Misplaced time!?

Tonight while reading a Scholastic News to Ellason and Koleson showing the advancement in  fire fighting accessories we had quite a laugh!
Ella says, "This is an old fashioned fire truck and this is a new fashioned fire truck."
Kole asks, "Did they have lights on the fire trucks when you were little daddy?"
Ella answers, "When Mom and Dad were kids they had to use candles for light.  That was in the 90's."
Kole asks, "When Ella was little like me did fire trucks get pulled by horses?  Why did they use buckets instead of hoses?"  Etc.  Question after question led to the differences in time and Kole and Ella's misconception of how old Mom and Dad really are!

Sleepy!

Getting up for school is hard work.  On Tuesday morning after the long weekend I had a hard time getting Ella out of bed, but I finally got her out of bed and sent her to the bathroom to get dressed.  After she didn't come out of the bathroom for awhile I went to check on her. This is what I found!!   She had fallen back asleep on the bathroom floor!

2013-2014 School Year

Everyone has now officially started school at our house.  Travis, Addison, and Ellason started last week Monday the 19th.  I started on Tuesday the 20th and Koleson started today August 27th.  This school year marks Trav's 14th year in 1st grade.  Maybe one of these years he will get to move on! ;)  Addison is in 4th grade this year.  It is hard to believe that after this year she only has one year left in the elementary school.  Ellason is in 1st grade this year and has the honor of having Daddy for her teacher.  After the first day of school she came home so proud that she remembered to call Dad, Mr. Popken everytime except once!  I am starting my first year as the K-12 librarian.  It is a 1/2 time position and I am lucky to be able to teach kids about books, yet still have some time at home with Mr. Koleson.  KB is in preschool this year and is so excited to finally be in school like everyone else.  He had a great first day and is excited to go back tomorrow.

New Spectacles

My two glasses wearers!

Ella has been waiting a long time for her new Hello Kitty glasses!

Kole is liking his glasses so far we will see how this goes!!!

Mom knows. +

While traveling to Sioux Falls this past week wind turbines caught our eyes.  The children started asking questions like "Why aren't they running when it is so windy out?"  After the on slot of questioning had quieted Koleson pipes in with, "Mom knows about windmills and she said the blinking light is so planes don't run into them".  Ha!  Hilarious!  I really like the matter of fact, "Mom knows about windmills".  Not Mom is smart about them.  Just a no nonsense Mom knows.  Smart boy already!

Softball Season

Playing pitcher and throwing the ball to 1st.

The girls are officially done with softball for the season.  We had our last games this past week.  Addi played 2 games a week for about 6 weeks.  They also had practice every morning of game day.  She has grown so much as a ball player this year.  Their league used a pitching machine, but this will be the last year for that.   Next year the girls will be pitching.  She enjoys playing catcher, but has done well at all positions.  Another highlight of the season was having Dad as one of her coaches!



At the ready position in the outfield, waiting for the ball!
 

Addi in the on deck circle preparing for her at bat.  Look at that concentration!



Dad getting some coaching in at 2nd base!

Ella enjoyed her second year of t-ball this summer. 
She had five games and loved everyone of them.   She has really developed as  a hitter over the course of the summer.  Ella got to have Dad coach her also!



My lefty about to make contact!!

Sliding into home!!

No more training wheels

This past week Koleson learned to ride his bike without training wheels.  He had been dragging his feet about trying, but after practicing two different times he had it.  He can already turn around.  It is also amazing how fast he can go already.  We are still working on the starting by ourselves! :)  Kole is finally big enough to fit on the tag-a-long so now he can help us petal when we go on longer bike rides.