Loving Legos!

Carson sure is loving Legos these days! Ms. Aimee dug a hodge podge bag of Legos out of a box in her garage a couple of weeks ago, and since then Carson has been hooked! He plays forever with them, and he is soooo creative! Cade was never into Legos, so I don't have any to hand down. This new love comes just in time for Carson's 5th birthday and Christmas! Lots of gift ideas for Mr. Car!!

Running with Cooper

Cooper and I were running this evening when I suddenly realized a very familiar truck had pulled up next to us. Inside were all of my favorite people. Cade had the window rolled down taking pictures of Cooper and me as we ran. We kept running so that they could capture a few action shots. Sam and I both think that Cooper is so pretty when he runs. He is starting to be able to hang for longer distances.
I am training for The Whiterock Half Marathon in December, and I'm hoping that as my runs get longer in the coming weeks Cooper can make it the longer distances. I love having a running buddy!

Here I am realizing that my fam has pulled up!

running on!

The rain FINALLY went away!

After over a week of nonstop rain we have seen clearer skies the last several days. One day last week all of the kids played in the rain and had so much fun! Any excuse to break out the umbrellas makes these girls smile!

Old Man Slick

Sam took this picture of Slick and me a couple of weeks ago. We couldn't remember the last time this old guy had posed for a picture! Since last March his life has been a little different! After being an "only dog" for almost 12 years, Slick got a new sister (Sophie) and a new brother (Cooper) within weeks of each other! We aren't really sure how he feels, because he's 90% blind and pretty darn deaf. He tolerates sharing a kennel with "So-So" since she hates being by herself, and he puts up with his huge baby brother trying to play with him. He wanders around our house like an old man who is lost. :( However, he still loves going to the park, riding in the car, and getting attention from whoever will give it to him. He's still a big wimp about staying outside, and will let you know with his loud (and annoying) bark whenever he wants back in.

He will turn 13 this May! It's really hard for me to fathom that we will have a teenage dog! He was a mere 5 months old when Sam and I met! He greeted me when I pulled into Sam's parents driveway for the first time. I quickly banned him from sleeping in the bed when I moved in with Sam. He tore up countless things of mine as he was going through the teething stage, including most importantly the pregnancy test that told me that Cade was coming! I was soooo mad!!
Slick has turned into a family member, even though I used to ask Sam why he didn't pick out a cuter dog (how sad). We still have always loved him even if we have missed quite a few yearly vet appointments as we payed for DOC bands and hospital bills. He has greeted me each time I came home from the hospital with another baby, or 2. He has been an outstanding dog with the kids...patient, loving, perfect kid dog.

We're not sure how much time our oldest furry family member has left, but we hope to make his last years the best!! We love you Slickers!!!

1st Day of Preschool 2009

Carson, Ella, and Emma had their first day of preschool today! They started at a different school called Park Row Christian Academy. It is a preschool-6th grade facility that is very near our house. We have heard wonderful things about it, and we are extremely pleased so far!

I was able to take the day off of school today to take them and pick them up, which gave me lots of extra time to document the whole day!

Normally, our sitter Ms. Aimee will take them to and from school, so I was very thankful to get to be a part of their first day! We started off with pictures in the front yard!

new backpacks!! They are so proud of these!

Emma Claire

Ella Cate

Carson

The kiddos were very excited to give their teachers 1st day treats! Here they are before they were all assembled!

Carson in front of his class. He has Mrs. Parks for 5 day a week Pre-K

Here are the kids walking into their new school


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The next set of pictures were taken after I picked the girls up at 12:00 (Carson stayed until 2:30...the girls start staying til 2:30 in a couple of weeks).
When we got to the girls classroom for drop off this morning they fell apart and had to be peeled off of me : (, so there were no more pictures til pick up time!
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However, when I picked them up they were super happy and had a great report from their teacher Ms. Heather!

Their classroom door. They are in Ms. Heather's 3's class Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. They will be with Ms. Aimee on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

backpacks hanging in their cubbies

The girls with Ms. Heather after class

posing while leaving their school
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After leaving their school we headed to the mall to eat at Chik-fil-A, ride the carousel, and buy them new socks. Just a girl outing! We had fun!!

sooooo excited to ride the carousel

Emma on her tiger

Ella on her white horse
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Carson came home with this picture in his folder!

I guess school really inspired them! They were ready to draw and write more when we got home!

Ella doing some post-school work

Emma writing a letter to Uncle Caleb

Carson and his picture for Grancie

Flag Football...Team Stewart

Carson is playing flag football this fall. After a week and a half of practice he still knows very little about the sport (wouldn't expect much more from a 4 year old!). Anyway, last Sunday Sam decided to work with him, so the rest of the kids got to help out. They had lots of fun running all over the backyard! Everyone ran until they were absolutely beat!! The whole time I was thankful for our spacious yard! We couldn't have ever pulled this off in our old backyard!


adjusting the flags

listening to Coach Daddy! : )

Cade's First Day of 5th grade/ My first day of my 9th Year

Today was Cade's first day of 5th grade, and it was my first day of my 9th year of teaching. Sam always brings Cade by my classroom so we can all get a picture together. This has been our tradition since he was in Kindergarten!
He seemed so big today! So proud of his Jordans and his backpack that has a pouch for his I-Touch! So different from that 5 year old I brought to school with me a few years back! I'm so thankful that I've gotten to be at school with him all this time! He is an awesome kid!

Our traditional 1st day picture! It's hard to believe that Carson will be in this pic next school year!!