That's my Byrdlings...

I just have to say that I love my little Byrdlings! This week has been one full of laughs and pride from Jaeden and Jaclyn.

I ask Jaclyn to put her shoes on her shelf in the closet. Where she is to put them every time she takes them off. She put them next to the wall, behind the ottoman. I see them and ask her to put them away. She responds, " Oh, I just wanted to see if you would find them. I guess I'll put them away now." I am soo going to be in trouble when she is a teenager!!!

Jaeden was working on his spelling homework. He had a worksheet with the instructions to: trace the words, copy the words, and then fold paper and write with out looking. He breezed through the first 2 columns of tracing and copying. He decided to fold his paper himself and I started reading his spelling words off to him. I read him a word, he replies "oh this is kind of hard". I look over and he is writing is words with his eyes closed!!! He really wasn't looking!!

Never a dull moment!

I am so very proud of my little man today too. He had a note sent home from his teacher. She wanted to let me know that Jaeden has been doing an excellent job listening and following directions. She went on to say " I can always count on him to be a leader an an example for the students. I am very thankful for Jaeden!" It is so gratifying to know that your child gets "it", not just at home but when you aren't around to see. Jeremy and I try so hard to treat each other the way we want them to treat others in the real world. It fills me up to know that others think our children are the gems we know they are.

I love my Byrdlings!!!

September 11th

On the 9th anniversary of 9-11, I'll never forget. It doesn't seem like it was 9 years ago.
I remember the place I was standing and watching as the entire event unfolded. I'll never forget the shock and awe, the fear, the confusion, of that day. And I'll never forget the great pride I had to be an American in the days following as I watched our nation pull together. I still can't listen to the song Proud to be an American with out getting a lump in my throat.
So today I am remembering all of those whose lives were changed on 9-11.

First Day of Preschool!

So being the mom who is totally on top of things, I am posting about Jaclyn's first day of preschool--- which was a week ago.
Jaclyn is in the Preschool 2 class now. And what a difference a year makes. This year, she walked right in, hung up her backpack and got her name tag, barely pausing for a picture. Then she walked right over to the teacher and jumped right in. She didn't even notice when I left.
She is loving class and I am loving that it is 3 days a week this year. Here are a few photos from her first day.

TGIF!

This week has been so busy. I was very wrong if I thought things would slow down after school started!

I am excited to be having lunch with Jman at school today. (He is still a bit nervous about going through the lunch line.) Miss Jaclyn is going to stay on a picnic playdate while I slip away for lunch.

This weekend we have our church's Community BBQ. It is an amazing event for the community and everything is FREE! I am sure I will have tons of photos from it next week. For now here are some of my favorite non-people photos of the summer.

TGIF!!

Family Time

When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. ~Joyce Brothers

Last weekend we went down to Greene County to visit our families. Jeremy went to Redbird State Riding Park to off-road at a Hi-Lift sponsored event. ( for those of you who don't know, Hi-Lift jacks are the only thing manufactured in our hometown of Bloomfield.) While Jeremy was wheeling with his dad and family, the kids and I hung out with my parents and niece & nephew. The kids we were thrilled to be able to have a slumber party with their cousins at Nana & Pop's house.

It was a weekend filled with snacks, frog catching, barbie playing, more frog catching, swimming and even more frog catching! ( those little frogs were everywhere and the kids just LOVED catching them and putting them in their new home-- a storage tote with rocks and a little grass. The Newberry Festival was going on while we were there too. So took all 4 grandkids down to the festival to play at the park, get balloon animals from Wacky the Clown and watch a parade. Little festivals have the best parades, they aren't too long and you leave with a bag loaded full of candy!

The weekend was one of many memories for the kids and grown- ups alike. :o)

It's just what I do.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to take photos. Sometimes way to many! It's just what I do. I guess I get the love for photography honestly-- my dad has been in the newspaper business longer than I have been around and has been known to take hundreds of photos while we open Christmas gifts or have a birthday party.

On the kids birthdays I try to have their photos done. I started out letting Sears do it and realized having the exact same photos just with bigger kids is not all it's cracked up to be. So I have been taking their birthday photos. Here are some of Jaeden's 6 year photos and Jaclyn at 3 1/2.

First Day of School!

I can't believe my little man is a 1st grader now!

He started a week ago today and is loving it. He was very nervous at first. And is still not loving the big cafeteria and recess with the whole first grade. Ms. Smith is his teacher and she seems to be great. It is still very weird to sit down at lunch and it just be me and Jaclyn. She is loving the one on one time with mom though. Here are a few pictures from the first day of school.

Jeremy and I both took Jaeden in the first day. On our walk home. I asked how his day was, he said "well, when you and daddy walked out of the room I wanted to cry. And I replied, well when daddy and I walked out of the room I wanted to cry. He proceeds to tell me that he didn't cry and asked if I did. I told him I didn't either. Jaeden's reply " Good, cause Daddy probably would have laughed."

Ha! I love his honesty!!

While the boys were away at school and work,

the girls got to PLAY!

We colored, took baby Macy for a walk and to the park to go on the swings and the slide and of course,

we had to do our nails too!

Preschool starts next week---

wonder what I will do during the mornings then?!