Labor Day Weekend

We spent Friday through Monday at Anna Maria Island celebrating the holiday weekend. We stayed at the Tortuga Inn with Grandma and Grandpa Byrd, and right down the hall from us was Papa Stone and Mrs. Pauline. Ben had a great day at preschool on Friday and got to pick a toy from the treasure box. He was so excited when we picked him up! He showed off his spy glasses and was such a good boy on the trip to AMI. We got there around 4:30 and Ben wanted to put his suit on immediately and go swimming. We met the sweetest little family there. They had a nine weeks old baby girl named Lily and a four year old girl named Lucy. Ben had so much fun playing with Lucy. He even played with her mermaid barbies! After a swim, we went to Oma's Pizza for dinner and Joe's Eats & Sweets for dessert. After Joe's, we enjoyed a nice walk at the beach. A family on the beach were releasing lanterns into the sky, so we grabbed beach chairs and enjoyed watching those drift up towards the heavens. They were beautiful! We spent most of Saturday and Sunday playing in the pool or at the beach. We only left the water to eat. It was such a fun way to end summer.

Here are some pictures from our little trip. Summer is officially over. I'm sad, but looking forward to fall football games and lots of pumpkin treats!!!

One Week Down!

Whew! Our first week of the new school year is over! I always feel like I've been hit by a truck after the first week. We have a new dress code, new bell schedule, and new curriculum this year! That is a lot of new! I secretly thanked God for our storm day yesterday. I think he knew all of the precious students and teachers in Polk county really needed an extra day of rest.

Our biggest news this week is that Ben survived and LOVED his first week of preschool! He has already invited Mrs. Watts and Mrs. Monk to his birthday party, ha! He has been such a joy to pick up from school. He talks our ears off the whole way home, telling us all about his day. I love every minute of it! He got a stamp on the calendar in his folder every day of last week for good behavior. He was pumped about picking something out of the treasure box on Friday! Mrs. Watts told us the sweetest story about Ben on Tuesday. The children are supposed to "lock their treasure boxes" when Mr. Henson does the afternoon announcements. I guess Ben was listening very well because he kept interrupting Mrs. Watts during story time (after announcements). She kept telling him to wait until the story was over but he kept holding his thumb up (that's how they let the teacher know they have a question). When Mrs. Watts finished the story and called on him, she said his voice was shaky because he thought he had to ride a bus home! He heard Mr. Henson mention the bus riders and he was terrified that he would have to get on a bus that he'd never been on! Bless his heart! He has inherited my nerves!  Other than that, he is loving everything about preschool!

I haven't taken many pictures over the last week with my camera, so here is an iPhone dump of photos. Have a great week, everyone!

helping Daddy paint the football field

enjoying his new soccer ball from our sweet neighbor, Mr. Dawes

Friday night lights with Greer!

another sweet 1st day picture

best buds

writing his name on his homework :)

Play-Doh fun while Mama works in her classroom