Our Vacation

Our Family Vacation 10/31/07

Lexy's First Day of Kindergarten!

August 20, 2007

Today was Lexy's first day of kindergarten. She looked so big a grown-up with her backpack and lunch box. Aaron scheduled his first patient later in the morning so that we could all take Alexys to school. Of course it was a crazy morning at the school so we had quite a hike into the school. Alexys was really excited. She didn't have any problems with us leaving. I am grateful for her pre-K program because I think that helped both of us with any separation issues we might have had.

For the first two weeks I would park and walk her to her classroom. She kept telling me that she wanted me to just drop her off like all the other kids, but I wasn't ready. As her overly protective mommy I needed to know that she knew how to get to her class multiple ways. So every day we would switch off and go a different route. I would follow her and let her make the decisions as to which way she should go. Once she made it without any help, I felt satisfied that my little girl wouldn't be standing in the middle of an unfamiliar place, lost and crying, and needing me. I'm sure that this was more my issue than it was hers, but I always walked her into pre-k, so with this new venture I had serious separation anxiety. Finally after two weeks I told her that I would drop her off. She was excited and couldn't wait. It was not apparent to me if she had any type of butterflies in her stomach. I did fine until I realized that there was a whole line of cars waiting behind me and I could not sit and watch her disappear around the corner. I had to drive away immediately and that is when I lost it.... I cried. I cried the next day too. But, as the days passed it became easier. Now we are both pros....as if we have been doing it for years. I am so grateful that we are able to adapt to change!

Visiting Cousins

August '07 - We went up to North Florida to visit Clark, Heather and the kids in Lake City. We hadn't seen them since last Christmas. It was the first time we had seen baby Aimie (I hope I spelled that correctly). She is a real cutie. The kids played really nicely together. We wish that we were closer so they could play together more often.
Lexy really liked holding Aimie and feeding her.
We heard a ruckus and when we peaked around the corner all of the kids were sitting in the pack-n-play.

Playing Basketball

July '07 - Alexys has started playing basketball. We wanted her to experience something besides ballet or gymnastics. At first she wasn't sure about it, but as the weeks went on she really enjoyed playing. She is actually very good at it. She and Aaron have played some basketball over on the courts by our house. It is now over (it was only for six weeks) and she has decided to go back to ballet.

Lots of Love on Independance Day

July 4th - Today the kids were dishing out the love left and right and we were eating it up. Nathan must have given me at least 10 kisses. He does know how to give "regular" kisses, but I thought this picture was cute. It almost looks like he is going to have me for dinner.

Lexy loves her daddy!

Lexy's Birthday

June 9th - Today was Lexy's birthday. We wanted to make this day all about her because we feel like Nathan gets a lot of attention because of his "toddler stage". She has been a great big sister, but we wanted her to feel particularly special on this day. So we started with gifts from Grandma and Grandpa in Tennessee early in the morning. She got lots of Polly Pockets with a pool to play in. Then we went to breakfast at Perkins where she ate pancakes. After breakfast she had a friend from school who was having his birthday party on the same day. She decided that she wanted to go to that. When the pool party was over she still wanted to play in the pool so we went to our pool as a family. After we came home and rested for a while and ate dinner Lexy and I had a special "mommy and daughter date". We went to the salon and had pedicures. Lexy picked out a really pretty shade of nail polish. When the ladies in the salon found out that she was turning five they offered to paint her fingernails too and they decorated them with jewels. Lexy felt like such a princess. She just loved it. It was a great day and I think that Lexy felt very special.

VPK Graduation!

May 24th - Today was Lexy's Graduation from VPK. Seeing her in this cap and gown made me feel really old and she is only 4! It was a long program, but it was fun to see them get their "diplomas".

May '07 - This year Lexy went to VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) from 8:30-11:30 every morning. She was in the Alligator's class. She finished learning all of the letters in the alphabet and the sounds they make and is beginning to read small words. Today she had her end-of-the-year party where they enjoyed cake and juice. This was their opportunity to say good-bye.

This is Lexy's best pal, Gabbri, from VPK. They played together everyday. Lexy was really sad to say good-bye to Gabbri.

Lexy's First Ballet Recital!

May 16th - Today Alexys had her first ballet recital. She had been working really hard all year practicing her dance routine. She and all of the other girls did a great job. They looked so cute in their dance outfits. The show was performed in the high school auditorium. We weren't sure how Alexys would do up on the stage with such a huge audience, but she was one of the best dancers in her group. It was really fun to watch all of the dancers - especially the youngest kids. At the end of the program all of the kids received a dance metal. Alexys was really excited.

Nathan's Second Birthday

May 16th - Today Nathan turned two. He had to share his birthday with Lexy's ballet recital (which I will show next). Since he wasn't aware of the whole birthday thing it didn't matter. He just knew that he was allowed to open presents on three different days. He opened a present from Gran on Mother's Day, then a couple more on his actual birthday and yet some more when we had a little party a couple days later. You can see that he really enjoyed his chocolate cake. Yum! Yum!











The train set is from GG and Gammie (his great-grandparents that live in Pensacola). He had a lot of fun with that, although his favorite thing to do was to tear the track apart after we all worked so hard to put it together. He's a boy, what can I say?


Gran gave him some "Little People" trucks. There was a firetruck (which is his favorite) and a dump truck. They sing songs and make real truck noises - who could ask for anything better?

The puppy he is holding is from Grandma and Grandpa in Tennessee. It snores and looks like it is really breathing. He likes it.

Jersey's all the way from Argentina!

May '07 - Today Lexy and Nathan are wearing their favorite shirts. These are shirts that Aunt Julia sent them all the way from Argentina. For some reason Nathan REALLY took to this shirt. There have been days where he has worn this shirt three days in a row. I know I am a bad mom for putting a dirty shirt on my child, but it was easier than dealing with the tantrum that came if I didn't let him wear it. I'm such a push-over! Now we have to hide it in our dirty clothes hamper so he can't find it or else he will insist on wearing it.

We really miss Aunt Julia. It is hard having her so far away, but we are so proud of her for serving a mission. We know that she is having some wonderful experiences and we can't wait until she is home and telling us all of her stories in person.

Silly Faces

Nathan loves to make these silly faces where he closes his eyes and pinches his lips together. It is so cute. We were at P.F.Changs in Chicago when he started his little act. Luckily I had the camera and caught all of his cuteness on film! :)

I also have to mention the fire truck seen in the first picture. He got this from a Cracker Barrel store and took it everywhere he went for at least a month. If we didn't have it with us we were in big trouble. He is a true boy because he loves all trucks. Tractors, dump trucks and fire trucks are his favorites.

Lego's Galore!

These pictures were also taken during our trip to Chicago. The man and woman that Lexy is sitting next to are completely made out of Lego's. The downtown scene with the Marriott hotel is also made out of Lego's. It was neat to see. They put my childhood Lego creations to shame.

Our Trip to Chicago

April '07 -This month we took a trip to Chicago. Aaron and I had a Dental course that we were going to be taking for three days. My mom said that she would watch the kids for us. I have never left them that long before, so I was having a hard time with that idea. After looking on-line for plane tickets we found a really great deal and decided that it would be even more fun if we all went to Chicago. We had a really early flight so you can see my dad, Lexy and Nathan admiring the big plane while we were waiting to board. This was Nathan's first plane ride, but Lexy was a pro. Aaron and I were able to do a little sight seeing , but my parents and the kids were really able to enjoy Chicago. They went to Navy Pier, the Children's museum (multiple times), the zoo, a great park by the water, and the aquarium. Aaron and I really enjoyed our course and we also snuck in a trip to the aquarium and Children's museum. We had a few "firsts" on this trip. I had never flown on an airplane with my dad, and it was the first time the kids and I had ever ridden in a Taxi. Also, Nathan had never slept in a room with anyone else and he and Lexy slept in the same room. It was an adjustment, but both of the kids were great. Our room was on the tenth floor. Nathan and Lexy loved to sit up by the window and look down at the ground and at all the really tall buildings around us. It was really cold the day we arrived - we actually saw little snow flurries -(even flurries are exciting for us Floridians). It warmed up a little each day and was gorgeous for the remainder of our trip. We had such a fun time. We would love to go again and would recommend it to anyone.

April '07 -Here are a couple of pictures from Easter. We took the kids out to the back yard and let them pick up Easter eggs. I think we must have "re-hidden" the eggs at least four or five times. I say "hidden" because we have a very flat back yard with no trees or plants or anything to really hide eggs in, so the eggs were more just laying out in the open. They still had a great time.

It is fun to watch them with all of their excitement about things. I can remember how much I loved Easter egg hunts myself.

Kitchen Fun

January '07 -I love this picture for a couple of different reasons. The first one is that it takes me back to my childhood. I remember playing in the kitchen with my little brother. We would empty all the cabinets of their pots and pans and climb inside. My mom always likes to tell the story of when she developed a roll of film and as she was looking through the pictures she came across a picture of a cabinet. Wondering why on earth someone would have taken a picture of a cabinet, she asked me if I had taken it. When I told her I did, she asked me why. I then told her that my brother was inside.

The other reason I like this picture is because it shows Lexy and Nathan just how they like to be. It is hard to see but Nathan has a shirt, diaper and shoes on. He is such a "shoe" boy. He will wake up in the morning and immediately want to put his shoes on. Alexys hates to wear shorts or pants. Any time we will let her, she will take them off and stay that way until we make her put something on.

Who can lay out in December?

December 30, 2006 -Even though we don't get to enjoy the beach as much as we would like, I love the fact that we can go to the beach and enjoy a beautiful day by the water in the middle of winter. I guess that makes up for not having the opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous fall colors that everyone else gets to see.

After years of waiting and wishing Aaron finally bought a boat. It is a nineteen foot, center console. He mainly wanted it for fishing, but we try to go out as a family whenever we can. Today we went out with Jonathan and Val and my parents. The guys tried to get some fishing in, but they didn't catch anything. The kids and I made a turtle out of sand. Alexys helped put the eyes on him. She is a water girl. Nathan is not a fan of the water, but he loves to pick up and throw the sand. On this particular day he got into the sunscreen and you can tell by the look on his face that he knew it was a 'no-no'.