For You Em!

We had family pictures taken back in November... will put more up soon.

I know you are all shocked to see a new post.  I am too.  It is really only in honor of my dear friend Em, who still says she checks my blog.

Confession... I don't remember how to post and blogger has changed everything up!

Back to School- 2012-2013

Third and First Grade

Asher and Caleb started back to school last Wednesday at GRACE Christian, Asher in Miss Peay's third grade and Caleb in Mrs. Still's first grade.  They were both super excited and could hardly wait to get there on that first day.  I think they were up before 6:00 that morning.....

Ash instructed me that I could come upstairs to take his picture, but that I could not walk him to his room or come in.  Good thing his desk is at the back of the classroom, right beside the door for me to get my picture.  Can't believe how big he is!  And lest you think I am not a fair parent and did not get a picture of Caleb, I assure you I did.... grinning while sitting at his big first grade desk.  Problem is I took it with my phone camera and didn't upload it to the computer.

Nate Turns FIVE!

Wow!  It is so hard for me to believe that my sweet #3 is five years old!  Seems just like yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital!  What pure joy he is and has brought to our family.  He absolutely ADORES his brothers and wants to do EVERYTHING that his two older brothers do!  He has a very kind, tender heart and is the perfect blessing to fit perfectly right in the MIDDLE of our family!

 We had a fun day celebrating Nate that pretty much went on all day... special trip to Krispy Kreme this morning with Daddy for his traditional birthday donuts.... although the boys have all started nixing my wanting to put candles in their donuts for them to blow out because they don't like the holes it leaves in them :(

 Presents!

 He was SO excited and we let him open a little bit at a time... all day long!

 Ninjago shirt

 Ninjago battlefield for his spinners... Caleb seems to think this was a pretty great gift

 We took Nate bowling and asked his best little buddy Daniel to come along to join in the fun!

 He was so good to pose for me 

 Action shot.... concentrating hard with that tongue out....

 Bowling boys

 Sweet buddies

 LOVE this one of Nate opening his present from Daniel... sweet expressions on both their faces!

 Glow star stickers for his wall/ ceiling!!

 I think he got all his candles on the first blow!

 Didn't snap my picture of the Angry Bird cake quick enough before the angry birds were stolen :)

 Five brothers!

 Happy Birthday Nate!  We Love You!

Sweet card and present from Daniel!
Stay tuned for the next couple birthday pics.....

Nate's 4 year old preschool graduation

I know that I am so terribly behind in my blogging, but I am trying, TRYING to get caught up!  We had Nate's preschool graduation at the end of May.  This was the same preschool and same class that Caleb was in just last year so it was really sweet to watch Nate do pretty much the same program as his older brother!

 And since we are keeping him in preschool for one more year and not sending him on to kindergarten since he is an August birthday and would be a really, really young kindergartener, we'll get to do it all again next year... AND the year after that with Judah..... we'll pretty much be doing preschool and kindergarten graduations forever :)

Nate with his sweet teachers Mrs. Stephanie (peach shirt) and Mrs. Diane (white shirt), both of whom we adore!!

End of the Year STUFF

It really is crazy how fast this school year passed by.  Both Asher and Caleb had wonderful years, the BEST teachers, awesome friends, and learned so so much!  Can't believe I already have a first grader and a THIRD grader!!

 Ready for field day.... purple team and orange team here we come!

 One of Asher's team's coaches was our good friend Bob Lyon whose two boys also go to GRACE!  He's the best and was so into motivating his team :)

 Caleb and I at his Mother's Day tea....

 Asher's end of the year party at Kids Together Park.  I took Judah along with me for it and Asher's BFF, Josh was SO sweet with J and played with him the whole time we were there.  J Bug definitely has a new hero!!  Sadly Josh's family just moved to Kansas... we are all already missing him :(

 Here is Caleb's end of the year party... same park, just a livelier bunch of kindergarteners!  Nate got the special treat of going with me to Caleb's!

Popsicles with C's best buddy, Robert. 

 This is at the end of the year K- 6 grade awards assembly... Caleb and his little friend Lena got awarded best kindergarten student in ART!  Love how he is standing so proud here!!

 Asher got a special award in his second grade class for reading.  My camera just didn't click fast enough and he is already turning to walk back offstage.

And here is Caleb's kindergarten class.... he's in the navy shorts and gray shirt... each kindergarten and first grade student each get a special award at the assembly!

Caleb is graduating!

 Our little Bubbs is finishing up his last week of kindergarten this week.  He has had such a wonderful year with such a special teacher.  What a blessing she has been to us!

 Mrs. Whelpley's Kindergarten 2011- 2012

 Mrs. Taylor, their teacher's assistant on the left and Mrs. Whelpley on the right

 pictures with their "senior sidekicks"

 These pictures with the seniors are special to me because four of the seniors in these pictures were in my very first second grade class the first year that I taught at Grace!!!

 Caleb with his best buddy Robert hanging with their favorite senior, Robert Hauser

Whoo hoo!  Congratulations Bubby!  We're SO proud of you!!

New Backyard!!

 So HERE it is.... the finished backyard.... minus the grass growing in!  This picture is from the back of the garage (soon to be our new family room)

 These next two are looking off to the side of our house.  They made a gradual hill up the side of what was a huge cliff!  Hopefully it will all fill in with the newly planted grass.

 This is the view from the top of the steps... what was once a natural area with tons of trees, leaves, sticks, and just plain mess is now flat and USABLE!!!

And last, but certainly not least is Blake's awesome handiwork (along with Jacob and Eric!!!  Thank you!) and what has been taking up all the boys' time lately!  The trampoline turned out great!  Just need a bit more fill dirt along one side and for the grass to grow.... would also LOVE a privacy fence along the back, but don't see that one happening anytime soon!  We are LOVING the yard and SO thankful!!