First Day of School!

It is official. We have TWO school age children. Emma started 2nd Grade and James is in Kindergarten. My how time flies. It was a very exciting two days. James started first @ public school.. (he will join Emma next year) and Emma started the next day!

Storybook Land

Black and Whites

On one of the final days of summer, I was able to catch my children ( at first) just as they (usually) are. Laughing and joking with one another. Or, eating pop tarts. Depending on which moment you catch. Once they caught me in action, they were all for goofing off for me. Is it just me, or are these kids really cute?

James Turns Five!

James turned 5 on August 22nd! It is hard to believe ! He was absolutely certain that he wanted to have his party at the slot car place near his Daddy's work. So along we his closest friends and some family, away we went. Check out his cool cake!

Bible Camp

This summer we were fortunate enough to have our close family friend AnneMarie, volunteer at a local church for a Vacation Bible School. Now we have tried this in the past at the pre-school they attended, and I had one kid on each thigh and tears galore. AnneMarie assured us that the group would be no larger than 40 kids, so.. we signed up. Anyone that knows my kids, knows they are not the greatest joiners.. ahem, Emma Jane, so we asked Sydney to come along and it was all systems go. A week of singing songs and making crafts. It was wonderful. They both want to go again next year, and I think we will send James and Payton next year too!

Faires

On a recent playdate.. Sydney was over and we were looking for an activity. We had this fairy project, that was simple enough and required only a *lil bit* of help from Momma. James of course is great when it comes to playing with *goil* stuff. He will play barbies or polly pocket.. AS LONG AS HE IS THE DUDE... So, he was ok with making one for the *goils*.. ergo the head down posture for his picture... (nope James, noone knows thats you). Emma and Syd each kept the one they made, and James sent his home to Payton. Awww.

Sleepover Fun

I am so lucky to have nieces, literally the same age as my children. They are the best of friends and get along like peas and carrots. Sydney and Payton are great when they stay, and the four of them are actually easier than just the two of mine! We make a big deal and go out and buy cheapie pj's so everyone is matchy matchy and we get in them early and stay in them late! Good times, good times.

Emma had her Spring Concert this past week, and despite concerns of serious stage fright... she did great. It did our hearts good to watch as she took in deep breaths and sang her lil heart out. They also did sign language to one of the songs as well. It was eye welling, heart pounding to overflow with pride and joy good fun!

Easter 2008

Can you believe Emma Jane is 7?

Every time I turn around, my Emma changes. I can hardly believe that she just turned 7. The saying.. *it goes by so quickly* doesn't really even compute until you are raising a child that seems to grow every day. She is an amazing kid, compasionate.. sensitive.. warm and caring. I look forward to watching all her changes as the years pass. Happy Birthday Emma Jane!!!!

Ski Trip 2008

The annual ski trip took us north to Mount Snow Vermont. As usual we rented a huge house with tons of immenities and all the creature comforts one seeks away from home. Due to me being ill this year, I opted not to ski.. and therefor there is limited photos this year. Emma and Sydney (the 6 year olds) took to the mountain as if no time has passed. Skiing like old pros. Im told Emma has excellent control, and can from big or lil s's on command. That MY girl! We also added a new adventure to this years agenda.. Snow Mobiling!! We took a back woods, guided two hour tour and it was one of the most beautiful sceneries I have ever beheld. Pine trees thickly weighted down with snow, which continued to fall the entire ride. We also had super adventure, which was a lil hairball even for me. We rode at full throttle for about 15 minutes across a frozen lake!! Talk about sketchy. Above the roar of the engines, all I could hear was my twin sister Tami screaming. Scary part is, her eyes were closed and she was the one driving behind me!!! Too funny. All an all, it was an amazing trip and I am already looking forward to next year!

Opaaaaaaaa!

On a recent weekend we had a sleepover with Sydney and Payton... It was a pretty big deal, because it was Payt's very first sleepover ever. We in the evening have *opa*, which is a healthy snack before bedtime. Jim or myself prepare it, sneak up to our children whilst they snuggle in our bed and suprise them with a loud voiced.. OPA!! A ridiculous lil dance follows before we place it down, which envokes giggles deep from their bellies. It has come to be a big part of every night for them, and we think its great, because we get something good in them and fill their tum tums for a nice long night sleep!

Quading

Today the Quinn's and ourselves headed south to the WOBM mud pits with two, three and four wheeled vehicles in tow. The nine of us tooled around the pits and toured the trails for the better part of the day. A few us had to take the drive back home scandily clad, due to the amount of mud caked on our cloths. I'd love to say I was one of them, and that I tour it up thrashing through puddles, but alas.. it was my husband and Alex who really went for it. I wouldnt say I went without a set a balls, cause I did my fair share of shredding... I just managed to stay somewhat clean. We had a BLAST!

Lemonade Stand

We all remember doing it... the ole Lemonade stand. The kids were bored and were desperate for something to do, so we rigged them up a stand. We live on a dead end, so we relied on our kind neighbors to hook um up with some sales. They had a great time. They sold glasses of lemonade and sold hand painted sea shells.

Emma and James

Every once and awhile we straighten Emma's curls and we love it! She loves having smooth hair for the day and I love that she doesnt carry on about knots. I am absolutely in love with the picture of James on bottom. He rarely gives me a genuine smile. Click on the picture and get up close.. it will make you melt. So cute my babies!

Happy Halloween

This year we had a mixtures of superHalloween costumes. We had Emma as *Dorothy*.. James was a *Knight* (it was all about the sword) We had *Dr.* Syndey, and Payton rounded things out as a *Snowman* The kids really enjoyed themselves.

Bunny gets married!

September 15th of this year was a banner day. My best friend Bunny married her boyfriend Weezer and so began the fairy tale of two nicknames:) The ceremony was lovely and we had such a great time at the reception. Best wishes to my dear friends. Bring on the babies!

Not a fan of the camera

Now I know not every kid is gonna cooperate every time with the camera, but this was a particularly off day for James. He tends not to like the *set up* process of taking pictures, and this day he has zero patience for momma's requests for pictures. Even still, I think he is the cutest little monster I know!

James' 4th Birthday Party

Today we celebrated James' 4th Birthday at ~Twisters Gymnastics~ There was one activitiy after the next, and all the kids had a blast.... as can be seen on the smiling faces. Happy Birthday baby boy! Quit that growing up!

Tyler Michael Fox

With heavy hearts, family and friends came together to put Tyler to rest after passing on July 9th. He joins his big sister kali in the heavens to watch over us. His mass card read as follows:

God saw he was getting tired, a cure was not to be, so down he sent his sister and she whispered, "Come to me". With teary eyes we held him, and watched him fade away, And although we loved him so, so much, We could not make him stay. His golden heart stopped beating, His playing hands are at rest. God broke our hearts to prove that He only takes the best.