The Last Firsts...

The last, firsts...

This summer has been full of firsts for my family. I can see my sweet family changing and growing into a new phase of life. As I have watched these firsts, I have watched my kids grow and learn and turn from the "little" kids they have been in my eyes, into independent "little people".
This summer the twins have learned to ride two wheelers, both lost their first teeth, all the kids have had a day at the lake for the first time-riding a sea-do. We all took a summer vacation with Grandma and Grandpa to the beach-it was also a first.
We took them to their first drive in movie, the girls finally got their own ipods. My little twins even started kindergarten today. I will also say that my oldest found out about the birds and the bees this summer, as well as the secret of Santa and the tooth fairy.
I have noticed something else that has also happened simultaneously. I have noticed the lasts. I pulled the last "first tooth", I witnessed the last training wheel come off, I sent my last preschoolers out into the world of elementary school. All these things were lasts for me...The "last firsts". The sweetest thing I saw was my kids fall in love with being older. Being more independent, and taking the leap into their early youth.
This August 12th was my two year anniversary of the day I found out I had METS. Ive lived two years...Ive lived the minimum expected mortality rate. In these two years, I have witnessed so many of the things that I have begged to stay here for. There are a million more "last, firsts" that I'm planning on witnessing, and things that I know without a shadow of a doubt that I will get to see before I'm through.
These lasts haven't been sad for me. They are bittersweet. Bitter because my children are growing up, SWEET because My.Children.Are GROWING.UP!!! And I'm here. I'm watching it happen. There are no tears when my eleven year old finds out about Santa (well, maybe a couple), or when I release my babies to their kindergarten teachers, there is only joy and gratefulness that I was here to see it. Life is Good.

Isabelles first tooth! She actually lost TWO at the same time!!

The tube at the Lake

Gavin on his first day of Kindergarten!

Grandma and Grandpa in Seaside with us!

Where does time go???

WOW- its been ages since I posted.

Life is out of control as usual, well a little more than usual. But things are sailing right along as always. Life doesn't stop, even if your a tad tired.

I look at my kids and I am given the stark reminder how true that is. They are growing up right before my eyes.

Gavin and Isabelle are now registered for KINDERGARTEN! Holy cow! Whatever am I going to do with so much spare time??I cant believe they are so big. They have also started their own little sports class. They are loving it, and I have been rather pleased too. While it is a little new, and unorganized, it allows the kids a chance to play a different sport every week. Its a good little tester, to see what sports they are turned on to. My little pixie Isabelle is the ONLY girl in her class, and it doesn't seem to bug her ONE bit.

Gavin is having fun with his best friend Jase, who is also in the class and thinks he likes the basket ball the most so far.

Kylie and Bailey are doing awesome in school, keeping really good grades and being their normal sweet selves.

I'm so proud of how they are turning out! You'd think me and Scott were doing something right!

Fingers crossed!!!

oh me, oh my

Well I took the kids to the dentist today. Everyone got a good report except Isabelle! She ended up have the biggest cavity I think I've ever seen. It seriously looks like it would kill, but she says it doesn't hurt.

She is actually going to have to have a "princess tooth" aka a crown put in to save the tooth. It is so bad it looks like if she crunched a hard piece of candy it would just break in half.

The dentist said she will need to have laughing gas to get it fixed. If she doesn't do well with that, he will stop and then we will have to go back and do an IV and put her under!!

Little Isabelle, the princess, will have a princess tooth. She is the first of my kids to have a cavity.

look to the back right...see the huge black dot?? Yep HUGE!

Autumn is in the air!

This time of year is the best! I love when the hot summer finally starts to melt away, like any ordinary miracle, the leaves change and the air grows crisp. The mornings get that fallish feeling and the days are perfect! There is something that is perfect in every season, but I think fall and spring are the best, because they are so perfect and colorful!

Today we went with the twins to their field trip to the Big Orange Pumpkin farm. Every child in our family has gone to this same farm for their preschool Halloween field trip. Today was a perfect day to go to the pumpkin patch. The weather was chilly but sunny and beautiful. We picked some real winners in the patch and came home tired!

Isabelle said that she just HAD to take a shower because the farm made her dirty and stinky. Oh my little princess!!!

Feeding the hungry goats. They lick the food off really fast and its kinda gross.

Isabelle on the hayride!

Happy Fall Y'all!!

Summer 2010!!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Here is our summer 2010 in a nutshell. We have had wonderful adventures and made our own fun. The pictures in this book were taken by me, except of course the Baptism ones taken by Brenda Edwards, and the fireworks pictures that were taken by Kent Arnold--two of my favorite photographers.

Now that summer is over, I am feeling the need to grow my own mind. I have thought seriously about taking a photography class of my own --of course I would need one of those fancy cameras. I am going to do a sewing class and an Institute class to fill some time too. I know there will be a million more things to do in the minutes between them. Im not worried about being bored, thats for SURE!