Life Lately?

Well, is it 2014 yet?

I said at the beginning of this year that 2013 that this was going to be a bad year. And I was SO right.

It's like my family keeps getting bad news after bad news after bad news.

From my Dad's accident July 5, to my Grandpa's passing last week days before my sister's wedding.

I was so behind on laundry from not being home that Drew told me his underwear drawer was empty and he was out of clean underwear. Yes, that bad. 

In fact, I probably should not be sitting here at this computer writing, however, I just need a little break. Well, okay, I do not NEED one. What I really need to be doing is cleaning my awfully gross house and doing laundry. But Drew has enough underwear to last a few days, so I think I'm good. :)

How could a Mommy let this cute face go without no undies??

Last Tuesday my Step-Grandpa passed away suddenly. So I spent the week with my family. Even though we had to all get together under such horrible circumstances, we actually had ALL of my cousins together at once. I could not tell you the last time this has happened. I truly really hope we can all see each other again in happier times.

Right after the funeral we had to somehow get into "wedding mode" for my sister's wedding rehearsal. Literally just hours later.

Her wedding was Saturday and what an emotional day it was. First of all, she was the most gorgeous bride. Truly, truly was. Mean it from the bottom of my heart.

We wore purple flowers in our hair in honor of my Grandpa who just passed.

One of the best parts about the day was seeing my Dad walk her down the aisle. He was not sure if he was going to be able to. In fact, the Doctors said at the time of the accident he would probably still be in a wheelchair at this time, BUT, he wasn't and he not only made it walking her down the aisle, he also got to dance the Father-Daughter dance.

I can not wait to see her pictures and recap the day! Her photographer was with us for over 12 hours. All day long. Who does that? For real. She was ahhhmazing. I did not get hardly any pictures at all on my camera. However, I did get this little guy doing the spinarooni...

He spinaroonied ALL night long people. I'm not a kidding either. This white under shirt he is wearing was black at the end of the night.

It really was a great, fun day for all!

I have so so so much more to catch up on, but no time to edit pictures.

This little fishing obsessed guy turns FOUR on Friday.

I just really can not believe it has been FOUR years. Wow. Wow. Wow. Really. Wow.

We are headed to Grandpa Bruce's on Saturday for a fishing party. I was not going to have a party at all and told him that and it broke his little heart, so here I am in party mode cramming things in last minute.

So excited to see how much this little man grows up this next year...

Don't ya love that ornery smile?!?!

The other day Dylan's teacher did a home visit. One of the questions she asked was 

"Dylan, what do you do when you are hungry?"

His response, finally after hiding his face for a few minutes, was to look at me and say

 "I eat your face."

Really child? This kid, I tell you. He loves loves loves to make us laugh by all his silly comments he makes. They make no sense. Ever. And he knows that, but it makes us laugh so he does it.

It wasn't until recently that I thought, maybe we should not laugh at him anymore about this because he is going to go to school and tell another child he is going to "eat their face" and they are going to get upset and then go home and tell their Mommy and then you know where that goes.

So, we are trying to put a stop to the ornery little sayings he has been saying, even if I know it is harmless. Mothers can be crazy if they find out another child at school is saying they are going to eat their child. I know I would be knocking the Principal's door down.

However, I was worried about him last year and he was amazing at school, so I know in my heart that he is going to be just fine this year too. 

What else are mothers supposed to do besides worry about their children 24/7.

This morning was his first day of his second year in Pre-K. 

To say he was excited is an understatement. He wanted NOTHING to do with picture taking. He wanted to be at that school in the classroom with his teacher.

Come on Dylan! Give me a little bit of a smile when your eyes are not so squinted!

Eh. Mommy does not want that string on there anymore. Let's just take that thing off.

Or how about let's give a smile but not look at the camera. Ya know, that's always cool.

Oh okay. Here's a real smile as Drew photbombs the picture.

Or how about a little dance?

Fine Mommy. I'll give a little bit of a decent picture.

I gave up.

We got in the car and headed to take Drew to school.

This year Pre-K was moved to the regular grade school. Which is so exciting! So as I was dropping Drew off at the door he says "Come on Dylan! You can walk in with me!" and tries to take his hand. Dylan was all about it. He was about to jump out of the car with Drew. However, Dylan's drop off time is not the same time as Drew's. Drew was bummed.

They both are so excited to be at the same school. Their classes are literally just feet away from each other. They could not wait to see each other in the hallways.

So with a little bit more bribery as we waited for the doors to unlock for Pre-K, I got a few more pictures.

Kind of.

Here Mom! You want a smile? You gotta smile!

This time he gave me an ultimatum. If he could put the sign up and take his backpack off he would take a picture. So hallelujah, I got one! Even if he is not holding his cute little sign up.

Once I got him all settled (and by settled I mean him not even caring if I am leaving the room or not), I headed out to leave my nugget. He seriously did not have a care in the world. NOTHING like last year where he cried and cried.

While I was in the hallway lo and behold, Drew rounded the corner. It was like we both were shocked to see each other and ran toward one another for hugs. He was doing big 1st grader duties and taking the lunch count to the cafeteria for his teacher. He looked so big. I can not even explain. My goodness. Eeeek.

I just love my kids. I could seriously talk about them all day if someone didn't just shut me up.

Dylan had a great 1st day he said.

And I didn't get any kind of note saying he was going to eat someone.

But really...look at this mean face.

 After all this picture taking this morning he probably really wanted to eat my face. :)

It's back to school time around our parts!!!

Last year, I was a complete wreck. I was beyond a wreck I think if you ask those around me. I was sending Drew off to Kindergarten. Not only that but my boy had only been to a 1/2 day Pre-School and no day cares before that. And on top of that, I was sending my kids to a totally new school district out of my comfort zone that I knew nothing about. Talk about stressed.

This year?!?! Easy peasy.

I think he was more nervous than I was actually. I was sitting on the side of his bed before bed the night before and in all seriousness he says:

"Mom, I am really excited about school, but I am also really nervous." 

This was his first year without his best friend, Parker. These two are inseparable. So it was going to be a big adjustment for him. 

I explained that they could find each other on the playground at recess. This sort of calmed his nerves, but he was still quite nervous when he woke up.

But never fear! Mommy is here to take loads of pictures! :)

 In the middle of picture taking I get this look...

So without further ado, here is the bombardment of pictures, once again.

And my personal favorite..

Gosh, he just has seriously gotten so big within the last year. I am just amazed at the little boy he has become and how much confidence I have in him to do well in school and do what is right.

I think that really did help calm my nerves about sending him off to 1st grade.

He is an amazing little kid.

I didn't even shed one tear this year. Instead, I was just super proud of him.

Look at how much he changed within a year.

He had a GREAT 1st day. He told me the story how he found Parker on the playground and to me it sounds like they ran into each other's arms! Ha.

Next week Dylan starts his second year of pre-school. At orientation he walked in like big man on campus that ruled the school.

Pray for his teacher.

**********************************************************************************

1st Day of School Printables by: Jessica at OhSoPrintable