  

I wasn't able to get a picture with Hannah and Mrs. Merritt (teacher's assistant) because she was busy, but she could not be more sweet or loving. (Side Story: A couple days into school they had a fire drill and Hannah got a little scared.  Hannah was telling me about it and said "it was really loud!"  Ha! Hannah started crying when the alarm sounded but she said that it was fine because Mrs. Merritt held her hand the whole time.  Typical Mrs. Merritt....we LOVE her!)

Hannah sometimes takes a little while to warm up to new situations and can be a little nervous before she knows what is going on or what to expect (see above side story). She's been excited about starting school for so long, but I still expected her to get nervous the day she was going.  I was wrong.  She was giddy about going the first day and has been excited every day since!  So proud of our girl!  

It's hard to read on her paper unless you zoom, but when we asked her what she wants to be when she grows up she said "a Mom" without missing a beat.  This is what she said last year too.  And let me tell you, she's going to be such an amazing mom!  Hannah is so compassionate and nurturing even at 5 years old.  

Heading to her classroom!  

That book bag looks huge on her back!:)  

Getting ready to head in!  

I know I'm her mom, but isn't she beautiful?!?

Claire and I made cookies while Abby was napping and had them ready for the big girls when they got home from school on the first day.  

Hannah, we're so proud of what a great job you are doing in school!  We're praying for you throughout the day every day.  Praying that you would learn and grow and be a blessing to those around you.  God has given you so many amazing qualities and gifts and we're excited to see those continue to develop as you start this new chapter! We love you!!

First Day of School - Emily

Emily started second grade this year, which is so hard to believe!  She was so excited when she found out Mrs. Windham was her teacher!  Mrs. Windham has taught 3rd grade for years, but just moved down to 2nd grade this year.  She's know for being very energetic and fun and a great teacher. 

Emily was super excited about the first day of school.  I couldn't even detect any nervousness!  She's said she wants to be "a teacher" for the last two years in a row.  She still has a while to decide, but we'll see!  

Emily is such a great big sister and helped Hannah to be so excited about school.  I walked Hannah to her class the first day but after that Emily walked her to her class the rest of the first week.  I think Hannah's on her own now after they get to the lobby, but she really likes that Emily is "right upstairs."  

Em has several friends in her class this year and we are looking forward to such a great year!  

South Carolina starts some standardized testing in 2nd grade and Emily's heard about it and has said she's a little nervous about it, but I'm sure she'll do great!! 

Emily, we are praying that you would learn a lot, being loving and kind to your classmates, respectful to your teacher and do your best!  We love you and we're so proud of you!! 

Solar Eclipse

So the eclipse that happened on August 21st was a pretty big deal around here in the weeks and days leading up to it.  Greenville was in the direct path to have a total eclipse for just over 2 minutes.  We got our glasses weeks before and were ready to go!  

Bert came home from work a little after lunch so that he could watch it with us while Abby napped. We went in and out for awhile just taking a peek and then going back inside, but when there was about 15 minutes left we brought towels outside and sat and read books under a tree.  We got up and down for peeks between every book.  

I loved this picture of Claire!

During the 2 minutes of totality we were able to take our glasses off and it was an unbelievable experience. 

We didn't take this picture, but someone else that we know in town did so I saved it so that I could remember what it was like.  Amazing!  

Team Watts (minus Abby) glasses picture!  

I would love to see one again when I'm not so worried about one of my small children accidentally looking at the sun and going blind! I wasn't quite as worried about E and H, but C is definitely a wild card. We had a great time together and were amazed by God's beautiful creation!