8 months

8 months old!  Crawling faster and faster, cruising around furniture and a pro at getting up the stairs. Incredibly curious and loves to put EVERYTHING in his mouth!  I can't seem to keep the floors clean enough.  If there is a tiny piece of anything, anywhere within his reach, he will find it.  Keeps me very much on my toes! Loves people and smiles at pretty much anyone who glances his way when we are out in public.

First Day

The kids are back in school!  I only had one kid excited to go back this year, but they all seem to be doing just fine getting back into the routine!

 7th grade, second year of middle school, and feeling much more confident about navigating all her classes in the multi-story school building!

 1st grade and not nearly as excited as when he went off to Kindergarten!

5th grade, last year in the elementary, and excited for the school year as always!

Summer Fun

School is back in session and I am very much missing the lazy, fun days of summer! :)

We crammed the last week of summer with lots of fun activities!  Paul's parents took the three older kids to the State Fair on Monday, Tuesday we celebrated my Dad's birthday, Wednesday we took in the zoo and Thursday we visited a water park with my mom, sisters and niece and nephew.  We took Friday off to recover! :)

Cooling off at the zoo splash pad.  A little later it wouldn't be necessary since we got rained on! :)

Dakota wanted me to take a picture of him as he was "checking out these magnificent turtles!" That kid and the way he expresses himself cracks me up!!

The zoo had a really cool lego exhibit area there for a limited time.  The kids loved it!

Water park fun!