Ryan's homework assignment was to write about a community helper. You'll have to open the photo to see what he wrote! My kids definitely have a different reality than most.

Wicked cool, even during naptime.

Wanted to wear a suit and fix his hair to look like a president.

The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker.

Someday he will no longer slurp on his fingers....and I will miss it. This image of my baby will be with me forever.

My fierce Jedi.

At the end of the day, when I have a few minutes to myself the last thing I feel like doing anymore is writing! I've been spending a lot more time on Facebook than my blog but I'll try to update with new pictures here more frequently.

Another First

I've been waiting for Will to be successful with potty training so that we could enroll him in preschool 2 morning a week. School started on Tuesday, so I took him to his class to meet his teacher and friends and to look around hoping it would motivate him. He had his name on the wall and his own little reserved cubby.....that's when it hit me. He's growing up! (whew!! thankfully he's not 100% reliable on the potty training thing so I don't have to do this yet) I explained to his teacher why he wasn't going to stay that day and we discussed where he was in his 'training', which is - apparently - about at the same level as all of the others in his class! So.. he started today. He was so excited. We packed his snack and his backpack. We called Daddy for some words of wisdom. When we got there he asked me, "am I going to cry?" My answer was, "no baby, this is going to be fun, not sad (Mommy will cry, not you)". He was satisfied with that answer and kissed me goodbye and walked out to the school playground to play with his new friends. He had a great morning with playdough, paint, sand, snacks, stories, songs and NO accidents! I'm so proud of my baby boy. And in my long desired time away from 2/3 of my children, I went home and baked them cupcakes and watched the clock until it was time to pick him up! I love you Will!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

First Day of School

At his new desk. He is so excited to be #1 reverse alphabetical order....Mrs. Thompson ROCKS!! And no, Daddy, that is NOT his purple pencil case.

He is so excited at this point...though there were a few tears a minute or two later when it was time for me to leave.

Puttin' out the vibe, just like Daddy! He is so proud of his new transformers backpack and lunchbox.

My big handsome boy.

Out the door, on our way!

Trip to CA

AJ meeting his Godparents - my best friend Cindy and her husband Mark, who live in Houston - for the first time. In their honor, he's showing them his TX horns....oh, wait a minute, he always does that! It was SO great to see them. I finally got to see little Matt, who is almost 2 yrs old, which means it's been WAY TOO LONG since Cindy and I have had a chance to visit.

Ryan with his cousin, Charlotte. We're getting pretty good at timing our visits to coincide. We have been able to see them twice this year.....never enough time for me, but I'll take whatever I can get. They pack a LOT of playing into a few days.

An 'on the fly' 3rd birthday party for Will. He was so excited to wear his Birthday Boy shirt again and even sang, "....happy birthday to ME-EEEE"

Me with my newly athletic sister, who actually went running while we were there. WTF? I had to wait, like 45 minutes, for her to get back (with a donut).

The inner tube was useless in the pool....but in the backyard it entertained them all for hours!

This broken arm did not slow my nephew, Braedon, down for a second!

AJ loves his Mimi.

Oops! Dropped his passenger, Mickey! aka "Muhh"

Refused to take a nap, and fell asleep either in this chair or at the dinner table every evening.

Loving being able to go outside in Pismo. It was actually a little bit cold!