A bee is never as busy as it seems; it's just that it can't buzz any slower

We are about half way into our season of football and cheer leading and Holden is absolutely LOVING football. Kailyn likes cheer leading,but I am not sure she loves it we will see. They are both learning SO much and really are having great experiences with it. I don't think there is any doubt Holden will want to play again next year. It's so exhausting for our family since he is four days a week! We love it though and love that they both are enjoying themselves. Holden's team is 2-2 if he wins one more game they will be in the playoffs. We were so lucky Kailyn got to cheer for Holden's team the first game. There aren't as many cheerleaders as there are football players so the squads rotate games so that every team gets to have cheerleaders at at least one of their games.

We also have three birthdays and our anniversary within 8 days of each other in September so on top of school, piano, faith formation, football and cheer leading we have lots of celebrating in September which is what makes this month completely exhausting especially for me. All great things I am just tired:). I will post all the birthday pics and celebrations later this week.

We are also preparing for a couple of moms to come for a visit we are SO excited!! My mom comes Tuesday and stays for a week and Chip's mom comes on the 15th for five days!!! It's been a few months so we are ready to have some company!!!

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..." Dr. Seuss

Well the day has come we are officially empty nesters two times a week for three hours! What will I do with all of this free time and a house so quiet?

Callie started pre school last week and to say that she was thrilled and beyond ready is a huge under statement! She has been asking for months when she gets to go to pre school. At first I would say, "When you are potty trained and three you can go to pre school." Once she was potty trained she was counting down the days until she turned three so that she could be a big girl and start pre school. When Kailyn and Holden started a week before her she was devastated. But on August 29, 2011 Callie Ripp's dreams came true she got to go to pre school all by herself. She was beaming with happiness and SO proud that she is a big girl and gets to go to pre school. She told me when we went to meet the teachers that she LOVED when I left her. So you guessed it I did not have one of the children who were screaming, crying and holding onto their mommy's legs begging them not to go. I had the three year old who walked in dove right in and barely noticed when I left. Surprisingly I actually wasn't sad- it's hard for me to be sad when I see my kids so happy. I think it's because it's only three hours two times a week. As I am writing this though I am getting a little sad. The kids growing up is so bittersweet. It's so exciting and freeing to be out of the baby stage for good- no more diapers, bottles, strollers, waking up during the night (most nights anyway). To watch them become little people with personalities, opinions and to get to do more things together as a family. But it's a little sad to realize we will never have another tiny one to snuggle and welcome into this world. I have felt it from the moment we had Callie though that our family is complete. Once we welcomed her into this world and our family I felt like it was right and she completed our happy little family! I am excited to move to this next stage that we have been transitioning to- where we live in the car between school and activities. Where our Saturday's are spent at the fields rather than home. We do it together as a family and that is what matters most!!