Starting School

Gosh! School started and life went into over-drive. Connor started 2nd grade this year. He is in Mrs. Talbot's class. He started the school year knowing a handful of kids. His best friend Jaron is in his class. I challenged him at the start of the school year to make new friends in his class. He has done so well! He has been so kind and loving to a boy in his class who has autism. He has an aide that sits with him and helps him during school. Connor and this sweet boy sat by each other at the beginning of the school year and I think it was a bit of a shock for Connor but he has really learned to love this boy. He plays with him at recess sometimes, and lets him join his friends in whatever they are playing. The little boy has a short attention span and usually doesn't play too long but it's so nice knowing that Connor plays with him and includes him.

Dylan started 1st grade and he is in Mrs. Echols class. My boys both scored in the teacher department this year! We love Mrs. Echols. I am able to go and help every Monday for an hour in Dylan's class. I am also the room mom so I get to help with parties and holiday celebrations. Dylan is smart as a whip! He is quiet and a good leader in class. He has some tough kids in his class but he always manages to stay on task and get his work done. He has made some good little buddies this year and is learning to love sports. He plays soccer, football, or basketball at recess.

Samantha started preschool at Watch Me Grow Preschool with Miss Julie and Grandma Smith.  To say she has waited her whole life to go to preschool is the absolute truth! She couldn't wait to go! She loved her teachers before she ever started preschool. She is my little social butterfly. She has crushes on "all the boys!" and "every single boy loves her!" So, I think I have my work cut out for me already! She is starting to write her name and knows most of her letters. She is counting higher and higher every day and she thinks she can speak spanish (she cannot--but it's fun to hear her try!).

My kids love their teachers this year! I feel so blessed to have such wonderful teachers handling my kids everyday. My boys have grown leaps and bounds this year. They all have teachers who are passionate about education and love children. It's been such a fun year for them!

word

I have to record two funny things my kids said

Sam has been saying "perfect" but she says "PERF-TIC!"

Today on the way to basketball

Connor:  "Dylan, don't ever eat butter, whole!"
Dylan: "What do you meeeeeaaaan?"
Connor: "Don't EVER eat butter, whole, Dylan, don't ever!"
Dylan: "Like where your poop comes out?"
Connor: "not that butter hole---like a square of butter, never eat that plain!"

They definitely keep me laughing!

a girl growing-up

Three short years ago this beauty joined our family.
Her timing was perfect.
She is full of sass, energy, and love!
In three short years she has changed me completely.
I want to live better for her--and because of her.

newborn

1st birthday

2nd birthday

3rd birthday

I asked her a few birthday questions:

How old are you: 3

Who is your best friend: Kalagi, Lily, and Wyatt

What is your favorite thing to do: drive my car (she got a red convertible car for Christmas)

What is your favorite color: pink

What is your favorite food: eggs and ketchup

What do you like to do with your family: talk to my family

What is your favorite toy: Piggy (Piglet)

What do you want to be when you grow up: When I can grow me up

What makes you happy: LOOOOVE (said so sweetly!)

What makes you sad: whhaaaa

What is your favorite show to watch: Mickey Mouse

What is your favorite book: Barbie book

What do you love to learn about: Jesus

What was the best part of your birthday: fire on my cake (she asked all day about fire on the cake!)

Where do you like to go: church, nursery, and the pond (pond???)

Who is your teacher: Mrs. Stewart (this is actually Dylan's Kindergarten teacher)

What is your favorite treat: candy

What was your favorite birthday present: pink bunny (she did NOT get a pink bunny today!)

This little lady is so full of it! 

i'm not sure what happened...

i have a million and one posts in my head. little happenings, big happenings, life happenings.

i regret not writing them down. i do keep a journal for myself and one for each of my children. but i like to blog. i like to type. i like to have pictures with my posts.

i have a million things going on in my head like:

. . .my baby will be 3 next week. 3 years old!
. . .dylan and connor are playing basketball. on different teams. hilarious to watch
. . .connor is a reading, writing, math machine
. . .sam wants "holes in my ears like you, momma"--we maybe, might, possibly pierce her ears on her birthday
. . .connor has a hard time falling asleep
. . .dylan wakes up entirely too early every. single. day
. . .sam still refuses to sleep in her own bed
. . .we are buying sam "her very own big girl bed" for her birthday
. . .dylan spells words all day long
. . .my kids are {still} picky eaters
. . .i gained 10 pounds in a year--but i don't really want to talk about that
. . .we no longer have cable/satellite for television. that is a heated debate in our house
. . .paul hates the attic. and antennas. and tight spaces. and insulation. and crappy reception....

catch up

its been awhile.

so here goes nothin'...
Summer--we lived it up! We swam, played with friends, visited cousins, went to Grammy and Grampy's house, and counted down the days until school started. Literally. We counted down the days! The boys were so excited to go back to school. I was sad to have summer end. I loved having them home all day with me. We took our days nice and slow and so having them go back to school was a bit of an adjustment--FOR ME!!! The boys have been in heaven though and that is all that matters. It is nice to have a routine and something for them to look forward to every.single.day. I do enjoy my 2.5 hours of just Sam and myself. We go to the gym, do some shopping, clean the house, or just play with the neighbor girl! Sam loves to play with friends and it is so nice that we have girls her age in our ward.

First day of school pics:

Fishing in Enterprise

A few weeks ago Paul decided to load us all up in the mini and drive to Enterprise. My mission: eat at Marv's diner. Paul's mission: catch some fish. The Mogle boys, Paul included, have not had the best experience with catching fish. Enterprise changed all that! Connor caught 1 fish and Dylan caught 2. Paul got skunked again! It was super windy but both boys caught a fish and we had a great time. I love spending time with my family doing things we all enjoy.