Ballet vs. Gymnastics

At the beginning of the year, we decided this would be the year to start Ivy in either dance or gymnastics. Considering we have the resources of both right here in the city, and a number of different places offer deals for your first class, we decided to try out both to really make a good decision. I really loved the ballet company here in town and Ivy did great in the class. We thought we would stick to dance but still had gymnastics to try out.. Seeing how much fun she had in the gymnastics class and how there wouldn't be any extra fees for recital outfits or new shoes, that all kind of convinced us to keep her in gymnastics. I felt like with her little sensory-seeking self (loves to run and jump and bounce around), that the gymnastics was just going to be a better fit for this year. I'm sure we will go back to dance in a year or two but she doesn't seem to mind either way. Says she loves both of them! 

 

 Here she is in her gymnastics leotard. I didn't get many pics of the class because the parents' watch area was sort of far away from the spot they are at in the gym. I am still amazed at all they can do with these 4 year olds. Excited for this year!

Rest of August

We didn't really have a lot going on in August other than Ivy being in school, Sam starting his first rotation, Marshall going on some playdates and lots of swimming/park visits in the afternoons and weekends.. It was a great, low-key month after a busy summer! Here are some pics I caught of the kids swimming in the indoor pool. Ivy finally started to catch on to swimming/jumping in by herself, after watching her brother become so familiar with the water, hehe:

Making my first ever batch of raspberry jam! Kids had to help, of course but will barely touch it now! I don't know why my kids are so weird. Neither one likes pbj sandwiches!

My handsome kid enjoying toddler time at the library. Watching his face when the puppets would pop up was so stinking cute. He thought they were absolutely hilarious.

Marshall has made a few friends lately. This is one morning when we went to go play with Ada, a cute little redhead that lives near us. I think it's pretty safe to say they are buddies, hehe:

Random evening pics with my camera... caught a couple cute ones of the kids in their jammies:

Minion party in the school bus. hehe. goofy boy:

Warriors path one evening:

 Carousel for the afternoon with just mom and kids! Love these stinkers:

 Morning stroll with Ada at Warrior's Path:

 

All decked out for more swimming:

This chickadee was playing in my bedroom after school one day while I did some housework here and there.. when I noticed she was being unusually quiet. Walked in to find sleeping beauty on my floor:

New friends (still catching up)

When we first moved to the area back in June, Sam and I got passes to the YMCA. I randomly took a yoga class one evening and met a couple girls that seemed super nice.. After the class, we made the connection that we all had kids in child watch that were similar ages..  They told me about the Kingsport Mom's Club that they were a part of and that I should look it up online. Said it was a fun group and they do lots of stuff together. Well we went out of town for 3 weeks so I didn't give it much thought until after we came back home and got a little more settled in.. I emailed someone and said I was interested, then met up with a few other girls at a play date at the pool one morning and they talked me into joining. :) These are pictures from our first few outings with our new group of friends! I really wasn't too sure about it all at first but it turned out that I really clicked with many of the girls in the group. And the fact that a lot of them have kids my exact ages make things especially fun. :) 

Lunch at Eastman Cabins (really just pavilions in a park) with the club:

It just so happened that the week I joined was the week they were having "Mom's Night Out" which someone hosts once a month with a different theme or activity. That month's theme was "Christmas in July." Haha:

Evening at the park with a few of our new friends:

For the August MNO, we went to a cafe down in Johnson City called Tupelo Honey. The food was so good! And the company, even better. It really is a fun group of girls. :)

My new friend Heather, who happens to live right around the corner from me in our neighborhood:

Chilling on the outdoor patio:

Ivy starts school!

This girl had her first day of real Pre-K in the beginning of August! She was approved for the Headstart program in the city which does an all day program. The bus picks her up at 7:45 and drops her off around 2:30pm. She wasn't nervous at all for the bus! And loves her teacher! Ivy really was so ready. She has been itching for more structure and activities in her day so this has been perfect for both her AND mom. Crazy how much she's grown in the past year! Her confidence amazes me when it comes to learning.

With her teacher, Ms. Baker!