Fun Phone Photos

I got a new phone last fall and here are some random pictures from it:

We went for a long walk 

Ethan lost his first tooth. He went in for a dentist appointment and they said,

"Oh by the way, did you know his bottom tooth is loose?"

It freaked me out a bit cuz he was only 4! I thought something was wrong. 

But they were just ready I guess.

Both bottom front teeth have fallen out since then, and adult teeth grown in.

His top front teeth are loose now.

On a walk together

 

Ethan got a uniform for Karate lessons

Sophie likes to play dress up

Cute hair day

 

I was working at the computer one day and the kids crawled under the desk to play

They were having so much fun I had to document this rare moment of sibling love

 

Funny faces

Smiley faces

Sophie got sick and was extra cuddly

 

Sophie girl 

Playing at Morgan's Wonderland

Karate lessons

Waiting for a haircut, looking like a little man

Sophie at the pool

Lunch in the back yard

 

Cow-girl boots

Cleaning the car before our road trip

 

mornings at our house. :)

More Birthdays

 September has always been a special month growing up.

When I was young we would often celebrate three birthdays all at once. 

My brother Troy was born Sept 2 (RIP), mine on Sept 26th, 

and my little sister's three days later on the 29th.  It always bugged me when I was little that I had to share my birthday, but now I'm glad we got to share those special occasions together.

This year I turned 30 and Daniel had the kids help him decorate.

  

Streamers and paintings by the kids. 

Daniel made me a special dinner and a Strawberries and Cream cake.

The kids helped me blow out my candles.

The sign from Sophie's birthday with modifications.

 

More streamers!

Lizzie came a few days later for her birthday.

 

I made Purok for dinner and we got her a chocolate cake.

Sophie loves her Auntie.

Happy 27th!!!

We hate seeing her leave

They love their Auntie

And Jacoby too!

  

Samuel is so much taller than her now!

Sophie turned 2!

I spent a long time preparing for Sophie's 2nd birthday.

We made tutus, crowns and had prizes. I made a special banner and hung tons of balloons from the ceiling. We invited over a dozen little girls from church and played a lot outside. 

We had the sandbox, chalk for the patio and a bubble machine. 

We had a full lunch and lots of cake and ice cream.

I always go overboard on the food. :) 

Each girl got to decorate a crown for the princess theme

She's such a happy girl.

I made tutus for each girl that they got to take home.

We had a blast!! 

Happy Birthday Sophie!

Co-sleeping

We've had Sophie and Ethan in the same room for the past 2 years. 

Sometimes it doesn't work out and they keep each other up,

but most of the time they love having someone else in the room and I love hearing them talk to each other before they go to sleep.

Ethan has a captain-height bed with a slide on it and sophie has her own regular-height twin bed. 

I went into their room one morning to find them like this...

Who knows how they are sleeping this way

Sophie must have climbed into Ethan's bed. 

She loves him so much, I don't know what we will do without him this fall.

Marching Band

A big part of our life in the fall is Marching Band. 

We had no idea when Samuel started what a big production it is! 

They start in August and don't get done till the end of October, every day practicing and every weekend performing and playing at football games.

It's pretty intense and it's such a big part of Samuel's year that I had to show you his awesomeness. :)

(Some of the pictures are like a Where'sWaldo, you gotta search for Samuel)

After school on Friday they get a sack dinner and they go to the stadium.

They sit in the stadium and play for the football game until half-time

Their show this year was titled "Shift", and here is the beginning, they started in the corner and spread out. 

It depicted the shift from darkness to light, a lot of marching skill.

On the field

Samuel with his sousaphone. 

Last year was the Bari Sax. The year before was the Clarinet.

Watching the other team's band from the side-lines.

During the second half of the game they play more music and have fun in the stands.

At the beginning of October, the parents get together and decorate the band hall and make posters for each student to wish them good luck in their UIL competitions, where they compete 

against other marching bands in the area. 

Here's the Sousaphone's posters

Samuel's 'poster on his locker

All the students wait outside till the hall is all decorated and the parents wait and cheer them on

They get bags of treats and surprises and this year a lot of the sections made t-shirts.

Then when the day comes head off. Here they are unloading their instruments.

They warm up

Tune up

They line up

They take the field

They perform 

Here's one of Samuel

They go to the stands and wait for their results

The Sousaphone section 

The marching season ends abrubtly and we don't know what to do with ourselves afterwards

Then the concert season begins

And then the Jazz band season too. 

Samuel is looking forward to his final year and all the seniority that comes with it.