A Week of Firsts for E

Ethan went back to school on Wednesday. We began the morning with pancakes...his favorite! 

He is now a big 3rd grader! He was only a little nervous...worried they might begin solving division problems on the first day. I assured him that probably wouldn't be the case.

He didn't want me to walk him into school. This is his third year in the same school so he feels very comfortable there. i couldnt be more proud of him! We are very excited for a wonderful school year! 

On Wednesday evening, Ethan had baseball practice in BG. He chose Cheddar's for dinner afterward and Landen had to check out the water fall as he does every time we go there. He thinks it is the neatest thing!

Last night was Ethan's first Fall league game. They won 6-3! It's all new to him...his peers pitching (instead of the coach), stealing bases, secret signs from the coach, etc. but we're hoping it will help him to learn and grow. He will begin playing the same type of baseball in our hometown community next Spring.

This Saturday morning we are just relaxing at home. Landen slept in...9am but Ethan was up at 7am sharp...he's back on school schedule. They're enjoying a game of Minecraft on the Xbox and we're anticipating a fun evening!

Chattanooga

We were planning to go to Philadelphia and visit Josh's family the first weekend in August but unfortunately Josh suffered with a kidney stone for several days and so we had to reschedule that trip for later. Instead, once Josh recovered we headed to Chattanooga for one last trip before school begins. We had such a fun time...see for yourself...

Lunch at Sugar's Ribs...

An afternoon at the Adventure Science Center...

A ride on the Incline Railway...

Cosmic Mini-Golf...

Our first ride on a steam engine (all of our other train rides have been pulled by a diesel train) at TN Valley Railway...

On top of Lookout Mountain...

An adventure into the caves of Ruby Falls...

We made some wonderful memories and it was neat to take my boys somewhere that I went on vacation as a kid. Ethan begins 3rd grade tomorrow. Can't believe how quickly this break from school has gone!

Progress, Playing, & a Possible Premonition

I am proud to report that Landen has progressed very well with potty training in the past week. He now pee-pees in the potty, even when we're out in public and rarely has an accident. He even pee'd outside in a "have to" circumstance and he has NEVER been fond of that idea...nevermind that I had to put his fold-up potty seat on the grass for him to sit on, ha! He will NOT do #2 on the potty yet though. He has learned that we don't like it much when he does it in his underwear so he has began to ask to take a bath when he needs to do his business. He's always liked to be alone when he's filling his diaper so we've tried sitting  him on the potty and giving him a few minutes of privacy but that hasn't helped yet either. Oh well, he's made TONS of progress in a short time so we'll focus on that and keep working toward the other.

               In his big boy underwear!

        

   Proud of his stickers on his potty chart.

Sunday afternoon had beautiful weather! So, we played out in the back yard for several hours...

                 Trying not to smile!

                      Sweet Face!

Such a jokester...always making us     laugh!

This face is hilarious! Love this shot ❤

Ethan had his first practice for Fall baseball this week. He is playing in a new league where the kids pitch and he has a new coach and all new teammates. Josh is helping coach. Ethan seemed to really enjoy his practice. He is still improving so much. His batting had improved before last season but now his throwing and catching have really improved too! So proud of him.❤

We went to school registration this week and got Ethan signed up for 3rd grade. He had a teacher in mind that he preferred and was telling me about his hope of getting her before we went to sign-up. I told him not to get his hopes up because there were many other teachers that he might end up with, and many of them would be wonderful as well. Guess what...he got the teacher he was wanting! What are the odds? He was thrilled!!! I don't know her yet but I'm so glad that he's looking forward to the upcoming school year.