FIVE

Peter turned 5 back in July, so we headed out yesterday to take his official 5 year old pictures.  Here's a few of my favorites!

 

linking up with Heidi

Seven & Eight Months Old...

 

Dear Benjamin,

You are SEVEN... no make that EIGHT months old now! 

These have been a VERY busy months for you.  Just before you turned 6 months old you crawled.  You quickly decided that crawling wasn't quite good enough, and just before you turned 7 months old you started pulling yourself up.  You really are an over-achiever!  Since then, you've just been perfecting ways to injure yourself...like trying to crawl up the stairs, or stand without holding on...these are all inadvisable activities...can't you just act your age???  I adore when you crawl.  You have the cutest little behind, that just wiggles along. 

I've officially given up.  At 8 months old, I'm accepting that you are NEVER going to take a bottle of milk. EVER.  You'll drink water from a bottle all day long, but milk...no way.   And, I'm fine with it. You're still a great nurser, and I'll just treasure the sweet time I get with you!  After a bit of a slow start, you seem to really love baby food.  Nothing too flavorful, but you especially like when we mix things like green beans and applesauce...mmmm delicious!  Or even better, pears and spinach! No teeth yet, but I'm sure they'll be coming along soon.

One of the biggest events is that we moved!  You'll never remember the old house, but I will!  It's the house that I  brought you home from the hospital to.  It was the house where you had your first bath, first smile, first summer.  We stayed up many many many nights together in that house.  I'm sentimental, and so these are things that I hold on to.  BUT, I am thrilled for our new house.  This is the home you will grow in!  In our new house you have your very own ROOM!  At 8 months old, you slept your first night in your crib!  I'll admit it, I teared up a little seeing your little face peeking over the crib rail.  It's just so darn cute!  

You continue to be a laid-back guy.  We enjoy you so much!  You have the sweetest little scrunchy face.  You love to go upside down.  I love the way you hold on to me when I'm holding you, and the way that you try to "bite" my chin whenever you're hungry.  You are a bouncing maniac in your exersaucer.   And you have the bluest eyes that sparkle!  You are a sweet baby and I feel blessed by you everyday!

I love you sweet boy!

love,
mommy

Here's a few of my favorite pictures from the last 2 months...

kissing cousins

see how that little hand holds on. 

peeking over dad's shoulder

Back to School...

School is officially back in session!  Luke started back last week, and Peter and Natalie had their first day today. 

Luke started 2nd grade.   Our school loops 1st and 2nd grade, so he has the same teacher as he did last year.  (She's incredible.)  It made the first day very calm, organized, and mostly drama free easy.  He LOVES school, and was glad to be getting back. 

As I looked at these pictures, he seems a lot bigger than he did last year. 

"okay  mom, enough with the pictures!"

Waiting for Luke's bus in the afternoon.

Luke and our favorite bus driver, Miss Judy!  She goes to our church.

I have to point out Luke's shoes in this last bus picture.  Mostly because they aren't his shoes.   He arrived home in these hiking boots.  When asked where his shoes were, he let me know that he broke them (how do you break keens???) Luckily the nurse had these "totally awesome" hiking boots that he got to borrow for the day. 


Peter started half day Kindergarten this year!  He has a summer birthday, so our plan is for him to go to half day K at our church this year, and then do full day K next year.  He is very proud to be in Kindergarten, but is also a little shy about it.  He is an eager learner, and is particularly excited to start math.  We are so proud of him, and dropping him off at Kindergarten pulled at my heart-strings a little.  He's such a sweet boy.

Natalie started 3 year old preschool today!  She has been excited to start, and has had her backpack packed for days.  She danced around this morning, excited to get to school.  But, when we walked up to her classroom she said, "I not goin' in."  So, I went with her.  She quickly recognized some friends and off she went.  Since I know how quickly life goes by at this stage, I really don't mind the leg hugging, nervous looks, and extra kisses that are required.  In fact, I kind of love them!

I said, "stand together."  This is what they did...too funny! 

 

I adore this picture....and these kids of course!

Oh, were you wondering how Benjamin felt about the first day of school?  He looks pretty happy to have mommy all to himself!