Dusty and Liz's August News

August was full of good times. Dusty celebrated his 35th birthday. We had a coupon for Red Lobster, so we celebrated there with Grammie and Uncle Seth. The kids loved watching the “monsters” (as Ava would call them) swimming in the tank. On Sunday (Dusty’s b-day), we had steaks, taters and a big Strawberry Shortcake. Grammie, Seth and Melissa, Kelly and Kimbie joined in the fun.


Sarah’s dance class at church had their recital this month. Each class did two dance numbers – a ballet and hip hop routine. Sarah’s class danced to one of the Nutcracker songs and “Under the Sea” from the Little Mermaid. It was so much fun. Sarah did really well and really enjoyed the class. I was surprised that she stuck it out, because she did not like the ballet class she took the previous spring.



School started back this month as well. Dusty got moved from Fort Braden and reassigned to Griffin Middle, Springwood and Canopy Oaks Elementary Schools. He was sad to leave all of his friends, but hopefully we will see him a little more this year. He takes Sarah to school in the mornings and occasionally will be checking in at Grammie’s and Sarah’s schools. Sarah was excited to be starting first grade. She already loves her new teacher Mrs. Torgeson, who she also knows from church. We were surprised to find out that half of her new class is comprised of her old friends from Mrs. Davis’s Kindergarten class. Ethan was also excited to be starting school.

He met his VPK teacher and also found that he already had friends in his class as well. Jessica from his Sunbeam class, and Joshua from Nursery were familiar faces. He is enjoying riding on the bikes, playing on the playground and singing the birthday song(actually he complains that they sing this song everyday, and he is tired of it). Ava is adjusting well to her time without Ethan. It was hard the first couple of mornings when we dropped Ethan off and she realized she wasn’t going to play as well. It doesn’t help that the drop off area is right by the playground. But it has been quieter at home in the mornings. She spends time playing with Sarah’s toys, until Ethan get home and she goes back to being his shadow and the cutest super hero around. Ava is also a professional jumper. She jumps out of the van every time we get home. She still tries to jump off furniture on the sly(she spends time in time-out when caught). She also got caught jumping over her baby sister who was lying in the floor. Anna has had some first this month. She has cut her first two teeth. She is now scooting and crawling. And she also is trying new foods. So far, she really loves applesauce, but I think she will eat most anything you give her.

We ended the month with a birthday celebration for Kelly. We enjoyed taco night at Grammie’s after church. The Mexican fare was topped off with banana pudding with homemade meringue. Then Grammie treated everyone (our family, Grandma Bellflower, Uncle Seth and Aunt Melissa, Aunt Kimbie and Aunt Kelly of course) to a concert on her new baby grand. After much playing and singing, we ended the evening by playing a little Apples to Apples. Good Times.