Way Back When-esday

How is it already October this week?!? Although I love this time of year I wish it would slow down...ok really I just wish it were still summer vacation! I have been trying to narrow down costumes for Emma this year...she really wants to be a princess(what five year old girl doesn't?!) I refuse to let her be a rock star or some other age inappropriate character. She is still my sweet innocent little girl and will remain that way until she's my age!! I'm pretty sure Cinderella will be the princess of choice for this Halloween. I found these cute pics from way back when she was 2...it seems like yesterday!
Cinderella, Emma, and Mommy
October 2006
Our little bumblebee...Halloween 2006

pumpkin patch 2006

Play along with Cheryl at Twinfatuation...it's so much fun to reminisce!

Tales of a Three Year Old

We took the kids to the Lowry Park Zoo on Sunday. From the moment we walked in the park Max said he wanted to see the elephants. We went to see the white tiger and some other animals in the front section of the park and he kept saying "No, I want to see the elephants!" This kid had elephants on his mind. He has this little play mat with different animals and all week he kept looking at it and talking about those elephants. Well when we headed that way...he looked over and screeched...ELEPHANTS!!!!! It really was the cutest thing ever. All of the people walking near us were smiling and laughing about how excited he was...I think we stood there for about 20 minutes checking out the elephants. I wish I would have remembered the video camera. I'm sure we will be visiting again very soon. It's so close to us and when the weather gets cooler it will be the perfect way to spend a weekend afternoon.





"I love the elephants!"

Max loved the water splash area...how cute is he posing?!?

"Mommy, I don't want to look at the monkeys...I want the elephants!"

Mommy and Me Monday

Here is my sweet girl and I taking an ice cream break at Lowry Park Zoo...

Five Year Old Friday

Emma has had another great week in kindergarten. She loves going to school and even comes home and plays school with Max and her stuffed animals. She is so serious when she tells me she has to do her lesson plans and get everything ready...if she only knew! I am just glad she is not feeling overwhelmed. Because honestly I am.. a little. I can only imagine how much busier my life will get when Max starts school too. I guess I'll get some rest when they grow up!
We had a great time last weekend with our dear friends The Rayborn's. We celebrated Damian and Max's birthday with them at a terrific restaurant--JJ Finn's-- only a short boat ride away. Then we took a ride around Lake Harris. It was a beautiful day and perfect for a boat ride. We then came back for some chit-chat and cake. It was a terrific way to spend a Saturday. Emma loves school so much that she insisted on taking her Addition/Subtraction workbook with her on the boat and she worked on it! That girl really cracks me up!

Way Back When-esday

I love FALL...now if only the weather were cooler and the leaves would change colors. Oh well, welcome to the Sunshine State! One of my favorite things about fall is taking the kids to the pumpkin patch and decorating with all of the fun things that fall brings. I also love the smell of cinnamon & pumpkin spice and of course watching Florida Gator football games with friends!! Since tomorrow is the official first day of fall here is a pic from Max's first trip to the pumpkin patch. I can't wait to decorate the house this weekend and take the kids to the pumpkin patch in a couple of weeks.
Emma and Max October 2007

Play along with Cheryl at Twinfatuation...it's so much fun to reminisce!

Tales of a Three Year Old

It's been so long since I posted that I almost forgot my password. Plus I have like 25 other passwords to remember for my school things. It has been a busy busy week and it's not going to stop for awhile so I better get used to it!
Here are some updates on my little guy... Max is officially 100% potty trained. Needless to say...we are thrilled! He has been so cute this week playing t-ball and golf with Daddy every afternoon. He also loves his new Buzz Lightyear sprinkler. He has the cutest little giggle when the rocket shoots up in the air. He has also been singing songs like crazy this week. His favorites are Jesus Loves Me...he especially loves to sing/shout THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO! He also just started singing the days of the week song and he has them all right. I got some cute video of him last night...now if only I could figure out how to put the video on the computer that would be great. Max has also been bringing more craft projects home from school...which I love...and tells Emma that he made them just for her. Even though I snagged a couple things to hang up before she took them. After a couple of "rough" weeks at school, we are back on track. Although he will always be all boy! His teacher is trying to adjust to 12 three and four year old boys(who are ALL BOY!) and 2 girls, so I'm being patient and saying some extra prayers for her. This week was much better and I know it's going to be a great school year. One of my favorite parts of the day is coming home and having him run into my arms and giving me the biggest hug ever...He always says "You're home Mommy!!" and gives me extra kisses...I love it!

Five Year Old Friday

Emma is doing ballet again this year...which I love! She really is so good for her age.She is with 8-9 yr olds and does just as well as them--learning the routine quickly--I'm such a proud mommy. We also signed her up for gymnastics...which she adores. She learned to do a cartwheel in one day and loves the tumbling aspect of gymnastics. Although headstands have been a little tougher for her to learn. After dance camp at the beginning of the summer she couldn't wait to start again. She absolutely loves going to class and has made so much progress...it's really amazing to watch. However, she has been absolutely exhausted getting used to school all day, homework, and our nightly routines. This morning she fell back to sleep while eating her breakfast-I should have taken a pic--it really was unbelievable. When I picked her up after school today she was so tired and cranky. She also fell asleep in the van before we pulled out of school. She goes to bed early at 8:00 pm and sleeps about 10 hours until 6 am but she has always been my napper. We cut off the naps this summer but we did have rest time. In her kindergarten class there is no rest time. They are working so hard. So we decided to let her just stay home, rest, and play with her brother and go back to ballet class again next week. She was so happy and really enjoyed her time with Max and playing with her toys and reading books. She even told me that she doesn't want to grow up anytime soon. She wants to be able to play with her Littlest Pet Shop and color pictures whenever she wants. I swear that girl is too much sometimes! Ha! I want her to enjoy every single minute of her childhood and not feel that she has to do something. But I also want her to know that she has to be responsible too. I just don't understand how some parents schedule every single minute of every single day of their kid's lives. I know that's not us! Thank goodness!

She will have her first ballet and gymnastics performance of the school year at the Zephyrhills Fall Festival on October 23. Here are some pictures from last year at this time. They danced to Tale as Old as Time from Beauty and the Beast.

I am looking forward to a fun-filled dancing year! (minus the exhausted 5 year old!)

Way Back When-esday--oops on Thursday

I was so excited to see that Emma's kindergarten class will be celebrating Grandparent's Day tomorrow afternoon. I get so excited about these little things that mean so much! I love the fact that my Mamaw still talks about coming to my class when I was in K. I feel so blessed that Emma and Max have both sets of grandparents(still married 30+ and 40+ years) and also 2 great grandmothers--one who is 92, the other 80. I love sharing my childhood memories with the kids and knowing that they are surrounded by the love of their families!

Here are just a few way back pics with their grandparents:

Mamaw Goldie and Emma 2006

Mamaw Jennie, Gram, Mommy , & Emma - Four Generations

Mother's Day 2006--

I love our mommy/daughter matching dresses

Grandpop, Baba, & Emma Spring 2006

Papaw, Gram, & Max Christmas 2007

Happy Grandparent's Day 2010!! You are all so special to us and loved so very much!

Tales of a Three Year Old

Max and his buddy Tucker
October 2007

August 2008

August 2010

I was looking through pictures the other day and came across the baby pics and I can hardly remember when they were that small! I couldn't resist sharing these because they are just so adorable! Wish I had one of them together at 2! We'll have to try to get another one at Tucker's birthday in five weeks!

I love looking back and seeing how much these boys have grown in just 3 short years. I can only imagine what the next 3 years will bring!!

Mommy/Daddy and Me Monday

I completely forgot to post these yesterday because my mind was on vacation mode!
Here are some of my favorites from this weekend...
Daddy and Emma
Mommy and Max

We hope everyone had a fantastic Labor Day weekend! We enjoyed watching the gator game, boating with friends, a bbq with some more friends, and relaxing at home. It was just what we needed!!

Five Year Old Friday

Emma's First Day of Kindergarten...
someone was taking some pics with the camera-I found these when I downloaded them last week
Emma with her new backpack

Emma and her favorite stuffed animal Beary

silly girl

what a ham...btw that's my sweet husband in the background cooking dinner-aren't I a lucky girl?!

Kindergarten...seriously?!? When did my baby get so big? It seems just yesterday she was eating solid foods, drinking from a cup, and taking her first steps. Now she is reading, learning new math concepts, and writing sentences. She absolutely loves kindergarten...actually that's an understatement...she is in her element at school. I only hope her love of learning and following the rules stays with her throughout her school years. I was the same way as a kid so I'm pretty sure she will continue on the same path. She loves her teachers and new friends. During the summer, she was a little apprehensive that she didn't know her teachers or the kids in her class but I kept reminding her that she can look out her window and see my classroom.It also helped that she knew several kids from Pre-K.

It's so neat to see her walking in line in the hallway, playing on the playground, and eating lunch in the cafeteria...like a big kid. I am beyond proud of my sweet Emma!

She came home today and she was the very first Student of the Week in her class!!

She also started ballet and gymnastics last week. We are all adjusting to this new busy schedule and fitting in time for homework!! She already has her first dance performance scheduled for October 23-I think I am more excited than her!! I am loving this new adventure with Emma! It sounds so cliche but each year keeps getting better and better!!