Fall 18

And, we turned around from Colorado, (never getting back into the pool because the weather was atrocious) and Zoe started 3rd grade and Chase started 1st in August.  Zoe has two teachers (they share subjects) and her favorite is her home room teacher.  She has been such a blessing to us this year and has really reached out to Z on an individualized level.  She figured out that Zoe loves to organize, so instead of playing iPad games in “free” time, Zoe helps her organize papers, etc.  Third grade math is also super challenging (though Z has done great!) but Ms. McClure has done an amazing job of answering all her questions patiently and really being an out of the box teacher.  She even asked Zoe if she wanted to teach the whole class how to make these swirl snowflakes that Mrs. Tucker had taught her the week before.  She got to go up and even use the iPad projector (insert excitement!).  She was so thrilled.  She also got into REACH and while the transition to missing a few hours every week was a little challenging, she is really enjoying the additional challenges and teaching style.  Zoe is doing great in school and even got the only perfect score in her class on her middle of the year math test.  She has Ella in her class, sitting next to her no less, so lets say its been a great Fall semester at school.  It’s been such a more pleasant year that last year.  Her confidence in herself has grown and we are just in a better place.  Zoe still loves dancing and art.  Mrs. Tucker comes over every Monday to teach art to Zoe and a couple friends.  Mondays are the best!  She also started playing volleyball this year and ended her last game by getting a few very important points by getting her serve over the net!  She is still my one on one girl and loves having friends over.  Practically every day she asks me for a play date.  Some things never change!  My sweet Chase buddy has morphed into a full on boy and just looks so much older than he did a year a go.  His chubby cheeks and baby belly have changed and he looks more like the crazy athlete he is.  His 1st grade year has gone beautifully so far.  We adore his sweet teacher. He doesn’t have many good friends in his class, but it hasn’t seemed to phase him one bit.  He looks for every opportunity to go run and play football and soccer on the playground.  He continues to play Baseball, Soccer (they won 2nd!), and tennis and still wants to add in sports.  We also started him on Classical Connections which has been great for his little brain.  His REACH class has been awesome for him (as its only 5 kids) and he continues to excel in school, though spelling is not as natural for him. (Like his momma).  He also really loves being with his friends and remains super easy going (unless hungry) and always want to play play play with his buddies.  Bridge, Evan, Owen and Jet continue to be his constant companions.   He still loves to run and very proudly brought home the 2nd place Turkey Dash medal in November.  He still cuddles me daily and still has 27 tickle spots.  And, most importantly, he is still mommas boy forever ;)  Daddy is definitely starting to swoop in though, with all the sports, biking, and running. And like Zoe, Chase lives for campouts with his daddy.  Fall as always was busy for us, and  between all the soccer, baseball, and volleyball games we went to Phoenix with mom and dad.  It is a beautiful place but it rained the entire time we were there except the first day.  (And it only rains 6 days a year there).  We did manage to squeeze in a hike before the rain- one that mom will not likely let us forget.  The hike itself was not that hard, but boy was it HOT! Desert hiking is not quite the same as the mountains!  Zoe and Loli were not fans.  I thought it was a great workout though!    I also went to Kentucky for Bethany’s wedding and it was great to be back in the bluegrass state and also kind of fun to be the “kid” since it was Charlie, Tete, Mom, Dad, and I most of the time.  We also stopped into Frankfort, TN - what a great little downtown!  I want to go back!  Ironman and Evie (from Disney Descendants) had a fun, though wet Halloween.  We split up this year so I took Zoe to Trick or treat w. her friends while Chase hung with the Buxhill crew.  Then we met back up and the kids had a blast running around in a pack and we even found some new super cool houses to check out in the hood.  They have been around for years, but we never knew!   We hit up Six Flags on a Friday and we rode so many coasters that mommy had to stop!  Zoe and Justin did a Father Daughter camp out at sky ranch which Zoe adored.  Justin wrote her a sweet note in her journal which she keeps right on her desk in her room.  Overall the kids have been doing the whole sibling fighting thing a LITTLE less.  Zoe likes to be in charge, and Chase, well, he just wants to do it how he wants to which usually involves less rules and structure than Zoe prefers.  They did start playing parade (or meeting) as they now call it again - which makes me so happy!  We stay pretty busy on school afternoons with homework for both kids and this fall we had an activity every single day.  I am NOT a fan of that and will try to plan better next year.  Zoe even had volleyball practice on Friday nights, which at first, we did not like.  But, it actually ended up kind of fun because she enjoyed it and Daddy and Chase got some solo time to practice one of their sports.  And, we stopped getting Mexican every single Friday.  Justin and I have kept ourselves pretty busy even outside of the kids.  J completed in several triathlons and is going full speed ahead! He spends hours and hours in the garage and on the bike in the dark training.  He loves the competition and I think it fills both his physical need to be active and his desire to achieve.  He has done some amazing feats so far and plans to do a half Ironman in Tennessee in May.  The kids love cheering him on and are so proud of him when he hits the finish.  I have been playing tennis tennis tennis and love the physical and social outlet.  My team En Fuego is such a fun, different group of gals and I had the pleasure of being co-captain this Fall.  We took home 1st place!  Total blast.  I play pretty much any time I get the opportunity.  I was blessed with another very busy photo season for my business.  It rained more in that period than it had in like 30 years, so scheduling around that was a bit of a doozy but we made it through thanks to all my awesome babysitter grandparents!  Thanksgiving was a fun blur as usual.  We served at Mission Waco on Thursday and then enjoyed lots of yummy food ourselves on Friday. The kids absolutely LOVE their cousin time. Crazy and chaotic as it is.  They are all old enough to to be fairly self reliant, so with the exception of food or breaking up fights, we really barely see them as they are off in their own world doing legos, nerf wars, or jumping on the tramp over and over. Stella and Zoe go who knows where and emerge hours later.  I’m so glad they all have each other, even if I am totally exhausted when I get home!  We always end fall wondering, wow, how were we so busy?  But, that’s life I think, for now.  So much to pack in, so little time.  So much life to live, and we don’t like to waste one moment!