Another School Year

It is official….I now have a second grader and a kindergartner! Tayscen has completed two weeks of school and Braylei just finished her first week.  Both kids are really enjoying school and embracing the changes fairly well.  They are both at separate schools again this year; Tayscen is at Mathews Elemenatry, which is by our house, and Braylei is starting another year at Brookstone.  We went back and forth about putting both kids at Brookstone, but Tayscen is very comfortable where he is at and we decided it was important to keep some stability for him now since we will be moving next summer.

Tayscen is really missing his best friend, Owen, who we found out was moving a few weeks before school started, but he has been a trooper.  He has such an easy going and friendly personality that making friends comes easy to him, but I don't think anyone will ever take the place of Owen.  He is already reading on his own and enjoys music and P.E. at school.  He is excited to continue doing gymnastics this year, especially because he is now in an all boy class and is learning the male apparatuses, like the parallel bars and pommel horse.  We also just signed him up for t-ball again and he can't wait for it to start!

Tayscen on his first day of kindergarten

Taysce and his best friend Owen

Braylei is loving school this year, especially because she is now a big second grader, which entitles her to have juice as an option for lunch now:)  She has a really nice teacher and a lot of her good friends are in her class.  She is excited to once again be in Girl Scouts this year and will now be a Brownie, which means selling cookies and going on campouts!  She is starting at a new dance studio this year, the Columbus Ballet Conservatory, and we are all excited to see how it goes.  She is also continuing with gymnastics and has now moved up to level 2.  She is hoping to do chore as well again this year and will now be taking piano lessons during recess at school.  There is much for us all to anticipate as this year progresses!

Braylei on her first day of second grade

Brixlyn is anxiously anticipating her 3rd birthday in October when we will be going to Disney World!  She loves all things Mickey and Minnie Mouse and can often be found placing one of them in time out when they have done something wrong.  She loves "Look & Find " books and dancing with her siblings.  The other day I caught her doing Kellston's hair and then saying to him, "Now you're ready to go dancing at the ball Kellston!"  She loves to cut and glue anything she can find and is very happy self-entertained kid.  She loves helping with Kellston and singing "Popcorn Popping" and "Twinkle Little Star".  And watch out….she is obsessed with taking pictures of anything and everything, so beware!

Getting ready for the ball

Painting at the Phoenix Children's Museum

Kellston, also known as K-Man, K, Kellsteve, Little Guy, Kells, and Little Man, is now 13 months old!  He is taking a few steps here and there, but refuses to walk probably because his mom carries him everywhere:)  He is still highly allergic to everything, so finding things that he can and will eat has been challenging but we are slowly learning.  He can have absolutely no milk/dairy.  He is not a big fan of Almond Milk, but we are trying.  He loves to play in the cupboards and voice his opinion on everything.  He loves balls, just like Tayscen always has, and "ball" is his favorite word right now.  He signs when he wants to eat, drink, all done, and wants more of something.  He also loves to be outside.  He is a fairly happy kid and we are having so much fun watching him grown and change on a daily basis.  He has started to climb up the ladder on Tayscen's bed and on Brixlyn's as well.  He has tons of curly hair and we often think he looks like one of the Beatles.

Kellston on his first birthday in AZ

Loves the camera!