Cross Country Visitors

The day after we got home from San Antonio and just before school started we got to squeeze in a visit from Charlie, Michelle, and Johnson as they were driving from California to New York and they took a much needed break here with us! We were thrilled to have them and I had to hold the kids off every morning so they could get a little sleep while they were here!

Everyone loved having Johnson here and he got all the attention, poor Pebbles! She liked having him here too but wanted some more playing and less sleeping!

We went to try boots on one night and I'm sure that Charlie and Michelle never want to do that again with 4 kids, it was a mess. Thank for sticking with us guys!

It was sad to see them go but at least we know we will get to see them a lot more now that they will be living in New York for a while! Sorry you had to leave the California weather and beaches guys, but at least you will have good pizza, right?!

Don't get me wrong because I loved seeing Charlie and Michelle but my favorite part was seeing Johnson!! (sorry guys!) I didn't know if I would ever see him again when he left for California two years ago. Weird to get teary over a dog I only had with me for a year but it is what it is, he makes me cry. Eric thinks I'm weird, I feel bad that he thinks I abandoned him or something, and I just love him! He probably doesn't even remember it but it still makes me feel so sad. I was really happy to see him again. I'm glad you guys came to stay for a few days, it's always nice having you around!

Our Second Getaway!

Just after the kids and I got home from New York this summer, Eric and I headed out to our new favorite getaway spot, San Antonio! We only had a few days to go before our babysitter had to go back to school so we jumped on it! Again, it was a wonderful trip. Sleeping in, running on the riverwalk together, eating out, eating out late at night, movies, massages, sitting by the pool.  Yes, it was great! We missed the sand and the tropical water but it was a great trip for us and close enough to home so I don't worry much!

Eating at our favorite restuant there, Zinc Bistro and Bar. We ate there at least once a day. If you ever make it try the truffeled parmesan fries! Those were our favorite.

We went into the Ripley's Guiness book of World Records attraction, did the haunted house (which I was insanely scared of-I'm not good at that kind of stuff), and the other game/ride where you wear 3-D glasses and have to shoot targets. They keep score and I won, sorry Eric!

Enjoying Zinc's

Time to go, sad, but happy to see the kids! I love getting to spend some time just the two of us. It is such a fun freeing and crazy feeling when you don't have anyone to take care of but us! I feel like we are doing something wrong almost and that someone might catch us and say, where are your kids your supposed to be taking care of! I love you Eric!!

I  

Colt's First Day of Pre-School

A week after the girls started school, our big guy started pre-school! He walked right in without a problem and loved it the first day. I thought I was ready for him to go to school but I actually got sad and teary when I left him there. He is so sweet and fun (most of the time) and I miss him during the day. I didn't expect that at all, I thought I wouldn't mind a bit! I'm glad he's happy and loved it.

You are so grown up Colt!

"My Colty" as Ellie calls him

We were happy and smiling but Ellie was not so happy with her Colty leaving for school!

She was kind of mad.

This was at his meet the teacher day. He was so happy right when he walked in because they have a pet guinea pig in their class! We will get to bring him home for a weekend soon and the girls just can't wait!

All grown up buddy! I love you and know you are going to have such a great time there!

First Grade

 We had an awesome summer and hopefully I will get those pictures up here! I can't believe how quick it went. At the end of school last year I remember being nervous thinking about what we would do everyday all summer long but it went so quick and I wasn't quite ready for them to go back. Now it is time for school again and here we go with the first day of school for Rachel and Livy! First grade here we come!

They girls are in the same class this year and their teachers name is Mrs. Austin.

Neither of them wanted summer to end or to go back to school but since it has started they have totally loved it!

 

First Graders

Of course Colt and Ellie wanted in on theses school pictures! It has been great having them home all summer and we are going to miss these happy, fun, sweet girls in the house all day.

Their teacher was absent the first week of school and they had a substitute that they were so happy with. Now she is back and school is still great they tell me.  

Livy was more excited and less nervous to go to school. She loves the challenge and has been doing amazing in her class so far with her work and behavior. We are so proud of you Liv!

Rachel was a little scared and nervous the first day but when she got home she said she wanted to stay all day there, she loved it! She loves being in school and socializing with so many kids her age. I love watching you love it Rachel! We are so proud of you sweetie!

Icecream faces. We went and got some icecream after meet the teacher and the girls were pretty happy to go without the little kids :)

They are ready for 1st grade!!

"Ye-Key" and "El-Ye"

(Copied from Erin's blog but I saw it just the same way!! Thanks Erin!)

Zeke and Ellie are just 3 months apart.  And they are two peas in a pod!  They both have great personalities, so full of life and laughter!  They are crazy, rambunctious, silly and goofy and are even more so when they are together!  They egg each other on and feed off of each other!  They are quite entertaining to watch!  They LOVE to laugh with each other!

Always full of mischief together!  They were partners in crime!

There was always a "my" that proceeded their names when talking about each other.  It was "my El-Ye"  or "my Ye-Key".  They would ask for each other first thing in the morning or when waking up from naps

They usually did great at sharing with each other and would have each others back

Always together

If one starting doing something, the other would quickly follow

Eating shredded cheese by the handfuls!  Zeke was so sweet most of the time, making sure Ellie had some too, of whatever he was eating

I'm sure there were a few rough times between them, but I honestly can't remember any. I just remember them always together, smiling, laughing and playing great!

Bothering Poppy while he was trying to clean out the hot tub!  

If one of them was missing, they both were missing!  Always sneaking off together to play

Enjoying their ice cream together

Playing in the club house

And they loved swinging together.  And if you gave one of them a treat, don't even think about not giving it to the other one too!  They would make sure each other got all the treats they each got.  Always looking out for each other!

This was a very common scene.  They would just look at each other and crack up in this crazy laughter!  I think laughing together was their favorite activity!

The conversations between these two were pretty hilarious.  They seemed to totally understand each other, they have their own little 2 year old language!

Trampoline time with Grammy

They had a lot of dance parties together every night before bed, and many times throughout the day

They were just so cute together!  Acting silly and copying each other, then falling over onto each other, laughing hysterically! 

I LOVE Zeke and Ellie's relationship!!   They are totally twin cousins!  Makes me sad that they don't live near each other!  I wish they could grow up together and go to school together!  I know they would always have each others back and help each other out!  We will just have to try to get them together as often as possible!