THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!!

You would think that after all the years of sending Cheney to day care & preschool that I wouldn't be so emotional on his 1st day of kindergarten, BUT I was!! We have been so lucky and had a wonderful experience in day care & preschool. Cheney has had AWESOME teachers and made some great friends, but for the 1st time in his life, he went to a new place without those friends. I cried the night before and this morning. He was such a big boy! When I walked him in the building he just ran off to the cafeteria-he was going to eat breakfast with his new friends!! He had a WONDERFUL day-he came home with a new friend and wants to buy his lunch because that is what the "cool" people do. He said that they spent most of his day learning the rules and that they would start learning new things tomorrow.

This is the poem that his teacher sent home in his take-home folder. Needless to say, it made me cry AGAIN!!

The First Day

I gave you a little wink and smile

As you entered my room today.

For I know how hard it is to leave

And know your child must stay.

You've been with him for five years now

And have been a loving guide,

But now, alas, the time has come

To leave him at my side.

Just know that as you drive away

And tears down your cheeks may flow

I'll love him as I would my own

And help him learn and grow.

For as a parent, I too know

How quickly the years do pass.

But please put your mind at ease

And cry those tears no more

For I will love him and take him in

When you leave him at my door.

~Author unknown~

Eating breakfast at home-he decided that he would eat at school from now on because it is better!!

Cheney & Chandler

Okay Mom, enough pictures already!!

Walking up the steps

Eating his 2nd breakfast in the cafeteria

MeMe, I am sorry that I made fun of you all those years-you cried every time I left home, even in college. Now, I know how you feel!! I will probably cry each time too. Thanks for being such a wonderful Mom and MeMe!! We love you!!

Cheney Meets His Kindergarten Teacher

Oh my gosh! My baby is going to Kindergarten. Today, the elementary school had Meet The Teacher. Cheney is going to Jefferson Elementary and his teacher is Mrs. Helms. She was highly recommended by other parents and it was apparent that her kids LOVE her because they were all coming back to visit when we were there. Also, Cheney will have a student teacher from TLU working with his class. This made me feel even older because she is one of my former students at SHS!! Cheney had a great time visiting his new classroom-he did get a little embarrassed that I was the ONLY mom taking pictures!! Oh well, it won't be the last time I embarrass him-probably the first of many!

Cheney putting all his supplies in his cubby.

Cheney and his new friend, Sergio, listening to Mrs. Helms tell them about being in the Magical Munchkin room. She gave them some "Magic Dust" (glitter!) to sprinkle in their hair on Sunday night so they could get a good night sleep and come to school excited on Monday!

Check back after Monday to see pictures of the 1st day of KINDERGARTEN!

Chandler has PIGTAILS!!

This summer, Chandler's hair has gotten really long. I was so excited to have a little girl to dress and put hairbows in her hair. So, I have been waiting for the day that I could put Chandler's hair in pigtails. Unfortunately, Miss Chandler likes to play with her hair so most of the time the pigtails only last for a little while. As she grows up, I hope that will change!! I think she looks soooo cute with her hair pulled up.

Where is Chandler?

This summer, Cheney & Chandler have learned to play "Hide & Seek." The other day, we were over at MeMe's house. Chandler was playing in MeMe's bathroom and started hiding in the laundry hamper. I came in from working out and MeMe told me to "find" Chandler. These are the pictures of her hiding place. She did NOT want to get out!! I guess it was fun to hide out in the dark cabinet.

MeMe had to tie a sock onto the door handle so she didn't bang it into the wall.

Peek A Boo!

Close that door-I am NOT getting out!!

Visiting the Weir Family

The sad but true thing about families is that they never seem to have enough time to get together to visit with each other-until someone dies! Why do we have reunions at a funeral? I guess because we are all reminded of how important that family is to us when someone is gone. One of my dad's brothers died this week and we went to Colleyville, Texas for the memorial service. Even though it was a memorial service, we had a GREAT time visiting with one another. When we all left, we said "Come see us" or "We should get together more often." Maybe that will happen-I guess we will wait and see. Here are some pictures of different people-I know this is Cheney & Chandler's blog, but most of you will be interested in who these people are.

2nd cousins-Cheney, Justin, and Ethan. Justin and Ethan's Grandfather is my Uncle Tommy. Justin's mom is Ashley and Ethan's dad is Dan.

Chandler & Ethan

Justin & Cheney playing videogames. Isn't it funny how boys are drawn to each other when they have toys? These two boys "traded" games for the afternoon.

The surviving Weir siblings-Ron Weir, Larry Weir, Richard Weir, Nay Dell Rice, and Tommy Weir.

The cousins who attended-Dan (Tommy), Pam (Nay Dell), Lori (Ron), Debbie (Richard), Ashley (Tommy), Lisa (Larry), Rick (Elvis), Renee (Nay Dell)

The 2nd cousins who attended. The oldest there was 23 and the youngest was 18 months.

My cousin, Rick Weir, with my dad. These are Rick's two children, Austin and Amanda. I used to babysit them when I was in college!!!! I feel old!!!

The Weir Siblings with their spouses.

We Love Granny Felscher

On August 11th, Granny (Billy's Grandmother on his mother's side) turned 90. On Sunday, she moved into an Assisted Living center. Today, I took the kids by to see her new place. Both kids loved walking in and saying hello to the other residents. Cheney shook several hands and was such a gentleman. He always makes me so proud! Chandler was a little more timid, but since she wants to do whatever her big brother does, she greeted most people with a smile. Granny enjoyed seeing the kids and seems to be adjusting to her move.

Cheney was named after his daddy, William Cheney. Billy was named after his Papa, Walter Cheney. I wish that Cheney had been able to know Papa. I think he would have learned so much from him. Papa would have enjoyed Cheney's goofy sense of humor.

Chandler Grace was named after Granny, Grace Felscher. Chandler enjoys visiting Granny because she gets to take home whatever she is playing with!

When we were leaving today, Chandler took home a magnet from Granny's refrigerator. She had been playing with it the entire time we were there. I told Granny that she didn't need it and should leave it there so she could play with it the next time she visited. BUT Granny insisted (like she always does!!) When we were leaving, Cheney told me "Granny loves us so much. She would do anything to make us happy. That is why she wanted Chandler to take the magnet home, Mom." Cheney is so right! Granny does loves us so much and wants us all to be happy and love each other.

Granny, love you and thank you for loving us!!

A Few More Vacation Pics!

Some of you may be tired of seeing all these vacation pictures, but I have a few more that I would like to share. We got home this morning around 1 am. The plane from DFW to San Antonio was delayed almost 1 hour, but the kids had a good time "running" around the airport. While we enjoy coming home to our own bed, we miss the time that we get to spend as a family. MeMe & Pop are already going through withdrawal-they miss Cheney & Chandler already!!! We are thankful for the time we get to spend together each summer-resting and relaxing! We are already making plans for next year.

Family Picture-last night of vacation

Miss Chandler sure does enjoy french fries!

Cheney and Billy on the waverunner

The wind died down enough for them to go out on Friday. There was a cruise ship in the bay and Cheney enjoyed jetting around it. He realized how huge the ship was!

Coming back to shore

Cheney, Chandler, MeMe waiting on everyone else

Thanks MeMe & Pop for taking us on vacation with you!!

Paradise-Continued...

We are having such a good time that we are trying to figure out how we can move here!! We actually met a girl that moved here from Houston (amazingly she is originally from Waelder and her brother lives in Luling-It's a small world!!) Anyway, talking to her got us to talking about moving here-but we won't because we will miss everyone!! So we know that all good things come to an end and we will have to go home on Saturday. The kids have become quite the celebrities at the pool. Everyone seems to be amazed at their swimming abilities. People stop to watch Chandler jump off the side or Cheney get thrown through the air. We have met a lot of people from all over the United States. It has been so much fun!! I have included some more pictures. I hope you enjoy them!! See you next week!!

We have the perfect room this year-our patio is the 3 arches on the bottom of this building. This picture was taken from the pool.

The beach in front of our resort

A view of town from a hillside

Cheney is on the red 4 wheeler and Pop is on the yellow one. They had a GREAT time!!

Chandler playing in the sand-we found out the little princess doesn't like to get dirty!!

Playing in the surf-it was really windy today. The guys decided they were glad they weren't fishing!!

Wrestling has become really popular around here and Cheney bought a mask in the market. He was very excited!!

Chandler loves hanging out on the patio when she is eating!! This is one of her "new" faces this week-GOOFY!!

Billy throwing Cheney at the pool

Chandler wants to do everything Cheney does

Chandler with her new friend, Sophia. She is from Calgary, Canada. I think it is funny that she is darker than Chandler and she is from COLD Canada!!!

Our Days in Paradise!! Don't be jealous!!

We are spending an awesome week in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The weather has been beautiful. It is hot, but not humid so it is much more bearable than home. Chandler is enjoying having a porch to eat on-she insists on eating outside every day!! She has met a girl at the pool. Her name is Sophia and she is from Canada. Sophia is 22 months old and Chandler has taught her some new swimming techniques. Sophia is trying to teach Chandler how to share her toys. Cheney is having a great time. We had planned to go into town to eat breakfast this morning and spend some time on the public beach. It is protected and much more safe than the beach in front of out hotel. Unfortunately, we had to change our plans because Cheney got sick during the night. He is feeling much better now. Cheney, Billy, and Pop are a taking an ATV tour tomorrow. They are very excited!! Today, as we were laying by the pool, Mom commented "I could spend two weeks here." I agree!! When Saturday rolls around, we won't want to go home!!!

Chandler, MeMe, & Pop getting ready for take-off.

In DFW airport, everyone thought they were so cute in their matching outfits!!

Miss Hollywood-waiting to go through immigration

Still waiting...

Playing in a tree at the airport, waiting on the shuttle to get our rental car

Chandler's 1st taste of Mexican lemonade-it's different and soooo good!!

Playing around in the pool

Cheney is doing a lot of relaxing-we don't know where he learned this!!!!!

Miss Chandler is impressing everyone with her swimming skills!!

Playing around in the pool



Billy's scenery pictures: these are all from the view of our hotel room