September's End

I can hardly believe that it’s the end of September already! It’s finally starting to feel like fall here in Texas! Well, until it gets to be about 10:30 in the morning…But hey! We are 30 degrees cooler than 2 weeks ago so I’m grateful. I’ve started decorating for Fall and am loving it. The wreath is up and there are obligatory gourds scattered around our house. Our front entry has a scarecrow up and soon, the pumpkins and mums will be joining him to complete the holy trinity of Fall decorating. Can I say holy trinity to describe Fall decorating? Is that blasphemy?



Soccer season is in full swing and the boys are loving it. This weekend will be an all soccer weekend with Matthew having not 1, but 2 games this week. I’m hoping he’s not going to burn out because today was the Boosterthon Fun Run. So many activities for such a little guy. We should probably refrain from doing too much this weekend.

Michael running in the Boosterthon Fun Run

Soccer Season

I’m so excited for this afternoon. Last Saturday, we went to a Skipping Stone Studio to have our family portrait taken. The boys did so well. They followed almost all the directions our photographer gave them and were being such good listeners. I was such a proud mamma. We took a few pictures with different poses so I’m hoping I like at least one. I was hoping to get some autumn outdoor portraits this year, but after the Google, I realized that it was very EXPENSIVE. I figure my family would rather me spend that money on groceries and such. They are so high maintenance.

After the photo shoot, we were off the soccer games. Both boys played great. Michael has really been into soccer lately. He loves to kick the ball around and actually wants to go to practices. There’s been a complete change in has attitude. I remember it being such a struggle to get him to his games and practice. I don’t know what to credit this change to, but he seems to really enjoying playing more than he ever did. This makes my heart happy.

Matthew was more focused when he was playing, but I know that there is joy in it for him too. Maybe not for the game, but for the social aspect of the game. As I was watching him on the bench talking to his teammates, I couldn’t help but smile. He so loves to tell stories. It was such a joy to watch him being with friends and having so much fun.

We are looking forward to a great soccer season and definitely looking forward to cooler weather.

The Boys Take on Cabo San Lucas

M and the boys went on vacation to Cabo San Lucas without me last month. I was a little disappointed, but with all the weddings coming up, I had to save my time off from work. Besides, I had to go on a business trip so the timing was just not right. They all met up with my bro and his lady and had a great time. I'm just posting about it now because I wanted to include some awesome pics.

The boys got to go swim with the dolphins, which was an awesome experience for them. When they were too young to remember (Matty was 2 and Michael was 4), we took them to Grand Caymen and they got to swim and hold stingrays. I’m so glad that we are able to provide them with these opportunities.

Michael got to go parasailing with M. TWICE. M told me that Michael was a little scared the first time, but wanted to do it again. He’s my adventurist one. Loves the thrills like his daddy. This makes me a little nervous because he may ask to go parachuting or bungee jumping any time now. I would have to say a big “heck, no!” Matthew is more my style. He likes his feet planted firmly on the ground.

Mikey on the parasail!

Ready or Not...

The Labor Day weekend is approaching and I am so not ready for it. How can time move this fast? Anyway, we have very exciting Labor Day weekend plans and no, it doesn’t involve Labor Day sales. I do have some sort of life. At least I’d like to think so. My dear little bro is getting married! I’m in the frenzied midst of preparing for the trip back to CA. Thanks to M’s business travel schedule, I get the pleasure of being in a confined space, up 30,000 feet in the air with 2 very rambunctious little boys for almost 4 hours. Beautiful. With only 2 days left of packing and preparing, the pressure is on.

The boys have always been good travelers and I’m hoping that they still are. They’ve been on many, many plane rides and the last time I flew with them by myself, they were very well-behaved, so I’m not all that concerned. It’s just the prospect of corralling them, lugging the luggage and the booster seats around that gives me heartburn. And arranging for transportation to and from the airport.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again in CA so it’s all worth it. I’m very excited for my brother, and can’t believe that he’s old enough to get married. Congrats, Little Bro and I wish you the best!

A Beautiful Morning

I don't want to jinx this, but Michael and Matthew have been doing so well getting ready for school in the morning. I know it’s only been a week, but I’m hoping for the best. They get up on their own at 6:30, are dressed before they come out of their room, and head down to the kitchen for breakfast. They get to decide what they will have for breakfast the night before and, so far, they are adhering to the rule that once the decision has been made, they have to stick to it.

This morning went extremely well. We were ready to go 15 minutes early, so the boys had time to go outside and play while we waited for the bus. Even the weather cooperated; it was a nice, cool morning. I’m an optimist, but I’m no fool so I don’t expect this to happen very often. I’m taking advantage of these little pleasures and am thankful for every minute of it.

Kicking ball round..

Happy New School Year!

It has been a busy week for the Fishers, and it is all revolved around the start of the school year. There was meet the teacher, 1st day of school and the first time that my babies rode the school bus to school.

Last Friday, I met with Matthew’s and Michael’s teachers. I am so happy with who they got. Matthew’s teacher, Ms. Sheffield, was voted teacher of the year last year and I’ve only heard wonderful things about her. Matthew was so excited about meeting his teacher and it was such a joy to watch him carrying his school supplies, ready to enter into this whole new world called Kindergarten. I loved seeing the pride that he carried around with him. He’s such a big boy and is so enthusiastic and eager to grow up.

M and I were able to take them to school on the 1st day. There’s just something about the 1st day of school that makes it so much fun. There’s just so much excitement in the air that it’s hard not to get sucked into it. Children wearing new school clothes with new backpacks, so excited to start the new school year. Parents with cameras and camcorders ready to capture these precious moments. Some ready and relieved to let go; others hanging on, hoping to squeeze a little more time out of their children’s babyhood. I haven’t decided which of these parents I am yet.

In any case, the boys had a great 1st day and yesterday, they started taking the school bus to school. I was very nervous; much more nervous than they were. They did great, and I am so genuinely proud of them and how independent they’ve become. They are in a brand new school, with brand new people and they have adjusted so well. I’m really looking forward to what the rest of the year will bring.

Matthew after a hard 1st day of Kindergarten. 

3 Days and Counting

Three more days until the first 1st day of Kindergarten and 2nd grade. The boys are definitely ready. I don’t know if I’m going to be ready because they are being picked up by a bus and being taken to an afterschool program. I’m not a wreck yet, but I think I will be on that 1st day. What if they get left behind at school? It breaks my heart to think about my little babies wondering the empty school, all alone and scared. Or worse, they fall asleep on the way to afterschool and get left on the bus in the 100+ heat? Believe me, I will be calling the daycare center to make sure they are accounted for at exactly 3:20pm on Monday afternoon.

On to less morbid thoughts. The boys have been doing a great job with the practice runs of our morning routine. For 4 days straight, they have dressed themselves before they come out of their room and had their breakfast in a timely manner. No tantrums when we have to leave the house. Hooray! We decide what they will wear, what they will eat for breakfast, and what shoes they want to wear the night before. In the morning, they have to stick with their decisions. So far, so good.

Last night, as I was laying with them before bedtime, Michael had a little “pep-talk” with his little bro and said, “Matthew, you don’t even know how fun Kindergarten is. All you do is play all day.” So the mentoring begins. I am so thankful that my boys look out for each other. I hope that they will continue to do so throughout their lives.