Saturday, November 30, 2013

The Pumpkin Patch

October 2013

It's our tradition to take the kids to the pumpkin patch every year.
This year we decided to take the kids to Great Country Farms.

Our little pumpkins...


As you can see, Sawyer wasn't exactly thrilled to be on top of this big pumpkin!



Checking out the selection!



On the wagon ride to the pumpkin patch.














It was a perfect day!  The weather was good, and the kids behaved.  You always know it was a super good time when they pass out before we get them back to the car!

After we left the farm, us adults ventured across the street to taste some wine at the winery!
Good friends, good times and good memories.
Peace and love....

Sawyer's first haircut

October 19, 2013


It was finally time for Sawyer's first haircut.  It was WAY over due.  I expected this experience to go terribly wrong, on many different levels.  I envisioned screaming, crying, thrashing.... and all of the other things that toddlers do when they disapprove of a situation.


He sat in Daddy's lap, while Daddy made funny faces at him.  Sawyer kept looking back every once in a while like "Hey what are you doing back there"
but he did really really well!


It's tradition to have Aunt Margie give the kids their first hair cuts!


This is the final product.  He looked like a new kid!  He looks just like a mini Marshall (and acts like him too).  

Peace and love....

Please stay 2 forever.....

 September 30, 2013


We had to have Sawyer's birthday a weekend before his actual birthday because I was the maid of honor in my best friend's wedding on his actual birthday!


It was such a fun day that I didn't take to many pictures!
Our friends and family came over to celebrate with us, and Sawyer actually ate some cake!
That's a big deal because Sawyer is EXTREMELY weird about food.  He won't eat meat, vegetables and even a lot of sugary stuff he doesn't want to try.  He is very sensitive to textures, and when he does try a new food it often makes him vomit.

So the fact that he actually tried and liked his birthday cake was a big deal!


The older kids had lots of fun outside.


He got lots of cool toys but one of his favorite things was from his Uncle Brian and Aunt Theresa...
Veggie sticks!  He loves those things.
Sawyer is such a neat kid.  He can be a bit of a handful, a little bit difficult and definitely weird with food.  But he is so sweet and really funny.  He definitely holds his own, being the third child.  He doesn't take crap from his big brother Marshall.  He is so tiny, but he has no fear!  He is talking so well.  He's talking in fragmented sentences and he can count to 13 (because that is how many steps we have)!

His new thing now is when I put him down for a nap or bedtime, he will run ahead and hide in his closet.  When I walk in and say "Where did Sawyer go"  he jumps out screaming to scare me.  It's the cutest thing ever.  He's switched it up on me yesterday and hid behind his rocking chair and then REALLY scared me!  He is definitely ALL boy, that is for sure.

He has the same love for animals that I do.  Don't get me wrong, my other 2 kids love animals too, but Sawyer has the same sort of obsession that I do.  Paolo our smallest dog normally doesn't allow any of the kids to pet him, but he lets Sawyer.  Sawyer can play really rough and wild, but he knows that if he pets Paolo really slow and careful then Paolo doesn't run from him.

Words can't even describe my love for this child.  I love all of my children, and they are all growing up so incredibly fast.  I have made it a point to be more laid back, less stressed and I try my hardest to treasure each and every moment of him being this little.  The sweet innocence of a 2 year old is such an amazing thing.  It's when their personalities start to shine.  It's when they start talking more.  It's when they start expressing their feelings, their wants and their needs.  That sweet, tiny little voice and face will change into a boy.  It's so neat to watch them grow and develop, but it makes me sad that this stage will go away.  I still remember Jaylee and Marshall as toddlers, it seems like yesterday.  Sawyer is our last child, so it's sad to know that this stage will forever be gone for us.  When he looks up at me and said a full "I wuv you Mama" it melts my heart to pieces.  Or when I'm in the bathroom and I hear his little voice saying "air are you" it makes me smile.

At the same time I can't wait to see what kind of a person he will be as he gets older.  I try so hard to teach my children the right way.  To be good people who will make a difference.  To be kind and helpful.  To be aware of other's feelings.  The world needs more of that.  

Peace and love....

Life is too short to be taken seriously....

August 19, 2013 - First Day of School

This was a BIG day for Marshall!  Not only was it his first day of kindergarten, but it was also his first day in a new school.  The same school that his big sister goes to.  Boyce Elementary.  He has been looking forward to going to this school with his big sister.


He also picked out a new hair style.  He wanted his hair spiked for the occasion!


Today is Jaylee's first day in 2nd grade!


She is also so excited to have Marshall in the same school with her!



Sawyer and Stella also wanted to pose in the picture!


Here they both are, beaming from ear to ear with excitement.
When was the last time as an adult that you felt so excited about something like this?
Kids are so happy all of the time because they enjoy the little things in life.  The things that we take for granted.  They wake up with excitement about what the day will bring them.  They don't tend to worry or stress, they just enjoy the moment.   Yes adults have worries and concerns that kids don't, but the point is to look past those things and try to enjoy life.  Life is too short and too great to just sit back and and let it pass you by.  I'm trying to live my life to the fullest and achieve things that I never thought possible.

Peace and love....

June 29, 2013 - Hiking in Shenandoah National Park

We took a day hiking trip to Shenandoah National Park with our friends the Alexanders.



The Alexanders


Sawyer loved riding in the baby pack.


Everyone taking a break from hiking.








We tried getting a nice group picture of all of the kids, and this was as good as it was going to get!



Russ being Russ...




Jaylee found me a heart shaped stump.



It was a perfect day!
After a long day of hiking we all went out to pizza for dinner.
Peace and love....