School Begins....

I can't believe it, another school year is here. Boy oh boy, can't my family and I play all year round and not have to work? It has been such a fabulous summer. It is so nice to have 3+ months of family togetherness. All I can say is I am so incredibly thankful I only work half days. I really don't know how I could do it otherwise. Not only would it kill me to be away from my kids all day long, but to have to also come home and do all the mommy stuff like cleaning, cooking, and playing, plus find a moment of "me" time... I would surely go insane. I have a hard enough time keeping up with things as is. Thank you Mason for being such a wonderful place to work!!! And I do have to say, I am very thankful I love the job I do. I am 100% positive God has placed me on this earth to make a difference in the lives of children, both my own and my students.

Anyway, now to my kiddos... we have been doing great! Jacob has had a big couple of weeks. It is no secret that Jacob is a very loving kid and momma's boy for sure, but also turning into a daddy's boy lately. He loves his cuddle time with mom and dad and of course we love it as well! However, mom and dad were getting little sleep between Bella waking up and Jacob coming into our bed, so.... we started a chart! Everynight jacob slept in his own room without us having to take him back to his room he would get 2 stickers on his chart, everynight we had to help him back to his room he would get one sticker. Each sticker also meant a starburst. He is doing GREAT! and wakes up in the morning saying "Mommy, Mommy, I get a starburst" He is soo.... proud of himself. He will also say "Mommy is so proud!". What a cutie! Now all i need to do is get Bella to sleep all night and we would be set! ;) Wonder if a chart would work for her ;) LOL! I thought I had a picture of his sleeping chart, but i don't, I will add later.

We also started another chart for Jacob... that he also gets stickers for. Every morning, if he gets dressed himself, he gets a sticker, if he brushes his teeth, he gets a sticker... same at night. Every 4 stickers he gets a quarter.. he is pumped about his money!!!!



Bella is doing great... she is teething like crazy! She is constantly sqirming and always talking. I have a feeling she is going to be an early talker. She is doing great with Jen... of course she misses mommmy when she is hungry (she doesn't like the bottle), but at least I am only gone for about 4 1/2 hours, so she typically just waits for me.

I have been working sooo.. hard to get back into shape! I have been getting up every morning at 5 to run before school. That way I don't have to find time during the day. I really like getting up and running.. it is hard to get up but once I am up I am glad I did it. I am hoping by the time it is winter I will be in all my clothes again..... getting back into shape is the pits! But Bella sure is worth it. Ok, well, it is 9:30 and time for bed... I will leave you with a few recent pics.

Bella got a new headband!

I have been looking and looking for a fun headband for Bella. It is so hard to find one for little ones. Well, I found this at crewcuts... it is too big, but you can't really tell unless you see the back of her head. I will be playing around with more pics of her in this, but this is all she let me get from her today... just a few minutes. It is way to fun having a girl!!!!!

Great time on vacation!

Jacob LOVES his Aunt Jana (and Uncle Chris!)







Love this pictures of Jacob and Kevin building a sandcastle together!


How fun is this... Kevin was jumping over Jacob, he thought it was hysterical!

We just got back from vacation yesterday... we had a blast! Kevin and I had gone to Wild Dunes for our honeymoon 6 years ago . We have always talked about going back. Well, when we saw that they were offering 40% off their rates, we had to jump on the opportunity. We had so much fun and what a great place for kids! They have daily activities planned for the kiddos... Jacob did a few, but was a bit too young for many of them. Every evening something was going on at the grand pavilion... they had bands several nights, which was so fun because Jacob would just dance all night! Jacob's favorite thing to do by far was play in the sand! He did not stop. I really don't know how he has so much energy, but he really does. He went non-stop the entire week and still only slept a half an hour on our 10 hour drive home. I think he missed home a bit because he said a few really cute comments about missing home when we were gone, but there is no question.. he had a blast! Kevin and I didn't get much time at the beach together... I guess that is what happens when you have a 4 month old you only bring down to the beach in the morning and evening, but we have decided we are going to go there next summer, just the 2 of us for 4-5 days! We can't wait! Although, I do have to say... it was sooo.. much fun watching Jacob have so much fun on vacation! The trip would not have been the same without them. We are now looking forward to our spring break... we are going to go to Florida... just trying to figure out where to go. Bella will be a year old.... so it should be even more fun!

Bella is 4 months old!

(wipe away tear).. I can't believe it


such a happy little girl!


I love close up pics of babies... I wish I had a macro lens for these.


I wasn't sure at first if I liked this picture, but then I was reminded by a friend... A mommy studies every little detail of her child's face. She takes in each little detail... not necessarily all together, this is what this reminds me of!



Oh my goodness.. I can't believe how fast my little girl is growing up! She continues to be an amazing little girl! When pregnant, I honestly didn't have a preference of whether I had a little girl or boy, but I am SO THANKFUL that Bella came to be my little girl, I can't imagine life without her. She is ALWAYS happy... seriously, she is very rarely upset. The only time she is upset is when she is in the car and can't see her mommy. If I am sitting back with her, she is fine, but if I am driving she screams, it is stressful for both of us. She giggles, smiles, and talks all the time! I am pretty sure she is going to be quite the talker because she babbles all the time! She just adores her brother and laughs and giggles at him nonstop. Jacob also loves her so much.. he is constantly giving her kisses, is just melts my heart!

4 month stats... 26 inches (97%) and 15lbs 3 oz (80%)... how do I have such tall kids?!?!?

Summer is fun! (please don't end!)

what can I say.. I love my little man!


how funny is this... he was taking pictures of Bella with his camera!


Summer is not complete without getting your hand dirty eating a popsicle!


We are having such an amazing summer! I can't believe it is August! I don't want summer to end! Once August rolls around I feel like summer is over, but I shouldn't, we don't start school till the 26th (I think that is the date). We have kept really busy... going to the pool, playing outside, going to the park, going to the children's museum, running, laughing, and enjoying each other. It feels so good to know that my kiddos will always have an amazing summer with both their mom and dad at home to play and laugh with! I am going to be so sad to leave my kiddos when it is time to start back to school. I know Jacob is certainly going to be fine.. he can't wait for me to go back to school so he can go play with Addie at "Miss Jen's House". My sweet Bella, I sure will miss her, but at least I only work half of a day and will only be away from her for about 4 hours. And our sitter is wonderful, she will be taken great care of! (thanks Jen!) Here are some recent pics to show what we all have been doing to enjoy the summer! :)