OT Reunion

In December of 2002, all of us graduated from OT school at Wayne State University. We decided to have a reunion this year with all of our families. Of course I was put in charge. Here's the big gang that came minus a couple husbands who couldn't attend and a few who were taking pictures. Look at all those kids!
Sofia and my friend Danielle's daughter Olivia were "BFF's" for the day!
We met at Kennedy Memorial Park in Eastpointe which was the perfect spot so the kids could run and play the whole time.
Grayson and Brian's son Caden on the slide. Grayson kept calling Caden his brother. HA!

Tigers Vs. Blue Jays 9/11/09

Thanks to our GREAT friends Angie and Joe, Tadj and I got to go to Comerica Park on Friday and watch the Tigers lose :( from a suite :) . It was AWESOME. It had it's own seating area inside with it's own bathroom and was fully catered with hotdogs, quesadillas, chicken fingers, chips, and all the pop you could drink. It was sooo fun. We got to walk around the park for a little while and really got a kick out of the people having to wait in huge lines for the bathroom.
Since it was 9/11, the Tigers invited a few police officers and fire fighters to stand on the field for the national anthem.

Our hosts, Angie and Joe

Joe and Tadj with other friends Dave and Marie

Just the girls

Tadj and Joe sitting inside for a while.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

On Tuesday, Grayson started preschool at Avalon and Sofia started Kindergarten at Koepsell (yes, I'm driving to 2 schools!). Grayson's teach is Ms. Francis, and Sofia's is Mrs. Zentz. We're so excited for such a fun year!!
Poor guy. You can still see all the awful bug bites from camp Hazelwood. We had to assure his teacher that it WASN'T chicken pox.
Scarlett thought she was going too, so we took her picture. She cried for 1/2 an hour when we left.
Little miss Kindergarten was cool and confident for her first day.

Our sweet school kids.

Sofia at her locker

... and at her desk

I forgot to get a picture of Grayson in his classroom, so I got one when he came out. He said he had fun and met two kids, but couldn't remember their names.

Camp Hazelwood

The kids went with Grandma and Grandpa Hardie to camp Hazelwood over the Labor Day weekend. Cathy had all sorts of crafts for them to do!!! They came home with great projects that unfortunately I don't have pictures of. These pictures are from Friday when I was at camp with them.
Tadj found a toad out in the field that was really cool to play with until it jumped out of Tadj's hand and scared the kids to death.

The kids around the fire enjoying some roasted marshmallows.

Well...

... I turned 30 today. I'm not so sure how I feel about it. Usually, people think I'm in my mid thirties anyway when they're guessing ages (never a fun game BTW), so I guess I should already be FEELING 30. I feel 20. I have a husband, 3 kids, and a career and really don't feel like a grown up yet. How'd that happen so fast??!! I was SERIOUSLY just in high school. YIKES!

Anyway, the kids are spending labor day weekend camping with the grandparents. YAY! Tadj and I spent the whole day together: garage sale-ing, grocery shopping, dinner, movie, and some chill time at home. That's been the BEST birthday present. I guess I can thank mom and dad for that one. Tadj also bought me a massage at the spa that I'll HAVE to redeem next week for sure and a pretty bouquet of flowers. It's been a great day and we still don't have to see the kids for another 36 hours or so. I think I'm liking this turning 30 thing... goodnight.

Campout!

Tadj has been promising the kids all Summer that he would take them camping. We missed the ward campout and Tadj usually has to work on the weekends, so he decided to pitch the tent in the backyard for them. We got a fire pit at a yard sale and invited the neighbors over for S'mores. Then Mom and Scarlett went into the house to sleep (that's right!) and Dad camped in the tent with the other two. They did pretty good, but Tadj said that Grayson woke up in the middle of the night insisting there was poop on his pillow! He must have had a weird dream. Anyway, he ended up back in the house around 4am to sleep in his "poop free" bed. They all had a great time.

Dad with the kids hanging out by the fire.

getting ready to roast marshmallows

S'mores!

Hanging out with the neighbors

GROSS!

Swim Lessons

The kids took their yearly swim lessons at Kennedy Pool this month. Sofia was still in Level one, but has finally mastered "underwater exploration". She will now willingly swim with her face and head underwater. YAY! Next year she is ready for Level 2. Grayson and Scarlett were with Mom in the parent/tot class which is basically just playtime. Depending on who teaches this class, it can actually be really good, but this teacher wasn't so hot. Grayson and Scarlett pretty much jumped in off the side and swam with noodle floaties. Scarlett was an absolute fish and LOVED every minute. Grayson had fun, but wouldn't put his face in the water. Next year he's off to level 1. These pictures are from the last day of class.
Grayson was running a pretty good fever this day. We found out later he had Roseola when a nice little rash showed up. We gave him some Motrin and Tylenol and headed out anyway. Afterall, it was the last day, which means "fun day" where they get to go on the water slide.
Grayson and Scarlett got cupcakes from their unremarkable teacher. I can't even remember her name.
Sofia got a treat from her teacher Ed. He actually worked wonders with her this year.

The kids in the locker room showing off their certificates.