Say Cheese!!!!

Friends Forever!

Over ten years ago when Robbie and I bought our first house on River Avon Court we had no idea that it was there that Carter would meet his best friend. The Gibsons lived in the same culdesac as us. Brady was born in January and Carter was born in June. From the time they could walk they were hard to seperate. Every single day they were together. Every single night they walked down the little sidewalk to met up and decide who's house they were going to take baths at that night. They would see who was having the best dinner and pick that house to eat at. Brady's dad worked at night so he was home during the day with the kids which works out perfect for all-day play dates for Brady and Carter. I would take them for a while, then Todd would take them for a while. They never ever argued. And still don't. Since then, Brady has a brother and a sister and Carter has a brother and a sister. Both families have moves to different houses and the time between seeing each other seems to grow longer and longer as the kids get older and more busy. But, each time Carter and Brady see each other it is as if time as stood still. There is no awkwardness. They pick right up and play and are so happy. They are indeed "bosom buddies". It is something special for sure. Brady's family is moving to Naples, Florida for at least a year next week. Brady and his brother, Preston, and his sister, Sloan, spent the night with us last night. What a perfect match! Six kids, so each has one to play with. There has been NO fighting, NO whining, NO crying, NO tattling, NO drama. Nothing but happy content children. What a wonderful sleepover! These kids have "roots" that no time or distance can take away. Last night we got Pizza Hut for the kids and Puerto for me and Robbie. Then while Robbie went to rent movies I took all 6 kids to Baskin Robbins for ice cream. The kids were SO crazy and ran around outside eating their ice cream and enjoying the pretty evening. We rolled all the windows down on the way home and turned the music WAY up. When we got home the kids played and played until about 2am. Then they all crashed! This morning they all woke up at about 9am and continued playing...playstation 3 and trampoline for the boys and baby dolls and trampoline and coloring for the girls. I went on a food run and came back with Chick fil A and The Great American Donut Shop. I have never seen a dozen donuts be gone that quick! I am so proud of all of these kids and the great little poeople they are becoming! We will miss them- but we also know that even if it is a whole year before we see them- everything will still be the same!

Just a few pictures...

Mentos and diet soda with cousins and Papa!

Playing with cousin Cody!

A very tense PS3 game between Carter and Cameron!

Cody was so sweet to read to Molly!

This little girl LOVES her easy bake oven! It takes about 9 minutes to cook ONE cookie. We Easy Baked for over 2 hours and she enjoyed every single minute of it! Molly is SO into crafts and cooking things. Give her a glue stick and some markers and some fun paper and some beads and she is a happy girl!

SO not ready for this!

I really thought this was going to be a happy day for Molly. We spent the whole evening yesterday doing the pre-school happy dance to get her excited (and to get ME ready!). She seemed SO excited, laid out her clothes, packed her lunch, and happily went to bed with visions of a happy day at preschool dancing in her head. Then she woke up. She was a little nervous but I just kept everything positive and even took her to McDonalds for breakfast. We got to school about 15 minutes early, which, for anyone who knows me, is a huge deal. We sat in the van and laughed and talked. When it was time to go in she seemed excited but just a little nervous. Well, my friends, it went straight downhill from there. We went into her class and she would not let go of me. She begged me to stay and clung to me like a little spider monkey with a hair bow! I finally had to pass her off to Mrs. Gina. She cried the saddest little cry and just reached for me. It was awful. I got in the car and just LOST it. I cried the whole way home and have not been able to stop. I called to check on her and they said "well, she is not crying but she is very sad and lookes really mad!" I do feel that it was the right choice to send her to pre-school. I know for sure that the 5 day a week kindergarten next year would be impossible without this to prepare her. BUT, it is stil hard. She is my BABY. I dropped all three of my kids off at SCHOOL today. That breaks my heart. The baby stage of my life is over. Like, really over. I will never have a baby at home with me again. (unless I can convince Robbie otherwise!). I called Robbie in tears and he tried to comfort me by telling me that "it is time for new memories in this new stage of our lives and the kids lives". Whatever. haha. I wish that I could go back to when my kids were little and do it over. Do it better. And savor every second even more than before. I am SO thankful to be a mommy. It is all I ever wanted. I am just not ready for this stage to be over.

First day treat!

This is what is waiting for my sweeties when they get home from school! I got all of their favorite treats!

I left my heart at Natcher!

The boys started school today. This never gets easier for me. I still get that knot in my heart when I leave them at that big school! Carter is in 5th grade and Brayden is in 3rd grade. They are both really happy with their teachers and I am so thankful for that. Molly spent the night with Nana last night so I could have the morning alone with the boys to get them ready for the first day. My plan was to take them to breakfast but they didn't want to go! What? Carter wanted cereal and Brayden wanted toast. They were excited to wear their new clothes and take their new backpacks and lunch boxes. They agreed to let me walk them in to school but at the last minute Carter decided that I could NOT walk him to his class. We said our goodbyes at the front door and down that long hall he went. Brayden, however, was more than willing to let me walk with him. Not only walk, but hold hands! When we got to his classroom he HUGGED me. Twice. And KISSED me. On the lips. And said "Love you, mom!" Oh, my heart. I sure love my boys and am so thankful that I am their mommy. They make me happy and they make me laugh every day. One of the reasons in starting this blog is to document the funny things my kids do and say. I am so excited to one day get the blog printed into a book so I can have it forever. I am watching the clock and so excited to pick the boys up from school and hear all about the first day. I am sure I will hear about the hot girls in their classes. haha! Tomorrow is Molly's first day of pre-school and I am getting really nervous. She is my BABY!!! I know she will have so much fun and that she will be prepared for kindergarten after a year at pre-school.

Just trying to learn how everything works...

Here we go...

Ok, so I am finally doing this. This is as close as I will get to writing a journal. I plan to keep it regular and keep it real!