year end wrap-up...

Well, it has been a busy, eventful last quarter of the year!! Webb started school on September 1st. He comes home exhausted after learning all day long. Many nights, he falls asleep at 4:30 and sleeps until the next morning, much to our exasperation! (I've fixed that issue by giving him vitamins with IRON...made all of the difference in the world!) Apparently, this level of unconsciousness is contagious in our house!T-ball started at the end of August, right along with Emerson's gymnastics! Then it was Halloween and right into Thanksgiving and Christmas...time flies! Maizey in the twist position...

Ready for some FOOTBALL!!

Working the bar...

Hanging on the rings... (Iphone fuzzy)

chillin' at the game...

Halloween brought out...Angry Birds and a lady bug...

what fun it was to make THAT costume!

The whole crew for Halloween...

My brother, Duane, a man of the cloth?

Emerson was soooo excited....

Her cousins came all the way across the pond for a visit!

Webb, chasing leaves...what fun that is!?

Maizey thinking "this is a LOT of children in one place!"

getting a family picture is like pulling teeth!

But the cousins don't mind smiling with each other!

See the love?

Two peas in a pod!

Gotta get 'em working early!

Endings and new beginnings....

Our little man is growing up so fast! Today was his "first" day of Kindergarten - he spends the day w/ a Kindergarten teacher who does informal assessments with the students. On September 1, he will begin his first day of the next thirteen years of his formal education. Time flies!

Emerson began gymnastics class this week. She loves to jump and tumble. She doesn't think it's a "class" - she is "playing"!

Doing the balance beam all by herself...

The last weekend in August, Will & I participated in the Warrior Dash - a 5K run with 10 or so obstacles throughout. The finale was a 10 yard mud pit that we had to crawl through while staying under barbed wire. It was a fun experience - when else can you say you actually could play in mud for fun? It won't be an annual event, but maybe every five years or so while our bodies permit!

P.S. Hurricane Irene was a non-issue for us at the event. It was hot, humid and sunny throughout the day. Hard to tell a major storm was ravaging the coast a few hours away. We escaped Irene's wrath w/ a few branches down and 2" of rain. However, the squirrels will suffer - Irene took out the majority of the acorn harvest for this fall!

Beach Trip, 2011

We went to Atlantic Beach for our annual beach trip with Grandpa Bill.

It's a great place to fly a kite!

Visiting Fort Macon - our old stomping grounds

Teaching Grandpa Bill how to play Trouble!

At the Aquarium

Playing on the beach

Grandpa Bill has some other shots, once he shares, we'll get them posted.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WEBB!!

Webb had his 5th birthday party at a local bowling alley...fun was had by all! We had lots friends join us for the festivities!

I'm 5!!!

Mommy Candy helps Connor go for the strike!

Nolan gives it his best shot, while sister Eva watches in the background!

What a great bowl! Daddy-o gets a family hug! Peyton gets a little help from his mommy... Whose turn is it anyway? Peyton ponders the best approach Peyton is about done w/ this... Gio does the full extension to get the maximum benefit from his ball!
Eva gives it her best shot! E gets her game on! Mommy loves these shorts, loves the shoes, but loves me BEST!!! Peyton takes his turn while Webb watches the score! Super Carter bowls with all of his might! Eva awaiting her turn...
Mr. Erik & Lukas trying to get Emerson to take her turn! Eva waits to see if she can pick up the spare... Webb is doling out high-fives for the strike! Christian & Connor dine on the delicious pizza...um, yeah Carter is telling a whopper of a tale about the strike that almost was! The AWESOME Spiderman Cake! Making a wish! Oma & Grandpa Bill came to the party too! :) The Birthday Boy with all of the goods...

What in the heck do I do w/ a birthday bowling pin?

Trying out the new scooter!