Paper Hat Parade...

When I had to send a paper bag to school yesterday, I had NO idea what it was for, but the result was not disappointing:

Alex's school has a 3rd grade tradition to make paper bag hats to celebrate the first week of school, complete with a parade around the school! How fun!
I think he looked SO cute in his hat:

I think it's a great way to celebrate a wonderful 1st week! Alex is enjoying his new teacher and is spending lots of time in that class. He wanted to be in Mr. Lahti's class, so getting to be in there is just the incentive he needs to do what he has to so he can spend lots of time in that room. (hope that made sense!)

Scrapbooking...

Scrapbooking? What's that? You mean I actually need to use those pretty papers and embellishments that I collect? What?
If you know me, you know that I do not go without having one, two or ten craft projects going on at once and lately it's unfortunately not been papercrafting. I've been sewing:


Quilting to be exact! I know, I don't quilt, but I tried my hand at it and loved it! I finished one quilt and am starting on another. These are gifts, so for now those peeks above are all I can show but eventually, I'll post full pictures!
I'm starting on Christmas gifts too, sew much to sew!

One Last Summer Adventure...

Alex, Max and I had lots of last week of summer adventures: library where they each got a dozen+ books, splashpad park, Chuck E. Cheese, and bowling:



This is how your picture turns out when you give your camera to an 8 year old:

Last time we bowled, I scored a 39! HA! Look what having bumpers can do for my score:

It was a fun way to end our week!

1st Day of School...

Alex is a 3rd grader!!!!! Where has the time gone?

Last night we had a Night Before 1st day of school celebration with pepperoni pizza, cheesy garlic breadsticks, Sprite and chocolate chip cookie sundaes:

Alex had fun making his own sundae!

This morning before getting ready for school, Alex & Gunner snuggled on the couch to watch some cartoons:


My big 3rd grader:

He got new glasses that he picked out by himself - they're blue New Balance:

I got him a cool new shirt to wear - it's UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), he has never watched it but they have cool shirts and his Uncle Stevie likes to watch UFC, so he was thrilled:

Gunner watching from the window while we wait for the bus:

He's off to a new adventure:

I'm so excited for him to start 3rd grade! I cannot wait to hear about it when he gets home. :)

The Hat...

It's all about the hat! At Alex's Open House they had airbrushed hats and as promised from last year, Alex got one! He picked it out all by himself - a blue fire breathing dragon on the front and blue & red hockey sticks on the back:

Add monkey bread, playing his DS and our friend Max hanging out with us and it was a good day for Alex!

And yes, he wore the hat all morning and wanted to wear it all day, but since we were headed to the splashpad and he didn't want to get it wet, we left it at home! He's SO funny. :)

Open House...

Alex had his Open House at school and it was GREAT! He's going to have an amazing year in 3rd grade. His teacher is Mr. Lahti and is very kind, patient and loves having the special needs students in his class. (I was in his class once last year with two special needs students and was very impressed and excited for Alex!) Alex has a new A+ (Lakeville's Autistic Program) teacher, but she was there last year in the room next door and knows him well, so I don't foresee any bumps in the transition there (thank you Lord for the answered prayers!).
Here he is putting his nametag on his locker with some help from his dad:

(sorry for the bad cellphone picture - I am NOT liking my phone at all)
My big 3rd grader:

As always, I'm excited for this new chapter in Alex's life, I know he'll have a great year. Our school district, his school and everyone who works there are all such a blessing to us!