Julianna loses her first tooth...followed closely by her second!

So funny story.  Sunday August 9th I get a text and picture saying Julianna has lost her tooth.  My heart lurched.  I missed it.  I was so sad but happy she lost a tooth (I didn't even know was loose).  They couldn't find it so we decided she must have swallowed it.  Gross.  When I got home she was asleep so I didn't see it.  Since she wrote such a nice little note, the tooth fairy left her a gold coin.



"Oops Tooth Fairy I swallowed my tooth.  Please can you still give me money?  Love, Julianna"

 

 

The next morning she popped out of bed to show me her gap.  Imagine my surprise to see a tiny gap from her very loose tooth that was still in her mouth!  Oops!  False Alarm.  She did lose it later that night, after Brian got home. Mommy doesn't pull teeth.  So she officially lost her first tooth August 10th!

 



 
Then a couple days later she came home from school missing another tooth!  She said "I bit into something at lunch and I didn't want Daddy to pull it out so I just did it myself.".  And her top ones are loose too!  Don't know how she is going to eat!

First Day of School

I am pleased to report the first day of school was fantastic!  It was a very early morning but we managed to drag ourselves to the bus stop early to take pictures.  All of my worrying was for nothing.  Julianna hopped right on the bus and didn't even look back.  She was so excited she could hardly stand still!

Look how big our bus stop has gotten! 

 

And at 3:00 they were back!  With huge smiles on their faces.

 

 

A week later it was FINALLY Grace's turn to go to school. After being alone with Mommy for a week this girl was looking forward to seeing her friends!  Grace is in Mrs. Orgeron and Mrs. Kaye's class, they are the Top Dogs. And since she is 3 she gets to go through carpool and walk to her room all by herself.  Such a big girl!

 

 

I know these crazy kiddos are going to have the best year ever! 



 

 

 

 

 



Goodbye Summer!

I just checked my blog.  How is it possible I haven't written a word since the last days of school?  What have we been doing?  Well sit back and relax its going to be a long post!  I left off with my kids finishing up 1st grade, Pre-K, and the 1st year of preschool.  We were looking forward to a fun-filled summer.  Swimming on the swim team, hanging at our neighborhoods brand new pool, playing in our BFF's backyard pool (do you see a theme?).  Then this happened...on Day 3 of summer vacation.  As Grace would say "Seriously?"

He fell off the monkey bars.  I didn't see it (thank God!) but I saw Brian go running and heard Andy say "there's no way that's not broken."  Sure enough fractured both bones in his wrist.  He was out of the pool and had to miss his first sleep away camp.  But the 3 1/2 weeks in the cast went fast.  And he was back in the pool literally an hour after it was off.

While Jake was healing, Julianna was turning into quite the swimming Shark!  Her swim team the PWMC Sharks went undefeated.  Julianna did great in the freestyle and backstroke.  She and Lily were always neck and neck.  They loved the meets and getting ribbons.  Looks like next summer we will be back at it!

Hopefully since Grace (yes she is just 3 years old) learned how to swim.  She just went to the pool one day and when I went to put her floatie on she said "I don't need that Mama."  And she didn't.  Now she is a fish, excuse me, "a mermaid...and a shark."  While she was too young to compete in the swim meets she was a great little cheerleader.  Here she is candy in one hand and yelling with all her might.

Next up our trip to Cincinnati.  What a fun-filled week!  Grandma and Poppy took the whole week off to shower us with attention.  We went bowling, blueberry picking, swimming multiple times, to the park, Skyline Chili, shopping, saw Aunt Cindy and Sheri, and even went for a jog!  But I think the highlight this year was the Children's Museum.  It was amazing, the kids had such a great time.  There was so much for them to do.  They all loved it.

Gotta say thanks to my parents!  Not only for giving my kids such a fun week but for giving me a break!  I got to sleep in every morning and my mom cooked my favorites!  I think I read 4 books while I was there!  And I got a night out with my BFF, Lisa!  It was awesome!  Can't wait for next year.

We came home in time to spend 4th of July with out neighbors.  I stopped in Tennessee to get fireworks.  I had NO idea what I was doing, but "you get what you get and don't throw a fit!"  The dads made sure with whatever I brought back and the kids loved the fireworks!

Johnny, Shana and Wesley got to some twice this summer.  They stay with us while Johnny's coaches his team.  We had lots of fun swimming and hanging around.  We also went to the Aquarium.  We do have the best aquarium.  It's so nice and big with tons to see.  Most importantly it has the "golfins"  That would be dolphins to adults but Wesley kept saying he wanted to see the "golfins" and it was the cutest thing.  And he LOVED them!  Every time they jumped in the air his little arms went up and he said "amazing!"  So cute!  We had a great time, it's always nice to spend time with family!

Wow, this post is getting long.  I really thought in May this was going to be a laid back, sitting by the pool, lazy days kind of summer.  Obviously I was wrong!  Now I am looking forward to school starting so I can rest a little bit!  So after swim team wrapped up Nana decided to have the girls visit her.  Leaving Jake an only child for 3 days.  He didn't miss a beat.  As soon as they were backing down the driveway he was asking what we were going to do!  He chose to go to this place with bowling, ropes course, and an arcade.  Then we went for pasta.  Brian took him the to College Football Hall of Fame and he threw the football and ran around and even walked over and rode the Ferris Wheel.  No lie the kid had a fantastic weekend!  Monday I took him to a movie too.  By the last day I think he was missing his sisters though.  He wanted to know when we were getting them back.  

That brings us to our final trip.  Seaside, FL.  We rented the cutest house with our favorite travel companions, the Deckers.  Worked out so well.  The 7 and 5 year olds shared a room with 2 sets of bunk beds.  Grace was with Bell and her friend Kaya...yep two teenagers and a Grace.  There was a lot of attitude in that room.  

I can't even tell you how much fun we had.  Our kids are finally old enough to like the beach.  They all had the best time riding the waves on the body boards.  Really the girls loved it the most.  Grace just went again and again.  Julianna never got tired of it.  Next year we will be buying boards for everyone...because sharing just wasn't working!  They all wanted to be catching the waves.  

But they loved playing in the sand too.  JP dug a hole one day and it lasted a couple days.  They all go into it.  Bell told the to dig a hot tub for her...so they tried.  Of course it was about 105 degrees so it was basically a sauna outside.  But the beach breeze was fantastic and the water was perfect.  

We went to Destin one day to play some mini golf.  Oh my gosh, if you want to laugh take a 3 year old to play putt putt!  Grace had me laughing the whole time.  Some holes she would 20 putt and by the end it was more like scooting the ball around.  Then a couple holes in she would hit it off the tee, pick it up and set it next to the hole and hit it in.  Finally the last few she just set her ball down by the hole, tapped it in and said done!  She's a riot.

We were sad to come home but we only had one week left before school started! 

Like I said we had one week before school.  August 3rd - 1st day of school!  Crazy I know but I am ready!  10 weeks of summer is plenty for this mom!  Wednesday night we went to check out the kids teachers.  Jake is in Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. MeGehee's class.  It's team taught and I have heard great things about the teachers.  I met them today and they seem so nice and fun!  Jake will have a great year.  Sadly he and JP were split up this year but Ella (from across the street) is in the class too!

Now Julianna.  Oh Julianna.  She is going to have a rough time.  I mean the kid cried at the 5 minute kindergarten evaluation...that I stayed at!  But as it turns out its lucky she did lose her marbles on the floor of the hallway that day because the teacher noted in her file that she might do well being in her BFF Lily's class.  So hip hip hooray!  Julianna and Lily are in the same class!  Mrs. Cardwell is going to have her hands full!  This is them looking for their names on the list.  It was so cute.  

So bright and early (7:07am) Monday morning we will be at the bus stop.  Please pray Julianna gets on the bus without any tears.  I don't really see that happening.  I am probably going to have the pry her off my legs, sit her in the seat and jump off the bus (maybe while its taking off) to get away from her.   Maybe I should just resort to bribery.  I could just give her a coin...the girl will do anything for a coin.  

So tune in next week for the update!  Or let's be real.  Tune in some time next month for the update!

Last Days of School

May is just a crazy busy month.  Each school has a million things going on and this year was a challenge to get to everything.  But we survived. 

Grace finished up her first year of preschool at Mt Zion UMC.  Her teacher left a few weeks early to have a little baby girl so Ms. Jennifer took over for her.  Grace loved all her teachers and had a great year.  She made great friends.  Next year Cadence her BFF will be in her class again.  She will go 4 days 4 hours a day.  Yeah!  She had a small year end celebration.  With cookie cake and a sprinkler (not sure who thought that was a good idea).  She grew up so much this year...

Julianna graduated from preschool and is off to Kindergarten next year.  She had a graduation tea and we were so lucky Nana and Papa Chuck could come see this sweet girl sing.  I posted all the videos on our YouTube channel.  Julianna knows every word and sings with lots of love!  It was a joy to watch.  Her teachers presented her a diploma and said wonderful things about Julianna. We were so blessed to have such an amazing preschool for Julianna.  She had a wonderful year and learned so much.  Even started reading a little.  She is anxious to work on reading this summer!  I see her being a bookworm like her mommy!  Julianna is definitely a little nervous to go to a big new school next year.  But she will have lots of friends and one awesome big brother to help her navigate.  She is ready!

 

Jake is officially a 2nd grader!  How time flies.  He loves school, especially Math.  Mrs. Meynard was his teacher this year and she was amazing.  JP was in his class again and they had a great year!  I doubt they will continue the same class streak next year but that's okay.  He can't wait for Julianna to ride the bus with him too!  He says he will make sure she gets to her class, such a good big brother. 

 

 



Everyone has grown up so much this year!  I can't believe how big they are.  We are going to have a fantastic summer!  We have all kinds of fun stuff planned.  Trip to Ohio, Beach trip, camps, gymnastics, swim team and lots more I am sure.  Most of all we don't have to get up at 6:40 every morning! 



Karate Graduation

Grace attended her first karate graduation.  She is so happy to be doing things the big kids are doing.  She is so loud and animated, its so funny to watch.  But she was up first to break her very first board.  She got up there and kicked and kicked and it wouldn't break.  The instructor said it must be the board.  Got a new one and bam she broke it.  Here is the very short video.  But she is so excited and everyone cheered and clapped. 

 

Jake and Julianna are moving up the belt rankings as well.  Jake earned his purple belt and Julianna her white belt with a purple stripe. All were very excited. 

Spring Break

I am determined this week to catch up on my blog.  I realized Sunday that I hadn't even posted about Julianna's birthday...1.5 months ago.  Yikes!  So we made it through the McNeely Birthday season.  3 parties, tons of presents, balloons, cakes...done.  Until next year.  After all the craziness we were all looking forward to a nice relaxing spring break with the Decker's.  Well it was fun, not sure I would use the word relaxing!

Oh before I get there we had our first batch of stitches.  Jake walked behind a baseball bat.  Pretty sure he and JP will pay more attention in the future.  Unfortunately Brian and I were out of town at the time.  So poor Meegan had to take Jake to the ER.  I think she was more upset than Jake!  But all was well, he got 3 little stitches and is good as new.  He was kind of sad and then I told him Uncle Johnny did the exact same thing except it was a golf club.  He perked up and said "Really?  I am just like Uncle Johnny?"

As I was talking to the doctor on the phone he said he couldn't go in pools for 2 weeks!  I instantly thought how far away is spring break?!?  3 weeks...phew!  Because we were headed to Wilderness of the Smokies!  But first we celebrated Easter.  And managed to get a decent picture.  SOOO much easier to make them smile when you say "as soon as you smile we will go to the waterslides!"

So we arrive in Tennessee and we are off to the waterslides.  A little cold the first day, and it rained day 2 & 3.  But Wednseday and Thursday were beautiful!

Look how excited everyone was!  There was something for everyone.  There were big waterslides, wave pools, hot tubs, and lots for Grace's age too!  And she had a ball going down this slide over and over.

At night we went to the arcade and they also had a ropes course and rock wall.  Oh my gosh my kids are fearless!  Grace played in a tree house thing while Julianna and Jake did rock climbing.  Then they went to the ropes course.  I can't believe how high they were.  Jake was kind of scared at the beginning but pushed through and did the entire thing.  Julianna did the high stuff and then got a little scared and got down.

The next day Julianna was begging to do the rock wall again because she didn't climb to the top.  So I took her and actually climbed with her.  I don't really mind heights but geez it was a little scary to jump down!  And she went all the way to the top!  How amazing is she?

Then we had to do the ropes course again. And she was a pro.  Got a little scared at the end...I think because she didn't want to go down!  It was lots of fun!

Our final day was beautiful and we hit the outdoor waterslides.  There is one that has a tube Grace could go down so that was fun.  She gets in the raft and the instant you go through the tunnel she screams...the entire way down.  Bell took her down the slides and we knew when they were coming.  It was too funny.  Then she would get out and say "I do that one more time."  No one says no to Gracie-Grace!

Fun times with our BFF's!  We are hitting the beach with the Decker's in July, can't wait for another "relaxing" adventure!

Grace is 3!!!

Our baby is 3!  She would say "I'm not a baby I'm a BIG girl!"  And she's right.  She is a big girl with an even bigger personality.  She is always smiling and laughing and running.

Grace is in her very first year of preschool.  She goes to Mt. Zion UMC and has Ms. Emilie and Ms. Kay.  Most importantly she is in the same class as her BFF Cadence.  Yes, they call each other their BFF.  She is doing great at school, her teacher is always telling me how "capable" Grace is.  I noticed the other day she can swing.  All by herself.  I think it took Jake 6 years to figure it out.  Not Grace, she doesn't want to be left behind.  She wants to do everything her big brother and sister do!

Grace is finally turning that magic age.  3 is when everything starts.  You can do ballet, swimming, gymnastics.  Can't wait to sign her up!  But she already started karate!  Yes, watch out world she is armed with a wicked front kick!  I will post some videos, it's hilarious.

Grace loves to do puzzles too!  I bought her a 24 piece puzzle and a 48 piece one for Julianna.  I walked away to make lunch.  Next thing I know she is bringing me the 48 piece puzzle fully assembled.  Now she has to sleep with her puzzles and do each one before she closes her eyes.  At least she is really good at the puzzles and is super fast.

It's hard to say what Grace is like.  I try to write a little bit about who they are every time a birthday comes around.  Grace is just Grace.  She is fearless (yes she has had a dislocated elbow, broken foot, and most recently fell off the couch but was shockingly fine).  She is LOUD, everything she says is a yell.  I guess she needs to be heard, but geez I might go deaf!  She is always happy, for the most part. Not saying she doesn't have her moments but she can go all day and keep smiling until she falls asleep.  Basically she is just fun.  Look how much fun she had here at a store while I was trying stuff on.

Grace was adamant this year.  She wanted a Frozen Party with Elsa.  Yes the same party she had with Julianna last year.  But she wanted HER friends to be there.  So this year, Frozen party was all about Grace.  And she loved every minute!  They watched for Elsa from the windows and Grace practically attacked her when she came in.  But Elsa was wonderful and the girls (and 3 boys) had the best time!

She did face painting, dancing, singing, parachute play, magic and even made balloon animals.  Elsa is amazing.  And to see this huge smile made my day!  It doesn't get much better than that.

Such a fun day and Nana, Papa Chuck, Grandma and & Poppy were all there!  She had such a great time.  She is already talking about her Elsa party next year!

Happy Birthday Gracie Grace!  You are one in a million and we love you to pieces!