Family Favorites

Sarah's Favorites:

• Collecting leaves and finding out the type of tree
• Drawing pictures
• Computer time
• Art projects

Caleb's Favorites:

• Tootsie Rolls
• Reading books on Mommy's bed
• Sunday school
• Coloring time

Toddler Talk:

• Caleb always wants to "tell me something" . . . so I say, "Caleb, I want to tell you something" and I say "I Love You". . . now if you ask Caleb to tell you something, he replies "I Love You" . . . best thing ever after a long day!
• Sarah noticed Caleb not wearing shoes as we were walking into the house and she asked, "Mommy, why doesn't Caleb have shoes?"  I replied, "I guess it's because I'm a bad Mommy."  Sarah's stopped dead in her tracks, turned to face me with a very stern look and said "You are not a bad Mommy.  You are a good Mommy and I LOVE YOU."
• Caleb saying "I Wuve you"
• Sarah saying "I Love you to the Moon and to the stars and around the world and all over and back."

Medicine Man

Sickness has taken over our house the last few weeks.

Most likely due to allergy season and the fields surrounding our house.... I love living in the country...I love living in the country..... I love living in the country....

How do I combat these allergies?  With Benadryl, humidifiers, Vicks, and lots of sleepless nights of course! 

Who is the best medicine taker ever?  Caleb!

So why the sad face from the best medicine taker ever?  Because he seems to think that he needs a "big one" . . . by that he means I don't fill the cup full enough of medicine!  I have to tell him every time that "it's a big one" and then....

No hesitation - down the hatch it goes!  No arguing, no fussing, no fighting....even if it tastes terrible!

He even asks for more...

I guess he thinks it's candy....

It's nice that I don't have to fight at least one person in the house to take their medicine!

First Grade Open House

Sarah is now a first grader, with her own desk...

(notice the organization...must get that from Mommy)

her own locker....

and her own apple name tag....

Sarah's First Day of First Grade

Here she is....the newest First Grader....how beautiful!!! 

She even let me put a headband in her hair....take a moment to study the headband - it's the last time I saw it in one piece!

At this point Caleb still thinks he gets to go to school with Sarah!

You might think I've overdressed the kids - but it was so cold!  The temperature in my van read 60 degrees....I guess that figures since the first day was September 6th!

The official back to school picture....what a cute backpack!

Sarah at her desk....yes a desk where you can store all your cool supplies and book inside!

This is Sarah's first year of riding the bus home....she was very excited!

Her bus is number 80....

Here she comes...Marley was patiently waiting!

She looks like such a big girl!

Finally ....off the bus!

Excited to be home...I was so excited to see her too!

The bus stop is 1/2 mile from our house, so I drove the 4-wheeler down to pick her up....note to self, next time check the gas gauge (and if you aren't sure where that is...call Brandon)!!!  We did make it all the way home - - - thanks to the reserve tank though!

Labor Day 2011

We went to Benton Lake over Labor Day weekend to go boating with Uncle Jason and to celebrate Sarah's birthday one more time!  But before we let her clebrate her birthday, we had some boating to do first!

 The kids love boating!  Caleb & Sarah got to take turns riding in the tube earlier this year, but it was a little chilly for the kids this time around.

I enjoyed holding Caleb at the front of the boat because every time we went over a wave he would yell "yyyyyeeeaaahhh."  I think he is going to love skiing in a couple years!

Caleb all worn out...Grandpa has the magic touch!

Daddy skiing....it wasn't too cold for him or Uncle Jason.  They said the water was warm, but the air was too cold for me!

Daddy driving the boat for Uncle Jason to ski.

All smiles with Grandpa Ken

Caleb upset at having to stop boating for the day....

Sarah was helping Uncle Jason & Daddy put away the boat.

After all the boating was done and dinner was finished it was finally time to celebrate Sarah's birthday, again!  Uncle Jason knew just what to get Sarah for her birthday!  She was so excited to open the horse for her American Girl Doll.  Brandon & I gave her Julie, the American Girl doll for her birthday!

This was the perfect end to our summer vacation!  School starts on Tuesday... oh, boy!

Sarah's 6th Birthday

Today we are celebrating Sarah's 6th birthday....yes, 6th!  The years have flown by for me; thankfully Sarah loves watching old home movies from when she was little - so I do get to look back from time to time!

She picked the theme.....My Little Pony.

As I was getting the food ready, Sarah & Caleb were getting ready to party!

There were lots of family that joined in our celebration!  Grandma & Grandpa Voss were there - the kids are always smiling when they see them!

Great Grandma Lill finally arrived; she looks beautiful!  Brandon programmed the GPS to find our house, so hopefully no problems getting here in the future!

Look at these beautiful girls....oh and Uncle Phil!  I am holding my beautiful God Daughter, Isabella.

Here is Aunt Emily, Sarah's God Mother.  They are both so beautiful!

Uncle Timmy carried the cake for Sarah to blow out the candles.... she did it - all in one breath!  I think she was wishing for a longer summer vacation!

I believe there was a video camera issue, so Sarah did a re-take for us.

Of course, Sarah loved opening presents.... we all got a good laugh out of the "Brother For Sale!  All Sales Final" shirt.

Before Grandma Susan left on vacation, Sarah asked her for new PJ's for her birthday.  Amazingly, Grandma got them done before the left on vacation!

Sarah didn't want to try on the PJ's in front of everyone, but Caleb did, so.....

The hat was a gift from Grandpa Bob from their vacation.  Everyone got a turn wearing the hat, even Mommy!

It was a good party with good food and great friends. 

Sarah - we are so proud of you and love you to the moon and back.  We wish you many more happy birthdays!!!  May God's grace always shine upon you.

Swing Time

One of Caleb's favorite things to do this summer has been to swing - he loves it!  He can spend an hour swinging and asks for more!

He loves to swing in his baby swing . . . .

But now he's graduated to the big kid swing....

When he can't find anyone to push him, he swings on his belly!

The most recent form for swinging. . .  oh my, this makes my pulse race!  Thankfully he has only done it once or twice!

And of course the person in charge of teaching all these creative ways to swing.......

the one and only ~ Sarah!!

Here Comes the Band

Grandma and Grandpa Voss truly spoil our children and they love it!  Over the years they have found great souvenirs.... wooden puzzles, lots of books, cool postcards, toys, but the souvenirs from their vacation to Europe...... well the KIDS loved them!

Sarah & Caleb with their 'flutes'....they played them all evening!

Daddy's reaction to their band practice....

Caleb's Sucker

Caleb turned two years old in April and maybe since he is our last child I've been waiting to get rid of his sucker (that's what we call his pacifier).  Well the day has finally come to say goodbye to his sucker; a weekend I will remember for a long time!

It was August 19th, which also happened to be the weekend of Freeburg's Homecoming (Brandon works from 6 am to 10 pm at the Homecoming all weekend).  And of course, Sarah came down with a terrible cold  that day too!

My little man's last picture with his suckers - notice how he is clinging to them!  Unfortunately, they are 'broken' so he has decided to throw them away!  For the last couple weeks Caleb has blamed Marley, our dog, for breaking the suckers, but Daddy cut off the end of the sucker!  Poor Marley - he gets blamed for so many things....

Caleb isn't quite sure he wants to throw them away - after all Daddy can fix anything!

Inspecting the trash....probably thinking about how he's going to find them later....

The BIG moment. . . the release of the suckers

Are they gone?

Yes, they are gone!  I am a BIG BOY!!!!