Class Pet...

Bodie's preschool has a real live Zuzu pet! We took her home several weekends ago and the kids loved having her here. The funny thing was I kept calling her Isabelle the whole weekend. And then when it was time to take her back to the school Rowdy asked why the side of her cage said Annabelle??? Exactly why I was never a straight A student!!!

The kids really want to bring her home over Christmas break...I'm still thinking about it. Her little heart shaped nose is enough to earn her a stay during Christmas but I'm still not sure! Avery adored her of course!

Sharp dressed "young"man...

Rowdy has an important day coming up and needed to have the proper outfit to fit the occasion. So we went shopping and found this little number. I was thankful that I was able to find a size that fit him so nicely! This is Rowdy's first real suit. I don't think he knew they were called suits. He has been pointing out all the people that wear one lately. I sure do love this boy that keeps doing very grown up, young man type things!

Rowdy...

I just did something really special with these shots that I took of Rowdy this last summer. I'll fill you in on what I did after I have some more details. But I really love the first image. I altered the sign above Rowdy's head to say his name and age. He thought it was pretty cool! I didn't really even notice the "goodyear" sign when I had the idea to do this...but how fitting!

I sure do love this young man to bits! He knows that I am sad that he is growing up so fast. I told him to turn off the oven buzzer the other day, if he could reach it...to my surprise it wasn't even a stretch for him. If you fast forward eight more years he will be asking me for the car keys. Yikers!

I think he and I are alike in some ways. He is an observer like me. He likes to take notes of a situation before diving right in and getting involved. He went to a birthday party recently and when I picked him up the Dad said I hope he had a good time because he didn't want to play any games or anything. I said no, that is just Rowdy, I'm sure he had fun.

He has his Dad's rubber face though.

I had to ask him the other day how to spell a word and he was proof reading my typing on the computer over my shoulder one day.

He blushes and smiles much like this when I ask him if there are any pretty girls in his class at school....

Rowdy James Mama loves you...

"I have trick or treat?"

This is the phrase Bodie would say so he could get candy at Saturday nights halloween party at our church. For the past two months Bodie has been telling me he wants to be a "candy guy" for Halloween. Not knowing what that was he settled on a Skeleton. I think he looks so cute. He still ended up being a candy guy though, with all the candy we have eating in the last month!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!

Miss Avery Girl went as Alice In Wonderland. My very talented Mom made her costume. I think it turned out so darling. She really looked the part!

Rowdy played his last football game of the season under the lights at the high school!! How cool is that? I started a defense cheer up in the stands for his team! Good times! He played in his game and just used his uniform as his costume. It was perfect because another one of his friends from the team was at the church activity too. They looked really tough and sporty walking around in their uniforms..full pads and all.

Sports photographer I am not! I need a different lens to get in close. But here he is playing under the lights and I cropped it in close so you could see him putting the hurt on someone! Way to go Rowdy...we are so proud of you and all your hard work this season.

Football Practice and Photography Practice...

The other night at Rowdy's football practice I took my camera and was taking advantage of the "golden hour".

Golden hour = the light right before sunset.

I like how the sun makes his eye look like a marble.

But mostly I was paying attention to side lighting. It was windy and I asked Bodie what color the wind was and he stopped and very thoughtfully gazed to think about it. I edited these on my laptop so they are a little bit darker than I would like, however I sort of like the moodiness of them.

Then he cames up with, "It doesn't have any color?" Shaking his head. Smart, smart boy!

These were some of the expressions he was firing off as he was thinking about it.

Good news...

Proud to say that this young man is for the most part potty trained! He did it on his own. Being the third child, I just didn't fuss over the whole process so much and he did it. It helped that he started to show interest at the start of summer. Dress code around here is basically swimsuit and sunscreen, making it easy for him to go. He had success and fun "watering" the flower beds. He has been dry several times in the morning too. So I am hoping that he turns that corner easily as well. Way to go Bo-man!

Easy, peasy, lemon-squeezey right, Bud?

Dance...

I know I still haven't posted about Avery's first day of school...hopefully I will get around to it. She has started dance again this fall. We decided to try a studio here in town. So far we love it. She is in heaven because it is a "real" studio. Real, mainly because it has a long set of mirrors and a ballet bar. The first time she walked out onto the floor to join her class on the other side of the floor, she watched herself walk all the way across the floor in the mirrors....wouldn't you? I'm proud of her because she seems to be taking it very seriously. Although, she did give me a fit about putting her hair up last week (hair must be up for this instructor).

The bonus about class, is that the public library is right around the corner from the studio so the boys and I go there and read, rest and enjoy each other company. It has been one of my favorite times of the week actually. When Rowdy is at Scouts I do the same with Avery. It works out nicely!

I couldn't decide black and white or color, so here she is...I present Ms. Avery...in pink of course!

Bodie's first day of Pre-School...

First of all let me explain something to you about this young man, don't ever call him a little boy. He will quickly and with authority correct you, "Me not little boy, me big boy!". Yes, the big boy still talks like Cookie Monster...but I'm ok with that.

Bodie's first day involved sleeping in while I took Rowdy and Avery to school. My Mom was here to help out so he got to wake up to Grandma snuggles on the couch and breakfast with Grandma.

When I returned from dropping The Bigs off we headed out. This all just seems like a whirlwind to me. Wasn't it just the other day that I was attending a meeting for Avery's first year of preschool with Bodie in the baby carrier (one week old).

Bo took this little fox with him to school. Fox has been his go to softie friend lately.

I might have had fox on my head to get him to sit still for a minute and flash me the blueberry-like eyes at me.

Then he wanted Grandma to put Fox on her head...goofy boy.


I was getting Bo out of the van and expected him to wait by my side to go into the school and he just walked right around the corner and marched up to the door and tried his best to open it. Uhmmm, confidence not an issue with this Big Boy.


This picture of Fireman Bodie says so many things to me.

• Bodie likes to dress up. This proves not all siblings are the same. I don't think that Rowdy dressed up in any play clothes the entire two years he was at this school. He might have worn a hat or two but never a costume. Bodie is in the play room 2 minutes and instant Fireman!!! I love that. Rowdy was a hot wheel guy...he always went straight for the hot wheels.
• I have to point out that the hat is backwards. But that is about right for a 3 year old. I tried to put it the other way a few times but he always put it back this way...so cute!
• He was making pretend "calls" to his other friends in the room who were being Firemen too.
  

Rowdy's First day of Third Grade...

Just a few I took before I drove he and Avery to school on the first day of school. Don't look at his glasses too close they are super crooked and desperately in need of adjustment. At any rate, Rowdy was not excited for school to start. But now that we are in the swing of things he is having a more positive outlook. I love his teacher so far. She is having the kids keep a binder to bring home and take back to school. She is trying to teach the class how to stay organized and I LOVE that!

Just having some fun with composition and processing on this one. Have to let the artistic side come out.

Lookin' very mature to me in his watch and new converse.

Sitting at his desk. He was thrilled to see so many of his friends and some that we had hoped would be in our class. I'm so proud of you buddy!

First Day of School, sort of...

I will do a post later of the standard first day of school photos that I took of the kids. But here are a few I took as they enjoyed homemade chocolate cookies when they got off the bus. It was so nice to have grandma there. She was able to see Bodie go to his first day of pre-school and see Rowdy and Avery off for their first day. More photos to come...

Good-bye Summer...

I thought this photo was perfect for a quick post about summer being officially over and the school year starting. My 1st and 3rd grader are eating thier breakfast, lunches are packed, clothes picked out and supplies ready to load in the car. I have mixed emotions about the school year starting. Mainly because I have been sleeping in (rare for me) and enjoying the slower pace. However, I am excited to have a routine and schedule again.

So, with that "Goodbye Summer and Hello School Year!"

Sidenote: Avery looking very much like a spokesperson for Izze soda...

I might love these of her...

Mainly because they are so her...

• She is always picking flowers (so many that I have to tell her to slow down sometimes because I want some to stay in the yard)
• She probably got her hair brushed that day but you can't tell. I think she has "beach hair" all the time. She looks like she has been playing on the beach to me. I like it. She gets these pretty little curls in the back.
• The crinkle in her nose as she laughs...I had fallen as I was taking these shots and she thought that was super funny...thanks Miss Avery Girl.
• Playing in the yard with her swim suit on.

Three....

We had a little family party for Bodie's third birthday last night. It was so nice. Bodie got to share the night with most of his cousins (we missed those who didn't make it) and lots of Grandparents.


When Bodie went to open his presents he handed one to Kit (his cousin) to open. Bodie is like that. He is always very concerned about making sure that everyone has what they need. When the kids were getting their cupcakes I was busy taking pictures and Bodie heard me say that I wanted one. He promptly went and got me one and brought it to me. Sweet Boy!

My mom got Bo this little tractor and trailer. He had to give his stuffed animals a ride around the driveway.



Bo got a pinata from one of his Aunt and Uncles and everyone took their turn. It is funny how serious they are about it!

And one of my favorite shots of the night....Happy Birthday Bo!

Saying Goodbye to an old friend...

Two weeks ago we spent a very emotional night saying goodbye to our dog, Cooter. He was the best dog in the world. He was about 15 years old and had not been doing well. He was having trouble getting up and walking around. Although, I'm sure he was in some pain at the end of his life he still remained the sweetest dog. You would think that if you were in pain or hurting you might be a little bit grumpy. Not Cooter. He just kept smiling and loving all of us.

This was a very hard decision to make and we are so blessed to have a Vet that came to our house to help us. All of Ron's siblings came to say goodbye to Cooter and support us.


I haven't cried that much in a long time. I just kept petting his head to make sure I would remember how soft he was and told him how much we loved him.



Ron found a special spot in our yard to bury Cooter. Ron's brothers helped him dig the hole. Ron's brother Roger said a prayer over Cooter's grave that was so beautiful and appropriate. They really are part of your family. My sister in-law brought us dinner. We also had several friends stop in and say goodbye too. My mother in-law joked that she hopes that this many people show up to her funeral. What can I say he was a well known dog. We love you Cooter and miss you tons!