Where to Begin???

Wow! My lack of blogging began last year with computer problems... Then we had some major changes in our lives... and poof! It's a year later! My goal is to start blogging again, but also to go back and fill in the past year. It might take me another year, but I'll do my best!
In a nutshell: We were offered a position outside of Atlanta, GA the beginning of December last year and by January, we were "Home." The boys and I lived with my parents for 7 months while J commuted back and forth as often as he could and we tried to sell our home in TX. We are now moved into our new home, still trying to sell our other home (we have renters thankfully!) and getting adjusted to our new life.
Leaving our home in Texas was so bittersweet. We had made our home there and had wonderful friends. On the other hand, we are excited about beginning this new journey. We are so happy to be living so much closer to family as well. Most importantly, after the past 7 months of being apart, we are so thrilled to be back together as a family!

M starts preschool!

After a long and surprisingly patient wait, M started school yesterday! N started 3 weeks ago, so M has handled his "alone" time pretty well. We were a little concerned how he would do without his big buddy around. He is very excited about school and will be going 2 mornings a week. We moved him to another school very spur of the moment which was tough and very uncharacteristic of me, but I know I made the right decision.

I know my M well enough to know that once we got in the classroom, the camera would not be his friend, so I am glad I took these at home before we left! Sure enough I was right and as soon as we walked into the classroom and I tried to take his picture, there was no cooperation!

Isn't he cute???

M's nickname is "hambone" and he is a constant riot! He is always being silly and showing off. He is SO big and SO funny!

I LOVE this picture. As we were leaving, J picked up M's lunchbox and followed him. He adores M!

J's 1st Birthday!

I can hardly believe that our baby J is 1 year old! This year has flown by! He is such a joy... very happy, very content, and very busy! He is walking and into everything. J is the best baby! He laughs a lot, babbles, loves his big brothers and is definitely a Daddy's boy. He loves to watch the boys wrestle and wants to play along. He will giggle and throw his body on Daddy. It is really cute. He loves to swing and really seems to enjoy playing with balls. He hardly ever fusses, eats a lot, and sleeps pretty well. He is a true blessing to our family!

Our birthday breakfast blueberry muffins!:

J LOVED his cake! Daddy let him taste the icing and it was all over... He dove right in!

M and his friends

I decided to take M to the zoo during the first week of school to distract him from N's absence. We had fun and it was a cute time for him to spend time with some of his friends and not just his brother's!

Sadie, Aaron, M, and Caroline... (J and Emily were there also!)

N's first day of Kindergarten

The Kindergartener:

N started Kindergarten today. He was so excited! He had his clothes laid out, all of his supplies labeled and in his bag, his bookbag and lunchbox packed... He was ready!
I was not... To say I have been dreading this day for some time is a bit of an understatement, but I have to admit that having him so excited did help. I absolutely love his school. I love his teacher. I love his friends. I just don't love that he is going to be leaving me everyday! I hugged him bye, swallowed my tears, and went out in the hall to cry. He walked in, hung up his bookbag, sat down at his desk and didn't give us a second thought.... He is ready. We held him back in pre-school and I know he is ready. He is so excited and it is wonderful! I am so proud of him!!!

N and his bestest buddy, Reed. They are in the same class this year and so thrilled to be together again!


Isn't he just adorable? So Handsome!

N and his precious teacher, Mrs. Key. She is so cute and bubbly!

N meets his teacher

Today is Open House at N's school. He gets to bring all of his supplies and meet his teacher. He was up and dressed by 8 am this morning even though it didn't start until 10. He is SO excited to be going to Kindergarten. We have been talking it up all summer... All of the fun things he will learn and do. He has not been thrilled about the every day thing, but he is really looking forward to learning how to read. He found out that his best friend Reed is in his class and we were all so happy! A few weeks ago, N came to me and said, "Mommy, this year I don't want to wear cute clothes. I want to look cool."

Shocked, I asked the dreaded question... "Well, what do cool clothes look like to you?" All the while thinking to myself... I am not that old, surely I am still cool!

Well, come to find out, I do NOT know what cool looks like to a 6 year old because apparently, to my well dressed and handsome son... Cool = light up shoes and tacky screen printed t-shirts!!!
Oh My!

However, not wanting to be overly controlling and make my child miserable, we went shopping together and here is one of our "compromise" outfits:

He looks COOL to me... and Cute also!

The COOL kid!

My little helper???

Our little 12 month old:

Bringing me some shoes out of my closet:

Helping me do the laundry:

Helping clean out the pantry:

What a mischevious little man our J has become... He is into EVERYTHING! In the course of a few hours, I will find him in the pantry, in the toilet, in my closet... you get the picture! He is sweet as can be, but he loves to help me organize and rearrange our home!

T-Ball 2010

M had to find ways to keep busy during the hot games. He wanted so badly to play! He loved to come to the games and dressed in his baseball pants, cleats, and hats. One of his favorite pasttimes was rolling down the hill! What a boy!

N played instructional t-ball again this summer. He was on the Yankees and really enjoyed it. He seems to really enjoy baseball more than soccer. I think the individual mentality vs. the "pack" mentality is more up his alley! We are glad he enjoyed it because it was SO hot... he had to really love it for us to all be out there! He is the cutest little baseball player... there is something about a little boy in that uniform!

Lydia visits

Our cousin, Lydia came to visit Monday through Friday. We had a great time with her! We went to the zoo, a splash water park, Jumpin Jacks, and lots of other treats. They all played so well together. Lydia is right in between N and M and will actually be in the same grade as N. They are 3 peas in a pod!

The Zoo:

Notice the huge white tiger behind M!

The kids at Jumpin Jacks!:

We made a lot of flubber that week. They all had a blast playing with it! It was a huge hit!

J - 10 months old!

J has become quite the little busy bee. He is crawling everywhere and pulling up on everything! He is really quick and very curious and very happy. He does not fuss unless he is tired or hungry... and boy does he get hungry now! He has turned into quite a little piglet and loves every food I have given him!