Labor Day

I had to work at the hospital on Labor Day for my minor holiday, but the rest of the crew headed to my parent's house to have fun. The boys swam for most of the day and concluded with a cold juicy watermelon.

Jax enjoying his first watermelon...all the way down his front:)

There is nothing better than this:)

Connor's 8th Birthday Party

Connor turned 8 on September 6th. I can't believe he is getting so big. It's funny how when I hold his hand now it is almost as big as mine. When I asked him what he wanted to do for his party his only request was for a camouflage party with a water balloon fight. We decided to rent a bounce house with a slide for all the kids to play on and served our typical cheap meal of hot dogs.

Connor opening presents...

Connor reading his birthday card with Grandma Black.

Inline skates from Honey and Papa.

Connor with his ripstick that Doug and I gave him.

Part of the crew singing "Happy Birthday."

Blowing candles...

Connor with his cake.

Connor hitting his Pinata...

The pinata broke at the tippy top so our friend threw the candy all over the yard for the kids to pick up.

It took Doug and I 2 hours to blow-up water balloons and 2 minutes for the kids to destroy them:)

Grant and Preston getting balloons (bottom left).

Jax and Shelley

Connor with his friend Seth. Seth turns 8 a week before Connor and received skates too.

Connor dressed up in his gift from his Aunt and Uncle.

Silly daddy and Preston:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG BOY!

Another One Bit The Dust

You never like to be greeted by your child's teacher in the car line with, "Well guess what happened today?" Connor pulled a tooth in the bathroom:) When he left for school his tooth was loose, but I thought for sure it would be at least another week before it came out. Apparently he was in the bathroom and another child said to push it and pull it...so he did...and it came out!

Connor with his tooth necklace he received from the school nurse.

Connor showing off his big boy teeth and missing teeth:)

The Twins Start Pre-K

WOW, how 4 1/2 years has flown by. It literally seems as though we just came home from the hospital with two sweet little boys! This school year Grant and Preston have started Pre-K. They were both actually pretty excited about getting to go back to school since Connor has been in school for two weeks. This also gives me a chance to start running errands without having the assistance of two little sets of hands.

Precious Preston

Grantsters

The twin pic...I couldn't get them to stand any closer:)

Running to the car...

Ready to go...

As long as I can get them to kiss I will try to get this pic:)

Lovin' boys...

Grant and one of his two teachers.

Preston and one of his teachers, Mrs. Alicia. We have known her for years, but Preston was still not convinced he needed to stay. He LOVES his brothers.

After the first day of school, I bought Grant a car he had wanted and Preston a race-track. The next school day they both wanted to know where their presents were.

Sweet Time With Jax

Shelley needed a little help watching Jax for a little over two hours while she worked. No problem...the twins and I to the rescue. I just painted our living room the night before so we chose to go to Jax's house to play/nap. We weren't there 30 minutes and the poor child was soooo ready for his morning nap. The twins played quietly with Jax's toys and Jax and I went to his room to rock. He wasn't quite sure about sitting in my lap because I think he knew what I was up to:) Within 5 minutes the poor child was motionless and then slept for 1 1/2 hours...the anticipated nap time was suppose to be 30 minutes. What easy babysitting!

He slept thru my picture taking:)

The twins playing with new toys while Jax slept.

One HAPPY rested Jax:)

2nd Grade...Here We Come

August 24th is here and the end of summer has come to an abrupt halt...it's time for school. Can you believe that our oldest child is starting 2nd grade! It is amazing how time flies because it seems like I was holding him for the very first time just yesterday. Connor you make me so proud!! I consistently get compliments on how well behaved you are and what a wonderful big brother you are to the twins. I know that it is hard being the older sibling...I have been there...but, you do a fantastic job of trying to behave most of the time and helping to teach your brothers from what is right and wrong. The occasional sweet looks you give me with your eyes says, "Mom, I love you so much." and yet you don't have to say a word...the hug says it all. I am fortunate that you still give me sweet kisses and I cherish each one! I LOVE you more than you will ever know...you are my number 1!!!

What any 2nd grade boy needs...a camo lunch and backpack.

6:45am sure comes early

Hiding from mom hoping I will go away:)

Sleepy Grant

Sweet sleepy Preston

Donuts for breakfast on the first day of school...the breakfast of champions.

Don't tell the teacher I sugared you up before going to school:)

Connor eating and begging me not to take another pic. I told him this only happens on the first day.

The yearly posed pic.

Grant, Connor, and Preston

Running to the 2nd grade hall

Mrs. Waddill and Connor

One last impromptu pic before we leave Connor for the day.

Connor had butterflies in his tummy, but he ended up having a wonderful day!

Teachers of the Past

Since Connor has started Kindergarten, we have made it a priority to thank our teachers we have had in previous years right before school starts. We always like to take them some Hershey's "Kisses" from Connor with a sweet note attached as to how they mean to us. This year we met up with his Kinder teacher, Mrs. Dobbins. Oh how Connor loves this sweet lady! They were both so excited to see each other. Connor usually never has much to say to her because he is so awestruck by her presence. I have to admit she was/is pretty special:)

We also stopped to see his teacher from last year, Mrs. King. She was a wonderful teacher also. She was a little hard on Connor, but it was definitely worth all the hard work! I think Connor found a special place in her heart also. I don't think she was very surprised to see our family show up with special treats.

THANKS TO ALL THE TEACHERS FOR THEIR VERY HARD WORK!