Christmas 2013

Yes... this is ONE YEAR LATE!  I laugh that I even post this, but one day when I want to ponder my life with these three youngsters, I'll be glad I documented life at all!!!!

The month of December in 2013 was completely full and wonderful.  We visited with a ton of family, enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Eve service at church, and enjoyed seeing the boys' faces light up on Christmas morning.  Thank you Jesus for a wonderful holiday season and forgive for doing a horrible job taking pictures!

My sweet family after our Christmas Eve service. 

Cookies, carrots and milk for the big guy and his pets! 

 Christmas morning

 Levi picked out the perfect gifts to give his brothers!

 And BUNK BEDS!  The two builders thought this project would take a hour or so to put together.  Needless to say, I was a nervous wreck that the boys would wake up to Santa hammering, sawing, etc. and it took longer than 1 hour...  

 I did a pitiful job taking pics at David's parents house!  Gavin did get Hulk hands, which I love...

 Levi enjoying his first experience with chocolate gravy!

 After celebrating in Seneca and Greenwood, we made the trek to St. Louis to enjoy time with the Boyles.  It was a WONDERFUL time, filled with fun, chaos and snow.  And somehow, Mimi and Paka ended up with three of kids every night at the hotel.  It was a mini-retreat for the younger adults!

 And the one lone picture I got of the 5 kiddos right before we headed home!  I vow to take millions of pics on our trip to Disney!!! What a wonderful December!

Fall 2013 (Part 3)

Last Fall, it was time for Little Bit to get his first haircut.  (It's out of control as I type this!).  He was a trooper and enjoyed his dum-dum when he was finished.  

 One of the biggest things I miss from preschool are there wonderful programs throughout the year.  Between the field trips and the well thought out holiday programs, the preschool does an excellent job showcasing what a wonderful school it is.  Here is Gavin's class getting ready for their feast!

 My Little Pilgrim

Trinity also participates in the Christmas parade in Seneca each year.  Gavin's first parade!

 Wacky Day for Gavin

 Let the Christmas parties begin!  It'll be sad when they no longer want me at their parties!

 Pajamas on again!

 Sweet Miss Noe.  We're so thankful Gavin has her this year for kindergarten!

Fall 2013 (Part 2)

Hopefully once I get caught up, I can keep up with my blog...it's hard for me to think what was going on a year ago!  Thankfully the Lord allowed someone to invent the camera.  I can't imagine my life without memories captured through photos!

The Season of Dress-Up

My kids seem to have to "dress-up" a lot for school.  I feel like they wear their pajamas to school once a month.  This is a problem because the older they get, the less likely they are to wear pajamas at all!  It's an added bonus if they match!

 Career day!

 Wacky Day!

 Gavin's Fall Festival

 I admit that I love for my children's Halloween costumes to coordinate. I know it's super silly and completely unnecessary, but if I can get the boys to agree to my "theme" I'm pretty excited.  Last year's attire was by far my favorite.  We were The Band.  They even let me paint their fingernails black!  So fun!!!

My little drummer!

 This picture reminds me of David's crazy beard.  Hopefully he won't participate in No Shave November this year!

Fall 2013 (Part 1)

So here's my attempt throughout the month of October...I'm going to get my blog up-to-date.  I already doubt myself, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to give it a shot!  From what I can remember (;-) we had a great Fall last year!  Here are a few of the highlights!

Scott and I surprised dad with tickets to the Braves postseason play-off game.  We always have fun...even though the Braves continue to disappoint.  

 My BFF's and I planned a fun weekend in Athens together! Such a fun time!

 Noah and I headed to Denver Downs on his first field trip in Kindergarten.  I'll be heading on the same field trip with Gavin next week.  Time doesn't stop, does it?

 David and dad went to the Clemson/BC game one Saturday.  UGA was losing to Vanderbilt, so mom and I decided we wanted to get out of the house.  I found a festival online that was within driving distance, so I thought we'd give it a shot.  On the web, it showed small church, so I was thinking it was a small bizarre.  Needless to say, we were one of thousands of people at this festival!  Mom and I just laughed and laughed when we arrived to see the amount of people!

 Our yearly stop at Walhalla Oktoberfest and it is one of my favorites!  Great food and if you go during a Clemson game, we have the place to ourselves!

More Fall fun to come...

Gavin Starts School Too!

The older the boys get, the better friends they are, but the more different they are too.  Gavin started Pre-K the morning after we drove 16 hours from NY.  He woke up and was ready to start his new adventure.

The pancakes

 The pose

 Walking in to his classroom

Finding his seat

Playing with his new friends and not even noticing that I'm leaving the room...

Gavin is such a special boy.  He is full of confidence and strength.  I have seen him "mature" immensely over the last year.  He hops out of the car each day while I'm begging for a kiss.  I'm so thankful for him because I don't think I could have handled two criers!  

It happened...

Noah went to kindergarten.  He is gone from me for 7 hours Monday through Friday.  He doesn't eat lunch with me...
I'm obviously playing catch-up with my posts, but I really never wanted to post about Noah's first days of kindergarten.  It was a ridiculously hard time for our entire family, so when I reflect back on that time, my stomach is in a bit of a knot...and then I praise the Lord that we have all grown so much from that first day.  Day 1 actually wasn't the problem...

We started our day with the traditional "important day" pancakes.

We took the famous posed picture on the front steps.

 

We all walked into the school together...

...notice the look on his face!

We got a picture with his sweet and pretty teacher.

 We found his desk.

 And then David and I left our son with a complete stranger for 7 hours.  No tears on Noah's part...I was a COMPLETE mess.  They have a Boohoo Breakfast for the parents.  I did not participate.  I wanted to boohoo in private.  

 Then, I picked this sweet boy up from school!  We made it...

...and then Day 2 happened.  I don't like thinking about Day 2 or 3 or 23 for that matter.  Noah had a hard time separating from me and there were A LOT of tears shed.  I'm pleased to say Noah has made great progress and is a professional kindergarten at this point.  I'm so proud of him and I'm proud of myself too.  Don't ask me how I'm going to handle dropping two of them off next year!