Back to school!

Dear Lord,

Use my eyes to SEE new friends,

Open my ears to HEAR my teacher,

Open my mind to LEARN new things,

Let my heart REMEMBER you are near when I'm afraid,

Help me to LOVE others like you do,

I want to SHINE your light so bright in my school.

Amen.

3rd Grade at Creekside Elementary!

1st Grade at Creekside Elementary!

(his classroom is right beside Ms. Lee, woohoo!)

Shine on, boys!!  Be brave, Be kind, Be smart, Be-have!

A quick picture with a hard working daddy.  The rest of us were still in our pjs.  Rise and shine, the Farris family has some serious adjusting to do.  

Meanwhile, all is well back on the home front.

last week

The final week of summer, I pulled out all the good stuff in hopes that this is what they will remember.  I also made a bet with Jackson, if he read a certain amount of chapter books he got to do certain things - not expecting him to do it ALL.  Nerd alert.  So we owe a lot of this to him!

Frankie's Fun Park.  We all did the ropes course.  It was scarier than you would think, I had to play it cool since the only reason I was up there is because the brave 4 year old had to have an adult with him.  We also did the arcade, and go carts, and laser tag, and bumper boats and, and, and, we might as well have gone to Disney World.  'Memories' are pricey.

Kanki! Thanks to Jackson for picking this spot out for dinner.  You know everyone in our family agreed!

Defy Gravity!  We got out of there with no broken bones, woohoo!

A Paper hand puppet show at the outdoor theatre in Chapel Hill.  I could only convince J to go with me, a date!

Second annual Lemonade stand for UNC Children's hospital with our neighbors! Another success.

Dog days of summer...

I am gonna miss these loud mouth fools in a few days!  There, I said it.  I will also enjoy warm coffee, cleaning my house and thinking  There, I said it.

J-Man

Nashy

The-O

Winnie-Lousky

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weekending

Charlie, Jackson and Nash headed to an F3 camp out this weekend at Camp Seagull.  From what I could get, they had a blast.  No pictures...  We held it down here, I won't say it was an easy weekend but it was definitely a little quieter.

A little Friday evening pool time with my water bugs.  Winnie is NOT afraid of the water one bit, which can be pretty terrifying.

'Wow, dis is the best you ever made.' Ahhh we all love you, Stouffers.  Only the best for us.

Speaking of, cinny rolls!  This is how I camp.

Pa-Menchies date!

Work it, girrllll.  I know this romper is too tight, but it is too good.

Bath nuggets.  Getting big and looking like her bros.

Church, they did not have to buzz me to come and get Winnie from the nursery, woohoo.  Her brothers swing on these rails every Sunday until someone gets hurt.  Today I look over and there she is, copycat.

breakfast buds

A classic personality picture of my 3 sons. My oldest, helpful, quiz whiz Jackson. My middle, loud, intense Nash.  My youngest, entertaining, sneaky Theo.  I love breakfast and coffee (lots) with the goobers.

And my #1 girl.  She do what she wants.

kids

We were at a friends 40th birthday party having a good time but it was time for our family to roll out.  I asked Charlie to go find Nash.  After about 15 minutes go by I see that all of our kids are in fact outside making s'mores with everyone.  Maybe he went to get the car for us?

'What? I haven't played Fifa in like 15 years.'  Four kids is real hard ya'll, that fifth one though, glad he's cute.

Billy-Daddy

Our sweet, quiet, and loving Billy-daddy passed away at the ripe old age of 87.  William Troy Winslow touched so many lives. I hope to instill his ever love of learning, reading and serving in my children and myself.  I will drink a nasty vodka over a piece of ice on my porch for him.  May even holler out 'Go Duke!'  

Winslow siblings.  Five rowdy ones.

Lots of awesome throwback pictures throughout Chally and Billy-daddy's house.  We (my mom) always loved a good Christmas card picture.  We were crying 3 seconds after this, guaranteed. 

Chicago!

I say Chicago, but really we were only there for a few hours, Wheaton is where it is at!  We had a flight out on Thursday afternoon that got cancelled that morning.  We went all 'Home Alone' style, throwing necessities in to two suitcases and booked it to the airport to see what could be done.  Good news - they had booked Charlie and me on an 11:30 flight to Chicago and the boys on a 3:30 flight to Philly and then Chicago... because that would definitely work?!  After letting our kids run around RDU for a while and pleading with the nicest lady ever we ALL snuck on to the back row of the 11:30 direct flight, what what what!!!  Everyone was, fine.  I can't say that I am sad to not be going on any up coming flights with Miss Winnie.  It must be that time of the month for priss-pants or something.  We headed straight to the city when we got there to hit up some parks and Lake Michigan.  Then the big guys hit up a Chicago Cubs game!  We were in picturesque Wheaton for the rest of the time where we explored zoos, parks, pools, colleges and the candy store, obviously.  We all love this trip! (minus the airplane part)

That airport family bathroom though, pretty awesome.  Also, I think RDU is the cleanest and nicest airport around. 

'Jat-son' & Luke.  They became fast friends.  

Winnie-girl, living her best life.  I mean who doesn't want to waller around pantless in the lake after a long sticky, sweaty flight.  AmIright?!

The Cubs! I was a little bit jelaous, but I was not about to take Theo & Winnie.

It didn't take Hannah too long to figure out that she did not love baseball as much as her cousins did...

Morning stroll to the best little market and then hit up the Popcorn Store.  Aka - a narrow wall with candy all over it.

Zoo rats.

Walking over to the Sandlot.

Backyard hanging out.  Moms got tricks, yo.

Cantigny Park! A war museum, tons of parks, and a big yellow couch for the best photo ever.

The Queen!

My Loves!

2nd Annual front porch last day picture.  Bye Felicia.

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Antawn Jamison

Jackson got to go to Antawn Jamison Basketball camp this past weekend.  He went with a good friend who hooked us up walking around the Dean Dome, meeting the players, checking out the locker room, etc.  The Tarheels do it in style!

Antawn always trying to take pictures with my kids.  And Jackson looks just like his mother here, sorry dude.  Big buck teef and all.

Well, well, well look who made her way on to the court again.  This time she can walk and there is no stopping her.