Hard to believe...

...that this little girl....

...is the same as this one...

...and this one...

Where has the time gone? My sweet little punkin is walking and I'm sure keeping Mommy and Daddy movin'!! :) She will be a year old next month!!! :O

I'm so sad to be missing out on all of it. I love you baby girl!!!! Even if it's from a distance!! xoxoxo

Growing up...

It's amazing how quickly the kids can just grow up before your eyes. I remember people saying it when they were little - but their words just can't describe it.

Mason will be 10 in December and it's neat to see the things that he can do now. Last year he expressed an interest in cutting the grass. Unfortunately, he was still a bit too light to do it. Our mower requires a certain amount of weight on the seat - it's a safety feature. If it doesn't feel the weight, it turns off. This year - he must have put on a few more ounces :) because now he can do it. He was very excited. Rex did the outside perimeter of the yard and Mason finished off the middle.

He was very proud of himself.

Such a big boy...

Sydney is certainly doing some growing of her own. She has outgrown the little hand me down bike we got from friends. She has learned to ride it by herself and really wanted to do it more often. The smaller bike wasn't helping. So she had been talking about getting a bike for her birthday. We talked to her and she decided she'd like to have it now so she could ride now, until it gets too cold. So she picked out her new bike and was very excited to get out and ride!! :)

Looking very cute and proud!!! :)

Daddy is such a good teacher. She's doing great. She hasn't mastered turning or stopping yet, but she's getting there!!!

Very excited to be riding and being silly with her Daddy!! :)

Sigh...my babies...where has the time gone....

Ahhhhh...

We had a wonderful addition to our home in August. Unfortunately, Rex's aunt and uncle had to sell their house and move because of a gas line going in their neighborhood. When they found a new house - they were unable to take everything with them. It's been a benefit for us. They asked us if we wanted their hot tub. Silly question!!!! :)
We were so excited to get it and it's been great. The funny part is how much the kids like it. I still worry about exposing them to too much heat, so we make sure to turn the heat down before they get in and they are only allowed in for 5 mins at a time. But they love every minute of it. :)

Ahhhhh....enjoying a soak....

However, they don't really like the bubbles that much and would rather just "swim" around in it.

My two hot tub babies... :)

First Day of School

Wow - did the summer fly by or what?!?! Here it is...school time again!! Mason was pretty blah about it (as I would expect from a boy) but Sydney was SO excited! Her first year going all day and eating lunch at school!!! :) I asked her what she was looking forward to the most and she said RECESS!!!! Lol - and here I expected some deep, intellectual answer!!!! ;)

Here are the pictures I got before we left for the bus:

He looks so big!!!

And so darn handsome!! :)

4TH GRADE!?!?! How is that possible? I can still remember putting him on the bus for the first time!!! How times flies...

Yep...still got the 'ole prop!! :) It will be neat to see how they've grown next to it over the years! Think they'll let me do it when they are in High School? :)

My precious little first grader - ready to go!! :)

And such a cutie!!!

Wow - First Grade...hard to believe...

And hard to believe since they are usually fighting, I got a great one of the two of them together!! I just love it! My adorable babies!!!

So Mason goes to a new school this year and it's just down the street from our house. Sydney gets her bus at his school to go over to hers. So we drop them off together now. Mason walked right in on the first day and that was the last we saw of him! Here's my girl getting on the bus to head off for her first full day!! I'll admit - I got choked up watching her leave. Does it get easier?

So far they both seem to like their teachers. Mason isn't as forthcoming with information as Sydney is - but that's ok. I'll take what I can get. :) We go to the Open House tonight to meet with their teachers and see their classrooms!! I can't wait!! :)

A little facelift...

I'm SO excited!! A wonderful woman posted a tutorial on her blog on how to create a picture banner. I DID IT!!! :) I just love how it turned out!!! Let me know what you think!!!

So I'm hoping this will be my incentive to keep up with my blog. So check back often - hopefully you'll have something new to read!! :)

Never Forget...

Remembering the events from 8 years ago. I can still remember the day as if it were yesterday!! It was a day I'll never forget. We must never forget...