One year older and wiser too!

Random pictures of me.

(Matt's in there and a couple of my siblings)

I am officially one year older. Every year on my birthday I can't help but think about all that's gone in the year from the last birthday and what's ahead in the year until the next.

I am sure there's alot in store for me this year. I have goals and plans. But we all know what happens when you plan things out. Nothing ever goes as planned. So I guess we'll see.

Here's some pictures of my birthday celebrations.

My good friend and her family stayed up late Sunday night and decorated my house.

It was quite a suprise when I woke up. The boys loved it!

It's crepe paper. From my door it looks like toilet paper.

The big happy birthday sign on my fence.

They didn't leave out my van. I got to drive Mason to school with signs on my car. Every is sure to know that it was my birthday.

We've had this birthday sign from the begining of Matt and I. And it's tradition to have it hanging for the birthday person to see when the get up in the morning. Matt didn't forget!

A clean house and a bunch of loot. Thanks everyone!

More loot! And my left over's from my yummy dinner. Matt took me to Olive Garden for dinner. It has been a very long time since we've been to a sit down and be served restraunt. It was yummy! The boys were worried that I we didn't have birthday cake. But another good friend brought over some delicious cake and that made the boys' day.

Thank you to all of you that helped make my birthday wonderful! I apprieciate all the birthday wishes and nice words! I have awesome Friends and an awesome family!

Probably not a good idea...

Never underestimate the ideas that spring from two 3 yr. olds.

Hey Jackson let's put the car on the wagon and ride in it.

That sounds like fun!

How do we get it on there?

Mattix we did it! It's my turn first.

Oh man why did it fall off?

Daddy's standing there with his pumpkin pie saying, "see guys that would of been you falling off the wagon in the car."

That could of been a disaster waiting to happen. I am glad I stood and took pictures to document the occasion.

It's really there I promise!

I am happy to report Manning's hair is growing.

He gets teased alot for not having a whole lot of hair.

But check it out!! We have a curl!

I love this picture. He looks so much like his big brother Mason.

How to trap your brother....

Step 1 - Lure him in with chocolate and shut the gate real quick.

Step 2 - Make it look like fun. Than he'll want to come see what all the excitement's all about.

Step 3 - Just pick it up and put the trap on him.

But watch out, he's quick! You might end up the one stuck in the trap.

Manning's mommy always says.....

No Manning...

We have a favorite book at our house. It's been a favorite since Mason was the only one.

I haven't been able to blog lately because of technical difficulties. I am way behind my camera is loaded with pictures just waiting for me to show off. I was looking through them and this book came to mind as I was looking at all my pictures of Manning.

In his defense I am posting the last page first.

I do love my Manning Man. He just keeps me on my toes!

He's a big boy now. He eats his own kiddie cone.

Tippy toes trying to reach something on the sink.

His tongue out trying to see and standing on tippy toes.

This boy loves to be naked. It gives him a feeling of empowerment.

Manning's first Picasso. Not even a year old and coloring on the wall.

He loves that his finger can fit up his nose. He doesn't get anything yet but it fits!

And here's a couple of our own No David Moments.

I left the cups out from painting in preschool. He tried to drink from one of them.

He just comes by "Little Stinker" naturally.
But he's such a cute little stinker.

Yes Manning We love you!!

Welcome to our first week of preschool!

Ms. Melissa's Preschool!!

I took pictures on the first day. Bright and smiling faces.

We love to color!

And sing our ABC's

Our first day we learned about apples and made apple prints with real apples.

In the first weeks we learned about the letter B. We got to practice our B sounds

as we colored our "B"ig B's.

We made circles on circle day.

I have always loved teaching. I used to always play school when I was little. All the little kids in my neighborhood were my students. I've always wanted to be a teacher. Now that I am grown up I have taught preschool to many age groups. I worked in the preschool at my high school and when I graduated I started working at a Daycare Center. When I decided to stay home and raise my boys, I started daycare in my home. As Mason got older I wanted to start teaching him. I had all these kids at my house all day I started teaching them too. I started offering preschool to my neighbors' kids too. I took last year off due to being prego and the campaign. This year I got my stuff organized and decided to start up again. This is our second month and we are having a blast. We are learning letter's, shapes, colors, and numbers. And with the holidays coming I am excited for the many projects that we will be making. Starting with Halloween. I love this time of year in preschool. So much fun! I have the biggest class I've had in all my years of teaching and I love it. I started with 5 and I have grown to 8. They are good kids and we have alot of fun learning and playing together.

My Shadows

The other day Mason and I were walking across the parking lot at Winco. Mason looked down and saw our shadows. I now have a phone with a camera on it, so I pulled it out and started taking pictures of our shadows.

When I look at these pictures I can hear in my head the words from one of our very favorite Primary songs:

"Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do.

To live with him some day."

Yep I have a very important job here on Earth. I am responsible for teaching these amazing boys that just happen to be God's children. I will do my best to lead them and guide them, by my example. Having this knowlege makes me want to do my best everyday to be the best I can be.