Lexi's friend party

Lexi asked for a friend party this year since she is a big kindergartner with her very own friends. Being as her birthday is September 5th and school began September 13th, we decided to hold off until the end of September so she could make some friends (which she did immediately) to invite. She had an absolute blast! The entire time we listened to the girls giggle constantly over seemingly nothing. It was so fun to see them all so happy.

Waiting on 1 guest, the girls were playing in Lexi's room. Wow they were little tornadoes through the toys, of course that's to be expected.
The hula hoop game, so fun.

Pin the tail on the donkey. Lexi was the victor.

When the kids were done, Jared and I played! Ha ha, we are kids are heart, after all.

Lexi wanted to do cupcakes instead of a cake. I came up with the idea to let the kids make their own kitty faces from candy. They loved it!

Oh Kyler...why?!

Present time!

She is in love with this puppy.

"Just what I NEEDED! My crown broke!"

Pull string pinata--awesome idea!

Filling their goody bags.

Back to school--part 2.

Monday, Lexi's first day of KINDERGARTEN!
Dad was on a business trip, unfortunately, so it was just the kids and I. He returned on her 3rd day and was able to walk her.
She walked into school more fear-less than I had anticipated.

It's so strange to me to send TWO kids off to school. The house is so empty and quiet while they're gone...however, it won't be long until the baby arrives.

I stayed with her until she was comfortable enough for me to go (just a few minutes), then I watched from the hallway until I was comfortable enough to go (ha ha-I'm pretty sure it was harder on me than it was her). After I left her class, I attended a volunteer meeting in the school library. As I was leaving, her class walked by and she smiled and blew me a kiss and carried on her way, completely happy. She LOVES school, adores her teacher and has made many friends. Such a big girl!

Today her class celebrated her birthday (late because her birthday was before school began). Her class made her a crown, poster and card, she sat in a special chair and I brought in cookies. She had a blast and felt very special.

I'm so lucky to have two kids that love school so much. I have always told them they "get to" go to school, not that they "have to". I think that has made all the difference in the world.
Kyler's doing so well in class already. He exceeds at everything his teacher has thrown his way.

Back to school (part 1)

Back to school day-open house and BBQ.
Lexi ready to meet her teacher and have her academic assessment. Her teacher said she did outstanding. Lexi wasn't even shy, which anyone who knows her knows how she can be. She is very anxious and excited to start school now and absolutely LOVES her teacher.
Ready to meet his teacher. He was thrilled he knew so many people in his class. He sits right next to one of his boyscout friends and his crush is in his class again-oh my.

Kyler's first day of 3rd grade! Whoa how the years fly by. Seems like yesterday I was crying walking him into kindergarten. He is so amazing, walked into school with his head high, no worries, as confident as can be. I'm so proud of my handsome genius son.

She loves her brother so much. She was jealous he started school a week before her.

He'll always be my sunshine. (34 weeks in this photo I believe).

Look at his handsome face and those beautiful eyes!

He's getting too tall.

She loves her daddy.

All ready to go to school.

As of last week, our garden:

One of our pumpkins.

One of the watermelons.

One of the honeydew melons (my favorite).

Trying to catch a photo of our fish. After the heron ate all of our koi, Jared replaced them and in the past several months they have grown so much. They even had babies.

Thanks to aunt Christina and uncle Trevor for making Lexi's cheer leading dreams come true! She LOVES it.

Cutest cheerleader I know!

As our family of 4 will becoming a family of 5 we purchased a newer larger dining set.

Another week has flown by. Friday I had my Dr appointment, all is well. Baby is head down and healthy as can be. My Dr sent me to test for a liver issue that occurs in pregnancy (very rare though-I believe 1-2 out of every 1,000 pregnancies) called cholestasis as I have some of the symptoms. I should know the results next week. I'm optimistic about it though. If you can keep positive thoughts in regards to the outcome, I'd appreciate it.

Kyler did wonderfully his first week of school. He loves his teacher and is very excited about this years schedule (he gets to learn about native Americans and make a diorama, a few field trips, etc). I'm so proud of him.

I also began babysitting. Lexi is the same age as the twins I watch. They had a blast playing the days away. I will be babysitting 3 kids (one 8 year old and the 6 year old twins) in the mornings before school.

Tomorrow Jared is off to West Virginia for a business trip. Unfortunately he will miss Lexi's first day of kindergarten but she understands. Daddy will walk her to school as soon as he returns. Speaking of her first day of school, she is THRILLED to start on Monday. Please keep her in your thoughts. She'd love to hear some positive words that day as she's a little nervous about being away from mom for that long.

Happy birthday Alexia Brei!

Thanks to the Endo family for sending Lexi a WONDERFUL package. She loves it all!
Thanks again to the Endo family for the baby package (this makes the 2nd baby package from them). Super adorable things, we love them!

Lexi before her hair cut:

Lexi after her hair cut:

The stylist loved Lexi and wanted to cut her hair shorter and donate it to 'locks of love'. I felt bad declining but I'm not ready to cut her hair shoulder length (again).

Thanks to grandma, grandpa and aunt Nicole.

Lexi getting her first ever manicure. We had a mother/daughter date, what a great time we had.

Thanks to grandma Pam and aunty!!

September 5th...Lexi's 6th birthday:

Her birthday breakfast of choice (it's tradition every year that they pick anything). She chose donuts, scrambled eggs with sprinkles (yes, that's how she likes them) and hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate chips.

The vanity set we bought her.

Beautiful birthday girl!

How did I get THIS lucky? They are such great kids...and look at those adorable faces!

She loves her grandpa!

Kyler and Bubba.

Fun at Chuck E Cheese's.

My dad and Jared challenged each other at basketball, Chuck E Cheese style.

The adults had fun, too. ha ha

"Giddy up!"

My dad is so awesome, he will always be young at heart. It's so much fun to be around him.

Kyler picked out this shirt, says 'smooth like butta.' He said it attracts the ladies. We went out to dinner and the hostess commented on it, Kyler turned to us and said "see I told you!" ha ha, he's a riot.

From us:

From Kyler.

She was saying "awww how cute!"

Daddy picked this one out.

Her gift from grandpa Bob-a Build A Bear puppy that barks, super cute!

Lexi opted for cupcakes this year instead of cake. Kind of odd for me being as the cake has always been such a big tradition. They were fun, delicious and easy though. I made devil's food cupcakes with cream cheese and mini chocolate chip filling.

Mmmmm...

They loved them.

The kids with grandpa.

It's hard to believe my little girl is 6. I cannot be more thankful for her. She is an absolute joy; always positive and optimistic, willing and eager to help, very thoughtful, loving and compassionate, such a beautiful, giggly, happy, smart, wonderful, amazing person...a pure joy! Thanks to everyone who aided in making her day extra special, it truly means a lot as she deserves to know how special she is.
Tomorrow is the annual back to school BBQ and open house at school. Hard to believe school begins so soon. Seems this summer has flown by. Luckily the kids both have great teachers (from what I'm told) this year.
This week also marks 34 weeks for us...in 2 short weeks I will be considered term and can deliver at any time. This pregnancy is coming to an end. So bittersweet.