There's this blog I once started...

Blog?  What blog?  I think I forgot I even had a blog.  Once upon a time I was a stay at home mom with just one sweet precious baby girl.  I'd take pictures of her and then I'd upload them immediately.  I heard about these blogs and started my own as a place to share all those pictures with my family.  I was pretty good at it for a while.  Then life and busy-ness started to happen.  Somewhere along the line we let our lives get filled with stuff.  We go from here to there back to here and then over to there to pick up girl then over to that place to pick up boy and so forth.  Now here I am back to work teaching full time, barely ever taking pictures and rarely uploading them.  Tonight as I finish exporting Ella's birthday party pictures I thought to myself maybe you should update that blog.  Uh, January 13, 2013, you were a long time ago.  A lot has happened since then.  We've gone on some fun trips.  Said good-bye to my sweet and always happy grandpa George.  Gone to so many soccer games and quite a few baseball games, led some Brownie meetings, sent Ella off to camp, gotten sick, had surgery, laughed, cried, laughed some more…and we got a pool!  Those are just some highlights.  Here are some recent pictures…

We all started school.  The three of us are all in the same building which happens to be three doors down from our house.  Not a bad commute! 

Ella turns 9!

For her 9th birthday Ella had a few friends over for an evening swim party.  She had a lot of fun swimming, listening to music and there was a lot of screaming.  Sorry to all the neighbors.  It's hard to believe she'll be double digits next year.  I love this last picture.  They really are so sweet to each…when they are not tormenting each other which is most of the time.

Well, friends, that is about all I have for now.  I am not sure when the next post will be.  It could be in a  month.  Not making any promises though.  Might be in two years...

Snowy School Day

A couple weeks ago, on a Tuesday, January 15th to be exact, it started snowing just before it was time for Ella to go to school.  I drove her to school that morning.  She will never be able to tell her kids the story, "I had to walk miles in the snow to school..."  Once Bennett and I were back home the snow started coming down a little harder and it was sticking.  So, I grabbed my new camera that I'm still trying to learn and started taking some pictures!  Bennett has grown to love the snow.  He really despised it a few years ago!!

Snowing & Happy

Pretty snow fall

frozen fingers

Christmas, part 2

Christmas Eve

We had a great Christmas this year!  The kids had a short and simple list for Santa this year.  They each asked for a new bike.  Santa followed through.  Unfortunately, Ella's bike is a little too big for her so she has decided to continue riding her old bike despite the fact that it has Disney princesses on it until she grows a couple more inches.  Chris's parents spent the night with us on Christmas Eve.  We had a nice evening with them.  The kids left out cookies for Santa and opened one gift.  On Christmas we went to Erin's for a big celebration.  All of the Crawfords were there.  Lots of fun!  On the way we drove in the SNOW!  What a fun Christmas present for the kids.  It was a wonderful day celebrating.

Opening tickets to Taylor Swift!!!

His new bike!

Driving to Erin's

Stinker

Bennett loves Stevie! Little Parker, too

Ella & Gabby

We got home to a few more inches in Allen :)

Way, way behind but here's a post about Christmas, Part 1

So, it's now January 2013.  A lot has happened since Bennett started pre-school.  You could say we've been busy around here.  I rarely have a chance to sit down at the computer.  I don't even upload my pictures very often.  I am just uploading pictures from Christmas today, January 12th.  Anyhow, I thought I'd post a few pictures from Bennett's program.  He was a darling star!

Bennett starts Pre-K

Today both kids are back in school.  Finally!  This is Bennett's year of Pre-K or is it?  Since we're most likely sending him back to the same school next year for TK I guess we'll go ahead and call it Pre-K.  He has the same teacher Ella had in the 4's and then a new one with her.  We couldn't ask for a better teacher!  Meet the teacher was Wednesday and he didn't want to leave.  He had friends in his class from last year and kids from his class two years ago that were only going T/Th last year.  I think it'll be a great year!  Ella is so excited he has Mrs. Bartalone.  She already requested to go read to his class and of course Mrs. B said, "Yes!  Please bring her one day."  Ella read to the 4's last year, too.  My little teacher in the making.  This morning he went right to a table and started coloring at a table without even saying bye to me.  Such a big boy.  I did go say bye to him. :)

He actually posed

This is more like him

Silly all the time

Silly silly boy

Have a great weekend!

Go Aggies!

First grade

Today Ella started first grade!  I'm not sure how this happened.  It really feels like summer just started but somehow our summer is officially over.  At least Ella's is over.  Bennett starts school next Friday.  You'd think I'd be pushing them out the door but this summer flew by and these last two weeks at home I really enjoyed.  I was actually a little sad to have summer come to an end.  I could have had one more week at home with the kids.  Ella had a great first day!!  She picked out a cute new outfit and asked if it was the proper "three finger" width tank.  I told her it was as long as it's her fingers, not mine.  She was so excited to wear her glitter Tom's since Monday is a non-PE day.  She has a few friends in her class.  Her teacher is new to Norton this year but we got a good vibe from her last week and we even saw her out on a "date" Friday night but I told Ella to let her have quality time with her husband. :)  Ella loved her first day of school.  In fact, she was "Star Student" in her class!  Wow, way to start the year and set the precedent for yourself, tiger!  We'll be making sure that is how she behaves every day.  Our little star will be off to soccer practice tomorrow and jazz on Wednesday while mommy registers her for softball this week.  Her buddy, Sutton (below), is on her soccer team and they will hopefully be on the same softball team.  This will be a busy year for us but life is an adventure and we live it to the fullest!  Here's to a great year!!

Ready to go to school

Headed to school

Outside the class

Ella & Sutton

Giving hugs (the only picture I could get of Bennett)

After school (I forgot to get out my sign before school)

First day cookie

It's almost your turn, Bennett

Enjoy first grade, Ella!

Spring Recital 2012

Last night was Ella's recital.  She was in a ballet/tap combo class again.  She enjoys dancing but tap was her favorite.  She has decided to take a jazz class in the fall, no more ballet.  Some of her friends will be in her class again which she is excited about.  The recital was cute and short.  Thank goodness for that because Bennett had to go.  He was good for the hour, thanks to Brooke, pretzels, a crazy lollipop I bought on the way, Skittles and Brooke's water. :)  Next year Ella advances to the Big show.  She'll be preforming in the night recital where the youngest dancers are six.  Although it is cute to watch the little ones dance, I'm ready to watch the ballerinas and all the fun dancing I did waaayyy back in high school!

Daisy Troop - Kate, Lexi, Ella & Georgia

Monster faces

After the show

Our pretty ballerina

Sweet girl

Ella & Georgia after the show