Soccer Diva in Training...

For the past couple of years Rachel has been taking dance. She really enjoys it, but last year she was on a competition team and I think it just burned her out.  When we moved here we asked her if she would like to take dance again and she said no, she would like to try soccer. So, we signed her up and she had her first game today!!  She was so excited!  They all did such a great job and toward the end of the game she was goalie.  We were so proud of her, she stopped 5 out of 6 balls that came her way! It really surprised me how aggressive she was out there!!  I love the look of determination she has on her face during the game...so cute!

Yes, that is Rachel on the ground :)

Until Next Time,
Michelle

God and Me...

Ethan has been in Scouts since he was in first grade and really enjoys the program.  One of the awards that you can work on is the God and Me medal.  It is a great program  that gives him the opportunity to explore his faith and to realize that God is active in every part of his life.  Josh was his mentor during the process and they really enjoyed working together.  Ethan actually started the program while we were in FL and he just finished it this past year. It is alot of work.  He had to complete a workbook and do various activities throughout to finish it.  He was so excited when he got his medal in the mail this week.  Right after he got home from school, Josh presented him with his certificate and award!  It is usually presented to a scout in their church, but since we just moved we did it at home. WAY TO GO ETHAN!!

Ethan realizing his medal had come :)

Josh presenting Ethan with his certificate...

 and his medal...

That is one proud boy!

Until Next Time,

Michelle

It's the Little Things in Life....

I've mentioned it alot on here, but I LOVE pinterest. I have found some of the cutest ideas on there.  Our kids take their snacks everyday for school and I started on the first day attaching little notes to them...just a reminder that I love them and I am thinking about them.  I wasn't expecting them to become such a hit, so I now put one in there everyday.  It is so sweet to see the cute smiles on their faces when they get off the bus and say " Mom, I found your note "  or sometimes it is a joke and they can't wait to tell it to me.  It's the little things like this that makes being a mom the greatest gift in the world!!!!

Love my Boys!

One of the great things about this year is Josh is actually home alot!  He is doing an internship at Georgetown University, so he only has classes on Monday and Tuesday night.  It's really nice to have him home during the day, especially at lunch time.  I honestly don't know what to do with all the help.  We were told to enjoy it because the Air Force will get their time back out of him.....so we are :)  The boys love having him home during the day  too!

Until Next Time,
Michelle

Scouting, Music, and Birthday's GALORE!

Today has been a very busy day at the Craig household!!  First of all,  it was Boy Scout Day at the kids school so Ethan got to wear his Webelos  uniform.  He was beyond excited to show off all of his achievements.  He was also excited because he got to turn in his permission slip to be in the orchestra at his school.  Josh and I had no idea Ethan was interested in the violin, but he came home the first day of school SO excited that he couldn't stop talking about it and begged us to let him play.  I think the fact that his teacher played the Star Wars theme song might have helped a little. MUSIC is a very important part of mine and Josh's lives, so of course we said yes...and it really makes us proud that he is interested in learning an instrument. We tried the piano about two years ago and he just didn't like it, so we will see how the violin fits him!!

Today was also my handsome husband's birthday!!!  It's crazy how time flies by.  He and I were talking this week about how my mom was only 39 years old when Josh and I started dating.  Do you realize that is only 2 years from where he is now??????  How crazy is that????  We are getting OLD...lol.   We celebrated with a family dinner at home and a yummy caramel apple spice cake!! 

He just gets better with age <3

He was very Happy to turn 37..

Tomorrow is our little princess' birthday!!  We let her open her presents and cards tonight because we are going to be SO busy tomorrow with school and sports.  She was very excited with all of the gifts she received.  Next weekend her Mimi and Papa are coming up to visit and we are going to have a girls day where she can spend her money. She really loved the game that her brothers got for her...Just Dance for Kids.  I wish you could have seen them dancing after dinner.  It was SO funny!  I went to record it and my battery died :( ....maybe next time!

A girl after my own heart....she LOVED her giftcard to TARGET!!!  Thanks Gran!

Another gift, from Mamaw June

Josh & I always talk about how much his Mamaw & my Grandmother are alike...well, they both got Rachel the same card ...lol

Thank you Mimi & Papa!!!

Checking out her new game from her brothers...

Until Next Time,

Michelle

The Start of Another School Year...

Is it just me or does it seem like when your children start school that the years just fly by??  I can't believe that Ethan and Rachel are starting 4th & 2nd grade this year!!!  We are very excited about their new school, Sangster Elementary.  We got to meet their teachers last week and they both seem very nice.  Looks like it is really going to be a great year for them.

Lately, I don't know what I would do if I didn't have Pinterest (if you haven't heard of it yet, you should google it and see what it is all about ).  It is such a great place to find ideas.  I found two great ones for the first day of school to use this year.  The first one was for their teachers.  It's a bottle of Bath & Bodyworks lotion with a tag that says " Hope You have a Smooth Year!".  Rachel helped me decorate them and I thought they turned out pretty cute!

The other idea was for the kids.  After they both had fallen asleep, I quietly went into their rooms and placed these right beside their clothes that they were going to wear the next day.  It's a certificate from the Back to School Fairy and a snack for them to take! They LOVED these, especially Rachel.

One thing I love about the schools here, they do not start until 9:05!  That gives the kids plenty of time to wake up, get dressed, make up their beds, eat breakfast and have a little free time before their day begins.  You can tell in the pictures that Rachel was a little nervous about her first day, but once we got to school she walked to her class all by herself and was good to go.  Ethan, however, was great before we left and got nervous once we got there.  They both are very friendly, so I know they are going to meet lots of friends and have a great day!!!  I can't wait to hear all about it!!!

Great way to start the day...eating breakfast :)

First day of Second Grade

Brotherly/Sisterly Love <3

Ethan had to show off his backpack...

First Day of 4th Grade...

Until Next Time,
Michelle