Our Family Updates!: End of August/September

We finished August w/ Luke's 7th birthday! Wow time is flying! I was so grateful that Rich planned just about everything himself for Luke's party including entertaining everyone! I designed the cake and Wal-mart created it (this is the way to go!) :)

I love these faces and couldn't decide which was cuter so I put them both up!

this is some of the decorating from Rich's or "Luke's" Lego Agent birthday party.

They had a bit of "shooting practice" outside. Who's this party for anyways??? I'm just glad he's a Dad who wants to be involved!

Shortly before Luke's party my niece came to stay w/ us a few days. We had a blast with her. She and I rode this ride at the fair over and over.

We also tye dyed t-shirts together.

Annie w/ her Daddy. I love this picture! :) Annie is so snuggly w/ him, which makes me happy. Abby never wanted to cuddle him.

Luke on his first day of 1st Grade. This was a HARD week for Mom adjusting to full day. The very first day I started waiting for him an hour before he was due home. Gradually I got more and more use to his new schedule. He's doing very well. We got a note home from his teacher w/ some great things said about him and how he's handling 1st Grade. Luke says he likes school, especially b/c they have "3 recesses yeah baby" (Luke). His "strict" teacher has done some amazing things in regards to his penmanship and coloring. We're happy w/ the papers that are coming home and his progress.

On the first day of school the ice-cream truck came by right after he got off the bus. Both kids were so excited. Luke grabbed his money and ran outside. I was happy b/c it helped dull the pain of having him gone so long!

Abby started school about 2 weeks after Luke did. She was excited to have Luke's old teachers that she knew well from the pick up line. Abby has done very well adjusting to school. She has really excelled in her writing. She loves the "writing center" and brags about how many words she has written that day. They are supposed to write 3 or 4 words but she generally fills her whole page! :) I'm so proud of her.

Luke misses his baby sister after a long day at school. I love how he finds her and spends a little cuddle time w/ her. He's a really good big brother, sensitive to her needs, always keeping a watchful eye out for what she could get in to. I love watching them grow up together.

Rich does his best to stop by the house whenever he can. He's really good about giving the kids his whole lunch time, and playing w/ them from the moment he comes home till they go to bed. I love you Rich! :) thanks for being a good Dad!

Luke was proud that he carried Annie himself and sat her between his legs to have her watch him play computer.

Annie tried Play-doh for the first time. She did great and did not eat it!

ahhhh the golden hour. 2-4pm.. my sweet Abby has just given in at room time thinking she did not need a nap... after a long day at preschool I'm thankful she can catch a nap while Luke rides the bus home. It's been a tough decision for me but one that best suits our family right now.

I was so grateful when I offered to drive Luke and he said "Mom, I don't really want to, I like to ride the bus, and I want to sit w/ Jacob!" :)

again... Abby has chosen to give up her room time for a little snooze on the floor. Maybe Mom won't realize I'm napping if I don't actually get in bed!

Here comes trouble!

fun times in the new basement hanging out w/ Dad.

Annie (who couldn't even sit up from laying down) all of a sudden learned how to stand up from laying down! this was my surprise after nap.. Thank goodness she didn't flip over the rail!

a sad tired baby w/ a stubborn tooth waiting to pop through

how about a cold Popsicle!

ah HA! there it is!!!!! finally! at almost 11 months!

kids at the zoo

Saying Good-bye to an old friend. :( I LOVED this car!! SOOOOOO SAD to see it go. But we needed more space, the air conditioning was broke, the tail light was fixed 3 times and was still broke, so it was finally time.