Happy Birthday Randy

October is full of birthdays in our family but one particular birthday was James' Dad. We along with our sister, nephews, brother, and Nana took Dad out to breakfast to celebrate his birthday. It was a nice morning which we continued on back to the house to just hang out and relax. His big birthday present was a couple hours of riding in a race car where he actually got to drive. That sounds a little scary but he loves things like that so hopefully he will enjoy this!

Once we got back to the house James' sister made a huge cupcake and we all sang Happy Birthday. Right before the end of the song Alyvia blew out all the candles but one. It was hilarious only I think she honestly wasn't expecting to do that and had no idea what happened. Everyone kept questioning her and the poor thing started to cry. I felt bad but we did get that on video and it was so funny to watch. And of course the day wouldn't be complete with out James picking on his nephew!

Happy Birthday Dad hope you had a great birthday!

Reading Rocks!

Latest update on Brock's school is he loves reading! His class has been doing something called popcorn words. We were given a group of words (10 words) that he had to be able to read off of flash cards with out hesitating. He was given 3 weeks to learn them and then she tested all the students. Those who passed were given a bag of popcorn and new words. It was so cool to see him all excited about passing and ready to learn the new words.

The library also just started letting the Kindergartners check out books. So Brock came home one day with his first school library book. It was a book about Hammerhead Sharks. We read that thing every night! By the end of the week he knew everything that book said about Hammerhead Sharks.

Also just starting recently was Brock's Reading folder. He came home with a folder and it had a book in it. Each students was given a different book based on there level of reading. His book was just a printout and one of the very basics but the goal is for him to be able to read that book from front to back with no mistakes to me and then I sign off on it and he goes to school and he reads to his teacher. Once he reads to his teacher with no mistakes she then gives him a new book. We started on Tuesday and by Thursday night he is already on book 3. I have never seen him so excited to learn and read! Once he reads to me a few times he will go and sit on the couch and read the same book over and over again. I love how excited he is!

So far he loves school and has yet to have a bad day. He enjoys learning new things and gets excited for school just about every day. I'm enjoying how he loves reading since that is one of my favorite hobbies!

5 year anniversary

5 years ago James and I said "I do". Personally it feels like we have already been married for ever!! LOL It's really amazing what has happened in the last 5 years and how far we have come in life. We both have grown so much and I can honestly say that I am more in love with my husband now then I was when we married! He is absolutely the love of my life and I my everything. Together we have made two beautful children and a home of our own.

We can be very boring people either that or extremely cheap so our Anniversary night really wasn't all the exciting but neither us of cared. Kind of cheesy but as long as we were with eachother it didn't matter how we celebrated. So our night consisted of dinner at Caraba's which is one of our favorites and then a little bit of shopping and an early night at home. I know nothing fancy but it was still a nice night. The kids were with my mom all night so the house was peaceful and we actually had a bed to ourselves! Best night sleep in a long time. Now the sad part was my brain wasn't working so I don't have any pictures of that night so I figured I would post a couple wedding pictures.

James, Happy Anniversary Love. I love you so much and I look forward to all the years ahead of us. These last 5 years have been truly amazing and I can't believe how very blessed we are. Thank you for picking me and always standing by my side. Love you always!

Pumpkin Patch

Every year we take the kids to the pumpkin patch by our house. Here's the kicker those two kids could care less about picking pumpkins (which are over priced) and only want to play on the rides. This year was no different but like many things this year Alyvia is finally an active participant in every thing.

Alyvia was only interested in this huge blow up slide that they have to climb really high up and then they slide down super fast. She was all smiles and couldn't get enough of it.

Brock was super excited to go on the trampoline and jump really high. I was nervous but put on a brave face and snapped pictures like crazy. He did actually start to panic when the guy helping him had him jump really high up so after that they worked on some front and back flips and then he just let Brock jump on his own. The older he gets the more I get emotional I get because he really is growing up and venturing out to do new things like this trampoline thing.

While Brock was jumping on the trampoline this is what Alyvia did the entire time. Poor thing was so scared for her brother that she almost started crying. It was so sweet of her to be worried about him. They are both very protective of one another.

I wasn't going to add this picture as I don't find it attractive but here's me and the hubby enjoying ourselves.

Before we left the kids wanted to go on the big slide a few more times. They were seriously crazy on that thing. I swear no fear sometimes for them but me on the other hand I hold my breath with the stunts they do.

And then of course our outing wouldn't be complete with out a cute brother sister picture. This one is my absolute favorite, I think I have the cutest kids ever (I'm biased though!) And then the second picture was just as sweet.

New Car!

I finally got a new car! Well, it's not a new car as in a 2010 but its still new to me! About two weeks ago James and I decided it was finally time for me to have my own car again. Almost two years ago (the last big snow storm) I wrecked my SUV and it was deemed a total loss. We decided back then that we would figure things out and just try to be a one car family. It was very difficult as we both worked so James ended up getting a motorcycle. That lasted for a year and then we sold it (thank goodness!). Ever since we have been sharing the truck which wasn't that difficult since I don't work anymore but still a major pain! After months of debating and seeing how things worked we both realized that a second car was necessary.

I am so proud of how things worked out because we were very cautious and really did our homework. We even shopped around and when we finally found the car we wanted we negotiated like pros and did not back down from what we wanted! In the end I got a 2004 Hyundai Sonata with a price that works in our budget. Thanks hunny!

My Super Star

Brock came home last Friday from school with the best news ever. His teacher named him as the Super Star of the week! Its the same thing as student of the week but his teacher makes the following week very special. The Super Star gets to create a "me board" that he will present to his class, they also get to do show in tell everyday of the week, and the super star gets to sit at the super star desk which is in the front of the class.

We worked on his me board Sunday night and he brainstormed on what he was going to bring for show in tell. Monday morning came and what would you know, he was sick! Even his teacher called me later that morning to see if he was okay because he was looking forward to his super star week at school. Luckily he rested all day and made it to school on Tuesday.

I am so proud of him for being such a great student. I knew he was doing great in school but for him to be recognized was such a proud moment for me as a mom. I love this little boy more than anything and I just can't believe how much he is learning and excelling in school. This Super Star thing also really helped motivate him even more with school and doing his best and being his best. I love my super star!