First Day of School...and then some.

Tuesday, September 6th marked the first day of school (with students) so we had to commemorate with a first day of school picture.  Anna had technically already been back at Sandra's for three days, but we're calling this the official first day. 

Mommy and Anna.  I can't believe this is my 7th year teaching. 

 Daddy and Anna.  Daddy doesn't really get first days of school anymore, so he gets to pretend on our day. 

In other news...

• Anna is potty training.  The first day of school could have also been called the first day of big girl undies!  She had four almost completely dry days at daycare, with only two accidents and four almost completely dry evenings at home with only two accidents.  Obviously, still diapers at night and nap, but even those are sometimes coming out dry.  This weekend has been pretty good as well, our sticker chart is almost overflowing!  We're hopeful this week will be another great one in the potty book. 
• Grandpa Dave and Uncle James came up this weekend to help us make more progress on the porch project.  If I were to take pictures you may think no progress was made, but more than 1/2 of our day Saturday was spent at Menards picking up all the supplies.  It took two trips, one with two vehicles.  It was a task, and we are so thankful they were here to help us.  We have no idea how the three of us would have managed that project.  We also got a truck load of dirt for fill and loaded up and hauled away most of our sidewalk concrete leftovers.  VERY productive.  Now we can start more visual progress this week and weekend.  Thank you boys!!
• School is going well for me.  It's tricky getting used to 8th graders again after a year of high schoolers, but I'm managing.  They are just so much more energentic than 10th graders.  I'm exhausted.  But I'm glad to be back and doing lots of fun activities and planning cheesey little projects that they love, high schoolers just rolled their eyes at me when I tried to have fun. 
• Brian's new job is awesome.  It's so awesome that at his work picnic last week he won an xbox kinect.  So fun.  I have kind of wanted one for the past six months, since I went on a field trip to Microsoft with a few high school girls and we played it.  However, I couldn't justify paying for one, so I'm so excited he won it!  We haven't had much time ot play it yet, but I'm sure this winter, once our projects are done, we'll have plenty of play time...Anna thinks it is cool too!
• Anna is adjusting well to being back at Sandra's house.  She has so much fun there and loves playing with her friends.  She naps well there, then sleeps well at night.  It's really great to be back into a routine for her.  She operates so much better with routine....and so do her parents. 
• Tomorrow we will be home sick.  Anna threw up in the car on the way home from taking the concrete and has a temp around 102.  She's acting ok, just a little blah.  She's sleeping right now as I type...and has been for a couple hours.  Hopefully she gets a good rest tonight and is better tomorrow.  But we'll be staying home just to be sure.  An extra day of rest will be good for everyone. 
• This week brings more routine.  Brian will start his bowling league this week.  We also have our first five day school week (although now I'm having a sub tomorrow).  Hopefully the weekend weather will be cool and dry and we will continue working on our project.  Now that the materials are all here, we are anxious to get started.