Choosing our Christmas Tree

So this year we decided to cut our own Florida Christmas Tree. There are two tree farms relatively clost to us, so we went to one and searched for our tree. The whole idea was to give the kids the experience of and old-time Christmas.

The kids had fun picking out and cutting down their tree. The sad thing is that the tree only lasted for about a week, but it was the experience that counts. We ended up getting another tree from one of those tree tent places and it looks great!

Happy Halloween!

This is the best picture I have of the three of them all dressed up. We had two motocross racers and a little pirate girl!

We stayed home and trick or treated in just our neighborhood. So we invited everyone over for some halloween treats. We had snake sandwiches, carrot fingers and dip, meaty eyeballs, guts salad, dirt pudding, and dirty cider! It was all very yummy:)

Before Halloween we always go to a local church to get our pumpkins and across the street is the lake where we feed the ducks. Conner, Makenna, and Riley are feeding the ducks!

My three loves at the pumpkin patch!

The FIRST first-day-of-school....

So today marks the beginning of Michael and I being the parents of school-aged children! Riley began kindergarten today. He is amazing! We have been preparing him all year for this and he has been so excited to begin his journey at "big school"! He was the first one to arrive at his class today and was eager to listen and be the helper for his teacher. His eyes lit up everytime I asked him if he was nervous, excited, or what ever. He is so ready for this. Riley is super smart and will be an extraordinary student. He called me at precisely 2:45 when his daddy picked him up from school. He told me all about art class, lunch and how hard it was to open his milk carton. During dinner, he informed me that one boy rolled on the floor and was being naughty and therefore had to go to time out, but that he "will not" do that. I did not cry when I left him, but just hearing about the adventures he had at school without me, made me a little sad and of course happy that he is getting to experience some really cool stuff! I can only hope that he stays as excited as he is now about school for as long as he has to attend.

Graduating

Michael finally did it!!!! It took him many years and lots of attempts at some courses and a couple of major changes, but he has officially earned his Bachelor of Science degree. We are so proud of him and glad that he has accomplished this goal for himself! Way to go honey:)

Learning...

Since the boys turned 2 years old, their pediatrician has been recommending that they do swimming lessons. It is part of his shpeel every time we go for check up, but he truly means it and always says that Florida Southern and the Y have really great programs. This summer I decided that no matter what, the boys needed to learn to swim, so that is what we did. I found a great teacher who lives three minutes from our home who works with kids for 8 sessions in groups no bigger that 4 at a time. Riley and Conner were in a class with one other boy and the three of them began their swimming journey together. Each of them were at different levels of proficiency. Riley and Conner had been fortunate enough to be in a pool many times throughout the years and a momma who insisted on them not being afraid of getting wet! They were amazing on that first night, each of them swimming at least 10 feet without any help. By the 8th session, all three boys could swimm 30 feet without help using the proper technique only taking about 4 breaths! Conner was the youngest in the group and he kept right up with Riley and Dennis. My boys are swimmers now. Of course they still need some help when they get tired, but they now have the confidence and the skills to keep from drowning, they can float, swim underwater, and hold their breaths. I am so proud of them and am looking forward to all the other things they will be learning as they continue to grown and try new things:)

The three boys in the class!

Riley swimming across the pool.

Conner swimming across the pool.

Me the the kids in our little backyard easy-set pool...Kenna loves it too!

4th of July!!!!

I love summer time! The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays, next to Christmas of course. Watermelon, fireworks, summer showers, and fun outside just because it is warm enough, hot dogs, and swimming make up the things I love the most about this holiday and time of year. Every year since I can remember we have gone out to the city fireworks display. I don't think I have missed one year since I was about 6 years old. As a mom I am trying to instill in our family some traditions and one of those is celebrating our nation's birthday by watching the fireworks and enjoying time with family and friends while we eat dinner "tailgate" style! This year's fireworkds display was called "Deuling Fireworks" and there were two sets going off at the same time. Although it rained most of the day, the kids enjoyed themselves out at the stadium.

By the time the fireworks went off, we were all huddled up in the back of my van to stay dry.

Riley and Conner have never liked the loud booming sound of the show, but they do enjoy watching the beautiful display.

Happy Fourth to all!

Anniversary

Today would have been my grandparents' 51st wedding anniversary. Earl and Shelvery Howard were married on June 22, 1959 and had a happy life. Not many marriages last as long as theirs did and they were very much in love. They had a beautiful marriage full of laughter, some tears, three children, three grandchildren, and now three great-grand children. I know my Mama misses my Papa deeply and she has had a rough week. He would be so proud of her for staying strong and continuing to live, even though he can't be here with her. Happy Anniversary Mama and Papa! We miss you lots Papa, but are taking care of Shelby just for you!

Mama, Papa, and Riley at his 70th birthday party, his last one.