game day at our house....

pizza making, cookie decorating and painting

In true Abby fashion, she wanted just a handful of friends over to celebrate her 

birthday.  We made some pizzas, decorated cookies and did a little painting.

Bo was a hit throwing pizza dough around the kitchen.  

I think some still might be stuck on the ceiling....

After making and eating the pizzas, we headed outside for some

canvas painting.  The girls did a great job!

Hunter got in on the fun as well.

Time for some cookie decorating and dessert eating!

Love

My six year old loved her some icing.

The final products!

We had a great time celebrating Abby and the weather could not have been more perfect!  Another birthday in the books and this momma is thrilled!  : )

boosterthon fun run

Boosterthon Fun Run was yesterday and it was a blast.  With all of the rain, it was moved into the gym but the kids still had a great time and ran their little hearts out.  The boys went first and the girls cheered them on.  Abby was really excited!

Hunter and B were giving high fives to the runners.

All finished!  Hot and sweaty.

A friend took these of H and sent them to me.  He was cheering from 

the sidelines and loved every minute!

Booosterthon Fun Run was a success!  A great ending to a fun week.

Happy Weekend!

priceless picture and a big step

A friend snapped this picture of us on Abby's first day of school.  

I wanted her to take it.  

I also have plenty of Santa and Easter Bunny shots of my kids screaming.  It's not that I like to see them upset, but I want to remember these special events with or without tears.   I love this picture.  My heart was breaking even though I knew the first day would be tough for Abby.  It's gotten much better.  She actually got out of the car today and walked in with a friend instead of me parking and walking

her up the hill and waiting on a friend to walk in with her.  Baby steps!  

SIX

Oh sweet Abby.  Six years ago you made me realize that I couldn't love anyone like I love you.  It's a love that is fierce and strong.  It is sweet and tender.  It is always and forever.  A mother's love.   I know because the first year of your life you put that love to the test!   You are a sweet, shy, anxious, observant, structured little girl.  You are also a goofy, funny, amazing big sister.  We all love you more than you could ever imagine.  Happy 6th Birthday to my girl!!

random

  School, MDO, soccer tots, dance and BSF are 

now officially in full swing and it's like a whole new world.  Abby is adjusting better and loving her class.  Hunter doesn't have any issues adjusting so that makes life easier.  Last night about 6:45 Hunter looked at Bo and said, "I just so tired" and off he went to bed.  We all did and it was glorious. 

A few random iphone pics since I don't use my camera hardly at all anymore.  So sad.

Abby had Grandparent's Day at school last Friday.

My mom came in town for that and to celebrate Abby's 

birthday early.  Love this woman.

Hunter and I take selfies in the car during

the carpool line.  Good times all around.

That's it for now.  Nothing exciting at all.....just all about being BUSY!  : )

future golfer or soccer player?

Hunter LOVES to play golf with Bo.  He will go play 18 holes with him.

I think Bo loves that part of it more than Hunter.  

However, he also started soccer.  He loves that too and keeps asking when

he can go back.  This boy is going to be all about the sports.

favorite time of the year

WOOOOOO PIG SOOOOOOIE!!!!!

and

Sic Em Bears!

one week down...

Whew!  What.a.week!!!  The first week of school is over and we made it.

The early mornings, making lunches, filling water bottles, making sure snack was packed, cleaning out the folder, washing and drying hair each night, and getting to bed early...we did it.

All of that has been the easy part.

Dropping off my girl and seeing tears, fear and panic each day has been the hard part.

We will get there but it's just a big place with lots of people and that is Abby's 

biggest fear....getting lost or being afraid of the "big kids".   She has friends in her class and

I think once she is inside the "safety" of her classroom she is fine.  She seems to enjoy

each day and tells me all about it from who lost a tooth to who got into trouble.  

We will get there, but we did survive the first week!

Hunter and I have time to play in the carpool line each day.

I have loved my time with him this week.

Smiling this morning before we went inside.

Again, we will get there!

first day of school - part 2

So....this is Abby at drop off on the first day. 

I expected this and I was ok and even better

at lunch when a friend texted me a picture of 

Abby smiling.

 She got in the car and I had my phone ready.

I was so happy to hear her response....

Tuesday the teacher had to pull her off of me.

Today was not better and they had a substitute.  

Awesome.

IN OTHER NEWS.........

Hunter started MDO this week and loves it!

Walked in like he owned the place.  This made me really happy.

It's only Wednesday and I feel like this has been the longest week!  

Ready for Saturday and the return of College Football!!!!!  : )

first day of school - part 1

These are some pictures I got of my sweet girl before 

we walked into the school.

So happy I have these great, big smiley pictures because when we 

dropped her off in her classroom things changed.

I can't wait to go get her and hear about her day.   Praying it was a good one!

hanging on!

Last night I went to a kinder moms party at a neighbor's house.  At 10:00 Bo texted me and asked if I was "hanging from the chandelier" because I wasn't at home in bed.  A friend thought it would be funny for me to act this out and send it back to him.  He just thought I was a dork and went to sleep.  I wasn't far behind him.

As I looked at this picture this morning I laughed because this is 

really how life is RIGHT at this moment.

Summer is over.  Abby is starting kindergarten on Monday.  Hunter starts on Tuesday and our routine will be up and running.  Abby's bday party is in three weeks and the girl who is involved in the party cancelled last night.  There is so much going on with my family and big things are happening.  Just lots going on and lots on my mind.  Life seems to be speeding up and I know it's about to get faster.

Here's to "hanging from the chandelier" and enjoying the ride!

our week so far

The last two days we have gone non-stop.  Monday morning we met friends at a park in Dallas 

and enjoyed the beautiful weather.  We headed over to Northpark mall to grab 

some lunch and run around a bit there.  

We couldn't head home without stopping by the new Sprinkles ice cream shop!  

Tuesday we met some friends at the pool for a morning filled

with swimming and catch up time.  These girls

will all be in kinder together and two of these girls will be

in Abby's dance class this year!

After swimming all morning we came home for nap time and then we went to Abby's 

last swim lesson of the summer.  Shortly after, Bo and I were off to 

Kinder Parent Orientation at Abby's school.  When we got home from that meeting
Meredith and David were here to spend the night with us.

We have had a great time catching up with our cousin today and being home.
We needed to slow down for a bit and enjoy a pj day together.   : )

little snowman

The weather the past few days has been amazing.  Saturday we went to a winter wonderland themed birthday party and H was the snowman.  The kids had to use a whole roll of toilet paper to wrap him up and he had a scarf, hat and gloves as well.  So much fun.

This is our last week of summer. I truly can't believe how fast it has gone.  Last summer seemed so long and this summer has been just the opposite.  Honestly, I have enjoyed my kids more because with H getting older it's been so much easier to go places and try different things.  I made a list at the beginning of the summer with ideas and places I wanted to take the kids.  The list is almost complete.
We will enjoy this last week of lazy mornings, doing what we want and no schedule.  Our world will change a week from tomorrow!!

last fling of the summer

On Monday the kids and I headed up to Tulsa to visit a sweet friend of mine.  We had a blast catching up, watching the kids play together, swimming and we even took a trip to the aquarium.  I was planning on a quick trip up to Tulsa and back, but then plans changed.....

.....and we went to Arkansas to see my sister!

We took a little ride to see the neighbor's bulls, chickens and cows.

I LOVE to go to Fayetteville.  The weather was perfect (55 degrees Thurs morning) 

and the kids are a hoot together.  

Colson's face while he was driving Hunter

around was hysterical!!

Sweet boy.

Breakfast time!

It was so great to go and play even if it was for less than 24 hours!  I needed to see my baby sister and love on her.  She doesn't know it but that trip meant more to me than her.  

A great week all around.  I had sweet time with my kids and sweeter time with friends and family!

ONE MORE WEEK OF SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!

bowling and birthdays

Saturday morning we had no plans so we decided to go bowling.  

It was a blast.  We all had the best time.

How is this girl about to be in kindergarten??

Hunter loved the bowling....

....and all of the arcade games!

Like father, like son!



Today is Reese Catherine Rowe's 4th birthday.  We celebrate every year by releasing balloons
at our house.  My children know they have a cousin in heaven and we celebrate her life today.
It's also my mom's bday!!  August 11th is a special day for TWO reasons!!

 

 

Happy Birthday to Mom and Reese.  We love you both so much!!