I don't want to forget....

This is the teacher we are so thankful for! She's definitely an answer to prayer. Last year at this time, I was anxious about who the teacher would be and if EK would get the one-on-one attention she needs. This lady is amazing! She worked hard for and with EK. She was constantly trying to figure out ways to challenge and motivate EK. She's hard on my girl but also loves her. EK knows that! Thankful we've seen Ms. Flood a few times at church. :) Big smiles from EK yesterday when she saw her. I'm looking forward to this coming school year too. Crazy to think that EK is technically 4th grade! 

We were on vacation when EJ turned 5 months old so I didn't get a picture with her month sticker on. And since she's number 4 (and our computer crashed a few weeks ago), I can't remember back to the end of June. Ha! A few things that happened at 5 months: EJ experienced her first road trip and was a TROOPER! Seriously a great baby, slept well at night and really wasn't too fussy even without good naps. She saw/drove through AR, TN, VA,WV, MD, PA, NY, GA, AL, MS and LA. That's quite an accomplishment! She started rolling from front to back and back to front. She was sleeping well at night in her bouncy seat still. Nursing well. Eating every 2-3 hours but going a longer stretch at night. No cereal. Decided to just wait and start baby food at 6 months.  She got her 2 bottom teeth! Was shocked when I saw them pop through the gum. She's my earliest teether by a few weeks.

Here are a few pictures from our trip to NY. We drove up for my Grampa's memorial service. It was fun for me to be back in a town I spent quite a bit of time as a child/young adult. It was also neat for my kids to see Grampa's house and make some memories there with my extended family.  After NY, we drove down to VA to see our friends,  the Allens. Then we drove to AL to spend the 4th with our friends, the Andersons. Lots of miles in the van over 9 days. Thankful to be home now! Sweet boy didn't get a nap and told me he wasn't tired. He was out 2 minutes after we got in the van. Last Sunday, Keith preached at his friend Jody's church in Arab, AL. I hung out with EK in Jody's office during the service and halfway through, this beauty joined us. She's quite the mama's girl right now. :) EJ turned 5 months old on our trip and her 2 bottom teeth came in. WHAT?? Little one is growing too fast! At Highpoint State Park in NJ ...

We are still doing horse therapy once a week. Overall, she really likes it! Our garden mid May (we had rain almost every day for the 2nd half of May) Playing with bubbles About a week later EK loves EJ so much...she just doesn't know how to be gentle. Tried to snap a few pics with a safe distance for EJ. We have some peppers. Lots of blooms on cucumber plants but no cukes yet Tomatoes....we counted 15 the other day. Then found that the birds had been pecking at at least one. Need to buy some rubber snakes. We have had several swim lessons. The rain delayed some lessons and made the water quite cold, but my middle two are troopers! So proud of how well they listen and how hard they work on what Ms. Sarah teaches them. Snapped a few of this sweet girl yesterday as she was playing in a box. Isn't she beautiful?

This sweet baby is 4 months old. It's crazy how much faster time goes with each baby. She is such a joy! She doesn't love tummy time yet, but she's getting better at it. So close to rolling over. At 4 months, you weigh 15 pounds, 8 ounces. I nurse you on demand, but you usually eat every 2-3 hours. You sleep ALL night long (in your bouncy seat still). I usually put you to bed around 8pm and you sleep until around 6am. I feel so blessed this time around and I have done NOTHING different. You're just naturally a good sleeper and I'm thankful (especially since your brother was a HORRIBLE sleeper)! You take about 2 good naps, 3 if we're home for the day. You don't sleep well on the go. You might fall asleep in your carseat but as soon as I move you to the stroller or shopping cart, you're awake. Thankfully you don't throw a huge fit over it. You are wearing size 2 diapers and 3-6 month clothing. Things you love: your siblings and mom a...

Mimi had her retirement reception a few weeks ago. As of today, she has 1 and 1/2 more days with kids. We are so excited for this new chapter in her life. Hoping to spend a lot more time with her! (and Pops when he decides to retire...) Mimi holding EJ Mimi holding cousin C The grandkids were excited to have cake! And Aunt Becky was too. ;) The grandkids minus the babies. Aren't they a silly bunch? EK thought it was fun to have all her cousins at her school. (Mimi has taught at EK's school for the past 4 years...going to miss having Mimi check on my girl.) Sweet cousins We all went to have dinner at Spring Creek afterward. EK and EJ behaved very well. :) It makes a little less nervous about our trip to NY later this month. The middles LOVED having dinner with their cousins!

This time last year ago I was so very stressed about the next school year. I knew EK's teacher was leaving and there was talk about combining the two STACC classes into one class. I called an assistant principal at another elementary school to get some advice from her. I was thinking about moving her to a new campus. One of my wise friends who has a son in the other STACC class told me to wait and see. That if it didn't work out after a few weeks of school starting, I could call an ARD and change things. I also wrote a letter to the principal, telling her my concerns and what I would like to see in a new teacher, if they were able to hire one. The Lord went above and beyond my expectations. Ms. Flood has been such a blessing! She loves my girl and treats her with respect, while also pushing her to work and learn. After our yearly ARD last fall, I wrote the principal to thank her for hiring Ms. Flood. While I know that ultimately the Lord worked out all the details, I'm than...