First Day of School - Braden

I have not been blogging anything lately. Hopefully one of these days I will get a whole year done. But until then, I have to start with today and work backwards.



Braden started school today. He is SOOOOOO ready to go to school. Yesterday I couldn't wait for him to go to school but I found myself a little emotional as I dropped him off today. I know it's the best thing for him and heaven knows I need a break. I guess it's just the idea of him growing up and I can never turn back time. It just gets faster from here.

I was so proud of him standing in that line. He was trying so hard to listen to what the teacher was saying and obey all the rules.

He made a cute little flower to describe himself for his class. There were some really "pretty" flowers that I know the parents made but I am proud to say he did most of it by himself. He wrote a description of himself for each letter of his name. Here is what he said:
B-Baseball, R- Riding Bikes, A- Appendix, D- Dessert, E- Energy, N- Nice.


Braden and his little neighborhood buddies who are in his class. Dillon, Braden, Jaden.


He loved the idea of picking out his own backpack this year. It is a Star Wars "Stormtrooper" backpack.

I can't wait to see what the school year brings. We are a little nervous about a few things. Hailee has always been one who naturally obeys all the rules and gets nothing but perfect behavior marks. It is a little more challenging for Braden. Maybe he'll surprise us...who knows!!

First Day of School - Hailee

There is no way it is coming this fast. She started 4th grade...already!!!

We had a little battle over backpacks this year. She wanted a $70 rolling bag - no way. So the next best thing is a "bag" not a backpack. We'll see how long it lasts...those things get uncomfortable when you start putting lots of books in there.

Hailee was hoping for a "young" teacher this year. I don't know why...I guess that she had a bad experience with an older teacher so young means good.

I couldn't be more proud of my sweet Hailee.

April Birthday Extravaganza

Half of the birthdays in my family fall in April so we went to dinner to celebrate. Yummy P.F. Changs. Happy birthday to Randi, Ryan, Dad & Casey!

Cutest mom & dad & sister
Cutest couple ever.
Cutest little family ever.
Happiest couple...eating out with no kids.
Grandma and Roman
Allie and Roman (if only he had bigger eyes)
Oh, Allie....

Hailee's 9th Birthday

My sweet Hailee is 9! It is so much fun to have a daughter that I can "hang out" with and joke around with. I love being around Hailee. She is so happy and full of life. There is a difference in our home when she is not there. I love hearing all about her day and all of the little dramas that go on at school. I couldn't be more proud of the way she behaves herself in school or church or wherever she is. She is always willing to help out at home and do whatever is asked of her. I miss the little baby that she was but I am so proud of the young woman she is becoming and look forward to many years of nail-painting parties and late-night chats with one of my best friends. I love you, Hailee!


Celebrating with the Morgans.

Hailee got new bedroom decor for her birthday. We will be decorating her room and she wanted "bigger" (meaning older) decorations. She really loved the idea of decorative pillows. This one is her favorite.
This is her other favorite - a fabulous lamp!

Hailee's cake...Dane had it made just for her. She still LOVES dogs and animals so he had dogs and trees and candy rocks on it. And it was chocolate, of course. Hailee likes ONLY chocolate cake and no ice cream (crazy)!!
Hailee and her cute cousin, Kayla.
Hailee's Birthday party. Hailee chose to see a movie with some friends for her party. We were originally going to go to "Princess and the Frog" but it didn't work out so we went to "Percy Jackson - The Lightning Thief". It was good but a little scary for some of the girls. She invited: Ashlynn, Cassidy, Kelsie, and Maddie.

Dane's 5k

Dane and Jesse decided to run a 5k. We came to cheer them on and had a great time. They both ended up placing in their age divisions. Dane won 1st in his age bracket. It was so much fun to see him cross that finish line. We were so proud of our daddy. Now if we can both be in the next one...maybe on to 10k????

Things that make me happy...

Today, this is what makes me happy (and the fact that my kids are sleeping soundly in their beds).

COUPONING!!!!

I haven't been a very dedicated coupon shopper for a long time. I decided to just put in the work and do it.

I spent 3 hours cutting and organizing and cleaning out my coupon binder. Now it is all ready to go.
I spent 1 hour getting my lists put together.

Bennett was my little shopping buddy and was "bribed" with way too much junk food.


I went to 3 different stores and was gone ALL day.
But it was all worth it in the end.

TOTAL VALUE OF TODAY'S PURCHASES: $225

TOTAL AMOUNT SPENT: $89

I LOVE saving money and having a full pantry!

You Know You Have A 2-Year-Old When...

You look like this at the end of the day.

And the following things happen in one day:

Bennett locked himself IN the house. I was outside with no keys or phone. He dead-bolted the door and couldn't figure out how to unlock it. After freaking out for a minute, I calmed down & asked him to turn the door again. He was crying and telling me to open the door. I was about to go to the neighbors to call a locksmith when I heard a little "click" and the door unlocked. What a relief!!! I was looking VERY sexy in my stripped p.j.'s and smeared makeup. It would have been awesome to have a locksmith and all the neighbors see me like that!
We move on to the upstairs. While I was in the shower, he climbed up onto the counter and took every Q-Tip in the box, stuck it in his nose or ear, and threw it on the ground. I have germy- germaphobe husband so all of them had to go in the trash.

Then as I am getting dressed, I hear, "Mom, Bennett just did something bad." (Never okay to hear those words). Sure enough, Bennett had colored all over my bedroom door with a pencil. It could have been worse if it was a marker or crayon. I guess I lucked out again.
I am doing my hair when I hear a big crash and I turn around in time to see Bennett flying off my bed onto the floor. Braden pushed him off giving Bennett a rug burn on his eye and ripping out half of his eyelashes at the same time.

Braden felt so bad that Bennett's eyelashes were gone. I asked him what he could do to help Bennett feel better. He said that we should go to the store and buy some hair and we could make eyelashes for Bennett and glue them on. We ended up getting Bennett a car that Braden bought with his own money.

Hailee comes home and a few minutes later I hear, "Mom, Bennett did something bad in my room." (Again, NOT okay). I go up to find that he has pulled off the heating vent and shoved toys down it. Awesome!

That's about all the 2-year-old I can handle today. Can't wait to see what tomorrow holds!