May 25, 2016. Last Day of School!

My cute kiddos finished up another successful school year. I am so proud of them! This year wasn't easy, but they handled it so well and thrived! Each one of them is so smart and got such good grades. They all made some great friends at school this year and I love seeing them interact and have fun with them. It's a bittersweet ending. We are so excited for Summer and the fun that we will have, not to mention the break from homework and early school days, but we are also sad to say goodbye to such great teachers. I feel so blessed to have had the teachers we did this year. Cute Ruby cried and cried because school had ended. I love these kids like crazy and I can't wait to spend my Summer days with them!!

And my favorite photo tradition. First/Last Day of school pictures! I love seeing how they change and grow each year!

October 31, 2015. Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from my crew!

A skeleton, a raven, a devil, a shadow, and Cinderella!

Love these little people of mine!

Aug. 13, 2015. First Day of School.

The kids started school today! The kids and I were excited for the new school year. We got our new school clothes, our new shoes, registered at our new schools and were looking forward to all the adventures that we would have this year. As it got closer and closer to the 1st day however, I had a lot of anxiety about the kids starting school this year. Especially about Sophie starting 6th grade in an intermediate school. I was trying not to project my anxiety on to the kids and instead we would talk about how awesome the school year was going to be. And I really think it will be! All the kids came home and said they had a great day! Sophie didn't get lost going to any of her classes. She likes her language arts teacher the best so far, and she said the day flew by! Collin has a male teacher this year who loves math and science...just like him! His favorite part of the day was getting his own Chrome book to use this year! Ruby has such a sweet teacher. She got to be the mystery student and bring some things from home to share about herself and she is adjusting to going to school full day. She said the day was so long it felt like two! Ha! Love that girl! So proud of each of my kids. I know they will have a great year! Tomorrow we will tackle riding the bus!

July 10, 2015. Collin's Birthday!

Happy Birthday Collin! Collin turned 9 yesterday! He was so excited for his big day and I think he enjoyed it! He woke up in the morning to a decorated house! Nothing says happy birthday quite as well as balloons!! Later that evening, we had pizza as a family and then opened presents and had cake and ice cream! Collin had been wanting to have a blue velvet cake for a long time so that is what he got! He also got that mountain bike he has been wanting for a while, especially since we moved down here. After cake and ice cream I took Collin to a movie. He really wanted to see Jurassic World. We had a lot of fun at the movie and he really liked it! Happy Birthday Buddy! I hope you had a great day!

June 2, 2015. Last day of school!

Well it wasn't really the last day of school, but our kids didn't actually go to school on the last day of the year and the last day they did go was field day so they wore swim suites, so these pictures were taken three days before school ended!

I'm so proud of my kiddos this year. They all had a great year in school this year. It wasn't always easy,  and it wasn't always fun, but they all gave 100% all year long! I have such great and smart kids. I love them!

As per tradition, my first and last day of school comparison for the 2014-2015 school year:

And one of this cute girl because she wanted a picture too, and who can resist this cuteness!

August 25, 2014. First Day of School!

The kids started school! I for one was so ready. They were ready too although I'm not sure they would admit it! They all seem to have good teachers this year and we are looking forward to a great year full of lots of learning! Sophie and Collin had a great first day. Ruby however was totally disappointed in her first day. She had Kindergarten orientation and was only there a short time. She is loving school now, although I think her favorite part is riding scooters home with Sophie and Collin! Such smart kids I have. I know they are going to have a wonderful year!

We couldn't forget about Miss Lyla. She isn't going to Preschool this year but really wanted too! She was eager to get dressed, pack a lunch for herself, and wear her backpack! Thank goodness she was content with just dropping the kids off at the school.

Aug. 2, 2014. Collin gets baptized.

Collin had such a great baptism day. He was joined by many friends and family members that love him dearly. I am so proud of him and the choice that he made to be baptized. I love him more than he will ever know! Such a special day for a special boy. 

For Collin

Dear Collin,

Last week you turned eight! I can't believe it. It seriously seems like yesterday we were celebrating your second birthday. It was Thomas the Train, and you still had a binky! How did you grow up so fast on me? You are such a great boy. Your smile melts my heart!

At eight years old, you are the best brother. I should say you are still the best brother because you always have been. You have a sweet spot in your heart for all of your sisters. I love the sweet voice you talk to Lyla with and I love the way you can hang with Sophie and Ruby no matter what it is they are playing. Everyone asks me if you are so excited to be getting a baby brother in October. I always tell them you are, but the truth is, I think you would be equally excited about getting a new baby sister. You love deeply and it shows in the relationships that you have.

Just about your favorite thing right now is video games and technology. You love playing Minecraft, Skylanders, and Mario Cart. You could spend all day playing them if I let you! You just saved up enough money to buy your very own tablet. It came in the mail today and you were so excited. The first thing you did on it was watch Minecraft tutorials on You Tube. You love finding new ways to perfect your game!

You are still racing BMX with your Dad. You advanced to intermediate this year and it is so fun to watch you race. It looked like you might be loosing interest in racing, but your interest has picked back up again and you are racing hard. I think the snow cones at the track may have something to do with that!!! You also like spending this one on one time with your Dad, and I know that those times mean a lot to him as well.

Collin you are such a smart boy! You finished up Second grade last month and did so well. You passed off all of your addition and subtraction facts and almost all of your multiplication facts. You are a great reader and love to read big books. The bigger the better! You have a love for facts and science. You always ask great questions. Questions that I often times don't know the answer to. Right now you are enjoying Summer, but I know that before too long you will be eager to start school again!

Your favorite things as you turn eight are: the color green, video games, pizza with sausage and black olives, playing with friends, and BMX racing.

Happy Birthday, Collin. I love you so much. I'm so proud of the young man you are growing up to be. You are such a special boy and a blessing to our family.
Love you.
Mom

July 10, 2014. Collin's Eighth Birthday!

Collin had birthday! 

He chose to have a backyard campout with a few of his friends. It was so fun and right up his alley. The kids ate hot dogs, painted birdhouses, had a marsh-mellow fight, played horseshoes, and roasted s'mores. We sang happy birthday to the birthday boy and ate some yummy s'more cupcakes. It was a great night full of lots of laughs!

Happy Birthday, buddy!

May 30, 2014. Last Day of School.

The kiddos had their last day of school. Such a bittersweet day! Neither of them wanted school to end, although I don't think they have been too disappointed with Summer yet either. Sophie in particular was so sad. She cried and cried that night because she didn't want to leave her teacher. I am so grateful for her teacher this year. Both kids had wonderful teachers. I'm so proud of these guys for the great year  of school they had and I'm so excited I get to have them home this Summer!

October 31, 2013. Happy Halloween!

The kids were so excited for Halloween! Sophie wanted to make her own costume this year and she did a great job! She was a raccoon! One of our sweet neighbors painted the kids faces making their costumes complete! They all looked so cute! 

Sophie and Collin wanted to trick or treat with friends this year and had such a great time! Collin could have stayed out all night. Logan and I took the little girls out. They did our street and then they were ready to be done. We spent the rest of the night handing out candy and the kids ate a bunch of their loot! 

August 26, 2013. First Day of School.

Sophie and Collin had their first day of school today. Such a bittersweet day for me. On the one hand I hate to see them go, but on the other hand I am ready for the routine and the structure that comes with the school year. My kids are getting so big. Sophie started 4th grade and Collin started 2nd. Can't believe I have a fourth grader! Both kids had a great day! Here's to a great year!!!