So much relief

Good things are happening!

Brian has a job. Not only a job, but a job he is so excited about. A job that is in line with his career goals, a job that will allow us to save up a nice down payment and move out into a house of our own once again. Such relief. When he called me at work to confirm he had finally received the official offer letter, I started crying at my desk. He'll be starting tomorrow, traveling to Ames, IA to the corporate office of VenuWorks. And then the following week he'll be in the office, transitioning from the Regional VP who has been filling in.

Our 8th Anniversary

We celebrating our 8th anniversary on September 20, 2011. It was a weeknight, so we had a rather quiet evening. We had dinner at Axel's in Mendota. It was fun to try a new restaurant, but neither of us were impressed enough to want to go back there again. We had a lot to celebrate though, with Brian's new job!

Brody's first day of Preschool

What a week it's been! First Dylan started kindergarten, and now Brody had his orientation day at preschool. The whole morning I kept thinking about Brody and how much I would have liked to be with him. But since I couldn't, I was really glad that Brian was there with him. It's funny how things work out.

Brian did a great job and took all the requested snapshots for Brody's scrapbook!

Requisite front porch photos!

Outside his school, Easter Preschool. This is the same school Dylan went to last year. We really liked the teachers and school, and I'm pleased Brody is getting the chance to attend too.

Finding his spot for his backpack and putting it away.

With his nametag on and ready to play!

Orientation day is a fun chance for the kids to get familiar with the school and more importantly, to play! They went outside and explored the playground, as well as played inside.

Brody had a fun time, and is already asking when he goes back next. He goes to school Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Dylan's first day of Kindergarten

Big day! It's Dylan's first day of Kindergarten!

Before breakfast, he was trying out his new headphones. These are for the computer at school, but he seemed to think he was pretty cool trying them out at home with Brian's iPod. He looks like he has such long legs in this picture!

We took the required photos, including a backpack shot!

Brody took this photo of me, Dylan and Brian. He's quite the budding photographer.

Dylan walks to school instead of having bus service. It takes about ten minutes to get up to the front door of the school. Dylan didn't seem nervous at all.

A fellow scrapbooker told me to get a picture of my kids walking in the school door in Kindergarten, and then another photo of them coming out the door as seniors in high school. Let's hope I can remember that in 13 more years!

Today was orientation day, so at least one parent attended with each child.  

They started by sitting on their adorable rug, listening to Mrs. McFarlane explain the project they would be working on. Dylan kept checking to see if I was still there. Yesterday started out as an emotional day for him. He watched a show on the Disney channel in the morning, and when the show ended he started crying. He was upset that one of the friend's on the show had left and might not be seeing the other friends again. I wasn't surprised, because Dylan can be a bit anxious before big events like this, but he'll never specifically verbalize it. So I just hugged him for a long time and we talked a bit. He seemed fine the rest of the day, he just needed to get that emotion out.

He has a special place to hang his backpack and eventually a jacket when it's needed.

His name is on his work area at the table. The kids made a Clifford project today.

It was fun to realize that every student's name was hanging from the ceiling. Their names were a lot of other places in the classroom too and most of the students seemed to enjoy seeing their name all over the place.

In the morning, the students put their lunch bags and boxes in this basket. They go to recess before lunch, so this way the teacher has all their lunches ready when they go to the cafeteria.

I just love this rug!

His workspace

A fall table set  up in the classroom

After orientation, we went outside to learn the rules of the playground, and to play for a few minutes. Dylan chose to shoot some hoops.

I think it was a good day for him. A bit overwhelming for Brian and me, with the amount of information comign home and all the things we need to remember to do. But we'll get it all together and before we know it, I'm sure it will be routine.

Tomorrow is the first real day! Brian and Brody will walk Dylan to school. He goes from 9:25 until 3:45. I'm willing to be he'll be exhausted this week.

Cannon River Vineyard

This morning I ran to get the camera when I came around the corner and saw this:

Brody was curled up on Dylan's lap, meowing like a cat. Dylan said to Brody: "No Brody, I'm not keeping you as a pet." Haha! These kids say the funniest things.

Mid-day we went to Cannon Falls to the Cannon River Winery. It's just a short drive south of us, and from there, we drove the few miles to their vineyard. They announced grape picking season started yesterday.  

The views in the vineyard were spectacular! They had a little pavillion, and they said they had a wedding there yesterday. 

Lush bunches of grapes were hanging on all the vines. They grow 10 varieties on 20 acres there.

The boys had fun picking. It was just $3 to fill up a crate of grapes. We're going to make jelly.

We all enjoyed Rosie, the vineyard dog. She eats grapes...and lots of them! 

The boys had a great time with Rosie. As we walked back to the car, they ran and Rosie ran along side them. The sight of two little boys and a nice doggie running between rows of grapevines was sweet.

Fort Snelling

Oma and I took the boys to Fort Snelling for their Fall Harvest weekend. We've often visited the state park, but the boys hadn't been inside the Fort walls  yet, and I hadn't been there in many years. This day, the volunteers/actors were depicting 1827.

The boys tried various children's games.

We watched a small group of men show us how the soldiers marched and did different maneuvers. Then they fired their musket. We learned that American soldiers were directed to reload their musket within 20 seconds. Other Army's (including Germany and Russia) were required to load within 15 seconds. That's the difference of one whole shot per minute!

After the demonstration, volunteers from the crowd were invited to learn how to do the maneuvers. Brody volunteered right away, and went and joined the crowd of people. He is third from the end, in the striped shirt. He did a good job and tried to keep up with all the other people. It was so cute to see him out there trying to listen to directions!

State Fair time

Time again to visit the Great Minnesota Get Together. This has always been an event we look forward to and this year was no exception. Though, by the look on Dylan's face, it doesn't look like he was thrilled with the farm activity early on that day. 

Brody can't get enough of the animals!

All day, the only thing Dylan asked for was cotton candy. So once he finally got it, he was thrilled!