Emma and Greyson

I just love this picture....although these two aren't always friendly - for the most part, they do get along great and are truly each others best friends.  It amazes me, for as much as they play together, they do really get along great.  Its not often that they play alone, its always the two of them getting into something.  And when one or the other isn't home, it feels so strange....when Emma is gone, Greyson is a bit lost and vice versa.  I hope they continue to have a strong bond over the years and I look forward to watching it grow.  I love you two very much (especially when your not fighting!!)

New jammies

There is nothing like getting a new set of jammies.....the kids were modeling their new jammies the other day - so they wanted me to take some pictures of them playing around.....even Hadley got a new pair!

Kids

Pics of the kids around the house from a few weekends ago.   They all seem to love Emma's cat ears and take turn wearing them!  Even Hadley got into the fun!

Big girl....

Hadley is growing and changing so quickly - it amazes me.   When I see her in her walker or high chair - she just looks so big.  She also looks just like Emma did at this age - I found an old pic of Emma when she was a baby and Hadley is the spitting image of her big sister!  She fits into our family nicely - she never seems bothered with all the loudness of our family - whether its the dog barking, or the kids running around being kids - she is always pretty happy.  She seems to be teething - drooling all over and chewing on everything - I forgot how much fun that can be!  Hopefully it will be over sooner rather than later - but for now, I am soaking in all the memories (good and teething!) because she is showing no signs of slowing down!!!! 

Halloween cuties

Here are some shots of the kids at Halloween....I finally talked Emma into dressing up as something other than a dog!  It wasn't easy (we all know how much this girl loves dogs) - but after looking through the Pottery Barn Kids catalog - we decided that a cat would be a great idea.  Of course, I am too thrifty to spend $ 70 on the costume - so we copied it - Grandma Drexler was nice enough to make Emma the tutu and the rest we just pieced together.  I thought it was quite cute and Emma liked it too.  Greyson was a tiger - and loved his claws that came with the costume.  Hadley was a flower - but unfortunately it was too cold out for her to go trick or treating (Emma and Greyson only lasted about 45 minutes!)!  Plus, Hadley grew a bit more than I planned on and she was busting out of her costume.  We took a few pics and took it off her.  We ended the evening with our traditional Papa Murphys pumpkin pizza.....what a great nite! 

First Day of School

The first day of school - I think I was more excited than Emma!  The kids had a great summer together - but staying home with each other was starting to wear a bit thin and Frank and I both agreed it was definitely "time' to go back!  Emma wasn't that excited - until we went to the open house and she found out she was getting a locker!!!!  Wow, that made all the difference (its the small things, I guess!).  She was a bit worried about going "all day" - but was quite excited to hear that she would get three recesses!   We met her teacher - Mrs Fritz - at the open house and she is wonderful!  I have heard nothing but great things about her - and Emma even said she "missed Mrs Fritz" when they had a sub one day!   Its still hard to believe she is a FIRST grader.....wow - she is getting so big!

Greyson was also pretty excited about starting three year old preschool.....he was going to a "new school" Little Lakers Learning Center but the fact that its the same teachers and same friends helped ease him back into school.  The first day was a bit rough - he was a bit nervous and didn't want me to leave him.....he wanted "emma" - they really grew close (and were inseperable) all summer - so I knew it would be a bit of an adjustment for him.....but he is doing great!  He loves his teacher Ms Carol (who had Emma too - and Emma still says is her favorite teacher) and is enjoying singing songs (I am a pizza!) and reading books and counting.....fun fun fun!  I think its good for him to get back to some sort of structure and learning....his little mind needs it! 

Labor Day in Pentwater

Labor Day was here so quickly - I felt like the summer had just started and you blink an eye and its over.....but one good thing is our annual Labor day in Pentwater family fun trip!  This year we actually had decent weather too.....we went up to Grandpa's boat on Sunday (Greyson could NOT wait one more minute!) and spent the day up there.  I love Pentwater - its so small and quaint - so relaxing - and brings back so many memories of my childhood on the boat....and going there (: with the boat group!  Anyways, we took a boat ride out on Lake Michigan (yes - Greyson got to drive!) - we cruised over to the Silver Lake sand dunes and even saw a ship wreck!!!!  Aunt Kathy's sister (Kelly) even came along and brought their little ski boat - which the kids had a blast on.....Kathy and Kelly took all the kids (bless them!) and took them tubing....even Greyson went (with Kathy)!!!!!  We finished up the day by going up to the Village Green (GO STATE) and ate a fab dinner!  What a great day - can't wait till next year!

Hadley is a growing!

Well, little Miss Hadley is growing like a weed!  She has been rolling over and talking ALOT!  I figure she sees her big brother and sister running all over the house - and wants to join in - so she's learning to move already....also, she has started talking (well, more of a squaking!) and has oh so much to say!  She always picks when we are in a restaraunt or the middle of a store to really get her "story" going.....and she takes after Gresyon - LOUD - niether of them know how to whisper or talk quietly!!!!  Thanfully she has been sleeping through the night for about a month now - hopefully no more late night feedings!  And we are going to start her on cereal now - she is such a sweetie and has the BEST smile......

Birthday parties!

Thankfully I was able to talk Emma and Greyson into having another dual birthday party this year!  I figure that we will do it together for as long they will let us - I know that someday they will want to have their own parties, but for now its just so much easier (especially since their birthdays are two weeks apart!).  The last couple of years we were lucky enough to have the party at Uncle Dave and Aunt Kathy's house (in their pool!) - but this year it didn't work out - so we had the party at our house.  I wanted to do something fun for the kids....so I ended up getting a big bounce house for them to play in!  It was dropped off on Friday evening - and when we set it up - we couldn't believe how big it was - it was taller than our house!   My friend also gave us some old time carnival games to play as well!  The kids had a blast - they bounced the weekend away....and their friends had fun on Sunday too.....and when it started to rain - the kids threw their suits on and kept jumping!  It was a great party - and its so hard to believe my kids are now 6 and 3 - wow, they are getting so big......and I am so very proud of the little people they have become - Happy Birthday Emma and Greyson - I love you!

Silver Lake

Frank and I took the kids to Silver Lake this summer to meet up with the Drexler family.....it was just a short day trip, but nonetheless, we had a great time! With Hadley being born in May, it has limited our summer outings - we didn't even make it to the beach! I must admit the kids were really good about it - they didn't seem to mind missing out on a few things, if it meant a new baby sister. Next year it will be much easier, and we are planning many beach and day trips! When we heard the Grandma and Grandpa Drexler would be camping in Silver Lake - we thought what a great opportunity to go play for the day! The weather wasn't the greatest (hey we live in Michigan!) but we still had a blast.....Uncle Mark even rented a jeep and let us take it for a ride in the dunes and Grandma Drexler took baby Hadley so we could go alone - that was SO fun....the kids had a blast.....what a great day!

Emma lost a tooth (finally!!!!)

Well, it has taken "FOREVER" as Emma says, but she finally lost her first tooth!  I was so excited because it happened the last week I was on maternity leave - so I was home with her and I so appreciated being able to share that moment with her!  The look on her face was priceless!  She has (somewhat) patiently awaitied losing her first tooth - while several of her friends were losing them.....I told her it would happen - but I think she doubted me at times!  I would often find her looking at her tooth in the mirror - wiggling away - hoping it might come out!  When her tooth finally came out - she was so happy and all she could talk about was the tooth fairy!  I told her that we would have to put it under her pillow and then the tooth fairy would come and bring her some money....that is when she told me that her friend received $20 from the tooth fairy!   I kindly explained that her friend must not live in "our neighborhood" (hee-hee) just kidding - but I thought it!  Anywho, the tooth fairy didn't bring $20 - but did bring $5.00....which I thought was generous - heck I think I recieved .50 cents - maybe a dollar back in the day!  But I had to laugh at Emma's comment and I thought maybe I should take this time to talk about the economy with her - let her know that during these hard times, even the Tooth Fairy had to cut back!!!!  Can you imagine?!?!?!   Emma lost another tooth shortly before we went to Silver Lake and we took her money up to town to pick out a "souvenier" and she was looking at a stuffed animal and I told her that if she bought that - she would use all her money - and her response was "that's okay mom, I'll lose more teeth!"  Priceless!