And off they go! New School Year!

I can't stop bragging on these kiddos - they have transitioned so well from home to home, community to community, and now school to school. I can imagine the prospect of a new school (and a BIG school - much, much bigger than their small campus at IGA) is scary, but they approached it with confidence and even excitement.

The schools hosted one big open house and we all went together - along with hundreds of other families! We got to meet their teachers and navigate the school.

For Wesley this means his first experience with "big school" and shifting into a full-time schedule. That's been the hardest part so far. I get a lot of "why can't you come pick me up before lunch".  Yikes!  

All the kids are riding the bus, which is new, but the driver is wonderful and several from our community ride as well.  The first day we headed over on the golf cart (with JB ahead of us on his bike) and met the bus, said goodbye, and then anxiously waited until 4PM. WHEW!

Unfortunately, I have NO CLUE where the "first day of X grade" posters are in the boxes, or even if they are in a box here (or still in storage). Our scrapbooks will not be 100% consistent! And I just have to live with it! :)

At 4PM we (all the parents, also anxiously waiting) headed to the Main Gate to grab the kiddos.  Lots of smiles!

And then Cookies and Cocktails after a successful first day. :)  I'm so thankful for the school, the teachers, and praying God blesses and grows the kids in their first (of many) years here.

Saint Simons and Atlanta and Perry - Oh My!

We've put a lot of miles on the cars this summer!  And never seemed to sit still. It's also been a summer of transition, moving out of the temporary rental house first of June, moving back out to the Farm, going back and forth to our new house as we wait for its completion....and then all sorts of short little trips in between.  

For our Independence Day holiday we joined the other Sassers down in Saint Simons for a quick 48 hours of fun in the sun. And...there was a very hot sun indeed!  But fortunately also a beach and a pool, to cool off in. 

Nicole arranged a photoshoot for the families, and we didn't let a little mist keep us from smiling and creating some beautiful pictures and memories. The light was just gorgeous! My hair...not so much, haha.

The kids loved the time with their cousins, the golf cart parade, and the firework show.  SSI really goes all out for the Fourth!

After SSI we left for a quick trip over to the new house to check on construction and enjoy a couple of days in our new community.  And then it was on the road again! This time to Atlanta for...

I had looked forward to taking the bigger kids to see Wicked for ages.  And they loved it, just like I knew they would. I still get goosebumps...

Cousin Kate went with us to the show and also to dinner.  Wesley also had a big adventure while we went to the show: LEGO LAND (part of his reward for completing 100 reading lessons!)

I don't want to gloss over this achievement: I am SO PROUD of Wesley!  It's no small feat to go through 100 reading lessons over the course of 5 months, learning to read and going into Kindergartner with such skill.  He persisted, never said "no" to a lesson and caught on super quickly. 

After Atlanta we headed over to Macon / Perry to see our friends' new meat market and store. What a place!  JB got to hang out with his BFF Mac, serving samples, and then stayed with him the week for football camp.  We went to pick him up later in the week, enjoying some time with the McLeods.  

Whew!  Whirlwind of a few weeks!  But so many fun memories and time with loved ones.

North Carolina Mountains - a quick trip!

We took the littler kids up to North Carolina a few days early before picking up JB so that we could show them the mountains (and also enjoy a cooler temps and less humidity!)  I also found the (bigger, necessary) car I had been searching for, so trading out my car became part of the adventure. We loaded up my favorite black station wagon and headed north!  We stayed in the sweetest Switzerland Inn and enjoyed some mountain views (when they were not obscured by the smoke from the Canadian wildfires).

Maryn, Wesley and I took a short trip one morning to the mines to learn more about the history of the mines in the area and then - super fun - pan for gold and other "jewels". They had a blast! 

After we found all our gemstones, we took them up to the front and the helpful worker explained all that we found.  Hoping to put some of these babies in the rock tumbler soon!

We got to explore one entrance to the mine and learn about what all has come out of it, including materials used in cleaning products, make up, gold and other minerals. 

The night before we picked up JB (anxiously counting down the hours), the kids swam in the (too cold for Mama) pool, we dined outside and then hung out around a beautiful fire pit. The kids ran around, making friends with other kids, and experienced the beauty and wonder of FIRE FLIES for the first time!  Magical...

Always such a fun time with these two, who are as thick as thieves and the best of friends.  We already decided to spend more time here next summer, as the cool mountain air and beautiful surroundings are good for this family's soul!