Eleanor and Savannah

After seeing how cute little Beckham is on my sister, Emma's blog, I had to get some more pictures of my kids. Time and cooperation are essential and not always in my favor, but this is what we came up with yesterday....

This one of Eleanor is my absolute favorite....

I heart toes!

Getting Savannah to sit still for more than 1.2 seconds was a job and a half! Her dress was not quite white when we were done!

I love these two! I can't believe how blessed I am to be a mom to these two little girls.

Cleaning Secret

When you are so busy that the bathrooms get a tad bit neglected and the sheets haven't been changed in a while, here is a great tip for getting the bathrooms completely disinfected, the sheets changed and washed on the "Sanitary" cycle, the floors mopped and the whole house smelling like Lysol....four children with the stomach flu.
And it can all be done at midnight and you can wake up to a clean house!!!

And after all the parties.....

The last hurrah b-b-que for the neighborhood on Friday night at our house, Savannah's first birthday party on Saturday, the September cousin birthday party at the grandparents house on Sunday, playing all day for Labor Day on Monday and not napping in the afternoon because we were being so "grown up" and playing with the big kids and then this is what happened at dinner..... LIFE IS A PARTY UNTIL YOU FALL ASLEEP AT THE DINNER TABLE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAVANNAH MARIE!

I can't believe that one year ago today I met this little girl! She came into this world and changed our lives forever. She has us wrapped around her little finger and we are all better because of her! Happy Birthday little Savannah Marie!

We had all the neighbor kids over and we made pizza. Each child got to make their own and it was so fun! Savannah loved her pizza! Here were the little treats we gave everyone....
The main birthday cake...love the little lambs! They are so cute and it was perfect, since we call her Savannah lambie and she is one of Grama Annie's grandlambies.....
This one was for Savannah to eat ... The yummy food table... Time to enjoy the cake!
Opening presents....

Eleanor and Gracie playing on the hammock...
Eleanor and her best buddie Andrew Last night we hosted the neighborhood b-b-que (yeah! Two parties in 24 hours!)The kids started a parade with their flashlights and Savannah was the guest of honor on her little car. Tonight they did the same thing and she was in heaven! The kids were singing and clapping and dancing and had a kick line - it was awesome! We have the best neighborhood, especially our pipestem!

Here are all the kids posing for a picture - it will be fun to look back in about 10 years and see how they have grown! Savannah will be Xander's age at that point!!!It was a great party! We are so blessed to have neighbors and friends that love my children like their own. Happy Birthday Sweet Savannah! We love you!

So, today was the day for the Day kids to start school - they were all very excited! We got great teachers and spent all of yesterday setting up Xander's locker and meeting the teachers and spending time in the classroom. And last night, we made the signs.....

When I was growing up it was a sign that had first day of school and the year. Eventually, it was just the year. I am proud of my mom for even starting this awesome tradition. My kids love to color their own signs and, as you can tell, they decorate them too. Lucky for them they have a mom who can whip out three signs. Fifth grade at Flint Hill starts Middle School! It's hard to believe I have a son who is in middle school, but there he is, decked out in his PE gear and ready for a new adventure! It's funny, because out here, September 1st brings the fall - it was really chilly this morning, hence Garrett's look of suffering...he is off to third grade!

And then there is my little pre-kindergartener, Eleanor! She made me cry all morning. I missed her, but I was so excited for her and yet I couldn't believe she was that old! She walked into her class yesterday and her teachers had chosen to do the theme "Royal Junior Kindergarten" - they were inspired! Crowns with her name on it, castles to play in and she gets to be "Queen for a Day!" She is going to have a great year! She even came to grips with wearing blue and green bows for school, though she prefers pink still!!!

And then there is this little doll baby! She was so excited and was squealing and laughing at the kids....then they all left and she was sad~she kept calling to them and looking for them. It broke my heart! When they walked in the door, she went nuts! Jumping up and down, squealing and holding her hands out to them. They, of course, immediately came over and loved her and picked her up and played with her...she is turning one on Saturday, can it be?

I always thought the little Junior Kindergarteners were so adorable and now that I have one, I am extremely partial to their charm! Here's and example of cuteness.....

Waving good-bye to Mom and Savannah!

Going, going...gone! Have a great first day of school Flint Hill Huskies!