DAYS LIKE THESE....9/8/10

...remind me that even though there are times I would like to be back in cubicle land with uninterrupted bathroom breaks, lunch with grown- ups who eat their veggies and drink their milk without me asking them too, and a cute pair of high heels on my feet, there is no where I would rather be than with these two. Even if that means they ask me approximately 1,000 questions a day, insist on following me everywhere and using me as a human barbie head at times (they like to do my hair), and they really like to fight with one another sometimes it's all worth it. I love you guys!

I love you even when you flash those little grumpy looks...
and when you are about to do something I told you not too (like throw your coat on the ground for the 10th time)...

DIANA'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL....9/7/10

She's all grown up! Diana was so excited to go to school. She marched right in, gave me a quick hug, a huge smile, and said goodbye. Miss Karla said she did get a little sad the last 5 minutes but otherwise had a great first day. Diana loves both Miss Karla and Miss Diana (yes she shares the same name with her teacher so she thinks she is the coolest kid ever).

Here she is hanging up her backpack and coat. Hmmm...I didn't have to tell her to do this but I do remind her brother often when I drop him off (lol)Checking out the baby dolls before Mommy left...
Mommy's view as I walk out of the school....
Mommy's view when I get back for pick-up.... "It's my Mommy!!"
Diana with Miss Karla showing me the stick she found on her nature hike...

FIRST DAY FAREWELL....9/7/10

Diana's first day of school started out with her big brother telling her goodbye and posing for some photos. You know they are used to that by now! Although they still spend every afternoon together they are both starting to do their own things and make their own friends (not shared friends like now). I am glad they are still eachother's best friend though. I hope and pray this lasts for a long time.

Way back in the beginning....
One of my favorites ever - Diana is about two months old here....

NIGHT OUT FOR ICE CREAM...9/5/10

My cousin Jenny sent us a Coldstone gift card and wow were the kids thankful for that. Michael and I have gone here plenty of times but I believe this was the first time for the kids. Davis sampled more ice cream than you can imagine. I am sure he beat some record for "customer who had the most samples". Luckily, he was entertaining the four guys who were working. Thanks Jenny; we really enjoyed our night out for ice cream :-)

DIANA'S ORIENTATION.... 8/31/10

After much thought, we decided that it was time for Diana to go to pre-school this fall as well. She is 2.5 and still working on her potty training so we were happy to find a place that would be flexible with that. She is going to the same place Davis went to summer camp and is loving it. In all fairness, we did not decide Diana was going to school - she did!! Upon dropping Davis off at school on his second day, she proclaimed from the backseat "Mommy, am I going to see Miss Karla now?!" I was still undecided at that point but I figured if she was ok with the idea I was too :-) Diana goes two mornings per week for two hours each day. She is the youngest one in her class and does well with the older kids. Could it be that big brother has gotten her used to hanging out with the "bigger kids"? Here are a few pictures from orientation. Little Miss Serious was really taking it all in....

It's no surprise to me she found the musical instruments. I have a live concert going on at my house most days at some point. Diana is usually on lead vocals.
Daddy and Davis were there to support Diana as well. Here they are modeling some cowboy gear. It looks as though Davis is the sheriff in town...
More dress up - where's Diana???

ADVENTURES IN GYMNASTICS....

...or should I say drama in gymnastics. Let me explain. Diana has been wanting to take a gymnastics class since the Spring. I took her to open gym several times and she loved it. Here she is the day before class started posing in her leotard or as she says her "gymnastics swimming suit". See how excited she is?She even found a blue headband to match her "gymnastics swimming suit". I'm loving the placement as well - she looks like she was in an 80's workout video...
And yet another photo of my little muscle girl. She is so strong and all muscle. She wanted to show Daddy how strong she was and this is the pose she chose...
Well, the next day we went to our very first "official" gymnastics class and Diana DID NOT LIKE the teacher. She clung to me, would not let the teacher touch her, and really did not enjoy much of anything. I then take Diana to open gym and she is back to trying everything out and having a great time. Here are some pics and video from open gym...


She loves swinging on this and even points her cute little toes while swinging..

So, gymnastics class #2 brings a new teacher Mr. Jerry or as Diana fondly refers to him "Mr. Dairy". She loved Mr. Dairy and did a great job. Class #3 Mr. Dairy is there again and she does even better. We then arrive at Class#4 to see that the first teacher is back from vacation. Diana actually let the teacher touch her and I was pleasantly surprised at how well she did. We walk out to the car after class and she announces loudly in the parking lot. "I don't like that teacher Mom!!!". I was shocked to hear her state that so clearly and explained to her that was not ok to say. Today was Class#5 and Miss Diana clung to me and cried about 75% of the time. Although I like the teacher Diana does not and I can't figure it out - oh the drama of it all!!! Sorry for the long post - I know I'm going on and on but I thought today as we were driving home "dear Lord, how I am going to make it through the teenage years with this girl". At 2.5 she is quite the sweetie most of the time but really can have an attitude at the drop of a hat. In the meantime, we have 10 weeks of this class left - I can only imagine how that will go (hehe)

Good thing I love this little lady to bits and she looks adorable in her "gymnastics swimming suit"!

ISABELLA'S 5TH BIRTHDAY PARTY...8/28/10

Looking at these pictures a month later makes me miss summer :-( This was the last really warm weekend we had and I'm glad we got to spend it in a pool.Loving the Daddy/Davis smiles in this one...
Diana sitting by the pool with her "play" camera trying to be like her Mommy...
Diana met a new "boyfriend" who photographed her while she was driving the Barbie Jeep. This was hilarious as she was actually posing for him.
Davis decided that was enough and stepped in to save the day and drive off with his sister. I also have to share that Davis was running past some of the guests and Michael and I heard one of the guys say "there goes little Hasselhoff". I think Davis has him beat on the tan but other than that he is our little muscle boy with curly hair! (lol)

FIRST DAY OF PRE-SCHOOL....8/25/10

Davis all grown up and ready for school. He looks so happy in this picture. He was still a little sleepy but was excited none the less. He didn't cry at all when we left which of course made us feel great. We are so proud of you Davis!Diana had to get in on the festivities as well. We showered Davis in balloons when he came out of his room in the morning to get him excited for the first day. Daddy even made a butterfly balloon for Diana. She is looking pretty sleepy in this photo too but she was so excited for Davis and also excited to stay and play with her friend while we took Davis to school.
Uh...who looks more excited in this picture? Davis or Michael?

MORE FIRST DAY PHOTOS

Walking into school with Daddy carrying his tote that is as big as him...Ahhhh....this is one of those pictures I look at as a Mom and just can't believe it. He looks so old!
We love Davis's teacher. Five weeks into school and she has far surpassed all our expectations. We are so excited to see all the progress Davis will make in the next year.
Walking out with Daddy after the first day...
Helping Daddy pump gas after school was over. He was feeling very grown up!

PK ORIENTATION....8/23/10

Davis enjoyed exploring the new classroom at his school a few days before he actually started.

Here he is sitting in his locker. Daddy was happy he got a corner locker. According to Daddy that is the most respected locker you could have in the locker room. According to Mommy, the lockers are in alphabetical order and this is where Davis happened to land :-) Either way he is looking pretty cute sitting in there...
Drawing a picture with some goggles on...

All the kids had to make a poster to hang outside the classroom. We of course had tons of photos to choose from for the poster. Here was the final masterpiece...
Note in the bottom right corner Davis wanted me to write that his family lived on earth. Although there are moments I do feel like Davis must be from another planet, it is a fact that we really do live on earth. I am so happy he wanted to clear this up for his teacher and classmates.

LAST WEEKEND BEFORE SCHOOL.....8/22/10

We went to our favorite park the Sunday before school started to mark the end of the summer. We walked along the river and the kids did their usually (throwing rocks in the water). It amazes me that they absolutely love simple stuff like that. After many running races and ice cream cones we went home and they both passed out :-) Please note Diana brought baby girl along as well. She had a great time watching the kids throw rocks. Did I mention I really did not feel like taking pictures this day? I am so glad I did though. Love,love, love having all these photos to preserve my memories.