Who's Behind The Wheel?

We laid my Grandma to rest yesterday.......one month shy of her 97th birthday.  Amazing!  It was a beautiful day and the kids were soooooooooo well behaved.  The highlight of the day was when Papa let John DRIVE to the burial service....the look on his face was priceless!

We love you Grandma.  Give Grandpa a big bite on the cheek for me:)

No End In Sight

My poor sweet girl cannot get a break from teething......they are popping up left and right.  We now have a total of 7 with another bottom one making its appearance any day!

Giggles!

We could hear the kids giggling in the other room...for a good 5 minutes.  When we went in there they were tickling each other.   Love it!

So In Love

Oh my gosh.....I am just so in love with these two little ones (I mean, one big and one little.)  I couldn't be more proud of either one of them.  Motherhood is the GREATEST gift in the world and I am beyond thankful that God choose me to be the Mommy of John and Hope.

Anyhow, John is talking up a storm and if you haven't heard his voice before you are definitely missing out:)  It is the sweetest sound I have ever heard....especially since we didn't know if he'd ever be able to talk.

So, this morning John says to me, "Momma sit with me and we color together.  I going to draw Hopa. First, she has a big head.  Then a little hair.  Then ears.  Then eyes and a month...and a body and arms and legs."

And when I picked him up from PT today I could tell he had been crying:(  He said, "Momma, I fall backwards and hit my head.  I have tears.  It hurt a little but I fine."

Here is the picture he drew of Hope!

Sea Life Aquarium

On Saturday morning we took the kids to the Sea Life Aquarium.  It was super crowded but we had lots of fun anyway......and the kids both loved it.  I am sensing a trip to Sea World in our near future:)

Unfortunately we forgot the camera so Daddy did the best he could using his phone.

Hopie checking out the fish.

Cute little Seahorse.

Momma and her babies.

Mommy and John inside a fish tank.

Big John

John just informed me that he is no longer Baby John.....nor, Little John.  He said, "Momma, I'm Big John now!"

I must agree!  Anyone who can read, write, count, sing, etc. as good as him is definitely a Big Boy!!!!

So proud of you Big John!

First Day Of School & 1 Year Check Up

Yesterday was my big guys first day of school......his last first day of preschool (sniff sniff.)  I am hoping and praying this year goes by VERY slowly because I am not ready to send him off to Kindergarten.  I love, love, love his preschool program...the teachers are AMAZING and it is a very welcoming and nurturing environment....where everyone is excepting of others differences.  And to top it of, John LOVES it!

Here is my handsome little man getting ready to head out the door to school!

Finding his cubie.

John and Mrs. Meggan....BEST. TEACHER. EVER.

Hopie wishing she could join in the fun.

Little did this smiley little girl know that we were headed to the pediatrician......to get shots:)

Having a quick snack.

Poor little peanut cried her eyes out during her shots AND all the way home:(

Anyhow, here are her 12 month stats...

Weight: 20 pounds 14 ounces (50%)

Height: 29 inches (50%)

Head Circumference: Big!!!!!!

All in all it was a good day.....minus the shots!

My Little Helper

John helped me set the table for dinner tonight.  I asked him if we were having people over because there were an awful lot of plates......and he said, "Yes, Momma!  This one is for John, this one is for Papa, this one is for Uncle Craig, this one is for Hopa and this one is for somebody else!"  

My boy cracks me up!!!!!!  Love him!

And...

Apparently Daddy allows everyone in the house to eat lollipops too!!!!

He got caught red handed.....as I was scrolling through the pictures on the camera I came across this one and he had to confess:)

Daddy Wins!

Daddy officially wins the coolest parent award.....in John's eyes!!!!

I sent the boys to the store to buy laundry detergent and they come home with a new bike. Aren't new bikes supposed to be Christmas presents from Santa or something?

In all seriousness, John (and Hope) do have the coolest Daddy EVER!!!!!! And I love that he'll splurge occasionally to make his kids happy. I remember my Dad doing it too:)

Taking A Ride!

John needed something to weigh the wagon down...so it wouldn't go so fast. And Hopie was the perfect weight!

The Party

On Saturday we had Hope's birthday party. The day was perfect.....AWESOME weather and the best friends and family around to help us celebrate.

A very special day for a very special little girl!

My mom and I had so much fun decorating.....

First up, Hopie's chair!

The banner and ice cream bowl party favors.

Dining room table

Dessert table

Cupcake tower

Brownie pops

Grams and Hopie waiting for the guests to arrive.

The birthday girl with her beautiful Auntie's!

Getting ready to sing......yes, we tried it again!

No luck:( I even took the candle out....but she still wasn't having it. I guess we won't be making a trip to Sprinkles anytime soon.

At least she tried a brownie pop:)

John choosing his cupcake!

The night before (when I was making the cupcakes) he said he wanted me to make vanilla cupcakes without frosting......so guess what cupcake he choose (and ate?) Yep, a chocolate cupcake with frosting!!!! Too funny!

Getting the tickle torture from Papa.

Enjoying (I mean, spilling) someones Capri Sun:)

Paigers deciding what to play with next.

Sissy playing

My loves playing

Trying out her new ride from Grammy and Papa!

And finally tub time!

My birthday girl in her birthday suit!

Hanging with Uncle Chris....all cleaned up and in her jammies.

I must say, it was a GREAT day!!!!!!!!!