In the past few weeks so much has happened and I am finally blogging about it! So let's go in chronological order....
BACK TO SCHOOL!Emma started school August 30th and now she's a big 2nd grader!

Exciting support from little brother and little sister!

Lauren also started back to preschool and is having a marvelous time! She has already been on 2 field trips: Apple picking and visiting the animals at the Rochester Fair!

Sitting at her new desk in Mrs. Miller's class.

Check out the moon over the Atlantic at Long Sands beach in York, Maine at the end of August. Wow.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALLIN!!September 8, 2009: 2 big events! Dallin turned 2 years old and had a baby cousin born the same day (Chloe Elizabeth Erekson)!
Dallin had a fun night of great gifts and treats, including this amazing cake! You know me...


Our family is so blessed to have Dallin in our home! He makes us feel so happy and he is really my little angel! His smile is contagious and his personality is adorable. He loves to play and is currently obsessed with the Wiggles! He even woke up in the middle of the night last week and said, "Can I watch the Wiggles?" He hardly had his eyes open! Hilarious! Dallin's best qualities are that he is happy, loving, fun, silly, smart, and joyful. How could we live without him!!!???
Ride 'em cowboy!


Basketball or skeeball, Jedi style!
This little digger came from an awesome book that has cut out cardboard vehicles (digger, cement truck, and dump truck). You attach the wheels to drive them around and, with the moving parts, Dallin has been playing with this far more than I ever expected!


Eat up!
SOCCER SEASON!!!
Emma also started soccer this fall and found herself almost immediately injured! The second game, Emma was sitting on the sidelines when a ball came out of nowhere (okay, it was the field) and nailed her on the face!


Feeling better and back in the game!

Dad is finally here!
I was snapping pictures while driving...Is that illegal?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN!
On October 2nd, Lauren turned 4 years old!! What an exciting day! We celebrated in the afternoon by inviting friends to enjoy cake with us. What a fun surprise for Lauren! She had no idea that we would have over 25 guests showing up to wish her a happy birthday and they were so sweet to bring her PERFECT gifts! Thank you so much for the awesome gifts everyone!


Lauren's yummy dinner selection: hot dogs and fruit cocktail. Yum!!
Okay, Steve and I couldn't take that meal so I made some Cheese Steaks.

Let the party begin!
Lauren is such a special lady! Her beautiful grin and adorable giggle make us so happy! Lauren is such an amazing person with so many talents! She is so strong--go ahead, challenge her to a stare-off and I'll give you $20 if you can win! Of course, her strong will can be a challenge when there is a 'teaching moment' and she doesn't feel like learning. Still, this will be one of her greatest strengths as she grows up and I am so excited to see her blossom into the beautiful, happy, loving girl she is becoming! Her most recent accomplishments include learning to write her letters--in fact, she wrote her name without any formal instruction and blew me away with her near accuracy! Now we are working on the rest of the alphabet and she is speedily learning!
The big 4!
So excited about the Barbie Musketeer movie!

Lauren on her new roller skates! Umm, these are Star Wars....I love TJ Maxx....
THE CAKE REVEAL...
In case you couldn't tell, that is the Beast with his castle....but wait, what about Belle? Where is the BEAUTY of Beauty and the Beast????

This is a Belle cake! I found it at Walmart today for half off so it gave me the inspiration I needed for our family cake!
Beauty and the Beast: the perfect couple....kinda like Mary and Steve.