School Has Begun!!!

Thus my lack of recent postings. It has been a bit crazy in the Striegle home as we are all adjusting to a new schedule that includes school and many extra-curricular activities. Olivia started Kindergarten last Wednesday and absolutely loves it. She is ready to go each morning with a great big smile!!! This makes for a happy mom. Caden started second grade and has been enjoying the time with his friends again. He has come home for four nights now without homework (and Olivia has had homework), so he is a happy camper. We have been blessed with two wonderful teachers for our kids and can't wait to see how the grow and learn this year.

On another note, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with this schedule. Although I know it is coming every August, football really throws me for a loop. I am truly a single mom until November. I finish work (three days a week), pick up kids, feed them, drive them to soccer (three times a week), do homework, mow the lawn, do the cleaning, make sure we all have clean clothes, etc... This is an adjustment, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love football and Dennis is so passionate about the sport that I have no desire to end this part of our lives. All to say, I long for a quiet evening with my husband, just as Traci mentioned in her blog. It will come, just maybe not until November!!!

Missing our kiddos

We have had a crazy couple of weeks with Football starting, me traveling and the kids visiting Dennis' family which is why the lack of postings. We dropped Caden and Olivia off with Dennis' mom on Sunday and will pick them up tonight at one of Dennis' brother's. This has been both good and bad for Dennis and I. It is nice to be able to complete a conversation, sit together on the deck and pleasure read, eat at a restaurant without any stressful situations, not pick up any dirty clothes or toys, etc... The flip side is we REALLY miss our kids. It sounded nice (and it was) to have a break, but we have realized how quiet things are without Caden and Olivia. All this to say we can't wait to pick them up tonight--God has truly blessed us with two awesome kids!

I hope everyone is enjoying their last couple weeks of summer as it is coming to an end rather quickly. The bus driver called me on Monday night to find out if Olivia would be riding the bus home at noon (she is in morning kindergarten). Unfortunately he got to deal with an emotional mother at that point as I realized that my baby was heading off to school (okay, I have known this, but it made it a reality for me). He was very gracious, but I am still wondering how Olivia can be old enough to go to school!!! To me it seems as though I was just changing her diapers! Wow time flies. So, in three weeks both my kids and husband will be back at school and the hectic schedule of homework, football, soccer, etc... will begin. What fun--and I mean this wholeheartedly!

My Fish!!!

Olivia loves the water. If we would allow, she would never leave the pool at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Last week we went camping for a couple of days up north. Again, Olivia could not get enough of the water. Here is a picutre from where the Platte River flows into Lake Michigan.

Coast Guard Race

The annual Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven kicked off this past weekend with a running race. I did the 5K and then all four of us did the 1 mile fun run. We had a great time and Caden was the fourth runner through the finish line---okay I am bragging, but that is what moms do!!! (The second picture is hard to see, but Dennis and Olivia are crossing the finish line.)

Princess Party

Olivia went to a Princess Birthday party last week and the dad just sent me these photos. Wow, who taught Olivia how to put on lipstick? It certainly wasn't her mother!!!

Football or Ballet?

I remember hearing "fancy footwork" out of Dennis' mouth when he talked about football, but I didn't know what he was talking about until this week when Caden was at football camp. It was a blast watching Caden participate in the camp that the High school coaches run for younger kids. It will be fun when I can go watch both my boys on the field.

Family of Six? How do you do it?????

Saturday afternoon and evening, Dennis and I babysat for my sisters two boys, Simon and Henry. They are two adorable kids, BUT they are 21 months and 10 months! We had a great idea and thought we would go out to dinner and then take a nice stroll on the boardwalk. We went to Taco Bell (if that can be considered "out to dinner") and then headed down to the boardwalk. Simon loves "Ya, Ya" (his name for Olivia) and wanted to walk next to her, not ride in the stroller. Being an aunt, I obliged and put his "safety bear" (teether) on with Olivia at the other end. The two of them took off running while Caden took off full speed pushing Henry towards the water to see some ducks! Dennis was chatting with some friends we ran into, while I was yelling to Caden to slow down or he and Henry were going to end up in the water. At the same time I was running and weaving through the masses of people trying to catch Simon and Olivia. I am sure it was a sight as a few different people offered to help. Needless to say, it was not as easy as I thought taking four kids out on a Saturday night to a crowded area. Dennis and I continue to be certain that our man to man defense/family of four is a perfect fit for us!!!! I have a new appreciation for all those large families out there.