Thursday, July 31, 2008

Summer is almost over

I can't believe that summer is almost over:( I have spent all summer with my children and have had the time of my life. As sad as I am about summer being over, I am super excited about the school year. I will be the literacy coach at a new building this year. I am excited about the opportunity to actually be able to work with teachers and do my job. Lets just say the past 2 years I have felt invisible as a literacy coach. I went to training with some of the teachers that I will work with a few weeks ago and they are fantastic!! I predict the 2008-2009 school year being a great year!!!

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Attitude....It must run in the family

No, I am not talking about myself! Apparently, when Marks sister Holly was two years old, she responded to how old she was by sticking up her two middle fingers.

Katelyn's Newborn Pictures

Camden's Arrival

Camden comes home today from being with his Nana and Papa. The first day he was gone, I went up to school and worked in my new classroom. I thought, this is nice...I actually can get something done. The second day, Katelyn and I hung out around the house. I got to watch some TV besides the usual: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Backyardigans, and CARS. It was also nice to have my house clean and not have toys all over the place. Well, now it has been 5 days and I miss my little guy terribly!!! I have talked to him on the phone almost every night and I know he is having a good time. It may sound funny but I actually miss his messes around the house! I probably won't feel that way tomorrow morning, but I can't wait till he gets home tonight!! We have one more week together until school starts and I am planning on making the most of it!!!

I love that he is spending time with my husbands parents. My mother-in-law is a teacher so she has the summers off as well. Last summer was the first year that Camden went down and spent time with them without Mark or Myself. I think it is very important that my children get to know them as well as they do my parents that live up the street. It's kinda a unfair advantage living so close, but we make sure we talk about my husbands family all the time.

I am also super excited to see Camden's face when he sees his bathroom for the first time!! I will post some pictures when he gets home!!

He Loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm getting so big- 7 Weeks!!




Katelyn is such a perfect baby!! From the day she was born, her eyes have always been wide open taking in everything that is going on around her. Yesterday, she really started to interact with me for the first time by giving big smiles and coos. Every time I would get out the camera, she would stop!! She is stubborn already!! Although she is not sleeping through the night yet, I get up and feed her between 1-3 and she goes right back to sleep. I remember my son keeping me up for hours in the middle of the night!! Because she sleeps all night, she has a spectacular personality in the morning. I am definitely going to miss my morning time when school starts in less than two weeks. Here are a few pictures we took this morning. I got a bit of a smile on the last one...Finally!!!

Monday, July 28, 2008

Monkey Business








Growing up, one of my favorite memories was when I went to Florida with my best friend April. While I was away, my parents surprised me by painting my room. It was like coming home to a new room all together.

I thought I would carry on the tradition. Camden has been down at his Nana and Papas' house for a few days. While he was away, Mark and I painted and decorated his bathroom with the Monkey stuff he picked out when we were supposed to move into our new house. We thought we might as well put the stuff to good use in the meantime!
Bye-Bye purple... Hello, Monkeys!!!! It turned our pretty cute. I can't wait to see his face.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Summer Lovin'

I think we can all agree that summer is a very special time! Camden's favorite activity is playing in the pool or the sprinkler. We don't even have to leave the house, just go to the back yard!!



Bradley's Birthday Bash








Bradley's 5th birthday was a blast!! I am always amazed at what his mother does every year. Last year, he had a Thomas the Train birthday. The kids made trains and had such a great time. This year, oh my goodness... It was over the top amazing! It was a carnival birthday party, fully equipped with a hot dog maker, carnival games, a clown, pinatas, and a big bouncing tiger. I was a little bit jealous. Her parties always make my little pizza, cake and ice cream parties look sad and pathetic:( My son was the only child that had no interest in the clown at all. I feel so sorry for his kindergarten teacher.

Katelyn's Room


When I found out I was pregnant with my son Camden, I tried to go neutral (boy/girl) with the nursery. I figured moon and stars would go good for a boy or a girl. We painted the walls blue and my sister and I painted a beautiful border across the top of the room. The room was perfect for Camden. When I found out I was having a girl, I wasn't so happy with my decision. This was my chance to go all out in pink and I was stuck with blue and yellow!!! I ended up working out perfectly. Her room is still painted blue, but the pink accents are perfect for my little princess!!

The Big Day





The big day finally has arrived! Holly looked just like a "princess." Anytime Camden see's a woman in a wedding gown, he says she is a princess. She looked beautiful!! The wedding was perfect, the reception was perfect, and yes, even my son was perfect...Comical, but perfect. He looked so cute all dressed up in his tuxedo. Camden walked, I mean ran down the isle. What can you expect from a 4 year old?? :)

Rehersal Dinner















































Holly and Ryan make the perfect pair. They were high school sweethearts and have managed to stay together for the past 6 years while attending colleges in different cities. The big day has finally arrived. Here are some pictures from the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

Katelyn got to meet his GG and Papa Billy for the first time. We didn't even pull in the parking lot before Papa Billy was out wanting to see Katelyn.

Camden was a ring bearer in the wedding along with another little boy named Landon. I was so nervous!!! Would he be able to stand still though the wedding??? Would he even be able to make it down the isle?? During rehearsal, he was racing Landon down the isle. Guess he has been watching to much of his favorite movie...CARS! Everything is a race to be the fastest!!!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Camden's baseball season 2008

Who needs a rehearsal dinner?

























Why not a pig roast! My baby sister got married on the beautiful beaches of St. Crois in May. With nothing to rehearse the night before the big reception, we just had a big beach party at the Harlow's house!! Here are some pictures of the festive event!