My Brave Boy!

At the very end of the summer, we finally convinced Austin he could jump off the diving board!  Yay!!!

He loved it so much he did it again and again! 

Go Austin! 

Super Celebrations!

Annie may have gotten a little spoiled this year.  Along with a family party, and a friend party, she got a new guitar and a trip to White Water for her birthday!

Ellie and Annie with their guitars! 

 Finally tall enough for the mat racer slide at WW!

 The fam at WW!

School is in Session!

Well despite my oldest daughter's resistance...School has Begun! :)

Wanna know a secret? I'm am THRILLED!

Ha!

Oh how I crack myself up. No seriously, I am one happy Mama right now. And if you know me, and my little family, then you are not surprised one bit. I understand that not all mama's feel the way I do. I've spoken to a few friends who loathe the start of school. They are sad to send their babies away all day, and they lament over how much they will miss them. When I have a conversation with friends like this, I smile understandingly, nod my head, and agree that the transition will be hard. But inside I'm thinking... Are you NUTS?! School starting means I get my sanity back! How many minutes are left until I drop them all off??

So yeah, there's a little Truth for you today from my little blog! I adore my kiddos, but at least two out of my three are high maintenance people! And after having some alone time, I am a much calmer mother, so I LIKE it when they are in school! I know many of my friends who's children aren't as high maintenance as mine, and I also know that God makes us each with our own personalities, so I really don't mind when a friend feels differently about this subject than I do. I just don't quite get it! :)

Now for the first days update:


Ellie did not want to go back to school, and now, one week later, she still does not want to go to school. :) Don't worry too much about her though, she IS making friends, she DOES like her teacher, and so far she is having a good year. She just doesn't want to admit it!


Annie was THRILLED to start Kindergarten! She is LOVING EVERYTHING! Her only complaint is that it starts too early. :)


Austin started his second year in ECSE preschool, and is going 4 mornings a week! So far he has been a VERY good boy, and this mama is proud!



Now excuse me while I go drink a cup of HOT coffee and enjoy the quiet! Ahhhh....

Triple Birthdays!

Since Grammie, Annie and Austin's birthdays are all within a few weeks of each other, we threw a triple family birthday party for them this year! Lots of family, lots of fun, lots of hugs, lots of presents!

Perfect Pictures!

It took several hours, a snack break, and two crazy ladies....but we got some great pictures!  Lane did a great job capturing my crazy kids personalities. I think we burned some serious calories sweating it out for this photo shoot!


Sweet Annie!

 Adorable Austin!

 Beautiful Ellie!

 Lane is becoming quite the awesome photographer! So lucky she's my cousin!

Birthdays!

Annie and Austin shared a friend birthday party at the RecPlex pool this year! They each got cupcake cakes and had a blast hanging out with their friends!

 Sweet William picked this barbie out JUST for Annie! :)

What do little girls do at the pool? Hunt for butterflies, of course!

Sweet friends! 

 Happy birthday party day to my two little monkey's!

Six

My Sweet Annie Grace,
How has it been six years since you, this sweet baby girl, was placed in my arms? You were long and skinny, and screamed like mad...until daddy held you. Life with you is fun. You are vibrant and playful, beautiful and sweet. You are a good big sister, and a good little sister. You are a precious daughter. I can't wait to see what the next years 6 has in store for us. Actually, I can wait...so stop growing, ok? Just stay six.


Happy Birthday sweet pea! We love you!

The Family that boats together, stays together!

When Jason and I were dating and we went to his parents house for the first time, the view from their deck took my breath away. They lived on one of the most beautiful lakes I'd ever seen. It was a lake I'd been to as a child many times, but I'd never realized how beautiful it really was until then. When we got married, we moved to the same area my new father and mother-in-law lived in. We had a boat for a while, but sold it once we had Ellie. This Summer we were blessed to buy another one, this time along with Jason's family! Although our house isn't on the lake, we're not too far, and we've been enjoying the lake more than ever!

Ellie!


Elaina!


Annie and Austin!


Ellie and Olivia!


Austin!


Chris and Elaina!


Annie!


Olivia!