Emma's first day of preschool!

This morning when we woke up, it wasn't just any ordinary August morning. It is August 21st, and it is Emma's first day at Erie Elementary!! Last year she went to the Wee school preschool, which she loved. But due to time conflicts, Joe and I decided to enroll her in the elementary school. We figured since that is where we were going to send her for grade school, we thought it would be a good idea.

So this morning, she had a great breakfast (which she finally ate all of), waffles, sausage, banana and apple juice. She got dressed in her new little heart dress, with a matching bow. (Thanks Elmo!) She grabbed her backpack and we were off. After getting out of the car we had to cross the street, I asked her to hold my hand, she very nicely told me "when I get on the side walk I don't need to hold your hand, and you are leaving me right??!?" That's my independent girl! she went in, hung up her backpack and joined the rest of the kids on the carpet. I kissed her and told her I loved her. She didn't even look back at me. When I picked her up, she came running to me to give me a hug, I think she had a great day but was still glad to see me!! She is excited to be an Erie Tiger!!!

Jack is 2!!!

I can hardly believe my baby is 2 years old today! The time has flown by! He has been a constant source of joy, entertainment, frustration and laughter! We had a farm themed birthday party for him at Coal miners park on Sunday, the day before his birthday. So many of our wonderful friends and family came to celebrate his special day with him. The weather was perfect, the food and company were great! Today, his actual birthday Auntie Jamie, Clayton, Taylor, Emma, me and Mimi played with all of his new toys at our house. Mimi brought all the kids happy meals and we had cupcakes for dessert. It was a low key day, but after the big party yesterday it was the perfect way to spend the day! Thank you everyone for celebrating our sweet son's 2nd birthday!!

Night out!!

Night's out without the kids are priceless, we are so fortunate to have so many people we love and trust to watch our kids, so we get them quite often. However, regardless of how often they are, when the time comes to go out it sometimes feels like it has been forever. Joe and I went to Vanessa & Craig's wedding. So many of our great friends were there, we ate, drank and danced. It was such a fun night!!

Tractor cake

Anyone who knows me, knows I usually go overboard. The one thing I have never done for either of me kids is make their birthday cakes. This year I thought I would try it. I was planning a farm themed birthday party for Jack. I found a tractor cake pan, and asked my ever patient sister in law to help me. I called her several times, asking questions so I didn't mess the cake up. I baked the cake, made the frosting and scheduled a time to get with Jamie and have her help me decorate. So, Friday morning the kids and I headed over to Auntie Jamie's. She put Toot pants down for a nap and the older kids went off to play while we started decorating. We both worked on it, Jamie was so great and patient with me. About 1130am, close to 2 hours after we started, it was finished. I was so happy with how it came out! I was so proud that I actually did it. We stayed played and had lunch. When we got home, I put the cake on the kitchen table, and took the kids out of their carseats. I ran back to the car, for less than 2 min, when I opened the door, I saw my freshly decorated cake on the floor upside down, and Jack on top of the table saying "Uh oh!" and "Trouble!" I was so upset, all of my hardwork has been ruined. I put Jack back in his carseat so I could clean it up and call Jamie. I was on the verge of tears, and so mad. She so sweetly offered to help me make and decorate a new one. Once I told Joe, he said he would just order one. The one he ordered turned out very cute, and at least I can say I made him one. I think I can even start laughing about it now!!!

Big boy bed

Jack is a climber, all boy, fearless to say the least! He has been climbing out of his crib, not everynight and not ever getting hurt. Joe and I thought it might be time to start thinking about a big boy bed. So, Popo and Ronda got him the headboard and footboard and Joe and I got the mattresses. Mimi & Poppa and Momo also helped with the very cute quilt. After many trips to Denver mattress, we had a heck of a time getting all the parts we needed. We finally got everything we needed! He loves sleeping in it and jumping on it! We have been very lucky, he has transitoned well into the big boy bed. I was a little sad to take down the crib, but he was so excited it made me excited for him!

Ears pierced!!

Emma has been asking to get her ear's pierced. Joe and I talked about it and thought since we were going to Lake Powell we should wait until we got home. Emma and I were talking about it one day and she had asked if it would hurt, I took my finger and very lightly pinched her ear, she started crying and said "I think I will wait until I am 68!" Joe and I thought we were in the clear. Well it might have been that she had 8 hours to sit in the car and think about it driving home from Lake Powell, but she talked to us about it for the last few hours. The following day, I took her to the mall to get the pierced, she was so excited! She was jumping up and down and dancing. She was so brave, a few tears and a little help from a teddy bear she now has beautifully pierced ears!!