Man, it's been a long time since I've posted any updates here! so here we go! over the past year, Gavin has turned 6 and Rian has turned 4. Gavin had his last day of kindergarten yesterday (graduation pictures to follow shortly). we also have learned some valuable life lesson's. the most important of which would be that mom's always have a reason for their rules. so when mom says "don't throw the ball in the house" we should probably listen. Gavin threw a ball into the light fixture in his room, and all the glass came down on him. we were super lucky, it only took 4 stitches :) i have no pictures to share with you on that one... you can guess why, i'm sure. if you look closely at the photo above you may be able to see the stitches on his forehead. the older kids are now teasing him that he wants to look like harry potter! the next thing we learned (this was more of a parent learning) is that astigmatisms are hereditary. as you can see (from the photo below) Gavin now has glasses.
Gavin's school had a "reading Olympics" in which he participated. the minutes they read would go towards a bronze, silver, or gold medal. Gavin, of course, wanted to go for the gold! he wanted to be the best! so he read over 400 minutes (in a matter of a month) and won a gold medal! the library also gave him a book! we are super proud of his accomplishments!
Now Rian has also changed a lot! he is constantly trying to figure things out and be like his brother. in fact, he wants to be SO MUCH like his brother that he decided to see what would happen if he also threw a ball into the light fixture of their room (of course after we had fixed it). luckily there were no wounds this time, but he did get sent to bed early and learned that we don't like him to break things just "to see what will happen". he is looking forward to starting preschool this fall, as Gavin goes into first grade. Along side his curious side, Rian has a very gentle, loving side. we've planted some plants this year to see if we can take care of them, and Rian loves to help we water them, and take care of them. he even will sing to them to make them happy when no one is looking (or so he thinks). he has started being interested in writing letters. he surprised me by writing the letter "R" for his name when we were signing cards for their cousins.
As they grow, they both develop more of their own personality. Gavin, very much the boss of things, and very particular, and Rian the daydreamer and musician.

A summer in pictures

Make a Smilebox slideshow

time really does fly

today is the last day of July. Next month brings school for many, in this university town, the end of summer, and the lag that we all start to feel when we are ready for the wind to get that biting chill and the leaves to start turning beautiful shades of cold and burning orange.
Yesterday we received our welcome letter, in the mail, from our elementary charter school which Gavin will start kindergarted on Aug. 19th. I must say I feel a little big lost, having to figure out school, considering being on the parent bored, wondering what is expected of me, and a little nervous to grow up. i never thought i would be nostalgic for my childish ways, but here it is, a little fear in my heart at what changes will be coming out way with the big frontier of school, and a social life that i don't have any say in.
Little brother Rian is the little shadow of his older brother, they are always together, playing, fighting, bonding, the only way brothers can.
my little sister in law has been staying with us for the past week. we have been having a blast! i've forgotten what it was like to be a boy crazy 15 year old! the boys have just loved having their Aunt Sarah here to play with them. today, my brother in law, Malcolm, and his son will be coming to visit also and will be staying with us off and on throughout the next week or so. it's so much fun seeing all of Dan's siblings getting together. they all live so very far from eachother that we don't get much time with then throughout the year.
I feel very blessed that i live near most of my family. all but one of my sisters live within a 5 mile radious of eachother. kim, we miss you, but it's always good when we see you too!!! love you :)
with fall just around the corner, there are many things to look forward too, school starting, Gavin's 6 year birthday, my birthday- a big 24- woohoo, am i right? yeah that was suppose to be sarcastic. i love the fall, the smell of the leaves, the air as it cools, to a biting thing that turns your nose red. the transitions of the seasons are all so beautiful and unique and i am happy to live in a place where the change in the season is so noticeable and unique.

success!

i have triumphed! i have lived through my oldest turning 5 years old, and i have successfully toilet trained my baby! i have fought the good fight and came out victorious! (and all with my sanity in tact.) my two big boys are now on their way to bigger and better things. we are preparing for Rian's 3rd birthday in the spring with, thankfully, i won't have to take a break to change any dirty diapers! i now feel confident that i am a pro a toilet training. :) over confidence always brings more trials though, so i'll keep it in check. let me just tell you how nice it is to be diaper free. after changing diapers for 5 years straight now, 2 of those years were two little bottoms in diapers, it is very nice to have a break from all that and start helping them cultivate their ever so curious minds!

snails and puppy dog tails

I was thinking that I am well over due for a post. So here it is. My little boy is turning 5 on the 19th. He's started preschool this year. it makes me feel so old! I remember when I was pregnant with him, gave birth to him, held him in my arms for the first time. And now he is such a big boy he wants to walk into school all by himself! Not to mention his little brother, who is nearly 3, who wants to be just like his big brother Gavin. Rian loves him so much, he won't even sleep in his new bed! he has to be snuggled up with Gavin in Gavin's bed! It's the sweetest thing to go into their room at night to check on them before I go to bed and see them asleep with their arms wrapped around eachother.
I help watch my little nephew and gavin loves to help care for him. he always wants to play with him, and help me feed him and chase him around, or make the baby giggle.
Rian on the other hand, one day i was feeling down. i was sitting on the floor doing puzzles with the boys. He came and climbed in my lab and held my face in his little hands and asked me what was wrong and kissed my nose! what sweet boys i have!