Last Day of School!!!

I let the kids have Popsicles and run through the sprinklers with the neighbors when they got home from school!!!

I made a banner for the kids to run through on the last day of school... They thought it was so cool!!!

Well it is here.... THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!! I can't believe it!! I really do enjoy the summers with the kids. We always have a great time (mostly swimming of course!!) The one thing I love most about the summer is getting to not be on such a strict schedule... Don't get me wrong they still have bedtimes to follow but it is nice not having to wake up so early and rush around in the morning. I like being able to get going a little slower if we need to!!! Even though I love the time that we get to spend together over the summer my heart can't help but feel the pain of having a 1st and 3rd grader. Someone once told me that when they start elementary school time really starts to fly by and they grow up right in front of your eyes. Well, they were exactly right.... I can't believe how big they are getting and I wish I had something to slow time down for just a little while. I guess I will have to soak in all of the memories that I can this summer and maybe that will ease some of the pain......Hopefully!!!

A Vacation just for us.....Is there such a thing?

Welcome to San Juan..... It is true you really can go on vacation with out the kids!!! Now it is easier for some than others (I won't mention any names....Daddy!) All kidding aside Tom and I had a great time in San Juan. It has been a while since we have been away just the two of us and it was a great time to get refreshed and reconnect. I am a strong believer that all of us with kids need some time away with each other. Now don't get me wrong it is not always easy and every time I am packing to go and getting all of the kids stuff ready (for my sweet parents who stay with them while we are gone) it is running through my head that is more trouble than it's worth. But once I am through the dreaded plane trip and at the location it is always worth it. We did nothing but lay by the pool, read, and listen to our ipods.... It was so relaxing!! Of course, we talked about the kids more than anything else and we missed them so much we couldn't stand it but it was nice to spend five days of uninterrupted time with just my husband!!! I hope we can do this every year..... maybe without the plane ride!!! (Ha!Ha!)

Carsen's Field Day

Oh mercy....Mommy will have to close her eyes for this race! What are the chances he won't fall!

Carsen doing what he loves most in the world....BASEBALL!!!

Well field day for the boys is a little different than it is for the girls especially when you are a BIG SECOND grader. First off they are really too cool for all of the little stations that are set up for the first hour ( or at least that is what they think!!!). Once they start the stations with their partners for the boys it is all about who won.... unlike the girls who are just having fun!!! Then once the ribbon races begin it is really on!!! Let's face it little boys want to win and it is not enough to get a ribbon they want the FIRST place ribbon!!! All and all it was a fun day and Carsen had a great time...... no he didn't place first in any of his races but he did a great job!! (Such a mommy talking!!!) One of my favorite parts of field day is at the end where they have a tug of war contest.... it is so much fun.... all of the classes compete against each other and you should see how hard these kids work and how much fun the parents have cheering them on!!! I hate to admit this but I tear up at this every year!! ( Again, another Mommy thing I know!!!)

Presley's Field Day

Field Day is one of the best days of the school year in my opinion!!! I love to go and watch the kids in all of the different activities. They have such a good time. Of course this was Presley's first experience with field day so she was SO EXCITED!! You have a partner for the first half and you get to go to all of the little stations that are set up and really you are competing with your partner but I am not sure that the girls even realized that!! After the first half is over there is a little break and then all of the relays start which is where the ribbons are handed out. Of course, since sissy is in kindergarten none of the kids really cared what place there ribbon said they just loved getting a ribbon. Presley did the sack race and the short sprint... Since it is such a big event Daddy even made an appearance to root for little sissy!!! What a fun day!! We look forward to many more field day events!!

First Swim of the Season

Well it is early May and my kids are already at the pool.... We are lucky that we have Aunt Lori and Uncle Sal who have a pool in their back yard so that my kids can start their swimming activities very very early!!! Thank you Aunt Lori and Uncle Sal!!! My kids are such little fish when it comes to swimming..... they will not get out of the water. They literally swim until their skin wrinkles!!! This is just a preview of what is to come this summer. We are all trying to talk Daddy to putting a pool in our back yard for the family to enjoy!! Until then we will just have to keep visiting Aunt Lori and Uncle Sal and taking swims in their pool.....Good thing they live so close to us!!!

WELCOME....OUR NEW PUPPY COOPER!!!

What could be cuter than tiny toes and a tiny puppy!!!

We did it.... We got our new little puppy on May 5th 2010. We decided as a family to get another puppy since our little dog of 14 years died in February!! We will miss you so much Abbie! It took us a while to decide to get another puppy but Carsen said to us one day "So mommy are we just not going to be a dog family?" So Tom and I broke down and got another little puppy!! He is soooooo cute!! Presley came up with the name Cooper and I loved it so that is what we named him. He is such a sweet little puppy and as far as we can tell a smart little one as well!!! The kids love him so much and we are so excited that he is now part of our family!! I mean who couldn't use a little puppy love in their life!!!

Carsen's Field Trip to Fernbank....How Cool!!!

This machine made a real tornado!! It was the coolest thing at Fernbank!! At least according the the second grade!!!

Well this was an experience for me in many different ways. This was the first time that I had been to Fernbank.....What a cool place. I have to admit I was pretty excited to go on this Field Trip with Carsen's class. Now to start the day out I got to be one of the lucky parents to ride the bus!! Wow!!! That was quite a treat!!! Then once we got there I was assigned to 6 kids that I was responsible for the whole day. For those of you who know me well know that I take that job way too seriously!! To make matters worse I had all of the kids who are big wonders so I could never find them which made me crazy.... I swear there were a few times I almost put the place on lock down myself!!! All joking aside I had a great time. I always walk away from these experiences with such a high appreciation for my kids teachers. What a blessing it is for me as a mom to see all the hard work that goes into a school day. Every year that I am up at the school I am so proud of the hard work that goes into my kid's day!! What a blessing and true calling it is to be a teacher.... As a mom there is no way I could thank them enough for all that they do!!!

Mowing the Lawn with Daddy

Nothing like cutting grass in a john john with a Bop Bop!!

Ommie bought Camden a little Lawn mower for outside since he loves to watch Daddy cut the grass!! He loves it so much as soon as Tom starts to cut the grass he runs to get his lawn mower and help!! What a big boy!! Little does he know that his Daddy will probably have him doing this as one of his chores before long. I guess I better save this pictures so that I can have them for proof one day that he did mow the lawn with a bop bop!! I can only imagine that this photo will be a lot different when he is a teenager!! I am sure that he will be in some sort of athletic shorts and no shirt on!!! Great!!!

Let the TROUBLE begin.....

What a face.... He couldn't get into trouble right?

Well the time has come for gates, child proof locks, and child proof doors!!! Now I would like to tell you that we went to the store and bought all of the latest child proofing equipment.... but who are we kidding he is child number three!!! So you will believe me when I say that I let him eat the lucky charms right off the floor because it was the only way dinner got made that night and the other two children came to join him for the snack!!! The gate for the steps is usually Carsen and I don't have the first thing on any of my cabinets!!! My how laid back Mommy and Daddy have gotten since our first born!!!

Fun Day at the Zoo

Mom and I decided to take the kids to the zoo over Spring Break for a treat. We have never been before and the kids were so excited to go. It was a great day as well not to hot thank goodness!!! The kids really loved seeing all of the animals. There favorite thing to do by far was feeding the parakeets!! They give you this little stick with birdseed on the end and you walk into a room filled with parakeets and they will land right in your hand to eat. Of course the trick is doing this first because you can imagine that they get pretty full by the end of the day. We did this twice and the kids would have done it over and over if Mommy would have let them!!! I think our second favorite thing was the Panda's they were so beautiful. As we were waiting in line to see them I was holding Camden and talking to the other two and noticed that Camden has his arm elbow deep into the ladies purse in front of us!!! I hope this is not a sign of things to come!! Ha!Ha! Sweet baby boy!!!