garage shenanigans...

Sarah Claire's first jeep ride...so cute, seriously she sat in happy and content for like 20 minutes, who needs an exersaucer??

Then Ollie decided to pull her, this made me a bit nervous, but I'm just the photographer!

Then Matt decided to rig a pulley with a necktie to the garage door with our john boat anchor. So Ollie and Matt pulled the anchor rope with the jeep, then the bike.

Then the rope got hooked to the stroller, the helmet got put on and Ollie went for a fast ride over and over again...yet again I was a bit nervous. Who would have thought we could have had so much fun in our garage on a Monday night?

Sunday afternoon...

Now that the princess can sit up...I tell you the sky is the limit! So I let her frolic in the makeshift baby pool yesterday, the lid of Ollie's sandbox. She had so much fun, thinking she's going to love the water as much as him.

What a cutie!

Usually Ollie jumps right into water play but I guess he just wanted to watch, it was really hot!

Close up of his new "fall" Vans, thanks to Grandma! Gotta love a good Sunday afternoon!

waiting for dinner...

This is the scene at our house these days after school the kiddos play while mom whips up something for dinner. Notice something different...we've moved out of the bouncy seat and onto the floor!!!

This girl still LOVES her boy and lights up when she see him and he gives her a bigger hug than me when we all get re-united at school every afternoon.

Look closely and you can see Sarah Claire's two front...well bottom teeth!

Little Sister's new trick...sitting up...is coming quite old hat. The shirt however (size 3 months) is about to be officially too little for this almost 6 month old, but don't you worry I've got long sleeve lil sis/ big bro tees waiting in their closets!

week in review...

We made it!!! First week back to work, Sarah Claire's first week in daycare...everyone survived. All in all a good week...the fact, however, that the clock is nearing 5pm and both my kiddos are still napping should be a good clue to the fact that sleep was well let's say...optional this week!

Highlights...Ollie loved being with his friends and both old and new...the kids from across the hall got moved up...he got moved into the 3yr class a bit early back in the spring when baby sis came along. Fun fact our pediatrician's youngest son is now in his class. Carrot the class bird still chirps and unfortunately his room is still peanut free...sigh!

Sarah Claire is one of eight babies in her class, the 2nd oldest, the oldest being almost 7 months. She spent the week with her teacher's Andrea and Kim and her new pals...Kyle, Henry, Molly, Grace, Sophia and Addison (twins) and Braedon. She is trying to figure out how to sleep on her back, she's a tummy sleeper you know...not quite rolling over to sleep that way. She was sitting up on Monday for about 30 seconds and by the end of the week can sit up for about 10 minutes, no joke! What a cute sight!

Mrs. Hannam cleaned, organized, sorted, learned, hung, stapled and lots of other various things this week at school. I am feeling excited for the newness and enjoyed meeting all the new "pirates!" We had a family photo session this morning at the lake near our house by this sweet friend...can't wait to see the results. And I got a new hair do...cut about 5 inches off, it's spunky...and therefore probably completes the re-newal process of this gal...new baby, new house, new job, new do.

We're excited for fall and all it has in store!

Ps...I was trying to re-create this photo session oh some 3 years ago, but a thunderstorm and an over tired baby kept it from being a big event!

this is it...

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures
forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100 (a psalm for giving thanks)

This is it...summer comes to an end...today.

I'll drop my kids off at school and transition from mommy to teacher. My heart is full of joy and thankfulness for such a fun summer with my kiddos. I am so grateful to have a job where I get the gift of being with them like this. God surely is faithful!

squeezing part 3...

We headed to Floyd, VA this past weekend to this beautiful venue to witness the joyous union of our friends T.J. and Olivia...so fun!

So many of our pals made the road trip as well...it...was..fun! Ok, think I'm all caught up...but I am still squeezing, summer's not over yet!

squeezing part 2...

His name was "Gollie" and my name was "Patrice." And this was the "fort" that we made one day last week.

Gollie made me dinner of plastic pears and hot dogs and for dessert, a "mocha." We took a nap, read books by flashlights and enjoyed being pretend friends and not mommy and son.

What a sweet memory...I was remembering while we were playing how very important it is to stop and play with our kids. I had a super fun time crawling under and in with this little guy and stepping into the pretend world! Gonna miss him like crazy when I officially head back to work next week!

squeezing part 1...

Sorry for lack of blogging...we've been squeezing the last little bit of summer fun!

We headed to the Sprayground finally, Ollie has wanted to go all summer, what a fun, free idea! We had a super fun time and enjoyed being there with the Potts family!

Look who...

...is smiling at you...our 5 month old!

Happy 5 month Birthday Sarah Claire!

It's been a big one...your very first tooth pushed its way into the world yesterday!


We love you sweet girl!