A Weekend of Firsts

We're going to have to take a step back to the first weekend of Winter Break. It's going to take me a hot minute to blog everything I want to about the past few weeks! But our first weekend of break included a lot of firsts for our family worth sharing.

First up, Drew finished her first season of volleyball! It was crazy how bad all these little girls were at first, I mean B.A.D. Little by little, they got better over the season and I loved watching Drew practice and work to get better! 

Her winning serves in her last game!

Her adorable team! She is standing between 2 of her besties - Raina and Zara.

 I hope she will keep playing!

THEN, later in the same day, we took Paige to get her ears pierced for the first time! She has wanted her ears pierced since she was 3.5, and the only reason we waited was because of stupid Covid. We got it done at Target with their Hey Rowan stands - done by a registered nurse and not with the ear-piercing gun. It took about 30 seconds to pierce both ears and Paige did great!

A little unsure {since it did hurt} but also loving it, ha.

The next first, in the same day, was the kids all roller-skating at a rink for the first time! This was HILARIOUS. They were all terrible at first but slowly got better! I have a million amazing videos but will limit myself. {grin}

Pretending to fall with Brinley

Drew and Paige getting so much better!

You can see Trent up at the top of the video killing it!

Sunday we had the first party for Paige away from home. Yay for no prep or cleanup! We celebrated at her gymnastics place, and she had a blast.

How does she look SO BIG?!

Why does Drew have to do this? sigh.

So loved and lucky

Our last first was taking care of the chickens Trent's class is responsible for. Their community has a micro-economy and have several ventures to raise money for their class. Over winter break, the chickens needed to be taken care of and we signed up for a few days. Trent was SO good with the chickens, it was really sweet to see him so nurturing to them.

See? I wasn't kidding that we had a lot of firsts ha!

Drew's First Holy Communion

On Sunday, May 2, Drew celebrated her First Holy Communion! Due to Covid, Drew didn't go to church for religious education classes this year, and we did the lessons at home with me as her teacher. It was a pretty good experience for both of us, but usually my mom is the teacher at church, and I'm sad she missed out on that opportunity.

Normally, there is 1 mass that is specifically for the First Communion kiddos, but this year {again due to Covid} they split the kids up, so Drew was with 4 other kids. My parents, Brent's parents, and my sister with her kids came. I was so glad they were able to join us!

Drew was SO excited! And here is the big reveal of her dress!

Didn't it turn out amazing? I love that my mother-in-law made it.

And the big moment!

Posing with the other kids and our new priest, Fr. Piega

A couple of funny things about this picture:

1) the girl to the right of Drew is technically YOUNGER than Drew. 

The height difference blew my mind.

2) Drew did NOT want to wear a veil, which was fine. I wanted her to be happy.

But Trent commented on the other girls being way overdressed, ha.

This picture gives me all the feels.

One lucky girl! She loves and is SO loved by all 4 of her grandparents.

After the service, we went and had hamburgers with my parents, sister, and her kids at a local place that has an outdoor play space. It wasn't a fancy party or anything, but we had a great time celebrating!

Tie-Dye Fun

This time at home has me doing all kinds of crazy things. It's nice to have more time as a family...but kids get bored! So here and there we've been doing little 'extra' activities - you guys saw the bounce house we got, we have busted out a slip 'n slide we've had for years and never used, we've baked...all sorts of things. 

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I bought a tie-dye kit and white shirts for the whole family, and we tie-dyed our own shirts! The kit I bought had super easy instructions to follow {I mean it's really not hard in the first place} for what 'style' of tie-dye you want. We ended up mostly just bunching the shirts up and spraying away. It was super easy - even Paige could do it - and we had a lot of fun!

See? Just scrunch up your shirt and spray! Super easy.

We attempted the spiral design for Drew.

In hindsight we didn't use enough dye, so we just ended up scrunching hers too.

 

I still plan to get a picture of us all in our shirts, but it hasn't happened yet.

But how cute is Trent in his?!?!

Trent's First Communion

On May 20, Trent received his First Holy Communion. He was enrolled in religious education classes all year {with Babs as his teacher!}, and the culmination was this event. I was so excited and proud...and he was not, ha. Such a boy, that one!

Friday evening was his class play AND the dress rehearsal for First Communion, so we had to get to church early and practice with just the Director of Religious Education. They had a photographer there to take some posed shots of the kids, and Trent was being so uncooperative until the photographer started talking about Pokemon. Then he was putty in her hand!

Griping about me trying to fix his hair

This picture cracks me up. His life is so miserable isn't it?

Oh? You know what Pokemon is? Maybe I don't hate this so much.

GQ Model

Then he practiced with Ms. Diane

Finally! A smile!

Discussing where I can go QUICKLY to buy a belt. Did you notice T isn't wearing a belt in any of these pics? When Brent was helping him get dressed, we realized he doesn't have a belt, ha. I stressed and stressed over his outfit and never even thought to get a belt!

So we left and had just a little bit of time for us to stop and get a belt and get him changed into his costume for the play. THEN I realized he also hadn't eaten and wouldn't be home until easily 8:30...#momfail. So at Wal-Mart {ugh} we found a belt {that is reversible between black and brown and was $7! Score!}, got him a Lunchable and some chips {ugh} and also found a Dan TDM t-shirt. Trent is OBSESSED with this guy - he's a British gamer who has a bajillion YouTube videos playing Minecraft. He's like 24 and totally adorable in a nerdy gamer way. Trent FREAKED when he saw they had t-shirts, so of course I had to buy him one!

The next day we got everybody into their Sunday best and loaded up for church. Brent has now been to our church for Trent's baptism, Drew's baptism, and now Trent's communion. He'll have to go again this summer for Paige's baptism - the horror! Trent's godparents, Kristen and Schuyler, also came with their kiddos, both sets of grandparents were there, and also Brent's MeMa! Of course I got zero pictures of everyone together and Trent, Drew, and Beau acted like wild animals who had never been to church! 

And finally! Trent's First Communion! Look at that belt!!

His whole class

It was a very special day, and I did tear up a little as he was receiving communion. He's been really meh about the whole thing, but the next time we went to church he was pumped to go to communion, ha.

Paige's Newborn Pictures

Just a few of my favorites! Love SO MUCH how these turned out! Seriously if you need a photographer, Lindsey can't be beat!

Obligatory First Day of School Round-Up

We are officially back in school! Drew started her second year in Children's house {3 years old - Kindergarten}, and Trent started his second year in Lower Elementary {1st - 3rd grades}. Both kids were in the same classes, however Drew got a new teacher this year as her previous teacher became the Director of their school! Her new teacher has been teaching Montessori for 40+ years, and she seems amazing!

Due to Trent's class having a staggered start {3rd grade starts first, 2 days later 2nd grade starts, etc.}, Drew actually started 2 days before Trent. I was more nervous about her start knowing she had a new teacher {although she previously met Ms. Margaret and thought she was nice} and us having been home all summer together. Last year, she cried for about the first week. The only time she got upset though was when she realized Bubba wasn't going to school too - it seemed to make her a little apprehensive. 

 She is actually wearing the same skirt she wore last year on the first day of school.

Just a little shorter now but still fits our skinny girl! And hello, model pose, ha!

It was so humid outside my lens fogged up, but luckily the subject is cute.

And my picture editor hates me and won't let me write on any of D's pics...

Always wants to stick her tongue out!

And here is her smile when I requested one. {grin}

In the drop-off line. All smiles and ready to go!

Herer actual drop-off went great! Her old teacher, Ms. Stephanie, was the one to get her out of the car, which helped a lot I think. I told her 'I love you! Have a good day!' and she walked off with a wave and a 'Bye Mom!'

When Bubba and I came to pick her up, she was so excited to see us. And she said she had a great day except 'no one would play with me on the playground.' If that doesn't break your heart since she has 4 really good girlfriends from last year. But apparently the rest of the week she had playmates at recess, so all is well with our big girl!

*******************

Thursday came quickly enough, and it was time for Trent to head back to school. He seemed decently happy to go - not overly excited but not upset either. And it was super easy to get him up and moving. I think he was excited to see his friends - we'll take anything that makes him happy about school! 

Again with that face, Drew? {grin}

About to walk Sister to her class - love my cutie pies!

His teacher told me at pick-up that he had 'an excellent first day and was so mature.' I'll pause for effect here... Talk about just about the best news we could have EVER heard!

So fingers crossed we continue to have smooth sailing. I'm not expecting perfection or a stress-free year {as I write this, I have Drew running a 103 fever so she'll be staying home already!} - we ARE going to add a baby into the mix this school year, and I'm already thinking about how that will impact our morning/afternoon routines! But I'm just happy we made it through the first week with no bumps!

Happy school year to all the teachers, parents, and kiddos!