Paul and Laura's Wedding

Paul and Laura got married on September 8 and it was a great weekend!  We had a lot of fun with family and had the most beautiful weather for the wedding!  Norah and Isabella were flower girls and were so excited to be part of their special day.  Their cousin Ashton was the ring bearer and they walked down the isle together.  They were so adorable and made it almost down the isle until Norah got ovewhelmed by the amount of people and everything went pear shaped.

It was a fun, family filled weekend and we were happy to be surrounded by loved ones!

Walking on Sunshine

Our little man is walking!!!!  William got his new orthodics and took off - literally!  He loves wearing them and has even started taking steps when barefoot.  Here are some pictures of our little walker!

First Day of School

Well, it's official; we now have a Kindergartner and a Pre-Schooler!  Really, where did the time go?!  Our sweet girls were so excited and proud to be starting school!

First day of PreSchool

She is so tiny!!

Bella has had a great time in school, she (mostly) loves going and has a lot of fun learning new things and making new friends.  We've had a few weeks where it was hard to say bye to Mommy and be away throughout the day.  It is so hard to make her go to school on those days, because I would love to let her stay home and play and cuddle all day; but I know it's best for her to go to school.  After two weeks, she was excited in the morning again and has been happy even at drop off.  I love you sweet Bella, I hope these days of excited happiness for school continue!

Kindergarten, here I come!!

Such a "big" girl!



Norah has been SO excited about starting Kindergarten!  I think having Norah at school has really helped Bella adjust, and has been so great for Norah to get over any school jitters!  Norah is excited to get to do Kindergarten work and having homework to do at night.  Last week, while working on her spelling and handwriting words - she starting reading!!  I am amazed that she is already able to read and is loving it!!

I am so proud of our sweet girls, they are doing a great job at school and are so nice to each other at home - an added bonus :) 

The "Art Park"

When my nephew Cole was a little boy (about 2) he LOVED Laumier Sculpture Park and lovingly referred to it as the "Art Park" in a way only a toddler can.  Ever since, it's been called the "art park" inside our family and a few weeks ago, the kids and I went for the first time in years.

We went with good friends who have never been - and with all the changes they have made since I've been - it was like experiencing the park with new eyes.  I have loving memories of this park; in college I came during my photography class and took beautiful pictures of my niece and nephew.  I love how a place can give you so many memories and feelings - especially when they are all good. 

Sculptures have been moved and new ones installed...but the oldies are still in place. 

There was a new exhibit in the park - and the one we saw and climbed in resembled an acorn/tent hanging from a tree.  I was so proud of the girls - they both braved the ladder and climbed up and played inside!

It rained a few days before we went; and there was a sneaky mud puddle lurking around the corner!

To end the day, we made a "fairy flower line" for the Art Park Faeries - a little bit of park magic.



To school, to school

Today was Open House for Pre-Schoolers and Kindergartners.  How is it possible Norah and Bella fall into these classrooms already?  Wasn't it just yesterday I brought Norah home from the hospital and soon after - Bella?  I remember with the heady mix of post-pardum emotions, crying to Brian while holding our sweet smelling newborn in my arms and saying..."but soon they will go to school".  How right I was.

Today I saw shy and excited Bella entering her classroom for the first time.  She has excitedly been asking every morning if today is a "scool" day, and was so sweet and shy meeting her teachers.  She peaked around the classroom tentatively touching toys and learning tools that last year were out of reach.  By the end of our time; she happily made a necklace and said "bye" to her teachers.  Bella Baby, you are going to do big things.

Norah was the essence of Kindergarten today.  She has had a hard time falling asleep the past few nights and last night I pulled out an old "friend" to help - a heart drawn on each hand.  She is so much a big girl and still so much a little girl.  She took her time going around the classroom and was excited to see some of the same learning tools, but some new ones too.  She quickly got to work putting pegs in an art board - so confidant and sure of herself.  My baby is all too soon growing up...my heart aches for that day 5 years ago when she was placed in my arms for the first time and all of this was so far away; but my heart beats with excitement even more for all the new adventures and happy times ahead.  Norah my love, you are going to do big things.

I am so proud of you girls; this week will be tough for all of us, but it is the start of many, many great things.  I love you both so much.

...at the car wash....

The girls have been begging to help wash the cars lately; so this past week I let them wash "their" cars (little cozy coupes) and have their own car wash.  They loved it!!  Norah and Bella each had their own little red bucket filled to the brim with sudsy, soapy water and a sponge....and they had a great time soaping up!

William enjoyed playing in his own little bucket - filled with sand and a shovel. 

It was a great way to spend the morning, not extremely productive (although the cars are much cleaner!) but so much fun and the laughter was worth all the wet, soapy clothes!

N-O-R-A-H!

When Norah was learning to spell her name, my mom would help her by saying that when she was old enough to play soccer, we would all be on the sidelines cheering "N-O-R-A-H!!".  Last week, that journey started for Norah with her first soccer practice.

We went as a family to help pick out her shin guards, socks (pink of course!), and soccer shoes - very hard to find her small shoe size but we were able to score a cute black and pink pair!

Norah was so nervous on the first day of practice but also so excited to be part of the team.  She went out and had a great practice and loved all of the drills.  We laughed that evening when we talked about it over dinner and Norah said she was a little shy getting the ball from the other team during scrimmage.  Brian asked her what she would do if Bella had the ball...(no surprise) she answered "take it from her!"  Brian's advice..."Pretend everyone is Bella" :)  This week, she listened - and was much more aggressive in getting her little body in there to get the ball for her team!

We can't wait for the first game - go N-O-R-A-H!!