Halloween 09'

Halloween day was fun! It was Becca's Birthday too so it makes it a little more fun to celebrate.

We had a party that night and took the kids trick or treating in the neighborhood. The streets were full of people! It was so much fun to go door to door after not doing it for a few years.

The houses are just too spread out here at the Lake and not too many real neighborhoods.

We have just always done the trunk or treat at the church.

Hayden was so fun to watch for the first time. He wasn't sure what to do and kept going back to the same houses. It's a fun age.

I was bummed I couldn't get a picture with everyone. They were all just so busy and spread out. Which is a good thing. They were definately tire the next day.

The Swing

One of my favorite books growing up was,

Robert Louis Stevenson's',

A Child's Garden of Verses

One little story was called The Swing.

I loved this one and would always pretend it was me in the story.

The words keep coming to mind because my kids are obsessed

with swinging lately.

That is the only reason they really want to go to the park is to swing.

Alyssa just learned to swing by herself so it makes it a little more fun for her.

I love to see how happy it makes them.

They could go forever.....

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

Rivers and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside-

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the roof so brown-

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!

~Robert Louis Stevenson

This was conference weekend with some random pictures I took.

Just about everyday at some point you find Alyssa coloring or drawing very intently.

Her new thing is to write a bunch of letters and ask us what it spells.

She comes up with some interesting words.

Hayden has always liked posing to have me take a picture. He often asks me to.

Hey mom, take my picture.

This one because I am usually never in any pictures.

I have loved that this is only a short walk away from our house.

It is always absolutely beautiful no matter what it's like outside.

To end the day....

Justin's B-Day

Happy Birthday

To My Justin!

You are the best!

I love the pictures of Justin with the kids. He loves them so much and they love to be with him. Daddy is so much fun. He will do anything for his family. He takes such good care of us. We love you so much~

Go Trucks Go

Parents as Teachers has done a great one again!

They held an annual Go Trucks Go! event and it was the best for the kids.

Hayden was bursting with excitement when he saw everything. The first thing he said was.... Monster Truck Mom!

He loved walking inside the fire truck and just being around all of these fun huge work trucks.

Brandon loved climbing in each vehicle and trying out the

horns and seeing how big they really are.

Looks like he could take a nap here.

Surrender! (it's what he was saying)

Hayden's 4th

I love my little buddy.

He is so sweet and genuine underneath his rough & tough side.

(hmm... reminds me of someone else we know)

He is all boy!

Right now Hayden is all about anything on wheels and/or that goes

fast and can be put on a trailer.

He has so much energy and hardly stops until he crashes.

He absolutely loves being outside and loves to ride bikes.

His new thing lately is to talk about himself using his name. example: in the bedroom today sitting next to him he says: "Mom, Hayden is making a mess" as he procedes to pull out Brandon's Transformers.

He is a big helper. He loves to help dad mow, mom cook, clean, hang clothes up.

Just to name a few.

You are growing up way too fast! I still look at him as my baby, because he is, but these birthdays just keep coming.

I love my Hayden with all my heart and we are so blessed to have him be part of our family.

First days

Here we are on the first day of school.

He was up, dressed, hair done, back pack on all ready

to go before I was out of bed.

The first day is always the best.

The funny part about his clothes...

The night before he went and pulled out every polo he owns

to decide what to wear.

He barely touched them all Summer, and on the first day

of school he had to look good.

I like how he cared so much about looking nice.

Top:Alyssa with her Preschool Teacher Miss Angela. I took this picture, and for some reason on her first real day of school I forgot to take her picture until after school. She will go twice a week 3 hours a day. She is happy to be back in school.

Where have these years gone?

Alyssa, you are such a sweetheart, kind and funny and so sensitive.

When your brothers are scared of a bug or spider you take care of them.

You are aware of people around you.

I love watching you grow (even though it's going too fast)

and seeing all of your talents and personality come out.

You will always be our baby girl.

How is my baby girl already 5? That is a big change for me. She is growing up way too much for my taste. I told her she isn't allowed to grow up and she argued that with me saying she can't wait to be big.

She had a fun Birthday surprise when Isabel and Alex came over without her knowing. It made everything more fun to share with two of her best friends/cousins.

Swimming

We have had quite the fun time this Summer playing at the pool. Brandon is learning to swim above and below water and do somersaults. His favorite is to jump in over and over again.

Alyssa has loved learning to swim (with her jacket on) but it is really helping her and she has learned a lot and she also loves to jump in and hold her breath under water for extended periods of time, which sometimes makes me wonder. She's got a great set of lungs.

Hayden has had a slow time getting comfortable with his jacket and trusting that he won't go under when my hand is not on him every second. He's is doing a lot better now and will paddle back and forth in the big pool by himself. He is just learning to put his head under water and how that works.

I love having a pool just around the corner and the fun times it gives us. What will we do when Summer is over?

Here is a very short video of Alyssa swimming without her life jacket. Yes, she has to hold her nose and close her eyes. She gets that from me. Where are those goggles we bought you?