Mini-Margaritas

And no-I am not referring to a smaller serving of a refreshing beverage. It is my high school equivalence of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood-the Margaritas. For each of our eighteenth birthdays we all gave each other a Margarita (daisy) ring- hence the name. After we started college, we began a Christmas ornament exchange as a way to keep in touch- I now have an entire tree filled with memories of these special ladies. Although we have all lived in separate towns for much of the past 13 years- when we get together we always pick up as if no time or space has been between us. David was Mini-Margarita #1, followed by Lucy, then Dawson, and now we are celebrating the fourth Mini-margarita birth, with Henry!!!! What a very unique friendship I have with these ladies!

Mini-Marg #4 Baby Henry...so precious!!!

Mini Margs #2 & 3-Dawson and Lucy dancing (Lucy's mom was a ballerina and Lucy started classes this week)

Margarita Mamas at recent baby shower...L-R Gini, Mandy, Ashley, Ashley, Jenni (I am sooo annual staff on this caption)

"Baby Hugs"

We've developed a new routine while getting into the car- Dawson usually goes in first and David goes in just behind him- but always stopping to give what he has named "baby hugs". Precious!

Now that's what I call Psuedointellectualism!

Back to School

So we started back to school officially this week. Can I just say that David could not get out of the car fast enough!!!! He has a great class and his teacher has already won him over!

All ready to go! Doesn't he look so BIG?????

Practically climbing out the window to get to school. You can see the line of cars in the mirrors...


So obviously this was through the window- and it doesn't do anyone proper justice, but I thought it was precious- that is his teacher this year holding his hand, and the lady behind him was his teacher last year (who is holding my nephew's hand- although you can't see him). These women are the most Godly women you will ever meet. What a blessing for your child to be eager to go to school!

David goes for Gold

While the men's team clenched the bronze and the ladies secured the silver, David spent the summer in a once a week "gym" class- where I would certainly give him the gold- for trying at least! While he loved to jump and run and slide, his rolling and cartwheel skills were...well, let's just say he loved to jump and run and slide:) The last week of class was one of the only times they actually tried any of the apparatus. GO USA!

The "high" bar

After weeks of watching the girls on beam and me repeatedly saying, "Boys don't do beam at gym class", much to my chagrin, the beam was a part of the last day of class.

And what medal ceremony would be complete without your buddy/partner in crime-Cal?

This and previous posts officially answer the ubiquitous "what did you do on you summer vacation?" School starts soon- where did the summer go?

A Fair Time

We didn't make it last year with a newborn and the heat- but this year's trip to the Fair was AWESOME-even the weather was perfect. David loved the "pretend" animals (the cow and chickens) as much as the real ones. Dawson was able to do more than I thought he would too- his favorite was picking apples. David rode his first ride too, but the camera had died by then. We can't wait until next year!

Driving/Riding the Tractor was certainly a highlight!

Dawson wanted to pick ALL of the apples.

No luck on getting both boys in a shot:)

Planting our corn...

Milking the cow...

Petting the "baby goat" (which really had another name, but we can't remember...)
Cheesin' it up in more ways than one!

Four Little Monkeys...

While their Mommy and Daddy were on their way back from Vegas, we met my precious nephews for a morning at the Monkey's Treehouse! To quote David, these 4 little boys "HAD A BLAST"!
David and Ryan checking out the view from the treehouse...

Dawson, enjoying himself as always.

Surprise... amid all of the wonderful activities, the best of course (and in this family) will always be the vehicle. Flash forward to about 13 years from now- SCARY!Yes, the climbingist monkey of them all- who doesn't realize that he is a little too young to be hitting the top of this!

Waiting for Daddy

Every evening if you drove by this is what you would see out our window- 2 boys waiting for Daddy. If you were a birdie on the window, you would also hear "nope- not Daddy's car". Of course, the moment he does pull in the excitement and elation is as if they haven't seen each other in years! This is by far up there in the category of best moments of each day!