Eden starts pre-school and gymnastics!

Eden had her first days of pre-school this week and is doing a great job. She is getting to be such a big girl. She picked out a Bratz backpack. She doesn't even play with Bratz and I thought for sure she would pick out High School Musical or Hannah Montana but I don't think she could resist the glitter and three fancy dressed "Bratz" on the backpack. She saw it and had to have it. At her pre-school they have it where you drop off at the front door of the church and the teachers take them in. She ran right in this morning. She loves to play and be a big girl. She will be going 3 mornings a week-much shorter than what she was used to in England but I am happy to still have her at home with me. Next fall she will be riding the bus with Faith and Sawyer. Eden and Faith also started gymnastics last night. Eden has been wanting to take gymnastics for the last year or so. We got her a new leotard at Target and she was ready to go. She loved her first class. Her favorite part was the trampoline and the foam pit. She is in the middle of the photo in the black and pink.

Out to dinner!

I wanted to post a picture of me with my good friends Tracey, Traci and Penny. They were all my former neighbors pre-England. We went out to dinner the other night at Destihl and had a great time. There is rarely a moment of silence. We try and get together for dinner once a month. I will NEVER have neighbors like them again-it would be a miracle. We all lived on the same street, had kids around the same ages and are all stay-at-home moms. I am looking forward to next night out.

Stacey joins the gym!

Oh yeah, you read correctly! I went there-oh yes I did! After 10 years of inactivity, I finally did it! I owe all of this to my friend, Misty. She totally talked me into joining The Four Seasons. I went today for the first time and it wasn't pretty. I only did the elliptical for 20 min-if that-and it almost did me in. I was saved by Beckett crying in the child care center. Yeah, as expected, he didn't do so well. He was only in there for 20-30 min. and he cried inconsolably for 10 of those. Hopefully he will do better next time. One of the reasons I joined was because childcare is included in the membership fees. Beckett could care less that I have 10-15 lbs. still to lose. I am sore tonight-that is sad.

Visit from Cathy!

I have been so fortunate in these last couple of months to have seen three of my friends I made in England! The comforting thing about making friends there is that most of them will all move back to this area of the country. Anyways, Cathy, her mom and two adorable girls, Brittney and Sophie came to visit on Tues. The kids played and had a great time and Cathy and I (and her mom) had a great visit. It was so fun to catch up. Thanks Cathy for making time for me. I miss you and hope the rest of your stay in England is a positive one.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

Today was Faith and Sawyer's first day at school. They only went a 1/2 day but tomorrow is a full day. I drove them this morning so I could help Sawyer find his classroom. Faith took off immediately to line up with the other 4th graders and find her best friend, Emma. Sawyer did great and barely even looked at me once we got to his classroom. They took the bus home and I have a feeling I am really going to like the bus this year! They both really like their teachers. Of course, I was a bit nervous for them today due to all the change they have experienced in the last couple of years. Eden starts pre-school in a week. She was mad she wasn't going to school today.

Beckett is 7 months and Good Times at Old Settlers

Ever since we have returned to the states time has just flown by and I feel like we have been so busy. I guess that is how life is with four kids. It is hard for me to believe that Beckett is already 7 months old. He cut his first tooth this month and is sitting up really well and playing with toys. He is saying "ba, ba" and "da, da". He has gotten a lot more hair and LOVES baby food. He loves sweet potatoes, carrots and any fruit. He is an early riser which will help me once school starts. We all just love him so much! School teachers were also posted on Friday. We are so excited that Faith and her best friend, Emma, are in the same class this year. Her teacher's name is Mrs. Johnson. Sawyer's 2nd grade teacher is Mrs. Fisher, who I have heard wonderful things about, so we are very happy and looking forward to a great school year. School supplies have been purchased and labeled.

The small town that Kyle grew up in has a small carnival and parade every year that the kids look forward to so we headed that way on Sat. Kyle usually sees a few of his old classmates and is able to catch up with them. The kids really enjoy the parade and getting candy-lots of tootsie rolls. They have a dozen or so rides with very short, or no lines that the kids are able to ride over and over again. Kyle's parents enjoy taking the kids and watching them ride the rides and play on the playground. This year Faith and Sawyer even rode a mechanical bull. It was a beautiful day! We have experienced some amazing weather this summer.

Last weekend our friends from England, Kent and Becki, were back in the states on their home leave and came our way to go out to eat. We had a wonderful time with them! Becki brought each of the kids a Webkinz-she is so sweet! I will try and post a picture later of us with them. I miss Becki and can't wait for her to get back for good. I am have been so lucky to see Becki and Tina this summer and will see Cathy next week. At Christmas I will get to see many of my friends I met in England. I miss you all!

We Have Grass!! Plus some other pics. this week.

Finally...we have a yard! It has been over a month since we moved into our house and we were getting tired of looking at dirt! The yard pretty much went in, in less than two days. We decided to have the whole yard sodded so that the kids would still have a chance to play on it before it got cold out. However, it is like torture for them to look at it because they can't go on it for like three weeks. Oh, well at least it looks pretty. I have posted some before and after shots and a cute pic. of Bex eating sweet potatoes and us at the pool with Jenny, Reganne, Carson and Gavin. These photos are not in order-sorry! Faith, Sawyer and Eden all went in for well visits this week and all had finger pricks and a shot. They did really well especially since they knew what was coming. I also registered Faith and Sawyer for school this week, they started piano, I signed them up for swimming, the girls for gymnastics and we bought school supplies. Also bought 7 pairs of shoes at Stride Rite for all 4 kids. It has been an expensive week. Kyle also put me back on a budget-this is very sad for me. My two years in England with no budget is officially over-bummer!!

The Party Never Ends!

I had a very busy and fun week last week. It started with me taking all four kids shopping to try and get some back to school shopping done. They actually all did pretty well and we got quite a bit done. Kyle travelled last week so my mom and dad came. and helped me get Eden's room rearranged and some other stuff done. I still haven't put any nail holes in the walls yet-maybe this week. We got more of our lighting fixtures in this week and they have started on our yard. It is very depressing looking at dirt. The real fun started on Thurs. when I went with Amy and Shelly to get a pedicure and facial. We had some lunch before and hung out here after. Amy and Shelly are my oldest (longest) friends and we always have a great time together. The picture is from after everything was done (that is why I don't have make-up on-I think I am pretty brave to post this picture). That night I went out to eat with Penny and Traci (my former neighbors-and still great friends). We had a great time catching up. I don't have a photo from our dinner because the battery in my camera went dead-but next time! They want to make it on my blog so next time I won't let them down! LOL!! On Friday, my friend, Kathy and her kids, Maddie and Alex and a friend (Brenna) drove 2 hours to see us. Kathy and her husband, Pete, are great friends that we met when Kyle and I were newlyweds. We had lost touch the last couple of years but she found me on facebook. I love Kathy and she is so much fun and it was like we didn't even lose touch at all. I can't believe we have known each other for 11 years. Her kids are just adorable and it was so much fun seeing how much they had grown. Saturday included kids' haircuts, Wal-mart, swimming and a cookout at Jeff and Shelly's (no pics. of that either). Their son Grayson and Sawyer are good buddies and play so great together. Jeff is an awesome cook so we had some good eats and had a great time with them. This week involves dr. appts., shoe shopping, more unpacking, cleaning, school registration and seeing Becki and Kent on Sat.